Well what do you know

There is still a market for old cameras! I feel better now :)

F*kr

OK I've done it, I've brought myself up into the current times, bit the bullet, and got myself a -- wait for it -- Flickr account. Two clicks was all it took, now that it's linked to Yahoo. I hope to use it for new work since I can rarely seem to bring myself to work through my own templates on that part of the site.

Now, there's nothing there just yet, since I don't have any new work of note. Yet, that is... I'm starting to get that itch again....

But Seriously

Heh - I thought I'd let that one simmer a bit for effect. I did find out that the blog still has readers, which is good to know!

Here's the thing about disposable or 'one-time-use' cameras -- from what I can tell, they are just about the most common film cameras in use by the general public these days (collector-users aside) and as far as I know are one of the two main things keeping film alive and on the market.* One-time-use cameras, as you can guess, are made cheaply to be used in situations where you don't have a regular camera or wouldn't want to risk using or losing one. They also seem to be in use by people who haven't made a commitment to a 'real' camera for one reason or another, and just need a quick snap. Hm.

At any rate, I just grabbed one at the corner drugstore along with a sweatshirt when we were getting ready to march in the very chilly St. Patrick's Day Parade on Market Street in San Francisco last month. I didn't have high expectations of the thing, it was just meant to be a backup for our digital in case the batteries went out in the middle of the parade.

To be fair, they do vary in quality and some are actually reasonable alternatives to regular compact film cameras at, say, the beach or on a hike. We handed them out to our kids on our last Disney vacation and they got some pretty decent shots with the Kodak version that has an Ektanar lens and also with an Agfa disposable. But you definitely get what you pay for in this arena, and the blobby high speed film coupled with a plastic lens gives you about what you'd expect. On the other hand, if you're looking for the old 'plastic camera' effect (eg Diana, Holga etc) then that's certainly an easy and inexpensive way to go! Yes, I'm sure that's why I look like Fatty McPorkchop next to our startlingly tall and handsome Mayor Gavin Newsom in the picture I had our friend take of us... notice I haven't posted that one...

* The other factor keeping film available for our little mechanical friends, besides the surprising popularity of disposable cameras is, of course, the movie industry. I'm afraid that once that juggernaut of an industry turns the corner to digital then film will accelerate its decline to near-extinction. And yet, there is some hope... As long as people keep using film I believe it will be around in one form or another, just harder to find and more expensive. And maybe Costco won't develop it any more. I don't think that's too far off the mark. Well, they still sell oil paints and canvas, don't they?

Brief Review of Walgreens One Time Use 400 Camera

Pretty sucky.

Where has the Winter Gone?

Of course I mean that in a time sense as spring is nearly upon us, although I see in many areas it still feels like winter. Not here though, where it's sunny and 70° again. Time to take the sprinklers off hibernate mode I guess!

On one hand I can't believe it's been so long since I posted to this blog, while on the other I know I haven't been very productive in terms of photography lately. I did some digital self-portrait work for yet another side project (everything is a side project with me) and this past week actually managed to take a leisurely walk and do some shooting with my trusty and sadly neglected XA2.

But apart from that it's been all about the sports. And since I'm now a participant, not just an enthusiastic observer, I don't get to kick back and take the action photos I used to. My wife and I are just finishing up co-coaching 1st grade basketball, I'm just beginning coaching T-ball, and still assistant teaching Taekwondo all along. In fact Casey and I just earned the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt this past week. WoOt!

And yet, like I said, this has as little to do with photography as the songs I've been writing, so I've not posted. But as the weather gets better and the light becomes more favorable for photography I can feel my itchy trigger finger wiggling. I'll be back in the saddle before long.

Interview

Speaking of conversations, I just did my first interview (ever?) with Wayne Yang of eightdiagrams.com, you can read it here. Exciting!

Assorted Hijinks

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a nice holiday. We certainly did, relaxing at home for a change which is exactly what we all needed after a very busy year.

