Making work with mak

Starts with the details- Nikon ZF- Nikon Z 35 1.4

I’ve been thinking a lot about making this journal more focused on elopements, and there will certainly be more of those stories here. But portraiture keeps pulling me back. I’m too inspired by people, faces, conversations, and the experience of making something together to ever leave it behind. Like I mentioned in my last post, I love nature in my work but portraiture is atop the list as well. The conversations, the friendships, and ultimately the human experience are things I pursue as often as time allows. Don’t get me wrong, & I don’t think anyone knows this about me but I actually prefer to be alone more often than not. I pride myself in being very personable, some might say even to a fault, but I was raised to be respectful and how can that happen if I can’t give those around me my attention? I am not saying I am great at it, but it’s something important to me. I am gearing up for lots of work in the fall, but as I was perusing my hard drive in search of images for my friend Carter, I found myself re opening and re editing some images I made with Mak and my previously owned Nikon ZF. I find it very interesting to look back and the work I make with different cameras throughout the years, but that’s not what this is about. This is about making work with fellow creatives, fellow photographer, and someone I consider a friend after all, Mak had to put up with me for an hour or so.

XPAN ratios are my jam!

I should back up a little to explain how I was lucky enough to meet and photograph Mak. I mean, all good stories need a beginning. I am trying to lean into my first reactions more and I can’t learning how to just “ask the question”. What the hell does that even mean you are probably saying to yourself, and that’s fair. I was scrolling on FB for who knows what reason, and saw an interesting profile photo as a suggested friend and new immediately, I wanted to get to touch and just ask. Worst case, the answer is no. The best case answer can be found in the images I share here from that day. Mak doesn’t miss! Killed it the entire time. Never complained once about my ideas and suggestions. I was inspired and wished I was even a fraction as comfortable in my own skin. We flowed frame after frame after frame. Even brought out the Yashica Mat 124g for a few frames. The lighting was good this day but I always reach for some off camera flash in this case being my Westcott FJ 400 but as I am writing this I have considered selling it off and going back to something else. Time will tell but lets send these photos. Buckle up buttercup, that heat is incoming!

KILLED IT!

A huge shout out and thank you to Mak for being down to create and for letting my work feel like me for the first time in a minute.
If you like this type of entry, I have plenty more I can share. Just let a fella know.

Later Neighbor,

J

Saying I do-beauty spot Edition

Life has a funny way of making connections for us and I am so grateful for all those I have made, and those I expect to keep making in my time with and without my camera present. As I lean into the things that reward me the most, I keep finding myself loving my work, more and more. Nature has always been a constant in my life, and it shows it face in my work often. Especially the images the world never sees. The work that I make for me. The work printed in my office.

“When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator”- Mahatma Gandi

I was recently asked to photograph the elopement for Kailea and Zane, who I met as they accompanied their friends, Summer and Tony while I was photographing them last year. Full circle stuff. When Kailea and I started the conversation, she mentioned the plan was to get married at the court house then find somewhere nice for photos. I am thrilled to say that, plans changed, as they often do. She mentioned needing an option where her grandparents could get to as they were to attend and I fall short on words to describe how beautiful her grandparents are. In their connection, their love for one another, and their love for Kailea. ( Im sure they love Zane too lol ) It was a perfect evening in Unicoi as I drove through Rock Creek climbing Unaka Mountain to ultimately arrive early at our destination, the Beauty Spot. Having been here many times in the past both for work, and for pleasure I had no need to be as early as I was, but I will never pass up a few quite moments alone, in places where the sky touches the earth. I posted up with my book ( These Silent Woods) and disconnected from society while I waited for my people to arrive. The images below where the start of the adventure into forever for this amazing couple, and their friends and family. A total party of 12 if you count the minister and his girlfriend. Small and perfect!

As we chatted and devised a loose plan the rain decided to join us. An uninvited guest, but one I will always greet with a smile once they have made an appearance. A light sprinkle was enough to don the umbrellas to keep our couple dry but sheer minutes after we reached the top ( a lovely albeit short walk for those who may never have been) the rain said it’s farewells and left us with a remarkable sunset cascading over the distant Blue Ridge Mountains. The ceremony was lovely, and working in remote locations gives me so much more access to angles, and point of views. I was able to maneuver anywhere I wish without being a distraction. The couple were swept up in their adoration for one another as they vocalized the commitment to their person. It is always an honor to capture moments like this, but even more so in locations that beg for our attention. I will leave you with a few more images below and please come back, as I plan to create another entry soon discussing tips to plan for such days and for your elopement with me.

