Sunday March 8, 2026

SINGER ISLAND FLORIDA – Singer Island is a geographical feature, not the name of a town. It’s actually located in Riviera Florida; Riviera has a bit of a scrufty reputation, so the fancy condos on the beach use the Singer Island name.

Day 5,990 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Singer Island

Looking back exactly five years to Bowling Green, Manhattan. Day 4,164 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Another solo figure

Saturday March 7, 2026

SINGER ISLAND FLORIDA – We had a dramatic sky this morning, so I shot it. This is two fames stitched, resulting in a square format, which I like a lot.

I’m shooting with my Leica “steel rim” Summilux lens, version 1 of the 35mm Summilux. This is actually Leica’s modern reissue of this lens, the original steel rims were produced in small numbers and sell for astronomical numbers on the Leica collectors market. I’ve been using this lens exclusively for my trip to Florida and I’ve grown to hold it in high regard.  Here’s what Jonathan Slack has to say about it:

Lots of photographers are discovering the charms of older lenses (and coincidentally their vices!). Collectors have long understood which lenses are interesting or scarce, so that prices for vintage lenses can be extremely high:

For instance a quick check on eBay finds copies of the Leica 35 Summilux (Steel Rim) in good condition on sale for as much as €30,000. The hood was an accessory and the OLLUX (12522) is now trading for around €2,500 (and considering how easily it falls off you would have to be very brave to use it!)
. . . .
The 35mm f1.4 Summilux version 1 was produced from 1961 to 1966 and came either with, or without goggles. The lens was produced in Silver Chrome finish and black anodised aluminium (Leica didn’t use black chrome plating until 1971). The insides of the lens were brass in both cases. There were around 8,000 lenses made in total.. . . .
. . . .
Clearly the point of buying this lens is for its ‘look’, not because it compares well with the latest 35 APO Summicron, and ‘look’ it delivers in spades.

Day 5,989 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Singer Island

Looking back exactly 16 years to Route 66. Day 145 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Route 66

Thursday March 5, 2026

KEY WEST FLORIDA – My strongest impression of this tropical paradise is rampant vegetation. Varieties that are house plants in Connecticut grow in the wild here to the size of school buses.

Day 5,987 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Doug at rest

Looking back 12 years to Maria dressed for a dive. Day 1,604 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Dive boat

Wednesday March 4, 2026

KEY WEST FLORIDA – We went out today on a sunset cruise on a catamaran.

Day 5,986 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Sunset Cruise

Looking back ten years to the Fashion Institute in Manhattan on a snowy day. This remarkable institution is a branch of the New York state university system. Day 2,334 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Fashion Institute

Monday March 2, 2026

KEY LARGO FLORIDA – This is the half way point on our 5½ hour drive from Palm Beach to Key West. A restaurant called the Fish House.

Day 5,984 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Key Largo

Looking back exactly 16 years to a burned out crack factory near the Salton Sea. Day 140 of one photograph every day for the rest of my life.

Former crack factory