Even though I work from home there are several tools I rely on everyday. The first and foremost is my computer, the second being my fountain pen and notebook. The other things include my go to watch, my camera, and my backpack I use to carry it all around.
MacBook Air 2012
My mid 2012 MacBook Air which is quite old by todays standard but is still working strong. It is a Core i7, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD which has kept it very relevant and fast! The only issue I have had is to replace the battery. The reason I use a Mac is many fold but to keep it short and simple it just works! There are never any drivers to install, most software is now available for the OS, and the Terminal access is amazing. The other benefit is that there is a mountain of free software for editing and managing photos. This allows me to expand my technical and creative pursuits.
Fountain Pen & Moleskine Notebook
Writing notes and creating drawings on physical paper is a very low tech set up but I believe allows for the greatest creative freedom. The fountain pen is decidedly an old technology in writing terms but it is much more satisfying and expressive than typing on a computer, using a stylus, or even just a ball point. There are thousands of different fountain pen styles, different nib sizes, filling mechanisms, colors and more. The other thing is you get to choose your own ink, of which there is almost an endless selection of colors. This selection freedom allows you to put your own personality into the writing instrument and make it your own!
I am currently using a Noodlers Konrad Acrylic Flex Marianas Marbled with Noodlers Socrates Ink. It’s a piston fill mechanism, which means it can hold a greater amount of ink than a converter or cartridge but is harder to clean. It uses is a Flex nib which allows the writer to apply pressure to the pen and create thicker lines as they write. and it has a screw cap which is a bit more secure than a snap and is a bit more elegant. The ink is a purple color that is a bit light in saturation but the super quick dry time makes it excellent for notes as it does not smear even under oily hands. The note book is a Moleskine cahier with plain paper. These come in 3 different sizes and come in packs of 3. They are not as durable but It makes it easy to segment notes into categories or by date.
Leica M8
The Leica M8 has been my go to camera when leaving the house. It takes amazing photos and gets you involved in the composing process. Similar to an old film camera but with the major conveniences of digital. Its a manual focus rangefinder which means you need both hands to shoot, its not built for fast action, the shutter is about the loudest thing you have ever heard, and the ISO performance is terrible for low light. So you might be thinking, why is this, a 10 year old camera, my go to favorite? Because of the experience of the rangefinder composition, the portability, and it still takes amazing pictures! and not to mention its built like a tank. Leica is an expensive brand, even this 10 year old camera was over $1000 without a lens! The Leica lenses are even more expensive, so to keep costs down I am using some vintage lenses and my go to lens is a 35mm F2 Chinese made M mount lens from 7artisans that is $280 which is a steal for any rangefinder lens!
Peak Design Everyday Backpack
I am a bit obsessive over backpacks as I am always looking for one that meets all my needs and preferences. The backpack has peak design’s magnetic latch system that allows quick access to the main compartment. It also has side access on both sides that allows you to swing the bag around to the front to grab your camera or headphones without the need to set the bag down. It is made of an extremely durable material and naturally water resistant. The bag is designed with moveable partitions that are used to divide the main compartment for camera gear. The top of the bag has a dedicated zip that leads into the laptop sleeve and small pouch for pens, cables, and chargers. It can hold a ton of things but when its all loaded up it can get heavy. All in all its the best bag I have come across so far and should last a lifetime.
Thats it for now!
These are just a few of my everyday things I use and there will be further deep reviews on the items in the future. Thanks for reading!