Nicollette- Laurel Falls

The last frame of the day- Sony A9iii

As I move even more into the outdoor, adventure space I love to encourage my friends and clients to trust the process and visit more remote locations. While Laurel Falls isn’t a super long hike, it does have some tricky sections especially the “stairs” leading to the actual falls themselves. These rock steps that wind down and down and down are beautiful in their own way but can be treacherous to new or unexperienced hikers. They are even more daunting when 3 of the 4 people hiking in on this specific day, find the yellow jackets nest the hard way. Nicollette was stung in her thumb, her mom was stung in the leg several times, and I got hit 4 times in the same area under my backpack, in the shoulder. The thing about these nests are they are hidden well, and often under the ground. This one in particular was set back under a highway of tree roots creating the perfect cavernous home for them. The jerks. The worst part of this was the fact that they are dead center of the only trail leading in and out of the falls. So in case you are not following, yes we got stung going in, but also had to pass the same nest to get back out. I am happy to report, we somehow managed to avoid getting attacked on our exit. I have no idea how.

Surveying the damage- Sony A9iii

The hike started on the Dennis Cove side at the very well marked trail head. The closer I was getting, the more worried I was about the weather. The drive for me is about 45 minutes, and the weather app said we wouldn’t see any rain until 7pm. We planned accordingly to meet up at 5 to allow plenty of time to hike in, create some work, and hike out without running into the issue of weather. In planning for this, I was so excited to fully test the Sony A9iii and some off camera flash. I won’t dive into that here but if you are curious, please let me know. I can talk gear for hours! Then a few more hours but once we met up, the rain had decided to ignore what the apps said, and moved in hours ahead of schedule. This meant leaving all of my lighting in the truck. This isn’t a big deal, but I will admit I was a little bummed to not get to really get creative with lighting. Having said that, the natural light ended up being wonderful at the falls. As you reach the bottom, the sky opens up allowing tons of light in and the cloudy, overcast cover was the perfect moody softbox for the setting.

We moved quickly and Nicollette is a rockstar who photographs so wonderfully that this was such a fun time out in the beautiful world around us. I am so excited to share almost every delivered frame from this day below. I feel like we met each others energy in a way that just works. Especially when the weather is frantic and changing. We did get rained on at the end of the session but we laughed and just kept working and I honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. I also hope if you are reading this, and you are seeing the work below that you also are inspired to get out, to create moments with people that you love, and bring me along to capture those moments.

I will end by admitting, aside from the black and white images, this is a little “off brand” for me. That is not a complaint by any means, and I think it’s healthy to admit that art changes, life changes us, and we change how we see these moments some times. Yes I should be more consistent to build a brand probably, and I edited these from start to finish twice. I loved both of the visions I ended up with but ultimately felt the moments, the weather, the subject, and the energy lead to this more organic final product. Let me know what you think!

Later Neighbor!

J

Film F*** Ups

I want to start by saying how much I love film and how much it pisses me off. I love to learn, and shooting film keeps me humble, on a daily basis. I am currently carrying my Nikon F100 almost everywhere I go and I am loving the ease of using it and for the first time, I don’t feel overwhelmed with trying to nail settings. I feel this way because the more I lean into film, the more I understand how forgiving it can be. The key word here is CAN.  I have been shooting film loosely for years now and I messed up so much in the beginning, that it kept me from seeing results that I could be proud of. The lack of these results, meant I shot less and less which if I gave anyone only one piece of advice, it would be to shoot more and shoot often. I think this is important in photography period. We have to realize How to see first, and then we can start learning why we choose what we capture and why. I would liken it to any field in the thought process of without knowing why, what is the point.  The real point of anything is meaning. This is a reason I am so motivated to shoot, and capture without an end in sight. That is al little broader than today’s topic so I will get us back on track with a short list of ways I screwed shooting film up from the start, and how you can avoid the major flaw in my initial procedures.

Woody- Nikon F3

Mistakes:

1).Do not get overwhelmed by the gear.

Find a camera that inspires you, not overwhelms you. As much as I love a full mechanical camera, sometime removing friction is the best way to start something new.

2). Do not expect to be great from the start, no matter how long you have be shooting digitally. Give yourself some grace and maybe a lot of it to get going and then forever more. Film is far from a perfect option and since the rise of digital the lack of support has diminished but I am also happy to say that #filmisnotdead

Last of the roll!- Colorado Nikon F3

3). Not all labs are created equal.

A) Let the lab do the heavy lifting in the beginning.  Another level of removing that friction I mentioned earlier. It is very easy to romanticize shooting, developing , and scanning your own work but lets get our feet wet without jumping in over your head just yet.

B) Find a lab that works for you.  We are so fortunate to have multiple options here in 2026 but they do not always release the same results.  I have tried 6 different labs as of making this and am so fortunate to have found a lab remotely close to me that gives me the best results yet. Its called F32 in Knoxville, TN is you happen to be curious.

4). Film will pile up!

