Posts Tagged ‘Planar T* 50/1.4 ZF’

Slowdays; spring portraits

This is 59 photos, together in one place. And nothing much exciting, just some moments that seemed to happen this spring.

Backyard moments.

When you’re young, you’re not allowed to use the garden hose. But having been turned off recently there remained some lingering pressure to get excited about.

But it didn’t last long.

Time to fall down and feel depressed on the concrete.

Then again, there’s other things to get done.

Moody shots from upstairs inside the red barn.

It is necessary sometimes to employ a flash to capture the decisive moment.

One day we went to the Bloedel Conservatory. I wrote about that trip in a previous blog entry but I never developed this film until now.

Our Town. This little series reads like a dialog.

Yep.

Something about these tourists was not quite right.

Back for another visit.

The sun had just set. The Where’s Waldo of lovers in the landscape.

The desire to finish off that roll coincided with a nice afternoon view from my apartment.

This fella had a funky dance as he glued his posters up. I made this frame and then waited a long time for another, hoping he’d look my way but I left frustrated.

Dad’s giving my sister some make-up tips there.

My sister was enjoying a nice coffee.

Dom left.

Bye, Dom.

That’s Loscil performing at Red Cat Records.

I enjoyed that.

The Main for some brunch by the window.

She’s saying something.

Another day, and brunch at Habit.

You won’t hear it often, but that would be better in colour.

This is that photo that I wouldn’t normally make, but when you already have the camera at your face you sometimes decide ‘why not?’ and then it’s your favourite shot on the roll.

For anyone who doesn’t understand graduated licensing in BC, it’s required to display that L when one has a Learner’s Licence. I think this photo is special because it isn’t just a Porsche Cayenne, it isn’t even just a Porsche Cayenne S, or a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It’s a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. It’s never a bad idea to learn to drive on a six figure 550 horsepower eurominivan, at least that’s what I’ve always said.

John didn’t have much to say about that.

But Randy was quite impressed.

Enjoying the rest of the evening sunlight.

And checking out what the neighbors are up to.

We were at the park another evening to throw a disc around.

I had lunch with Gil Grissom.

Just something that I saw.

Hmm, I wonder what’s next.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inconsequent, music, photos No Comments »

Beginning in February; We Were Promised Jetpacks and I’ll promise you fish

I just returned from a trip through DC and New York, a combination of work and vacation where I shot a lot of film. I’ve found a sizeable backlog of neglected photos to push while I scan and edit about 20 rolls.  But this is a photoblog and words are just more space to scroll past.

This was the result of faulty beer packaging. Quite disappointing. You can see Olympic hockey on the TV in the background that we are eager to get back to. But the situation was made right by a new case from the shop keeper.

Making sure the second one is not defective as well.

I went to Our Town with a nice lady, big surprise.

I’ve made this photo before, 4 years ago. It’s hopeless, I cannot find it.

This is a photo of Paul at the restaurant.

What’s that a photo of?

Canada won the gold in hockey that day.

With a 50mm it was difficult to capture the epic sprawl of coach buses lined up over the Cambie St bridge towards downtown. They were waiting for passengers who were at the closing ceremonies.

With our nations victory, spirits were high, so we ate some greasy cheeseburgers.

Those are chocolate chip cookies.

Winter light.

Coffee and reading.

Peaking out the window from the same seat.

This band is called The Lonely Forest. They were here to open for We Were Promised Jetpacks, a great band who came to town when it was March.

We Were Promised Jetpacks taking the stage.

I liked them so much, I bought a t-shirt.

A classic Vancouver view.

I think that is the washroom at Budgies Burritos?

I thought that sweater was impressive.

Some other time and place, awaiting the Hawkers Delight.

Outside my favourite book store in Vancouver. That day they had agreed to take on a truck load of used books. I wondered if there was much in there that was worth their time.

I was visiting this space over and over during those months. The site where my favourite breakfast spot, Slickity Jim’s, burned to the ground.

Transporting to happier times, a few of us took a trip to this parking lot. Stopping to get the head excavated.

Actually, we’d gone to the Aquarium.

Proving it with a fish.

And swaying little sand aliens, SO CUTE.

Pit stop for soft drinks and french fries.

Then we waited for dolphins to entertain us like the subservient slaves they are.

Wasn’t expecting to see chimps at the aquarium.

This guy was cool, but fast.

At the computer terminal, visitors could ask questions and also reply. I knew the answer to that question. Nice little frame to help date the film.

Blogging is hard work! As you can see there is still a ways to go before I get to July. But we’ll get through this together.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inconsequent, music, photos 2 Comments »

That’s WEIRD, you guys!

This entry features 112 jpeg containers. With this scope in mind I feel responsible for introducing what you are about to experience but I find myself without words. It is a perpetuating comedy, then. I photograph for many reasons but one of them is the excellence it represents in the conundrum of self-expression, reflection and reciprocation. Where I stumble, photography grounds me. And, by the way, I love yours too. I think other bloggers should comment so that I can follow the links back to your internet venues. Now, then.

