I Forget About My Phone . . .

Usually, I take my cell phone with me, set so I don’t hear it ring. I bring it for emergencies, not because I want to text friends or take calls or listen to spammers or check my email or the stock market. It’s a practical tool. I forget about it unless there is something I want from it. And I forget that it has a respectable camera on it – the Samsung Galaxy 5 is not a slouch of a camera, and I even have VSCO on it as my primary editor. When I want to, I use it.

Yesterday, out on The Trail for the Blind here in town, early in morning, I was wishing I had my camera with me – so many beautiful things to see in the morning sun. And, as I was looking, hands in pockets (it was only 44F!), the answer to my desires appeared in my hand. Rather magical on a magical morning!

A Place to Rest

A Place to Rest

In the past couple of months, I’ve moved from digital to film, which is much slower.  It’s a totally different mindset for me.  I hated film years ago because I couldn’t take a picture worth paying for.  Now, after doing digital, I more comfortable and confident, and most importantly, knowledgeable.  I continue to use digital, but sort of have a “year long project” to master film photography, from taking to developing both b&w and color.

The medium format film craze for moi started with the Holga 120 GCFN I got for a present.  As a camera, the Holga leaves a lot to be desired, like control.  Since then, I’ve gathered into my camera herd an Agfa Isolette iii (6×6), and with this image, a Welta Weltur ca. 1938, that produces both 6×6 and 6×4.5 with an insert.  The interesting differences between the two cameras is that the lens on the Agfa is from the 50s, therefore coated, and the one on the Welta is uncoated.  The visual differences are there, as well as how each handles flare and other things.

Shot on Kodak Ektar 100 with the Welta Weltur, scanned using the Epson v600.  Post in LR and On1 software.  Developed at a local lab for $5.00.