I am still not great at this, but maybe learn from my mistakes, aka “Do as I say, not as I do” situation. I should be honest about why this is a blessing and a curse for someone like me. When I shoot and store my exposed rolls in my film fridge, I am creating a disaster.  I have a shit memory so I often forget a few important details. Which camera shot which roll and which stock>? What did I even shoot on the rolls? How did I meter/ expose the roll in question? Most film pros keep a detailed log and I REALLY can’t recommend this enough but also can’t quite make myself do it.  The more info the better.

Last winter maybe? - Canon EOS 1V

5). ITS A NEGATIVE- meaning your digital sensor is a positive- What does that mean?

This is the biggest mistake, by far that I made and I made it for years and just assumed my meter was off, my lab was terrible, or I am just an extreme failure. If you are new to film and I am assuming you are if you are reading this, so bare with me if not,  you will hear that your film can retainer highlight information much better than that of the shadows. This typically implies over exposing our negatives. We can save those highlights so let it have all the light. I screwed this up repeatedly by rating a film, lets say Portra 400, at 800 to overexpose it like I would in digital but this is UNDER EXPOSING your film by a full stop in stead of the intended Over exposure. This meant all of my film for a very long time was muddy, with terrible color, and very underwhelming results. I am far from a quitter though, so I am still after it. Still learning, still shooting, still dreaming of the next film camera.

Hello??- NIkon F3

The art of photography has brought me to some beautiful places, taught me some valuable lessons about life, and given me so much purpose. Its be life giving in moments that life was hard, and capturing those type of moments for others has been and will always be a blessing and a responsibility I refuse to take lightly.

Keep shooting and please share your film photos with me. Tag me often and without cease :) I am on all the things @Jeremy.gouge

Gotta stop chasing trends… or do we ?

Welcome back to my website. I have shared this to my Facebook but have spent a lot of time lately working on this site. Working to update, to push it toward something very specific, and to try and create some content for my YouTube that might be helpful to new and seasoned photographers alike. I am so guilty of giving my attention to every announcement, and every rumor in the camera space. I love it. I can’t get enough actually, but it can also be a crutch, and or can be used to convince ourselves that, the new camera will make our work better. Will it though? Will it?

Making some moves!!

Why I'm Moving Into Adventure Elopements

For a while now, my work has centered on chasing trails, rivers, and ridgelines across East Tennessee. That's not changing — but where I point the camera next is.

I'm shifting into the adventure elopement space, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Why This Shift Makes Sense

If you've followed along, you already know I'm drawn to remote overlooks, early morning starts, and the kind of terrain most people only see in photos. Adventure elopements live in exactly that world. I get to help two people say their vows on a summit at sunrise, or exchange rings on a granite ledge with a valley, a distant guest to our scene.

The skills carry over directly. Scouting remote locations, reading weather and light, moving efficiently on technical terrain, and knowing East Tennessee's backcountry access points — all of it applies just as much to a wedding day as it does to a trail run.

Dancing in the only light available to end the perfect day.

What This Looks Like Going Forward

Expect content built around:

• Real elopements filmed and or photographed on East Tennessee ridgelines, riverbanks, and overlooks

• Location scouting guides for couples considering a Smokies, Cherokee National Forest, or Appalachian Trail-adjacent elopement

• Behind-the-scenes planning — permits, timing, weather calls, and logistics for pulling off a ceremony in the backcountry

• Gear breakdowns for couples and photographers working in remote settings

A Different Kind of Adventure

This isn't a departure from what my work has always been about. It's the same instinct — find the wild places, do something meaningful there — pointed at a new kind of milestone. If you're planning an elopement somewhere off the beaten path, or you're just curious what that looks like in practice, stick around. This is going to be a fun one to build.

NIKON R3D workflow:

I so often forget to link my work over on Youtube back to here. It is one more step and that get me tripped up at times. I am actively shooting, filming, editing, and posting but my site is the last place to get my attention sadly.
Below is the breakdown of how I set up, edit, and export R3d footage in Davinci Resolve!

New Old Camera Day!

I love new camera day, hard stop, but when its new OLD camera day it just hits different. I have been shooting film on and off for years and it is absolutely a love hate relationship but I just cant quit. Some days I love everything about it and other days, I couldn’t be more defeated by it, but my mom didn’t raise a quitter. I am thinking about making a video about my favorite film cameras over the years and may go into why I might like or dislike them. For now though, let’s talk about the camera I picked up most recently. I am talking about the Yashica Mat124G. This camera is a medium format, TLR ( Twin lens reflex ), waste level view finder camera. This is my favorite way to shoot. PERIOD. This way of shooting removes me from being behind the camera and breaks the wall of the tension of pointing a camera at someone too. I think in other words, it makes me feel less threatening for lack of a better word.

So why the Yashica? The largest reason was cost. They are still mostly affordable and I picked mine up with a working light meter, and in almost new condition for under $400. This is more than they were in a few years past as others report getting theirs for under $200 but I wasnt that lucky. I still believe its worth the going price considering the alternatives in the TLR lineup but I might be partial. I have owned a Rolleiflex 3.5 and it was remarkable but it was heavier than the Yashica and the images are close enough for my use.

