blogs on blog.jessefitzgerald

Sigma fp-L flip screen mod

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I added a flip screen to the Sigma fp-L using a modification kit called the DPL mod.

The fp-L is easily my favourite camera to date. It’s built around a minimalist design philosophy, which is part of its appeal but that simplicity does come at the cost of usability in certain scenarios.

This mod is designed to address that.

Installation Experience

Installation is relatively straightforward, but not something I’d call easy. You’re opening up the camera, working with delicate ribbon cables, and relying on pressure based contacts. Tolerances are tight, and there’s very little room for error.

i gave my spare raspberry pi a job

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1000

I had a Raspberry Pi 3B+ sitting in a drawer doing nothing. That’s a crime really - so I decided to put it to work.

I’d been running my blog on Bear Blog, a minimal hosted platform that I genuinely liked. Clean, fast, no fuss. But I got curious - could I replicate that experience myself, at home, on a $50 computer that draws less power than a phone charger?

building a roon ROCK server (and fixing the “welcome to GRUB” error)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 20:12:00 +0000

Last holidays I built a dedicated Roon ROCK server and like most good projects, it didn’t go completely to plan.

What started as a straightforward install turned into a frustrating “welcome to grub” dead end. But after a bit of digging (and almost giving up), I found the fix.

If you’re running newer Intel NUC hardware. ie; NUC13/14 this will save you a lot of time.

The Build

I ended up going a bit overkill… but for the price, it made sense.

i setup a family VPN that just works - split tunnel with private DNS

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:29:00 +0000

Most home VPN guides are written for nerds who want to tinker. This is no exception but is very much suited to a typical family.

Here’s what I did and why it’s become one of the best things on my home network.

The problem

I wanted three things:

Access to my home network from anywhere
Ad blocking and content filtering on all family devices, everywhere - not just at home
No impact on normal internet speeds or mobile data usage

The standard solutions all had tradeoffs. A full tunnel VPN routes all your traffic through home, which is slow and hammers your home upload. A Pi-hole only works when you’re on the home network. Commercial DNS filtering services cost money and you’re trusting a third party with everything.

the last quarter

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 23:15:00 +0000

It’s the first of October today, and that means we’re entering the last quarter of the year.

For me, three months has always been a powerful block of time. I’ve seen how much can be achieved in 90 days when I focus. It’s long enough to make something real happen, but short enough to stay locked in.

This year didn’t go to plan. My photography 365 challenge fizzled out. I wanted to end the year as the fittest I’ve ever been, ready to carry that into my 40s, but instead I’ve fallen out of shape. Mental health struggles and new medication knocked the wind out of my sails and left me without the drive I usually have.

abandoned: antique store

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 03:42:00 +0000

I recently captured a series of photographs at an abandoned antique store. This intriguing location, situated by the highway in my city, had always piqued my curiosity. Earlier this week, I noticed that the fence surrounding the property was slightly open. With my camera and new manual lens in tow, I seized the perfect opportunity to explore and document the site!

Ok, Enjoy the photos

Location : ?

Gear: Nikon Z f , Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 Aspherical

instagram is dead: why glass is my go-to for photo sharing

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 08:34:00 +0000

As the golden age of Instagram fades, I’ve found a new favorite platform for social photo sharing: Glass. This subscription-based service boasts a vibrant community and an elegant app that showcases photos in their original aspect ratios. The user experience is smooth and visually pleasing, making it a joy to use.

One of the standout features of Glass is its monthly featured tag category. This month’s theme is ‘Golden Hour,’ a magical time of day that offers unique lighting opportunities for photographers. Despite having years of experience behind the lens, I’m constantly evolving my skills and discovering fresh perspectives on capturing light.

8 bit dreams

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 21:15:00 +0000

I recently stumbled upon an intriguing editing technique in Lightroom that transforms images into a vibrant 80’s retro style with striking fluorescent highlights. Although this method significantly degrades image quality, the nostalgic look is appealing to me. I’m considering creating a series of images using this effect. It certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but let’s see….

beyond the basics

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 01:53:00 +0000

I attended a photo workshop last weekend, and it was a great experience. The day was perfect for immersing myself in photography, allowing me to fully focus on the craft. I find that when I take the time to shoot with intention, the results are always favourable.

Gear: Nikon ZF

dreary day in ‘Ju Raku En’

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

These are a series of shots I took in Ju Raku En, The Japanese Garden.

It was a dreary day right at the end of Autumn, not the conditions I had hoped for. Yet, I persevered. My visit also provided the perfect opportunity to compare shots taken here with the Ricoh GRII four years ago. As time has passed, much has changed, and I’d like to think that my understanding of the technical side of photography, as well as my artistic flair, has somewhat evolved.

last day of june (or the first)

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Every year around this time, a familiar thought crosses my mind: it’s that time of year, the time to play The Finn Brothers song titled “Last Day of June.” I often mistakenly recall the title as “First Day of June,” which always makes me chuckle. This song holds a place in my heart, as it reminds me of my beloved mother - may she rest in peace.