I shot a test roll of film with the new Nikon FA using Ilford Delta 100 B&W film. I casually carried it around the house and on a walk, snapping photos of whatever caught my eye. Surprisingly, considering the camera and lens are 40 years old and had been sitting on a shelf unused, the pictures turned out quite well. Not quite the grain I was planning on. But I like the look. Here are a couple that I wanted to share. That’s all for now. Thank you!
Hi again, fellow film photography enthusiasts! Three likes on last post, so guessing I can use the plural there.
I’ve got some exciting news to share with you. While scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, I made an awesome find. It’s a mint-condition Nikon FA 35mm camera. It doesn’t look like it was ever used. Even came with a couple extra lenses and a bag. One lens appears to have a bit of mold. But other than that, it’s nearly perfect. Just had to buy a new battery and it’s ready to go.
The Nikon FA is a true classic, revered by photographers for its impeccable build quality, advanced features, and stunning performance. While most people today look for an F3, but I think that this is the perfect Nikon film camera.
It gets even better. Along with my shiny new-to-me Nikon FA, I also finally managed to get my hands on something equally special: Harman Phoenix color film. If you’re not familiar with Harman Phoenix, let me tell you why I’m happy with this score. It’s a new film – known for its rich, vibrant colors, fine grain, and exceptional sharpness. In other words, it’s the perfect match for my vintage Nikon FA.
I mentioned previously about my ridiculously long wait to get film developed at my local Walgreens. I have now dropped a roll off at a local camera shop. They promised 10 days. It’s been 14. Guess we’ll see how this plays out. While I wait for that, it’s the perfect opportunity to test out the Phoenix film. I just need to find the right subject matter. I have a few ideas and hope to check them out this week.
But wait, there’s more. I also picked up an adapter so that I can use that beautiful vintage glass from my Canon A1 on my everyday carry, Canon M50 Mark II. So, there is even more interesting science to do there. I will post some of the results.
Well guess what. After only 10 weeks, I received my photos back from Walgreens. Guess February has some photos in it after all. Another staggering display of modern technology. I just can’t imagine why their stock has dropped over 65% over the last 3 years with that kind of impressive service.
This was just a test roll of random photos I took to confirm the functionality of my 40-year-old camera and lens. The amazing Canon A-1 and a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. I picked them both up from KEH at a great price. I used Ilford HP5 Plus 400-speed black and white film. I was going for a moody feel with some grain to it. Guess I got that part right. My practice with film exposures was obviously a bit rusty. I also only have a very sketchy 600dpi flatbed scanner available. But again, it was just a test roll. Nothing I was planning to keep.
The photos were taken on a foggy December day at local parks in the Cascade, Michigan area. They are my favorite locations for doing a bit of walking and taking a few pics. Right now, my company is having me fly all over the country. Maybe I will see about packing the old Canon and working in a bit of photography while I’m on the road.
I have found a local shop here in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area that will develop and scan my photos in high resolution. Better yet, they will do it in less than two weeks. Guess that’s progress. I will let you know how it works out.
I’ve recently made the decision to learn to play the guitar, adding to my list of possibly over 30 hobbies. With some musical background, I felt it was time to explore a new instrument, and after careful consideration, I bought a PRS SE CE24 guitar in the striking color of Blood Orange. I do want to thank the awesome folks at Sweetwater for their usual excellent service with this.
As a beginner, I understand the importance of finding the right resources for learning. Currently, I’m taking advantage of the wealth of knowledge available on the JustinGuitar YouTube channel. The step-by-step lessons and tips provided by Justin have been invaluable in helping me grasp the fundamentals of playing the guitar.
I did query Perplexity AI as to the unique properties of the SE CE24 model. Just for fun really. But here’s what I received back:
The PRS SE CE24 model differs in sound from other PRS models due to several factors, as highlighted in the provided search results:
1. Bolt-on Neck Construction: The SE CE24 features a bolt-on maple neck, which is said to contribute to a slightly brighter tone compared to the set neck construction found in other PRS models.
2. Electronics and Versatility: Equipped with PRS 85/15 “S” pickups, the SE CE24 offers clarity and an extended high and low end, suitable for modern playing styles. The push/pull tone control adds versatility with coil splits, allowing for a range of sounds from humbucking to single-coil tones.
3. Wood Combination and Aesthetics: The combination of a maple top with a mahogany back and a rosewood fretboard, along with the Blood Orange color option, provides a unique tonal and visual character to the SE CE24.
4. Price Point and Accessibility: The SE CE24 is part of the SE Series, known for bringing PRS quality to a more affordable price range. This may also influence its sound compared to higher-end PRS models.
In summary, the sound differences between the PRS SE CE24 and other PRS models can be attributed to its bolt-on neck construction, electronics, wood combination, and price point. These factors contribute to the SE CE24’s unique tonal characteristics and versatility compared to other PRS guitars.
Sure, I’ll go with that. Mostly since it costs me $20 a month for its input. Looks like most of that was gathered from the PRS website. You can always go check it out there.