There is a film named Kodak HD 400. I shot a roll of it in my Nickelodeon Photoblaster.

FRM00551

FRM00552

Interestingly enough, the results from this expired roll that has been in my fridge (a number of fridges, really) for years are rather delicious.

FRM00554

Brother Entropy surprised us all in Vancouver with the weather throughout September but in October it began to rain at last. Quite convincingly I might add.

FRM00555

This cat convinced a number of individuals that being in a salad bowl on the floor really is not so bad.

FRM00556

Limits tested, but not met.

FRM00557

Quite content to be back on the floor again. I guess it is really nice to have a camera around for these situations.

FRM00558

FRM00559

Add another point in my decisive moment column.

FRM00560

I love that the film recorded the nature of the sky to some degree, polluted by the light of the city landscape.

FRM00561

I missed several cute/intimate moments between these two but I still wanted them anyway so I had to take them.

FRM00562

FRM00563

We were all in attendance to see a guy in a place.

FRM00564

FRM00565

Pretty sure that was 1/2.

FRM00566

Apparently that is what I looked like, proudly demonstrating my Nickelodeon Photoblaster back from the shop in tip-top shape.

FRM00567

Discovering mirrors is a bit of a strength, I would say.

FRM00568

FRM00569

Guy outside of a place.

FRM00570

FRM00572

Hm, and snapping to finish the roll off the next day. That place burned down on November 12th. That place where I spent so many days, taking oh, okay, maybe one more cup of coffee. Where the food always hit the spot. Where I truly loved the staff. Where.. I don’t know where to go any more.

FRM00576

Good thing, then, that we went inside that day. I guess this was the second to last time I was there. Kodak Tri-X.

FRM00577

I am going to weave in a roll of NPZ here and there and intend that I am slotting it in pseudo-chronologically. Again, different cameras and simultaneous rolls, so who really knows.

FRM00640

FRM00641

Kidnap Kids at Goonies.

FRM00642

Nadja at the Rickshaw.

FRM00643

They were great.

FRM00644

FRM00578

lol

FRM00579

FRM00645

I failed exposing that one, oops, was in a hurried commute. It is almost what I was going for though, to be fair.

FRM00646

FRM00648

That was Mono at the Biltmore, October 6. I only made that one shot on film. Actually, maybe I should include a few of the digital frames I made there…

IMG_1058

Here’s Beard wondering if he’ll regret that face. Though he was happy to send me off with the 5d.

IMG_1060

So Randy and I hopped in a cab.

IMG_1063

The stage was set when we arrived.

IMG_1067

IMG_1073

The show was sensational, profoundly sensational.

IMG_1094

IMG_1100

IMG_1104

IMG_1105

To celebrate we visited 7-11.

FRM00649

On October 9th, 2009 the Centaur upper stage of the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite impacted the crater Cabeus near the south pole of the Moon at a velocity of 10,000 km/h. I made a photograph for posterity.

FRM00580

FRM00582

We talked about something cool. Can’t remember what it was. Good story, right?

FRM00583

Waiting to get somewhere.FRM00584

FRM00585

Quaint. It is always good to get involved with the community in pro-active ways.

FRM00586

Or to just sit and study.

FRM00587

Or sit and sip, discuss.

FRM00588

FRM00589

FRM00590

FRM00591

I am a little rusty.

FRM00592

FRM00593

FRM00594

FRM00595

FRM00596

FRM00597

FRM00598

So, something else that happened in October was my 10 year high school reunion, yep.

FRM00600

Eventually the photographers of the class converged a bit. Everybody loves to handle the Nickelodeon Photoblaster.

FRM00602

It was a weird event. Oh, no, not the reunion. Just the fact that someone almost managed to pull focus here.

FRM00605

That hat fell from the balcony above where a wedding reception was taking place. The hat was being used as a prop for photographs, unfortunately I ended up wearing it for a while before realizing what it looked like on me. Fortunately, it was legal for us all to drink this time we got together, and drinking definitely did occur.

FRM00606

I played with the photographer above who had by that time realized I was in possession of her hat. I was working my way up the stairs to deliver it back to her when I was intercepted by a friendly dude, the brother of the groom perhaps, who had come to retrieve the hat. I didn’t get any farther than that, which I regretted. I wanted to say thanks for playing with me.

FRM00607

Then it was time to celebrate a birthday.

FRM00608

And have a bit of a jam. I think Weston is going to be the family drummer.

FRM00609

FRM00610

That composition grows on me every time, more than last time. ;]

FRM00611

We drove to the supermarket. Careful not to get a parking ticket.

FRM00613

A portrait of a person; a portrait of quality time.

FRM00614

Completing the circle of life, queuing to pay. On the internet, at the cashier, on the internet.

FRM00615

Hallowe’en was approaching, and the last day at my old apartment. Still I had not found a new place to live.

FRM00616

Our Town had become a fairly regular spot to regroup.

FRM00617

And the packing was underway. I was fortunate to have amazing help from amazing friends. And a place to live was found.

FRM00654

As my apartment emptied I paused to make one last image in that place.

FRM00655

I moved on October 31st. The weather was incredible, as was the help I received. Hi, mom.

