Rocco Galatioto, nice photos and good food

The internet is full of rumors as to when Canon will bring out a D4 or when Nikon will come out with a D700X. The impatience of the pixel peepers and techno freaks is reaching fever pitch. dpreview, the leading site is full of posts from people whose anticipation is killing them. Of course no one can answer these posts with any factual data because those who know cannot say. The replies are from other wishful thinkers who pose as knowledgeable experts but are really full of themselves. It's sort of fun though. Rocco Galatioto

It was inevitable that I would put up Charlie's photo as the photo of the day. He is a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. A real beauty. Taken with the G9. As you can see, Charlie is wearing the Blue and Red. These are the colors of the GENOA foot ball [soccer] club of which I'm a fan.

Back to Venice; how could we ever leave this incredible place. Taken in April 2005, with a Nikon D2H and a Sigma 18-135 f3.5-56. It was a great travel lens. My daughter immersed in water when her canoe capsized. Actually, it still works and makes for am excellent portrait lens now that it has some degree of slimy film on some elements. Also, my love for animals is evident in the photo. Enjoy, Rocco Galatioto

Taren with a D2X and the incomparable Mikkor 24-70 f2.8 G

Q. Should I by the LX3 [any camera may be substituted} or should I buy it's successor? A. Sure, why not wait for the successor's successor ad infinitum so you can always window shop and never buy. Gee you do not even have to go through the annoyance of taking photos... Seriously, there will always be a successor but in the meantime you can enjoy this little gem of a camera. My sarcastic initial reply is not as off the wall as it appears as there are such people. I'm not implying that the poster at dpreview.com is one of these as I'm sure he was looking for an honest response. The problem with digital cameras is that there is always something "better" on the horizon. However, this "better" camera will not, necessarily, make you a better photographer. Too often we get rid of equipment before we have fully mastered it and before we have explored it's true capabilities. In a way, we are afraid to see what the camera can do as not to dissuade us from ...

Taken with a D300 and the kit lens 18-85 Nikkor F 3.5-4.5. The place is Segesta in Sicily, a great place to visit. This Doric temple built by the Phoenicians, along with it's amphitheater are all that is left of a once important city in the history of Magna Grecia. It's importance as an instigator between Syracuse and Athens, led to the latter's failed occupation of the island that then gave way to the Punic wars that led to Sicily's becoming Rome first Province. It was also the beginning of the end of Greek hegemony. The Greeks never occupied Sicily, they merely settled it. Traces of their enduring culture is still noted especially on the Eastern part of the island. At one time, Syracuse rivaled Athens in importance, not to mention that is was one of the largest cities in Europe. The abuses of Verres and other Roman pro consuls are legendary. The Roman invasion, the first, and one of the cruelest, was the beginning of of a series of invasions that finally ended in 186...

Again it's Venice; April 2008. Taken with a Canon 5D and the lowly 24-85 3.5-45. Mot too shabby for a simple EF lens. Ho what a cheap lens can do. On vacation I like to travel light and leave my expensive L lenses at home. For jobs, it's another matter. Rocco Galatioto

Taken with a Nikon D200 and the "kit lens," the 18-70 3.5-4.5. No long lens used, no sniping of subjects, no very fancy equipment. Rocco Galatioto

It was purely coincidental that today's photo of the day, was shot on KodachromeII. I was not aware that today, Eastman Kodak finally stopped producing this venerable film. It did go through many variations but the basic structure of it being actually three layers of B&W film whose colors were "added" during processing, made it the most stable color film ever. It's colors were legendary. Even Paul Simon wrote a song about it. What Simon actually meant in the song is immaterial to the fact that the same lyrics would not have been apropiate to Ektachrome, Agfachrome or even Fujichrome. I will not only decry it's passing as a film but as an era that will never return. For good or evil, digital marches on. So farewell Kodachrome, nothing could ever replace you and nothing ever will no matter how many mega pixels get packed in sensors.. ADDIO

Yes, “lu beddu paisi.” In Sicilian, my first and original language, it literally means the beautiful town; but metaphorically it means the place I was born. We all have our own “paisi” and we all denigrate some one else's “paisi.” This is an old view of my “paisi,” Castellammare del Golfo. taken with a Canon Ft with a 50mm f1.4 and Kodachrome II. Yes it had an ASA {ISO] for your youngsters, of 25. You read it right. Now we ask of our digital cameras to give us no noise at ISO of 6400! The town has changed much since then and the castle is surrounded by a concrete belway of sorts. However it has been restored and is quite beautiful inside and out.

This is a premise that I will expound on in a not to distant date. It's being posted in the hope that the above tittle will evoke some debate. I know that some of us have an insatiable hunger for more and more. Yet what can be done with less is amazing. What do you think? More in the future. All the best Rocco Galatioto

One from my archives. Taken on a wintry day back in 1973 with a Nikon Ftn and that superb 105 f2.5 Nikkor. This is from a print scan as I did not have time to look for the negative. It was printed on Agfa Brovira F surface and No. 3 contrast grade. Developed on Dektol. Ho those wonderful days of staying in the dark.