In my quest to improve, I’ve encountered various challenges. Mostly just making the time in my day with all of my other interests. However, I’ve found that dedication and patience are crucial in making progress. As I continue on this musical journey, I look forward to further honing my skills and expanding my skills on the guitar.
My company does have me traveling a bit over the next few months. But I’ll do my best to stick to it. I will also try to start posting things from my travels. Sort of why I started this blog in the first place.
I’ll also set a goal of recording a video of myself playing something awesome and posting it for everybody. Most likely on my YT channel but I’ll link it here as well. About time I started posting stuff over there anyways!
Hey there, fellow camera enthusiasts and those who just accidentally stumbled upon this post.
I had this grand idea at the beginning of the year. I was going to dive headfirst back into the world of film photography. Yep, you heard that right – no fancy digital cameras for me this time around. I wanted to get down and dirty with a good old film camera. Why? Well, why not? There’s something nostalgic and magical about the process that I just couldn’t resist.
My choice of gear was a nearly 40-year-old camera and lens combo that I managed to get my hands on. A Canon A-1 in perfect condition. Talk about vintage charm! I loaded up my first roll of film and snapped away.
It was December when I eagerly dropped off my roll of test film at the local Walgreens. The promise? A speedy (by current standards) return by the first week of January. I guess the 24-hour lab isn’t a thing anymore. So much for progress. But it should be fine, right? Wrong.
Here we are in the middle of February, and guess what? No photos, no film, and no idea when they may show up. And to make matters worse, Walgreens can’t seem to give me a straight answer on where my film disappeared to. Only “try back in a couple of weeks”. Awesome.
But fear not, I have…a plan! I refuse to let a little hiccup like this deter me from my analog adventures. So, what is this plan, you ask? Well, I’ve decided to try a different approach and give a mail-in lab a shot. Who knows, maybe they’ll have better luck getting one simple roll of black and white film processed.
I’ll be sure to keep you all in the loop with regular updates on how this whole story unfolds. Consider it my way of documenting the highs and lows along the way. Just in case you are of a similar mind (heaven help you).
I will update you soon.
It is the end of the year again. I just thought I would give you a quick update on where I stand with my investments in my high-dividend portfolio.
My year end goal for monthly dividends was $150.00. I am averaging about $200 per month. So, looking very good at this point. And according to my Robinhood app, my return YTD is right at 27%. Crazy. I haven’t changed too many of my holdings. But here are my thoughts on a few of my favorites.
(TCPC) BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. This is still one of my favorite funds. The numbers look extremely high this month as I’ve included the regular dividend payment along with another special payment. Even without that special payment, this continues to be a very strong performer for me.
(ARCC) Ares Capital Corporation. Another great holding here. This one is on my ‘hold forever’ list. I’ll be adding to my holdings on this one very soon.
(SVOL) Simplify Volatility Premium ETF. I’ve seen a number of ‘finfluencers’ and the like put this fund down as a dividend trap. Another year in, still producing fantastic results. Another one that I’m sure I’ll be adding to.
(RITM) Rithm Capital Corp. Yet another fund paying me over 10%. I’m not complaining, just very surprised. Also, up over 34% YTD. I loved this fund before. Even more so now. I’ll be buying a lot more of this. However, I may wait to see if I can get it just a little cheaper than its current $11.06 price. Probably just toss some limit orders out there and leave them for a while to see how it all plays out in the new year.
(PFLT) Pennant Park Floating Rate Capital Ltd. This fund raised its dividend twice this year. The share price is also up around a dollar. That’s a strong showing on both counts. Definite keeper in my book.
As I stated at the end of last year, I was shooting for at least $550 per month in dividends at retirement. I’m really starting to think that something like $600 might be a better goal. Getting closer every month.
Happy New Year everyone!
Winter is on its way. I didn’t do much gardening this year. I had lost my job and wasn’t sure where I’d be living and working. My new job is remote, with only an occasional trip to a customer site. Next year I’ll be planting a garden again. But for now, it’s strictly potted plants in my office. So, I need to be selective. Can’t have cucumbers taking over. Not again. Anyways, I have some jalapenos. I also apparently mistook some sweet pepper seeds for other hot peppers. Now I have a couple sweet peppers setting fruit as well. That’s all right. I’ll make room.
Since I am planning on working closer to home and not roaming around the world this year, I’ll pick back up on posting. The plan was to do much more digital nomad stuff in 2020 and make content on that. But we all know how that worked out. I actually got Covid on my trip home to the US on New Year of 2020. But of course, we had no idea what it was. Just never want to go through that again. So got shots, got boosters, and even started to get my annual flu shots which I had been a bit remiss on. I am old and frail after all.
More to come very soon. Promise…
As I stated in my last post, I recently lost my job. At that point I sold many of my holdings. Just in case I needed the money. This is just an extra account for a bit of fun. Yes, this is fun. Luckily for me, the prices were good at that time and have since dropped a bit. So, I was able to sell at a profit and then buy my funds at a better price later. Here is a list of all the current holdings in my Robinhood account.