FRM00656

FRM00657

FRM00658

Later we returned to Command HQ and launched Operation: Destroy Brain Cells.

FRM00659

FRM00618

Other things also happened that night, as they usually do.

FRM00619

Although I dawned the horse to this party, the hot dog guy found an appreciation for my style. We traded hats and I wore his zombie Barack Obama mask which worked out nicely because I was dressed formally and it was possible to shoot through the eye holes in the Obama mask, unlike through the horses mouth.

FRM00620

Salacious!

FRM00621

FRM00622

FRM00623

FRM00624

November 1st deserved going out for breakfast.

FRM00625

FRM00626

R.I.P. Idle Thumbs <3 (that was being out for breakfast another day in fact). I was boycotting the price of razors for a bit. :/

FRM00627

We are at the Elbow Room.

FRM00628

FRM00629

The painting walls occurred. The consumption of Stiegl occured, occurs yet.

FRM00630

Leica eyes. You know’em or you don’t.

FRM00631

You’d think I might be near Our Town again.

FRM00632

Might be right…

FRM00633

FRM00634

It is happening on all sides of me.

FRM00636

Oh, this is unique. I brought to a show a flash device for my camera, then I used it.

FRM00660

FRM00661

FRM00662

FRM00663

FRM00637

FRM00639

I am impressed you’ve got this far, honestly.

FRM00664

But do not worry, we are almost there.

FRM00665

FRM00666

FRM00667

FRM00668

hemingway

FRM00670

OK.

FRM00672

I think we’re good.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inconsequent, music, photos 4 Comments »

Corn is delicious

Good morning, Internet.

You know what, Internet? You’ve never looked at your watch, or crumpled your forehead, or quoted me the time, or inquired ‘Morning… ?’ and I love you for that. Your reward is this blog. We commit your mortal remains to the bosom of the MAE-West. That was a really funny joke I just made, it’s just unfortunate that you don’t get it.

FRM00459

I preferred this lot vacant but it is full of used cars again today. This first roll of b&w was shot during August through October in one of my infrequently used SLRs, the trusty Nikon FG.

FRM00465

Things happening on street corners.

FRM00466

FRM00468

This might be the masterpiece of the entry. I know I am getting started a little slow. We’ll see where this goes.

FRM00469

A subtle PBR cache.

FRM00470

This is a government of Canada building. Somehow in this country you don’t get guns pointed at you by private security contractors when you point a camera towards architecture.

FRM00471

Seeing a lot of these lately now that the new subway emerges right down the block from the office.

FRM00508

I was on a trip to buy some film that day. It was when I realized that the price of Tri-X has risen dramatically in the last few years. It was quite a while since I’ve bought any since I had a modest stash.

As an experiment I recently picked up some Arista Premium from Freestyle photo (google will tell you that many people consider this repackaged Tri-X or at least almost identical to Tri-X). I will talk about it in a future update when I get around to shooting some since some of the photographers reading might be interested (it is priced almost 1/3 the cost compared to a roll of Tri-X).

FRM00509

Since I’m down the path of wankery already, here is the Zeiss ZF 50/1.4 at 1.4 on Kodak TMAX 100 (the old version). This is the flower garden outside my old apartment on 14th. I often read when commuting and so when arriving at home I’d like to sit there for a while and finish off the current chapter. I guess that POV is a nice memory now.

FRM00510

Same thing, 1.4.

FRM00511

And finally, 2.8, probably my favourite aperture on that lens.FRM00512

Seems this guy was wearing a hat.

FRM00513

FRM00514

I’m not quite sure why I did that. It was one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Maybe I thought 1/4th made me a videographer too.

FRM00515

I was talking about how much character the shutter on the Nikon FG has. Naturally I had to demonstrate.

FRM00517

There was a rainbow. I promise.

FRM00503

FRM00505

FRM00518

In October I got my Leica back from service and put some trix in there. I guess I did not write about it here but in the summer my Summicron fell apart. Not many people know this, but on the third day, God’s Summicron fell apart also, and from his tears the oceans of the Earth were formed.

FRM00520

I said stand still I need to test the focus. I don’t know what’s more amazing, that my collimation is now corrected or that he didn’t make a face.

FRM00521

FRM00522

Let’s not.

FRM00523

FRM00524

His name is Rich Hope and he’s gonna whip it on ya.

FRM00526

FRM00527

FRM00530

But really I was there to see Grady.

FRM00531

And I had the pleasure of proximity permitting me to photograph the Gordie Johnson signature truss rod cover. It’s nice to look for the details like this when shooting live music. The stuff the other photographers will never get.

FRM00532

Then again it also helps being close enough to get knocked out by the headstock.

FRM00534

FRM00536

FRM00538

FRM00540

FRM00541

FRM00542

Rocking the epic double-neck.

FRM00543

FRM00544

FRM00545

FRM00546

And the Explorer, no less.

FRM00547

FRM00550

So that was the first roll through the reborn M6. This has been an intermediary update. More soon, kiddies.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Inconsequent, music, photos 2 Comments »