I was lucky that mine came looking close to mint and having zero issues. I have since lost the pin in the advance lever but was lucky enough to discover that jerk hiding in the bottom of my camera bag. I have since reinserted it but I am not certain I got the plates in the correct order and need to remove the pin and try again, sometime…. for now its working great so onward hoe!

Below is the video I made unboxing the new girl and even share a few sample images at the end. I did not notice when I loaded the first roll in my video that I started my first frame at the red 220 film mark. The 120 mark is just under the first roller and start your film there and avoid missing your frirst frame like someone did.. me, I am that someone. Ok.. off you go to the Youtube land.

Later Neighbor~

How to use your Nikon ZR for a web cam?

In my attempt to continue creating work that I enjoy but am inspired by, I often try new things. This week, one of those things was setting up a proper web cam for my zoom calls at work. I enjoy the webcam on the Mac monitor but prefer to have something better. I set up the ZR and had some issues, so I made a video showing you how to set it up to make it easy. Check it out and please consider liking and subscribing to the channel.

Nikon ZR for a web cam

Disney with the X100VI

I have always had a fascination with small everyday carry digital cameras and have had a plethora of them over the years. From a few different Ricoh GR series cameras, to more regularly some variation of a FujiFIlm camera. I have owned - Xt1, Xt5, Xh2s, Xh, Xpro, Xpro 2, Xpro 3, GFX 50R, GFX 50S, GFX 100s, X100s, and most recently the X100VI. No I do not keep them and do not have them hoarded up in my office at home LOL.

When traveling, I always prefer a small digital option instead of my medium format film cameras for the obvious reasons but thought it best to get it out in the open. The Ricoh is always my favorite option but after buying and loving the GRiii, I decided to return it and honestly have regretted that ever since. I digress, as this isn’t a review well about anything but just me wanting to share all of the straight out of camera jpegs or also known as SOOC. I never shoot and use JPEGS but wanted to push myself, so I did. Below are the images I took while we visited Disney a few weeks ago as of writing this. All of those are below. If you are interested in the FujiFilm Film Recipe, it can be found in the comments of latest Youtube video, also listed below.

Thanks for being here and being you!

SHE’S HOT Y’ALL

I am so excited to pick up such an incredible camera to continue making the stuff I love. This one came with a little hiccup though. Are you thinking of picking up one of the newly release Lumix cameras? Maybe watch this first.

NEW CAMERA DAY!

Welcome back!
My name’s Jeremy. If you’ve never been here before, welcome! Today’s going to be a quick one. It’s an exciting day here in East Tennessee.

Speaking of which — East Tennessee State University — that’s where I work. I just got home from the gym a couple of hours ago. Long day at work, but I powered through. When I got home, I saw a package waiting for me and wanted to rip it open immediately... but I waited. I waited until my camera-the Z30 was charged.

Once it was ready, I got excited, hit record, and set up the overhead rig with my phone… only to realize the footage was completely out of focus. So frustrating. I had already opened the box, so that kind of defeated the whole unboxing vibe.

So, I recorded it again. I used this table-mounted arm from SmallRig (I think) — it holds a light and also has a camera mount. I mounted the Z30 to it, and as I was talking, I noticed it was shaking. The footage was wobbly and distracting. At that point, I was like, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Take three — which is this one.
The camera was moved on a tripod. It’s secure. It’s not attached to the desk. Audio’s running. So, finally, I can talk about this new camera I got.

I actually sold the Z8 for this, which, honestly, was a bit of a risky move. The Z8 was nearly perfect for the way I shoot. I loved how it was laid out, the way it felt in the hand... really intuitive.

But I didn’t love the lack of native lenses. Same issue I had back with the Z6 III. I had one lens I loved, but beyond that, the Z-mount just didn’t offer enough. And I’m not really into adapting Sony glass — that never made sense for me.

I actually made a video a while back calling this particular mount “the one to watch in 2025”… and yet, I sold both of my cameras in that mount recently. That said, this is my fifth camera in this mount — so clearly, I keep coming back to it.

This new camera does a lot of things the Z8 didn’t — and I’m excited about that. I’ll give you a couple hints:

• Open gate full-frame

• 4K 120 with no crop

• 4K 60, also open gate — again, no crop

At this point, you probably know where this is going...

It’s the Lumix S1R Mark II.
She’s a beauty — with the Tilta cage and carbon fiber accents. I love the way it locks, and more importantly, the way it fits in my hand. It feels great. Even my pinky has a place to land — no weird fall-off like some cameras have.

I’m genuinely pumped about it.

The only thing I wish worked — and maybe one of you knows how to fix this — is using my DJI RavenEye system to start/stop recording and monitor footage remotely. I used to do that with Canon cameras and it was amazing. I’d love to replicate that setup here, especially when I’m filming solo. If anyone knows how to get RavenEye to work with this camera, please let me know. That would seriously make my life so much easier.