News -- I have a new acquisition for the collection: an Olympus Pen EES-2 that my Taekwondo instructor gave me, he must have seen it somewhere and he knows I collect cameras. Turns out he collects guitars, and has been playing since he was a kid. Hm...!

Speaking of that (and don't worry, I'll bring this back around), did I mention that I bought a bass guitar? Partly so Casey could learn, as he expressed interest (though I know keyboard is more up his alley), and partly for me to learn and to lay down bass tracks as I work up some original songs... a lot of my riffs sound like bass lines anyway. Anyway, it was kind of an early Christmas present to myself. SO... it's a kind of off-brand, and though the bass itself is nice and has great tone I thought its output was kind of weak and sought to replace the bridge pickup (you know how I like to tinker). My brother, who plays bass and has had his interest recently renewed now that I'm playing guitar, recently forwarded me the website for Subway guitars in Berkeley that he found while browsing around. So recently I cruised across the Bay (not literally, of course, I drove -- it's not that far from here) and looked it up in search of some parts pickups.

Subway guitars is located in what appears to be a converted house in a residential neighborhood in Berkeley, not far from UCB, and looks like it has been there forever. It has a real thrift store feel to it and is stuffed to the gills with vintage parts, amps, and of course guitars, some of the like of which you've likely never seen before. Its proprietor, aka "Fat Dog", is an old school Berkeley patriarch, probably one of the last of his kind. He not only sells used and rebuilt guitars but manufactures new ones in a factory up in Sonoma County. When I got there we got to talking about this and that, like domain name registration and the state of the economy, and some neighbors came in and we all went down the street to help them move a couch. It's that kind of a place. Anyway, he dug me out some pickups from a parts bin and tested them, told me how to install them, and let me have them for a measly $10 (cash only BTW!). Great guy, conversations with him are a real kick, I highly recommend a visit if you're in the market or at least in the area. Turns out he also has a thing for old cameras (surprise), and has a few that are in need of some TLC. At the end of my visit when the pizza and beer was breaking out and I had to split, he invited me to look him up early in 2007 when things calm down and look at trading some vintage camera refurbishing for some guitar goodies. Kewl!

Happy Holidays!

Much news, just nothing photography or camera-related, so I've refrained from blogging the dull details of my life during the holidays. I shouldn't say dull -- as usual, between work, sports, school, hobbies, and the endless holiday parties it's a wonder I can remember my own name...! It's Nick, right?

To be honest I've not been shooting at all lately, vacation photos notwithstanding -- I'm in one of my periodic uninspired slumps, at least where photography is concerned. And we know I never get any darkroom work done in December because it's a Christmas present staging area. Not that I need to be out in a freezing-cold garage right now! Yikes.

So sad to hear that Ruth Berhnard died, she was without question my all-time favorite photographer. I always asked about her whenever I talked with Scott Nichols, who has an extensive collection of her work. The last time I talked with him he relayed that she said she was spending her time more 'horizontal than vertical lately', so I have been half-expecting the sad news for a while. She will be missed. She did live a long and full life, and left behind a legacy of wonderful images and words that touched many. Would that I grow old as gracefully and with as much spirit!

As for you, dear readers, thank you for visiting and for all your emails, I wish you the best of the holiday season and a joyous New Year!

Disneyland!

Whew, we just got back from Disneyland and boy are my arms tired! And my feet. And legs, eyes... and just about everything else. Four days of non-stop fun and capped with two driving days. And followed by a day of laundry. My film and Casey's and are still awaiting pickup at Costco -- I took 5 rolls with two cameras (n6006 and 35ES), Casey took 4 with his Kodak Sure Shot Supreme and Ellen shot 200+ with the digital. I know, you care.

I do have a little-known camera tip for you Disneyland visitors: while the photo shop at the edge of Main Street doesn't sell photo accessories (they're mostly film and batteries), they do have a lens cap lost & found, and if you ask nicely they may just let you have a replacement for your lost lens cap, free! I lost the push-on cap for my Vivitar 35ES somewhere between the Haunted Mansion and the square in a rush to meet up with the group, and was able to find one in the box that fit.

