Nikkormat FTn w/ Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4: dltphoto

Buried somewhere in peoples basements/ crawl spaces are film SLR's. Hundreds if not Thousands all over the world. Everyone one of them yearning  to be used, to have it's "eyes" opened one more time. Recently I was asked to sell some equipment for someone else. It's a shame, the equipment is actually pretty good, but the demand is very, very low. Making sure to test the equipment is my favourite part of this process, before I try to get whatever "pennies" I can for it, and with this stuff it may well be pennies!

"The Brick"

This recent acquisition is a Nikkormat FT N, with an assortment of prime lenses. Quite fortunate for me since I have the same body which no longer winds the film though. Its in good shape but missing a winder handle. I am thinking I can combine both models to create one perfect working order camera, but then I have one I can't sell. Dilemma!

Lightmeter- Check
Loud Ka-Chunk Noise when  Button is Pushed- Check
Film loaded and Winding (as far as I can tell)- Check

For this experiment and to make it more creatively interesting for me I decided to throw one of my 50mm 1.4 Nikkor Lenses on it, and shoot it more creatively at as low an F/stop as possible ( ie 1.4 or 1.8, conditions allowing). The downside to such low depth of field shooting is quite often you will be out of focus unintentionally even with today's more modern auto-focus systems, it is still incredibly hard.

shadows: dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/U1QV4uK36n/

Chasm (pronounced Kaz-em): dltphoto

Enjoyed seeing one of my images posted to the newly added "tourismbc" feed on instagr.am. It doesn't win me anything or make me more famous. It's just nice! (warm and fuzzy).

Of Paramount Importance: dltphoto

I recall a short time ago a friend of mine was petitioning to keep this old theatre in Chilliwack from being torn down, Alas I think it has been slated to be destroyed. Too Bad, interesting buildings are fun to shoot.

Attempted my first GIF file though! I need to work on it!

Morning Glory :dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/UkeUUFq31_/
This image captured on my way to work. The square format worked well for some nice natural divisions. Not your normal 3rd's rule.

Why Woodn't You?...:dltphoto

Out on a recent epic cold and wet  morning with Mr Koopmans discovering new wooden things in Chilliwack. Can you spot the Cell Phone pic??

The End of an Era: dltphoto

Sad, sad news for me and many in the Camera retail store industry this week. Jessops, the U.K's biggest Camera Store/ Photography high street retailer has succumbed to the perils of internet shopping and people seeking the best price at any cost, at least I assume that's the most likely reason along with high rents and low margin products!

 Well the "cost" is many photography savvy people losing their jobs, not only that but now many people who have questions and a genuine interest in photography will have to search far and wide to find a new "Brick and Mortar" store to help them with their purchases.
The next time your new camera has a bizarre freak out who will you take it to? What if you accidentally delete your images? What if you have questions about new Lenses? What if you want a new Bag? What if you get dust on your Sensor? What if you need help updating your Firmware? What if you need help deciding on your first camera? These are just a few of the day to day issues/questions those staff would have dealt with. Some far more simple and some far more detailed and some so obvious when you know how. This makes me wonder how long others will survive. Will the inevitable happen to me here? I personally know many, many people who would greatly miss the ability to pop into our local camera store and grab the goods they require with confidence that the employees have their best interests in mind. People with great advice.
A word of warning to all you who "would rather shop local, but the price is better online". One day, we may not be around to help you when you need us. Feel free to ring or visit the "internet" and ask them your problems when you need help. The people at Amazon and EBAY are eager to help you with there after sales service!

 

 Jessops In Taunton, Somerset. I can't remember it being any other store but a camera store. I used to love looking at the used section on the left hand side of the window.

Please please please don't let my Very good friends at London Camera Exchange, where I once worked, go out of business too. They know the answers and have the good advice. Maybe their prices are a few pounds more, but isn't the service worth it? really?

December 2012: Favourite Shot: dltphoto

Since December for me is kind of a write-off month for getting anything done Photographically. My pickings are fairly thin. Not to say that I didn't get out to take pics at all, but any "brilliant" content is harder to obtain.

This happens to be my choice for December. Snow, trees and some Blah. Visually it has nothing that catches your eye. It breaks so many rules. I don't think it's something that I would submit to Photoclub, but ummm maybe I will!!!

APAC Photoclub submissions: January 2013: dltphoto

No ranting this month. Just images.

Architecture, "A Yellow Lining". Score 9

 On my quest to score a 10 with a cell phone, I finally cracked a 9 with this shot. So close!.

Simple glass building shot (Best Buy in Abbotsford, incase you locals want to know), looking up at it with some nice sunlight hitting the corner of the building illuminating it with a rich yellow. I played with a few editing Apps on the Android phone. The original capture is featured below, for anyone who cares. I did have to clean the image up a little in photoshop to remove the blobs or dirt from the glass, but all other image editing done through littlephoto app if I remember correctly.

Original Capture

 2nd Image of the night! This was from my Sigma DP1s. A long exposure, about 6 seconds if I recall, at F11 at probably 50ISO with a neutral density filter or two perched on my little gorilla pod.

Experimental, "Colourstream". score 8

 Pretty much right out of the camera with this image. Just some minor Lightroom work to clean the image up a little, also attempted to remove the weird colour vignetting  the Sigma produces.

2 'n' 1, Fuji X10: dltphoto

A while ago I loaned the excellent Fuji X10 from our local Fuji Rep. This camera tickled my photography senses, too bad I only had it for 3 days.
 Upon checking the images over again I came across a few images that I can't for the life of me remember shooting, but they are on my memory card and they are of downtown Abbotsford, so they must be mine.

I picked this one image as it's kind of a busy image, but more than that. It has the initial appearance of being  two images "photoshopped" together, despite being only one shot. Clearly it's a reflection in a puddle.

 I enjoy this image despite it not really meaning anything to me. I enjoy the lines!