Now, I’m not going to get into the specs — there are tons of videos on that. I just want to say: it’s an incredible camera, and I can’t wait to shoot with it.

But more than anything, I can’t wait to grade some footage. That’s really where my head’s at lately — even though I’ve always been a photo-first guy, I’m really diving into video more.

At the moment, the only lens I have for it is my Leica Summicron, which I’m adapting using a TTArtisan adapter. It looks a little funny on this body.

By the way — shout out to Lumix for the new shutter curtain. It's gorgeous.

That’s it. I won’t bore you any further. Thanks so much for being here and for sharing in this excitement with me. This is what I love about this community — we all have those days where life just feels better because it’s new camera day.

Love y’all. Thanks again.
We’ll see you around. Later, neighbor.

New to photography? Heres what you need.

Welcome back, everybody! My name is Jeremy Gouge, and I'm glad you're here. Glad you're kicking it with me. Sorry for the hiatus, as usual—life got in the way, and I've just been busy living. But that’s okay; that’s what we should be doing, in my opinion.

This video is for those of you out there, hopefully you, if you’re watching this, who might be on the journey of deciding what camera to buy next, whether you should buy a camera soon, or what lens to get. I’ve thought a lot about this lately, and my opinion might be a little jaded, maybe even controversial to some degree. I’m sure there are some people out there who are like, “No, you should absolutely buy this, and do this instead.” Well, sorry, not sorry.

Here’s my approach: If I had to give myself—my younger self—some advice today, what would I say? Things are very different today compared to when I started 20 years ago. If I were starting today, I’d tell myself that the best camera available to me is the one in my pocket. That’s right, our cell phones. We all have one, we all use it regularly. But it's easy to get to the point where you think, “Yeah, but it’s just not enough. It’s not doing the thing I want it to do.” Or maybe there’s no depth of field, or all the other things. I get it, and I hear you. You're not wrong.

But I think it’s much more important to find an app, or a software, that works for you. I say “app” because we’re talking about phones, right? Leica just came out with their own photo-developing camera app. It’s like $10 a month, and I’m sure it’s fantastic because it says Leica on it. Leica doesn’t do anything poorly. But, in my opinion, Lightroom Mobile is the way to go for several reasons:

It’s free.

It’s mobile, meaning it’s designed specifically for your phone, with that purpose in mind. It’s not an app that does both desktop and mobile; it’s built for your phone’s camera.

I’m not saying there won’t come a time when you’ll need to invest in another camera or gear. Please don’t misunderstand me. What I’m saying is, until you are completely sure of a few things—and we’ll get to that in a second—I don’t think you need to rush into buying a new camera. Don’t throw money at a problem that doesn’t exist yet. I’m notorious for doing that myself. You know, “The grass is greener.” Learn from my mistakes, as I tell my kids.

So, what’s most important? Find your style. Find what you like to photograph. That’s one of the points I want to make. Once you really figure out what you love photographing—whether it’s people, cars, food, babies, weddings—don’t shoot a wedding by yourself if you’re not ready, that’s all I’m saying. We’re not there yet. But once you find your lane, the thing you want to pursue, everything else falls into place.

Yes, a lot of us shoot multiple things. That’s normal. But for me, I love taking portraits of people—whether it’s for weddings, senior sessions, headshots, or other projects. There’s a lot of variety within that, but the core is always people. So, I don’t want you to niche down too hard, but get an idea of what you really enjoy, what connects with you emotionally, and what pours back into you. Once you find that, it’ll lead you toward your next purchase. It will help you make an educated decision when the time comes.

Once you’ve developed your style and gotten comfortable with your phone’s camera and apps like Lightroom, you’ll automatically start seeing improvements in your photos. You’ll have this grace period to learn the app, and then learn to develop your style. This is so important because once you have your style, it will carry over no matter what camera you’re using.

I’m confident that I can shoot with any camera and still make the same type of work. Sure, there are cameras I prefer over others. I’ve had a lot of Fuji cameras, and I’m really in my head about wanting another one. But when I edit my Fujifilm files, they just feel different from what I usually shoot. It’s not bad, it’s just not me. It doesn’t feel like home.

So, to wrap this up: Use your phone. Use it with Lightroom Mobile or whatever app works best for you—Snapseed, Lightroom, whatever. Test things out. Take the same photos you’ve been taking, but edit them in a new way. Create your own presets. Find a look you like, save it, and then apply it to other photos. You’ll have to tweak them, of course, but it’s a start.

Once you’ve done that for a while and you’re really sure you love photography, then you can start looking at other cameras, lenses, and gear. That’s a whole different conversation. I have a list of cameras I’d recommend for people who are at that point, or have a very specific purpose in mind—travel, film, portraits, whatever. But for now, if you’re new to photography and you want to figure it out, just use your phone.