Bonus tip #2 -- the corn dog cart next to the photo shop has the best corn dogs, ever, anywhere. Hand-dipped and oversized, they're one of the better food finds in the park.

Bonus tip #3 -- if you haven't seen Disneyland done up for Christmas, you owe yourself the treat. I've never seen anything like it. Magic Kingdom indeed!

So now we're back from sunny Anaheim, and it's 40deg and raining. Hm, string lights in the rain or watch football and practice guitar? Tough choice....

Bleary-eyed

If only it were for a good reason like drinking all night, which is what I looked like when I woke up this morning despite a reasonable night's sleep. No, I appear to have contracted the dreaded pinkeye, our friendly name for conjunctivitis. None of my kids have it so I have no idea where it came from, probably a dirty shopping cart handle or something. I can't imagine where else. It's a drag.

I haven't had this since I was a youngster, I remember waking up then in a panic thinking I was blind because I couldn't open my eyes and couldn't see... I also remember that that bout of pinkeye coincided with movie night at my grandparents' house, and that meant 8mm Laurel and Hardy projected with a real film projector onto a collapsible movie screen like everyone used to have, you know, back before there were video iPods. Maybe a little longer ago. I tried my best to enjoy what were really very funny films through scratchy pussy bleary eyes. Like the ones I'm using to stare at this little type on the screen.

And here I thought my eyes were just tired and achy from so much computer work this week... it hurts to even look at anything, I can't wait to see the doctor tomorrow. I need to be better in time for our road trip, kind of hard to drive if I can't see.

Other news... not much really, I did notice today by complete accident that one of my domain names (mattsclassiccameras.com) wasn't forwarding, and then saw that my web host had completely overhauled their website in the last week. They fixed the problem as soon as I emailed them, which is nice. They didn't know why it didn't carry over. I hope my pages load a little faster now!

MD

New sample page - Vito B

I did finally finish up that Vito B roll the other day, it had pictures I don't remember taking but they didn't really come out so it doesn't matter....

The sample I picked is quite impressively sharp and detailed, I don't know why they weren't all on par with that except that my scale focusing ability isn't always that great and I tend to get camera shake when I try to get sneaky candids. But the sample really shows off the capability of the lens, which is the point.

http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/vito_b.html
http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/samples/vito_b_sample.html

Yes it's true

I've been moonlighting on the side of my avocation between my real job and my hobbies....

With another blog! (see links, right)

It's a lark, a little thing my brother and I put together using a concept suggested by a friend (who contributes in spirit.. get it?). Seriously though, all the good names seemed to be taken :)

We update it semi regularly. Please visit!

It's all coming together

Did I ever tell you I was a writing major in college?

I had intended to be a commercial arts major (eg graphic art) but upon discovering too late that my chosen school only had what I figured was a non-commercially viable fine arts program I went with my other passion, writing. Literature/Writing to be precise. Then I got a job as a graphic designer and it all worked out. Maybe this doesn't come as much of a surprise.

At any rate, as I do from time to time when I have too much going on, I put writing away years ago to concentrate first on art, then on photography, knowing that when the time was right, it would resurface and offer me an outlet. 300 page website notwithstanding, of course.

So now I find myself doing something that I did only once before for a brief period, I'm dabbling in songwriting. I have three fairly complete pieces of music and a few sets of lyrics, they don't necessarily go together (yet) but it's fun for now :) As usual, I'll keep you posted.

Things that make you go hmm....

I had a good laugh when my wife pointed out today that our elderly next-door neighbors have suddenly had double-paned sound-damping windows and slider installed on the side of the house facing ours. I wonder what prompted that?

I Remember Now...

Ah yes, I remember now why I didn't get any shooting done last fall. Acute seasonal and world-event-related depression notwithstanding, between the work, the several takewondo classes per week, the assistant coaching basketball, the windup to the holidays, and the crummy weather, it's a wonder I have the time and ability to ensure that my socks match in the morning. Why, I barely have time to watch my stories! :)

Sidebar -- I really need to find another present-hiding location besides the darkroom. We start shopping early and it really puts a cramp in my style. Besides, they'll all figure it out eventually.

