Retrospective August 2026
Hold on tight everyone, we're about to go over the drop into the end of the year!
In our family calendar the end of August means we can hear the faint sound of jingle bells and fireworks, The mornings are getting lighter earlier and the sun seems to be setting later and later as we dive head first into spring here in the southern hemisphere. This is the time to work out what can be finished and wrapped up by the end of the year (pun intended) or what has to be pushed off into the things to pick back up in 2027. Let’s get into it.
Mid month thought - Building because you can
It feels like 2026 has been the year of appreciating and the nostalgia for old tech with all its fun an fragility, In January I caught the bug and had the dream of a Mini-DV camcorder which lasted about 2 weeks before the bubble was popped. The end of the year has had the fire stoked with the revival of my 2016 Asus E200H.
I have dubbed this the digital typewriter project because these machines when new we’re very one track minded so multi tasking was always a bit of a stretch, It’s main job now is just running Obsidian.
A new battery has been ordered but waiting for something to come from a supplier feels so time consuming in the world of next day delivery but who would have thought no one had a 10 year old netbook battery just sitting on the shelf ready to go…
Blog Post - Frames from the weekend project
I thought I better put a stake in the ground for this project and give it a home which for now will be on the blog and see where it goes from there. It will be cool to look back on this over a year and see how they all pan out.
In Good Company Launch
As mentioned in last months post I was keen for this, and it absolutely delivered! Being able to finally put a face to a name for people I have been speaking too for a while now with people like Nathan and Maz the founders, Jay who I have been speaking to for a while and meeting Tammie who’s YouTube channel I have been enjoying watching. Also chatting to Max who founded and is building the Zink platform for creatives and Kenny who is an incredible resource in the business side of creative.
I am so happy I have finally got a little bit of time to play around with these templates so that I can pour loads of time into making some little zines mainly for my daughter to play with. I have been a big fan of how well designed these are and there are even videos stepping through the process. Down another rabbit hole I go. Go and grab the kit from Wuthipol so we can start a zine trading club… Actually that sounds like a good plan for 2027.
Captured my interest
Light Lens Lab 35mm f2 APO announcement - Light lens lab are at it again with an attack on wallets around the world. This looks like an insanely high performing lens and a few people I have spoken to who have been testing have said that this could be the one so I can’t want to see the reviews when they start coming in. I think my heart is still set on the 35mm AA from them though.
[Gx]Ace teasing the GX-P1 camera – Casey has one of the best channels on YouTube, If you watch one of his videos about a specific camera and don’t have an eBay search within 12 hours you might need to speak to a health care professional. This announcement of something absolutely insane does not seem like that much of a surprise from someone so committed to making things as goos as possible. I am very exited to see where this project goes.
Iain's Leica R9 DMR – There are very few people I know that are speed running camera equipment for more than a decade quicker than Iain, first it was the Leica CM point and shoot and then the 100mm f2.8 R mount, which was closely followed by the Leica R8 and the current iteration is not just any Leica R9, but one with the DRM digital attachment giving it a 10MP CCD sensor by Kodak in all its glory. I think the next step will be digital medium format so lets watch and see where it goes. But for now just listen to that R9 shutter sound…
Something to think about
Photographing things is probably one of the coolest hobbies in my opinion. You’re literally capturing things you are there for and seeing yourself, to take a photo from the view at the top of a mountain you have to go to the top of that mountain to take it. This also applies for things a lot closer to home with those around you, making memories you can look back on and have to show future generations is an incredible part of photography that I think we could all action a little more. Keep an eye on the mid month email because I have more to say on this.
“If you look over every photo you ever took 30 years from now, who around you do you wish you had more photos of? There won’t be ‘enough’ photos of them but if you can, there can be more photos added to that collection.”
Best of August 2026 Gallery
That wraps up August 2026
As we slide into a new season and go full speed into the end of the year I invite you to please remain seated, secure any loose items and keep your arms inside the ride at all times.
See you next month,
Tom