And just so you know, I’m shooting this entire video on my iPhone. I have a Z8 in the bag, just for proof (not that anyone would call me a liar, but here’s the Z8). My Z30 is in my Pelican case. But I’m shooting this entire thing on my iPhone, just to show you that it’s good enough. I wouldn’t make a video encouraging you to use your phone if I wasn’t willing to do it myself.

So, get out there, make something cool, and if you feel like your work is getting closer to your style, tag me in it! I’d love to see it. I say this all the time, but no one ever does. I really want to follow your journey. Drop your handles below in the comments, or let me know where I can follow you. If you want feedback, I’m here for it. I’m in it—minute to win it!

Alright, I’m going to let you get after it now. I’m going to get out and make something I want to make too. I’ve been blessed this year with sessions that feel good, important, and meaningful. Now I need to keep pushing that envelope.

Thanks for being here, thanks for being you, and later, neighbor.

Riches of Authentic Interactions

What’s up, neighbors? Welcome back! My name is Jeremy Guge, and I’m really glad you’re here. We talk about all kinds of random stuff here, but today, inspired by my last video, I’m kicking off a new series. This is Part 2, where I try to be as authentic, natural, and honest as possible—no cuts, no B-roll, no jumps. I’m just in it, right? You get the mistakes, the failures, all of it.

I’ve got my iPad here with some notes on it. I’ve got four key points I want to make sure I don’t miss, so I’ve left myself a little reminder just to be safe. That’s the extent of my help today. So if you’re here, this won’t be flashy—obviously. But I hope you stick around because I think what we’re talking about today is important, and it might even be a little controversial for some people.

Let’s jump right in. The topic for today is The Riches of Authentic Interaction. What I mean by that is: being authentic costs us nothing, but the value and rewards it produces are priceless. It costs you zero dollars to be genuine. It takes no extra time or effort to just be you—uncut, unfiltered, just you. It costs you nothing. Yet, sometimes we box ourselves in, thinking that if we’re not always adding value, we’re not doing something right. But the truth is, by freely offering this part of ourselves without asking for anything in return, we get so much in return. And that can be incredibly rewarding.

Now, when I say "rewarding," I’m not just talking about monetary gain. Sure, if you’re on platforms like YouTube, there’s a possibility for monetization. But the real reward here, the most valuable thing we gain, is emotional. We can tap into a deeper part of ourselves and become more vulnerable as a whole. That’s the first point I want to touch on.

Secondly, when we give ourselves the freedom to be who we truly are and approach our work, our life, our relationships boldly, unapologetically, and fearlessly, everyone grows. That’s a bit of a mouthful, but here’s the summary: When we approach the things we care about—whether it’s work, life, or relationships—without limitations, those things can grow without bounds. And doing things like this—being authentic on camera, for example—helps us grow. It’s tough to be genuine on camera; we often feel like we have to put on a persona, make it polished, make sure it sounds right. But I don’t care about that. I want to connect with you on a more human level. Even if this series only lasts four or five videos, I hope it can help me carry this authenticity forward into all my content, where it’s not about just selling you the next camera but about having a meaningful conversation. I want our conversations to have more substance.

Another way we grow by being authentic is in our confidence. When we get used to doing things that are hard, over time, they get easier. That’s true for sports, academics, and pretty much anything we care about and work to improve. The same goes here. If we invest in ourselves and our time, we build confidence. We get more comfortable with who we are and what we do. It’s no longer awkward, and even when we stumble, we give ourselves permission to do so and not feel bad about it. I’m not perfect, and my videos won’t be perfect—but that’s part of it. The more we lean into being ourselves, the easier it gets.

Once we get that confidence, it becomes easier to be consistent. We’re more comfortable in what we’re doing, and it’s easier to get excited about it. Consistency becomes second nature.

Lastly, being authentic allows us to tap into a deeper level of understanding about ourselves. Intellectually, emotionally, and even physically—being authentic opens doors to deeper growth. It’s not about becoming more “deep” in a philosophical sense, but more about unlocking parts of ourselves that we’ve had closed off for a while.

Thirdly, mindful practice of being genuine helps remove the walls we build up to protect our egos and perceptions of others. This enables us to be more honest with ourselves, those who care about us, and our time. We have to be honest about what we need, what we want, and what we’re capable of. For example, if someone invites me to do something, and I’m genuinely not interested, I need to be able to say, “No, thanks.” That’s hard for me because I’m naturally a people pleaser. I like to make sure everyone is happy, but I also need to protect my time and energy. It’s okay to say no, even if it’s difficult.

And lastly, here’s a tough one: We’re far less important than we think we are—and that’s a good thing. I know this sounds negative, but it’s actually the opposite of that. If we can accept that we’re not as important as we sometimes think, it frees us from unnecessary pressure. I’m not important on YouTube. I don’t pretend that I am. But that gives me the freedom to make the content I want to make, without worrying about following trends or checking algorithmic boxes. That freedom gives me more confidence, and it allows me to be more authentic.