I did start carrying around my XA2 to shoot a comparative roll that I can contrast with the L C-A roll. But haven't done much with it yet. And it doesn't get me farther into my Vito B test.

At least I have my guitar(s) to get me through these stuck-indoor times. Last night I actually fell asleep with the Les Paul (note to self - think of name for guitar) on my lap while watching TV. I've been learning a lot of new stuff since I found this corner of the website ultimate-guitar.com where this funny dude who calls himself PickNGrin makes these funny little guitar tutorial home videos, they cover all subjects and are really easy to learn from. Check it out. Hey, you know I always give props where props are due.

OK back to work. Mondays. Blah.

Fun Thing

I did a little fun thing, on the new pic called "Casey, Son of Shutterbug" I put in a hidden page that shows the picture of me that Casey took, scanned from the scrapbook he made of his pictures from our vacation. If you click on the pictures you can flip back and forth.

http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/new_work/casey_shutterbug.html

Story of the pic - I saw him standing on the Mission steps in that Santa Barbara sunlight and wanted to get a shot of him looking off to stage right, but he insisted on taking a picture of me while I was taking a picture of him, he thought it would make for a better photo. Maybe it does. He's a pretty creative photographer, though sometimes he needs to settle for the snap he can get and not fret about the one he can't micromanage. I think we've all been there...!

New Page

It's just a little one, about a little item called a Mini Softrelease. No jokes please, I didn't name it.

Hm -- apparently Monday morning is a popular time to update blogs! blogger.com is always slow on Monday AM.

BTW I did shoot that roll in the Yashica FX-3 yesterday, and got what I hope are some cool still life type pics with and without the Tamron 2x that I'll make a page about once I have a sample to share. Didn't get a chance to develop the roll though.

So still to finish: the Konica b/w roll, the Vito B roll and a roll I started ages ago in my Photax Blinde that I just found! I should just go to the beach and shoot it or something. Too cold today though, autumn is asserting itself the way it does in SF. Brr!

LOMO page updated

With sample page and bonus in-page sample.

http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/lomo_ca.html

http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/samples/lomo_ca_sample.html

What I'm Working On

(since I know you're curious!)

A roll of color film in the Voigtlander Vito B, barely begun;

A roll of b/w film in my Konica T3, first for fun (nudes!) and second to re-test my Sigma 28mm in Konica mount, since I can't find the roll I first used it on;

A roll of b/w in my Yashica FX-3 which has been sitting in a drawer at work for a while, waiting for an opportunity -- I am trying to check out this high end Tamron MC 2x converter that was basically a brand new bargain;

Just finished that LOMO roll I mentioned below, need to update that page, but I scanned the sample photo;

And will use one or more of the above to practice my hand at still life, something that sounds easy but for the most part has eluded me when I've pursued it.

That and still needing to get in the darkroom to print proofs and other stuff. Yes at this point I could just scan it but that's much less fun.

LOMO

I finally finished the second test roll in my Lomo LC-A, after the first disastrous roll where I kept forgetting to change either the focal range, aperture, or both. And frankly I wasn't impressed this time around either.

My goal was to test it in low light situations taking pictures of colorful items, as this was supposed to be one of the selling points of the LC-A, its colorful contrasty pictures and good auto-metering. So my self-assignment was, basically, collections of bottles, either in bars or liquor stores. Aaaand I didn't really turn up any good examples, except one photo which was taken in daylight of something completely different, which came out very well. They're all more or less well-exposed but vastly out of focus or at the very least unsharp. Granted, it's difficult to handhold a 2s exposure when you have a drink or two in you and are trying to be discreet about your snaps, even if you rest your elbows on the bar like you're a tripod. Still, this type of scenario is supposed to be where the LOMO shines!

At any rate, I'll update the page and post a sample soon. I guess the next thing to do is do a similar test with my beloved XA2. Well, if I must, I must!