Nothing really exciting has been happening around here. As one could expect of the Upper Texas Gulf Coast, the weather is normally unpredictable. We have nice balmy days of mid sixties with lots of sun and the prerequisite humidity (bad scalp days for me) followed by bone chilling cold, rainy miserable days.

I was transferred from Bakersfield, California, the bellybutton of the Golden State, to Houston, Texas back in January of 1994. I have now resided in Houston for seventeen years, which is the longest time I have lived anywhere. So any person, of reasonable thinking, would suppose that I would have become adjusted to winters in Houston. As a transplanted Northern Californian, I still have not become accustomed to what Texans euphemistically call “the seasons.”

So what does this have to do with photography? Well nothing directly unless the majority of the subjects one elects to shoot reside, for the most part, in the great outdoors. The weather, in January, along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, is quite variable. One day the weather is gloriously sunny in the mid 60′s and the next day it is miserably cold and rainy. Consequently, planning any photographic field trips becomes problematical.

Because of the dictates of unpredictable weather, I have spent the past several weeks editing the vast array of photographs I took this past year in and around the Upper Texas Gulf coast, and some that I took of my two part time assistants in my studio. The wild life photos taken in the various Texas State Parks are acceptable by my standards, but as with anything, they could be improved upon.

To break up the monotony of editing, my other cold weather task is cleaning the sensors and lenses of my various digital cameras. The little electronic wonders, known as sensors, are what have replaced film. The sensors are prone to static charges, and consequently they really suck up dust. It is these tiny, annoying and ever present dust particles that cause image degradation. About the only way to avoid this nuisance of dust particles would be to change lenses in a positive pressure environment of a laboratory or otherwise you will be touching up photos long after the cows come home. Having been a micro paleontologist in the oil industry, I may be fanatically patient at minuscule repetitive tasks, but touching up dust specks on a photo can even drive me batty. The only reward is that it keeps me busy and out of my wife’s way. Also I have two really cute part time assistants who are fun to work with and who are eager to learn. Dianne and Jessica can turn any drudgery into a fun project! Also, I really enjoy it when people in public stare, jealously, at this old geezer accompanied by young, shapely ladies in their early twenties. I guess there are joys yet in the “Golden Years”, eat your hearts out young men!

After cleaning digital camera sensors, I begin to check lenses for more of those pesky little dust particles and ever present and inevitable greasy fingerprints from lens changes. These lenses get thoroughly cleaned with special optical lens cloth that I begged and borrowed from my optician. After polishing the glass, the next step is to check the sharpness of each lens using the LensAlign Pro focus calibration system. It is during this down time that I will have any equipment repaired if I have discovered any malfunctions.

After I have examined all my equipment, and sent out what needs to be repaired, I turn my attention to a second review photos from the past shooting season with my field assistant. We will take critical notes about the images and then research what localities to be explored for the upcoming photographic field trips months ahead. From this second review, we will map out a list of future localities and possible wildlife subjects.

And that is what keeps this photographer busy during the periods of inclement weather. Oh, and there many art and photography exhibits in Houston that can help keep your shooting eye in tune. Just keep shooting!

The sudden cold snap, I am still confused by Houston weather coming from California, has taken the impetus out of my photo field trips around the Houston area. Most would look at this as a chance to do studio work. But this winter weather leaves me somewhat listless. Many mammals hibernate during the winter, but I would be really odd if I tried that. Such as crawling under an electric blanket and setting it for three months.

I have spent some time cleaning all my camera gear. However, it was much easier to clean film cameras, such as my brace of Nikon F’s. The lens care consisted of optical cleaning solutions and microfiber cloth. Cleaning the sensors on my digital Nikons is another story. No can of air to blow dust off the mirrors or the interiors. So, I ordered a special kit with with tiny, blue, plastic paddles, cleaning solution that smells somewhat like a cheap cologne and a small device that looks like a vacuum cleaner for a gerbil cage. This little vacuum cleaner device has a small diode that is positioned just right to blast a pinpoint of light back into your squinting retina. So I vacuum, I wipe with the little paddles and I finally decide that the sensor is now pristine after an hour or so of hunching over the gaping camera body in the position of a Swiss watchmaker. Ah, now I won’t have to spend so much time spotting black specks in the sky. With chest puffed out and having completed this task, I click a lens on the cleaned Nikon and trundle out into the yard to take a few test shots.

I returned from my test of the camera with cleaned sensor, loaded the compact flash card into my computer to bask in my cleaning success. After reviewing the results, I started the cleaning process all over again. What looks spotless, was not! Anyone have a lighted magnifier for my tired eyes?

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday, new lenses and a spotless sensor.

Flowing water in a backyard fountain designed by Jeff Law “The Plant Whisperer” of Ka Bloom Tropical Xeriscaping, Houston, Texas

Azaleas blooming in March 2010 while the garden-scape is in planning stages by Jeff Law of Ka Bloom Tropical Xeriscaping, Houston, Texas

Garden exterior of drought and freeze tolerant plants northeast Houston, Texas. Planting design by Jeff Law of Ka Bloom Tropical Xeriscaping, Houston, Texas

Welcome to the new website of Michael Dumont. I specialize in portraits, landscape and nature photography.

I hope you enjoy getting to know me and my photography. Stay tuned for more content and a gallery page.

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