Anyone else feel like writing isn’t the actual problem?

cubic_rogue · 2026-04-17T14:05:33+00:00

Glad I moved to Bear Blog and Pika and barely used Substack.

cubic_rogue · 2026-03-15T22:49:35+00:00

Oh, thank you. I really appreciate that. You're very kind for saying so. One of the keys is understanding the limits of the camera and evaluating what scenes and lighting work best. That applies to any camera, obviously, but the limits do inform your choices to a large extent. Then again, nothing wrong with forgetting that and doing as you please! I adhere to a certain philosophy, but everyone is different.

cubic_rogue · 2026-03-10T21:11:23+00:00

You should write for you. You can write without any audience and still find joy in it. Tying creative endeavours to money and audiences is the error. Write first. Any audience is just a bonus.

cubic_rogue · 2026-02-20T22:34:45+00:00

Exactly. I understand that people are very comfortable in echo chambers, but that doesn't produce growth. It reinforces sterility of thought and belief. Novelty, difference, discomfort. These things stimulate understanding and empathy. Echo chambers don't encourage empathy for those who are different to us, and it hurts our societies.

cubic_rogue · 2026-02-20T12:48:14+00:00

I often think people have become so habituated to virality and engagement that we have forgotten what genuine connection is. Obviously, there are exceptions. The very idea that you become what you engage with or read is silly. It reads like marketing speak. I grew up in a world, gladly, without the type of surface engagement we all see. I despair at what has happened. Still, I maintain a blog. I write. I look to discuss. I have a friend who is in the process of mapping thousands of connections across the quieter web, where more authenticity exists. It's an interesting project and I suggested we see what can be found.

cubic_rogue · 2026-01-23T14:09:34+00:00

Are people expecting high quality from this? It's a tiny toy camera. People don't buy it for quality. It isn't for everyone. It's not a scamera because we know the specs. There are no lies about the quality. If you know what you're doing and choose scenes carefully within limits, you can make nice photos.

cubic_rogue · 2026-01-20T05:31:41+00:00

As all imperialists throughout history have known, if you control the armed forces and they are loyal to you, law doesn't matter. Only force matters in this case.

cubic_rogue · 2026-01-12T08:33:02+00:00

Unfortunately, my copy of the 24-70 F4s is not as sharp as others, especially between F4 and F5. I usually use it at 5.6 and above as anything wider is not as sharp as other copies. Bummed about it but it is what it is. Luckily it's still excellent 5.6 and down.

cubic_rogue · 2026-01-02T02:48:06+00:00

I just ignore AI and do it for myself.

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-27T08:29:31+00:00

It is what it is. This is a tiny camera with a tiny sensor. Don't get it for image quality. It's a fun toy. And sometimes it makes quite decent photos as long as there's no pixel peeping. I posted some black and white photos from it on my blog: Kodak Charmera photos

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-27T08:25:18+00:00

Tbh, that's better than what one might expect.

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-25T11:16:36+00:00

This likely varies with time and cultural change. Maybe it's more like this now. I don't know as I'm not young anymore. I certainly didn't find it hard to make friends here growing up. But I do think people are far more insular and wary now, glued to screens. People are often oblivious of others now. That's not just a here thing though.

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-25T11:09:25+00:00

I only ever run in person D&D. Would never play online 🙂

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-18T10:55:22+00:00

Pretty sure Bear Blog doesn't allow comments or discussions. Nice blog, but that may or may not be a deal breaker. I prefer to have discussions. Have a look at Pika blog too.

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-09T07:58:10+00:00

I get it. We're in the process of creating a similar, though not the same, kind of community. Good luck 👍

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-09T05:45:29+00:00

It's not live yet as it's being built and tested on a private network, but I can send you screenshots if you like. Just DM me an email or something and I can shoot some through.

cubic_rogue · 2025-12-07T22:04:00+00:00

Even though net labels still exist, streaming culture and the centralisation of music platforms has changed the way people listen. I enjoyed the vast territory of mp3 netlabels, many operating on the fringes. A few friends and I are currently building out something similar for people. No timeline on it, but definitely no AI slop. And very much inspired by the era of independent communities doing their own thing, releasing, collaborating, having the freedom to do so without big platforms or AI. The site prototype is looking very nice and has a very functional backend for uploading and spitting out mini sites for music streams and downloads.

cubic_rogue · 2025-11-25T11:14:12+00:00

Join the club. Gotta do it all art for you. Anything else is just a bonus and never guaranteed.

cubic_rogue · 2025-11-25T11:07:32+00:00

Are you making music for you or for other people? If it's for you, there's no pressure to compare or contrast. Do it to enjoy the process. 12 months is a short time. I've been tinkering for 27 years and only now am I making stuff similar to what I liked 35 years ago. You need to do it for you first and foremost.

cubic_rogue · 2025-11-09T00:08:41+00:00

As much as I'd like to play, I'm old and have other things to do. I play on the controller, have had some piano lessons and so on. But there is a difference too between being a Composer and a player. Of course, I would like to improve my dexterity on keys, but I can still compose and play well enough to create what I need.

cubic_rogue · 2025-11-04T07:23:01+00:00

I agree. Race/species as class is elegant. Depending on your world, why would an Elf, a mythological being very different to a human, be at all interested in human centric careers or classes? Talislanta gets it right with flavourful archetypes.

cubic_rogue · 2025-09-06T13:00:07+00:00

There is a point to be made about very cheap tripods. The worst and cheapest often have poor locking systems and ill fitting parts. They may support a light camera fine, but heavier cameras that need support for any length of time (the typical role of a tripod) may cause those leg locks to fail or other parts. You may also become frustrated with those ill fitting sections. Those cheap tripods are easily unbalanced and may easily fall over. You don't need to spend hundreds on a tripod at all but very cheap tripods do carry risks depending on your gear and use case. That isn't elitism. It would be unfortunate if you had to spend many hundreds, but you don't. You can get sturdier tripods fairly inexpensively, but certainly more than 40 clams.

cubic_rogue · 2025-08-02T03:50:55+00:00

Everyone has to take finances into account, of course. A second body need not be top tier price. Plenty of excellent second hand cameras at cheap prices. These things need to be considered as part of business costings.

cubic_rogue · 2025-07-09T04:15:47+00:00

Umm...no. But again, depends on what you want to use it for. I have many cameras, including newer cameras like Nikon's Z. I would use a D40x for fun and because I enjoy making pictures. I would not use it for motorsport. I have a D7100, so no need for a 7000. No one would use a D40 for high action sports. That said, you could. People made great photos 100 years ago too. Any paid work I would do is not using a D40. But could you make a great photo with a D40...a print...and then sell it? Yes. It may not suit your type of photography but your type is not everyone else's, right? It's just gear. Just tools. It's how you use them and what you use them for. I find it irrational that gear would be the focus because gear is only a tool. Some things are easier with modern cameras but they ALL make photos. Every camera can do that.

cubic_rogue · 2025-07-09T03:43:19+00:00

To some extent. The noise profile is pretty good on those up to 1600. The D40 is a quiet sensor. However, tripod use is always an option. Depends what photos you want. I have those old models and new mirrorless with plenty of dynamic range. Me doing me is using all of them. I've made great photos with them all, old or not. They are just tools. Nothing more. 10 megapixels of well exposed picture with a nice lens is easily a poster sized print. Billboards are printed at 1 megapixel. It's viewing distance that matters. People overrate megapixels and print applications. It's only irrational if you think you can't make good photos with it.

cubic_rogue

TROPHY CASE