The big takeaway here is that I was aiming for $150/month by the end of the year. Right now, with the most recent dividend payouts, I am very close. Most of my funds that pay monthly dividends will have payouts that, of course, fluctuate. But I’m looking at averages here. So, for now, I’m close. And I am certainly fine with my average rate of return.
There is one thing that I did change here. Some funds tend to pay an extra ‘bonus’ dividend. That is mostly in case they can’t pay as much in the future. They don’t want to be seen as cutting their dividend. They will simply not pay the bonus one. Semantics in my book. If a fund pays a bonus, I’ll include it on the chart as part of the current month’s dividend. HTGC will be a good example of this here. They paid a regular dividend of $0.39 and a bonus of $0.08. I have just posted this as $0.47. Those are the same payments that were made in March.
Besides those things, all is as it was. I am back on track and now have a job with better pay and bonuses. So hopefully I will be able to build this portfolio up even more quickly.
I am sorry that I haven’t posted lately. I have been a little busy with some ‘life’ issues. You know, as opposed to my regular issues. Against my better judgment, which is admittedly a low standard, I took a job in a manufacturing plant in Michigan. I told the recruiter that I was hesitant as I always end up getting laid off from manufacturing companies. She assured me that wouldn’t happen. Especially since I would be the IT/ERP Manager and not a shop floor worker. Far too valuable to let go. Yeah, that lasted seven months. A new record. Just as well, I was not fond of the job or the company. The biggest issue concerning me was that I am over 50 and in the IT sector. There are a whole lot of places that won’t consider somebody my age even for a contract position. So, I was worried about the time it would take to secure a new job.
Now on to the good news. I have a new job with a great company. I actually received two very good offers. I did have to accept a large pay increase. But that’s the price that I’m willing to pay…or take, I guess. Best of all, I now have actual free time. So, time to finally get my social media sites all in order. An actual website for example. My current one was more of a template I used to teach somebody how to tweak WordPress. I can also begin to blog on this site on a regular basis. Shooting for once a week for starters. See where it goes from there.
I have far too many interests to limit my content to one or two of them. So, just about anything is fair game. Investing, gardening, computers, gaming, electronics, photography, filmmaking, scotch, music production, and certainly need to have some travel in there. I also tend to donate money to a variety of random causes. I’ll be sure to point some worthy ones out to you.
Stay tuned everyone!
It is the end of the year. So, time for an update on my dividend portfolio. This is also a good time to let you know my goals for the coming year and for the long term. As usual, no deep dives or analysis on any of these funds. Just an “FYI, here’s what I have and how they’re doing for me”.
My year end goal for monthly dividends was $75.00. I made $132.22. Now full disclosure. I did pay for Robinhood Gold and borrowed a couple thousand dollars. I figured that it was acceptable to pay 6% or so in order to buy stocks that were making me over 12%. So, I do have the fees listed on the chart as well. I did average out all of my holdings and dividends. That weighted average came out to 12.23%. That number has held steady the last three months. Better than I had expected going into the year.
I do want to mention the highest and lowest payers here as well as my two favorites.
(SVOL) Simplify Volatility Premium ETF. This fund has been great to me. As the name implies, it is basically investing in, or maybe even betting on, volatility. There has been plenty of that going on. As such it paid out at a rate of over 19% this month. That sure helped my average return. I’ll continue to buy into this fund as things will most likely remain a bit crazy for a good while.
(NUSI) Nationwide Nasdaq-100 Risk-Managed Income ETF. This one continues to weigh down my average with a return of 6.8% this month. But I am sure that I can bring my average cost down as I continue to buy at the current price. Hopefully the dividends will also increase a bit next year.
(TCPC) BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. I do love this fund. Not only did it pay out at over 9.5% this month, but it also has a special dividend payment of .05 per share that it will pay in January. Have to love those bonus payments. This is my favorite fund right now.
(ARCC) Ares Capital Corporation. Speaking of bonus payments, this fund paid out at 9.77% plus paid out another bonus of .03 per share. Not much, but it is just that much extra. I’ll take it. This is definitely my second favorite fund.
All of these funds are currently trading at prices lower than my average. So, if you buy in now, you will receive an even higher return than I currently do. So yes, technically I have lost value in my holdings, but that’s only if I were to sell. I’m not planning to do that. I’m planning to keep purchasing at the discounted prices and lower my average cost. Thereby raising my average return. All sounds so damn simple when you say it like that. doesn’t it?
Now to look ahead a bit. For 2023 my new goal will be to average $150 per month in dividends by the end of the year. I also want to pick out at least one more fund. In the end, I would like to have 20 funds in my portfolio. Right now, I have 17. I would like each to average at least 9% in dividends. Right now, with the depressed market prices, that seems like it should be easy. As long as nobody starts cutting their dividend payouts. There is always that chance. But I am focusing on the long term here.
By the time that I retire, let’s say 11 years, I would like to be making at least $550 per month in dividends. I’m planning on 20 funds paying out an average of $30 per month. That gives me a little room. That is also the way that I am planning to balance my holdings. So that each one pays around the same total amount per year in dividends.