With less pressure, we can tap into deeper understanding, and that leads to better situations for everyone around us. When I take care of myself and understand my needs, I’m better able to take care of the people around me. And I’m learning to do that more and more.

So, that’s it. No BS. I hope this was helpful to someone. If not, that’s okay too because it was helpful to me. It feels good to get this stuff off my chest. I’ve got another video coming soon about social media and why I think we both need a break from it, in the same spirit of this video. If that interests you, please come back for it.

Until then, thanks for being here. I’ll see you next time!

Radio Silence of sorts

Roan Mountain- Carvers Gap- Nikon Z6iii

Hey all, it’s me. I have been MIA for awhile now and just wanted to reassure everyone that I am still around and still shooting daily. I am getting to a point where social media is more of a burden than a gift so I have been quite, well everywhere.
I have followed others that slowly post less and less and I always wonder, are they still working? Are they still making the things that I want to see or have they decided the game is too difficult? The game of trends, and fads. The game of the algorithm and all of its tedious asks. The game of competing with everyone one who just bought a camera and thought, I’ll start a business. Not to discourage those people by any means, but I think people are quick to forget the years of experience, and dedication due to a cheaper option. Sorry, not sorry.

I hope they are like me, and are seeking some peace of mind while diving into the projects they are passionate about. Things that keep you up at night with excitement. Maybe you even make a mood board, pinterest board, milanote project, or some visual way to cement your ideas in one place. Making things that have feeling. Since working on the short doc of Donald, the Hurricane Helene survivor, I have been so ever conflicted. I don’t want to make things just to make them. Especially on Youtube. I don’t want to advertise services that won’t pour back into me. I have been guilty more often than not of stretching too thin. I so enjoy meeting new people, and telling those stories. I have been fortunate enough to do this for a long time now, but I need more. Donald’s unforgettable story, has made an everlasting impression on me. It has affected the way I work, and the work I want to create. I feel very blessed to have found the passion that photography and videography spark. I am blessed to work with so many beautiful souls in amazing locations. So what does all this mean?

Carvers Gap- FujiFilm GFX 100s- 80mm 1.9

I think it’s time that I lean into what makes me the most excited to capture. My primary focus for this year will be portraiture, adventures ( elopements, engagements, sports ) and producing videos that serve a purpose. I want to continue to highlight local artisans like I was able to with Curry Goat Glass from Elizabethton. I want to build up the community of creatives around me and beyond. I want to travel more, and capture these things in places I have never seen.

Portrait of a stranger GFX 100s- 80mm 1.9

Donald- GFX 100s-, 80mm 1.9

Hasselblad X1Dii- 45mm f4

So, do you have a story to tell?

Do you have a passion for the outdoors?

Do you want to hike somewhere for sunrise, and create fine art?

Or maybe you have been deeply touched by someone, or something and want to team up to give your story a platform.

I AM HERE FOR IT.

Love you all!

Still here, and still passionate about what we make together..

Jeremy

GFX 100s- 80mm 1.9

Lumix and the L mount alliance in 2025

What's up, and welcome back! I'm keeping this one short and sweet today—unlike Peter McKinnon's "2-Minute Tuesdays," I'm hoping for 4 minutes. I'm shooting this video on the Blackmagic 6K Pro L-mount with the Sirui 35mm f/2.9–1.8x anamorphic lens. I mention all of that because it's L-mount, and I think L-mount in 2025 is going to be special. People who use this system are really excited about what's coming, which is why I bought the S5IIX in all black. I’ve got some vintage lenses on there now, along with the SmallRig Black Mamba cage, which is honestly fantastic.

I mention this because I made a video in the past where I borrowed the S5II from my good friends Garrett and Jared at CW Media. I didn’t love it at the time and made some comments about why it wasn’t for me. That’s why I picked up the Fuji X-H2S instead, which was great and still is—but after trading that Fuji camera to my good friend Jordy in exchange for the Blackmagic, and getting back into the L-mount system (I had the SL2S for a long time, which was my absolute favorite camera), I realized it makes more sense for me to be on the same lens mount with both my cinema and photo cameras.

For what the S5II and S5IIX cost in 2025, they’re honestly, in my opinion, the best bang for your buck. Best money for performance, hands down. I sold my Nikon Z6III to pick up this camera, and I’ve got the 24-105mm lens, which I think is super underrated. I also have the anamorphic lens, and with everything coming from the L-mount Alliance right now, I think this is the year for L-mount.

In case you don't know, the L-mount Alliance is a partnership between Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma. Sigma just released a 15mm f/1.2 Art lens for L-mount, so we're starting to see some faster primes, which we haven't had much of in the L-mount system. We’ve had a lot of 1.8s, which are great, but some people want faster lenses with better build quality. Leica, of course, has tons of L-mount lenses—though they’re astronomically expensive.

