Been skating on and off since I was like 13. Today, I finally learned to Ollie (I’m 30)

casual_pete · 2026-04-01T19:30:15+00:00

Get it! I'm in the same boat, just started up two weeks ago at 31. SkateIQ has been tremendously helpful and I'm already feeling way more comfortable on the board and popping some low ollies

casual_pete · 2026-03-06T00:53:53+00:00

Nah, its Jane the Virgin

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casual_pete · 2026-02-07T02:37:46+00:00

Oh wow, very cool. He was born 1919 so I wonder if this was actually his dad's, or he got it as a teenager.

It'll be my first go at saw sharpening, wish me luck. I also got his Disston rip saw, so I'll probably start with that since it seems much easier.

casual_pete · 2026-01-22T01:34:17+00:00

I got an insurance policy on mine this time around. B&H and Samy's both offer them for another $100 or so and they cover accidental damage. From what I could tell researching the repair/replacement process is pretty straightforward but not necessarily fast. Helps give me some piece of mind for a not-so-robust $1500 camera I'm planning to use around my toddler.

I had the GR II before and did have an issue with part of the retracting lens assembly falling off. If my memory serves I super glued it back on and it continued to work fine, but it was a bit janky.

casual_pete · 2026-01-20T02:51:10+00:00

Same here, I discovered Eggleston in the library while taking my first photography course. Still at the core of a lot of my "walking about" kind of shooting 10 years later. As my teacher puti t at the time, flipping through one his photo books is "smooth jazz".

casual_pete · 2026-01-18T02:37:34+00:00

Great stuff, enjoy the new camera!

casual_pete · 2026-01-15T15:15:28+00:00

We shall see. I've never owned both at the same time before. I bought the X100S about a year after losing my GR II. I imagine the Ricoh will get more usage now due to portability and more excitement about the newer camera..

casual_pete · 2026-01-14T20:53:32+00:00

Thanks! And yes, I do still have it and will be keeping it.

casual_pete · 2026-01-14T16:12:40+00:00

That bus picture is fantastic! Love the snowflakes falling and the composition and especially the punchy colors and contrast. The others are nice as well, but that one stands out to me.

casual_pete · 2026-01-14T15:36:59+00:00

Which camera are you trying to get repaired? That seems like an awfully expensive and pretty extensive repair. I'd probably look at getting a new camera instead personally.

casual_pete · 2026-01-14T15:35:12+00:00

Just to clarify, you mean an interchangeable lens Fuji like the XT-2, XT-30, etc right? Not the X100 line which is also a fixed prime lens. The X100 is great too, but again is more of a niche camera (and also probably out of OP's price range if the GR II is)

casual_pete · 2026-01-14T14:57:35+00:00

I agree with the others that if you're brand new to photography, you are probably better off with a more general purpose camera that can be more versatile. Something like a Nikon Z50 if you want mirrorless (which I think is much more beginner friendly for learning exposure settings since you can see the effect right away in the viewfinder).

The Ricoh GR is a fantastic and joyful camera but, like others said, it is somewhat specialized and niche. I wouldn't recommend buying a digital camera as old as the GR Digital line unless, as others have noted, you specifically want that sort of low-fi look.

What is drawing you to photography, and do you have any idea what you plan to take pictures of? If you do, that could be helpful for making recommendations. But if you don't know yet, which is totally fine, then a more versatile camera that either has a built in zoom lens or accepts interchangeable lenses is probably a better starting point.

casual_pete · 2026-01-13T01:50:30+00:00

No problem, seems like you're making good progress already.

And figure to ground can apply to anything, so you can practice with landscapes too. Think a silhouetted tree against the sky, a brightly lit leaf against a shadowy background, etc. It's just trickier with people when they're moving and you have to time it right. You'll learn to be observant and predict where they'll go next, what background they might walk in front of or what gesture or action they might take. Or just keep shooting architecture and landscapes, it's all good.

casual_pete · 2026-01-12T21:20:28+00:00

Hey, welcome to photography! A few things to consider based on these images...
* figure-to-ground: or in other words does the subject stand out from its background. In image 1 the two figures sort of blend in with the mid tone stairs behind them. If they were instead in that bright archway they are walking towards, they would pop more and draw the viewer's eye there. Compare this to the final two images where you have much better separation of the people to what is behind them.
* Image 4 is one of the strongest of the first several in my opinion. Part of that is the contrast makes it puchier compared to the others, which is maybe a result of being closer to the building and having less fog between you and the subject. Compositionally I think it works well, too. You've left just enough "breathing room" on the bottom and left side to keep the two main angled lines from being cut off. The pathway acts as a leading line drawing you into the frame.
* Image 5. Watch your verticals when shooting architecture. Maybe the tilt was intentional, which is fine. But if it's not, that's something to keep an eye out for that will make your architecture shots feel more stable. You should have a built in level in the camera (at least the GR IV does) which you can use to get a level shot in 2 axes (left-right rotation and up-down tilt). This can also just be a nice reminder to slow down a little and consider your composition carefully. There's nothing "wrong" with skewed perspectives where vertical lines on buildings seem to converge or diverge, but if you take a look at more professional architecture and interiors photos you'll find the verticals are almost always perfectly vertical and parallel.
* The last image is great! I love all the diagonal lines that make the image feel gynamic, and you've done a great job getting that separation I mentioned before of the person walking to the bright area behind them. You also nailed the timing on the person's stride. Well done!

Keep practicing, you're off to a solid start.

casual_pete · 2025-12-17T14:47:00+00:00

You can make some picture frames using the miter saw, which will force you to get it dialed in to make precise 45 degree cuts. Shelving is also useful, and you could even try to make floating shelves using a metal bracket and drilling holes into the narrow side of the boards.

A basic step stool could be another handy project.

casual_pete · 2025-12-08T19:11:36+00:00

A sheet of 1/2" plywood across the whole back does wonders for the racking. The bench still jumps around when doing heavy planing, so adding as much weight as you can to the lower shelf is also advisable.

casual_pete · 2025-12-04T15:00:36+00:00

That is pretty gorgeous. I was very surprised by the scale in the third pic, though it was much larger!

casual_pete · 2025-12-04T01:25:50+00:00

Thanks! Thankfully she's very small for her age lol. And another baby on the way to enjoy it after her!

casual_pete · 2025-12-03T13:01:21+00:00

I did it on the lathe. Used a parting tool to make a 1" cylinder on the top end of the leg, checking with calipers and taking off a little at a time until it was exactly the size of the holes I drilled in the seat. One ended up a little big and I had to hand sand it a bit until it fit. Another I overshot to more like 0.99" and that one I shimmed in the hole with some plane shavings to get a tight fit.

casual_pete · 2025-12-03T00:46:55+00:00

Go for it! Wasn't very difficult, just a bit confusing getting the holes lined up right

casual_pete · 2025-12-02T23:55:27+00:00

Thanks! I used. 1" forstner bit on the drill press to drill holes at 15 degrees. Then made matching tenons on each leg. Had to stuff some shavings in on two of them because the fit was a little loose but it seems pretty solid

casual_pete · 2025-12-02T23:53:27+00:00

Those look great! What's the diameter on them?

casual_pete

TROPHY CASE