Picture of the Week - May 29, 2011

Old House, Nova Scotia                                                         ©Peter N. Parsons

I am planning to post one new picture a week, either new photography or one from my collection.If my memory is correct this picture was taken somewhere on the Aspotogan Peninsula in Nova Scotia in the '80's
Kodak Safety Film 6043 (Tri-X 120) D-76

Moisture in 135mm Viewing Lens

The 135mm with viewing lens removed

My recently purchased 135mm lens had moisture in the viewing lens on the inside of the rear element. To my surprise by unscrewing the front retaining ring the viewing lens can be removed from the assembly. The rear lens element also comes off just as easily. The moisture was quickly cleaned. The whole procedure taking less than five minutes.Notice the moisture on the small element.

Double Exposures

Multi exposures, accidental or creative, often leads to visual interesting images. In this picture I had forgotten to advance film on my Zeiss Nettar when shooting a seascape mural on a storage shed in a local park. The previous frames were mostly trees against a overcast sky. The Mamiya TLR's, like older folders such as the Zeiss, are great cameras for multi exposures, especially when subject matter is commonplace. Underexpose to avoid a dense negative.

Shanghai GP3 100

Just purchased 3 rolls of  ISO 100 Shanghai GP3 film on ebay. Planning to test if for a future post. The online reviews and comments are neutral to positive.  I paid  $10.99 with free shipping. Quantity purchases as low as $2.00 per roll.

The price is right!

Mama Mamiya !

Introduction

My first professional camera was a Mamiya C220 bought in 1969 during a Labour Day Weekend trip to Boston. Just two months before I had graduated from the one-year photography course at the Halifax Vocational School in Nova Scotia and this was my first real camera. I do not recall the exact amount but it was around $200 US, a lot of money for a 20-year-old at the time. My girlfriend, who was from Boston but going to school in Halifax, helped me pay for the beast. I still have that old Mamiya, on a tripod in my living room.

I loved shooting with the Mamiya, even though it would be cumbersome by today's standards. Last week  a C220 system with 3 lenses (65, 80, 135) on Kijiji got the better of me and I bought it for $200 CDN. Not bad  for a camera for which I am emotionally attached.

A test shoot with a roll of HP-5 developed in the laundry room confirmed all  shutters mostly accurate at higher speeds (1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 second) with four shots on each lens. Film is slightly over agitated in 120 stainless steel tank (notice sides of negatives in example are a little darker)

Anyhow, its a enough to get me started in my first photography love and to start this blog. Mama Mamiya wish me luck!