As someone who owned the S2S for a long time and really wants the SL3, the L-mount makes sense for me right now—and I think it makes sense for you too. Panasonic and Leica have been working together, and now we have the SL3, SL3S, SL2, SL2S from Leica, all in L-mount. Sigma has the FP in L-mount, too. We’re finally seeing bodies from different manufacturers that use the L-mount. With the announcements of the S1R and S1H follow-ups, things are only going to get better from here.

Price-to-value, again, is phenomenal. I bought this camera used, with the cage, and the day after owning it, I shot for a local organization here in East Tennessee. In that one event, I made more than halfway back the cost of the camera. They're affordable, fantastic, and the autofocus is so much better than I remember from when I borrowed it from Garrett and Jared. Honestly, I didn’t give it enough of a chance before, but in 2025, the L-mount Alliance is going to be a top contender in the field.

Give it the attention it deserves and the respect it’s earned. If you shoot L-mount or own any L-mount cameras, let me know your favorite lenses or bodies—I’d love to hear your thoughts, as I’m always on the lookout for something fun and new.

Lastly, thank you for being here. I’ve gained a lot of new followers from the video I did with my friend Brian about Donald’s survival of Hurricane Helen. The outpouring of support and positivity was incredible. I’ve got another project starting tomorrow along similar lines—not nearly as life-threatening as a hurricane survivor, but still in the documentary realm that I’m really drawn to. If you like that kind of content, or if you haven’t seen that video yet, I’ll leave it linked up here—please check it out, and then come back to see the new video I’m about to drop.

And, as always, if you need music, I can’t recommend Audio (A-U-D-I-I-O) enough. It's a one-time fee for a lifetime membership, and they have the best music library I've found anywhere—eclectic, high quality, and constantly updated. I've tried a lot of different services, and this is my go-to. Check out the link below, use my code to save 70%, and tell them I sent you—you won’t regret it.

Now, I’ve got to finish editing this video so I can get to the next one. Thanks for being here, and we’ll talk soon!

Donald- Hurricane Helene Survival story

Recently I had the absolute heart breaking task of meeting and telling Donald’s story. Donald, as you will witness, has a heroic story to retell, and you are invited to sit and relive his events as he recalls them. If you are seeing this, the need is still very great and these people still need so much. I hope the telling of his journey can help shine a light on the community that is in such dire need. I would very much appreciate sharing of this video to help make sure as many people see it as possible. I say that, not for my benefit, but to benefit these communities that have been ravaged by this natural disaster.

Meet Donald, and be prepared to feel.

Made in partnership with Brian Verdolino, and cell phone footage was provided by another survivor. Amanda, thank you for those clips.

Inspiration for 2025

Well, it that time of year when everyone has better intentions and the time of year we usually fall on our face. I want to make a change, and by finding inspiration to get me moving early in the year, well I think this gives me the advantage. If you love photo books, if you love to create anything at all, or if you just like hearing me talk for some reason. Please take a look at my latest video!

Thank you in advance!

J

Lets talk about audio

As creatives, we find ourselves always needing new and better tools. This could be cameras, or lenses and it could even be services that we use. In the video below I dive into which service I use for all of my licensed royalty free music, as well as my favorite microphone to date. I appreciate you stopping here but please take a few minutes to watch the video and I would be forever grateful if you decide to subscribe to my channel and like the video as well. Lets roll that footage!

My favorite Nikon lens for video with the Z system.

Hello and welcome to my website. You have found yourself on my blog ( are we still doing this in 2024? ) and I have decided to just use this place to share my thoughts on stuff I am interested in at any given time. My interests at the moment are video first, shooting film, photo, gaming, and getting outside. Most of those aren’t new but you may be new here so there you go, you are caught up. If you prefer to watch me talk about this, jump to the bottom of this article and I have left the link to my Youtube video.

In this share, I want to talk about my favorite lens for the Nikon Z6iii but today, especially for video work. Spoiler Alert, this lens is fantastic. Its wonderful at everything except extreme low light because the Nikon 24-120 is only an F4 lens. F4??? Get out of here. I can here the snobs already jumping in and swinging that they need more bokeh. What if I told you a good photographer / videographer can find a way to make wonderful work no matter the F stop. OH SHIT.. shots fired over here. I already know that my fellow film shooters get this fact.

Ok so why do I love the 24-120? Obviously the number 1 reason is the versatility of this focal range. You can cover so many prime focal lengths in the 24-120 range. This makes it easy to be the ONLY lens you pack. Ok so on to reason number 2, and that is the weight. This lens is light and really balances well on the Z6iii body. Makes it a joy to use. Number 3 is because its sharp. It is in the S line of Nikon lenses means it meets the best quality optically. Lastly, the autofocus is sticky in the best kind of way. Its extremely useful, and balanced option for video.

If you are looking for the video you can find that here: