APUG - Blogs - Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/ APUG.ORG is an international on-line community, completely devoted to traditional (non-digital) photographic processes. en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:12:52 GMT vBulletin 5 http://www.apug.org/forums/images/apug4/misc/rss.jpg APUG - Blogs - Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/ Another year in the life draws to a close . . . (short but sweet) http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/402-another-year-life-draws-close-short-but-sweet.html Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:57:47 GMT Wow. Alot has happened in the last few months. And life has just been a'zippin' by at a murderous rate. Where to begin . . .

Well, we'll pick up where we left off. The Rickett's Glen trip. Yeah, been that long. Well, had a wonderful time with Lee and Susan and everyone. Friday morning, I was not going to go. I was having a bad Remembering-Faith time. And I did not want to go anywhere. Let alone with a camera. So, my brother calls me and his weekend has freed up and he invites himself along. I got a king bed so there's room so, what the heck. ROAD TRIP!!!!!

On the way down the mountain on Saturday 15OCT, the shutter on the Wista had been acting up and I thought I could get it going, 'knew the tricks'. Well, the tricks stopped working. I still had the Zeiss (old Contina RF). About 16 frames in, the camera refused to wind on. Well, I had a couple of good photographs. So, I just walked down the hill from then on. With fantastic company. More than nine weeks later and the sound of the rushing water still lingers in my ears. The color on top was ablaze and absolutely breath-taking. Lee could not have chosen a better weekend if he was told that this was the one to choose. At the hotel, Ron and I spent two late evenings playing backgammon in the lobby. Ate well and drove hard. And didn't hurt nearly as much as I anticipated.

So, just where does this leave me? Well, I still have Faith's EOS630 and a few rolls of TMax TMY-2. I have all of the darkroom stuff. But I sold all of the rest of my cameras. And I'll tell you why. I had all of this gear I had invested in and it was not being used. It made me feel guilty, not using it. I placed so much pressure on myself to go out and use it. I just had no desire to do so anymore. And once I finally made the decision to part with it a burden lifted from me. I do not regret it at all. I honestly wish I had done so sooner. And no, Lee, you did not precipitate the decision. It had been coming for a long time. If someone made a reasonable offer for the darkroom gear, I think I would loose it as well. And the heavenly weekend that was spent mostly without camera solidified my desire to get out from behind any sort of lens and LIVE LIFE. I think I do the memory of Faith a great service in living life. So . . .

Here it is Christmas-time. The kids are all hooked up. The house is clean and Christmas dinner will be here this year. (Tacos! Go easy!) And I am getting no photography gear whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I have a new hobby. I have begun to shoot but not with a camera. And I love the focus (funny the parallels between shooting with a camera and shooting a gun) required to do so successfully. And I am pursuing this pasttime with a fervor that has been absent in my photography for a long time, though few if any of you might have suspected.

As for APUG, I will still be around, though not nearly as frequently as before. I will still support it financially as best I can. Becasue this is an invaluable tool, one I have used and one I beleive should be made available for a long time to come.

Merry Christmas, all of my little APUG peeps. (And the big ones too.)

Chris ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/402-another-year-life-draws-close-short-but-sweet.html Apparently my generosity knows no bounds . . . http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/345-apparently-my-generosity-knows-no-bounds.html Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:06:55 GMT So this customer of mine (drummer, laid back kinda dude) comes in Friday. Haven't seen him in a while so we strike up a conversation. How ya's and nice holidays and all that.

He asks how me photography is going? Well, I tell him how it's been slow this year. Not shooting much 35mm anymore, all large format. Take him in the other room and show him the Beseler enlarger I've got kept at the store. He asks if I would be interested in an enlarger? I say, HECK YEAH! So what is it?

He doesn't know. His wife, Lori, got it from a friend of hers a few years ago when she went digital. She wanted to get into film darkroom stuff and never did for kids and room and whatnot.

I then did a complete 180. I encouraged him to keep it. At some point she would want to get into it and it would be best if she did not have to chase down an enlarger at that time. She'd already have it. I told him to find a clean dry place to store it and cover it. So that's exactly what he's gonna do.

Now, I have recently ordered some books on Amazon and the first one showed up in the post at work today. About ten minutes before Bobby came back in this morning. And the book was 'The Art of Black and White Enlarging by David Vestal'. So, what's a guy to do. Bobby came in and I took the book out of the envelope and handed it to him and told him to give it to Lori. He was amazed, shouldn't have been as long and as well as we know each other.

Hey, it's just me trying to foster interest in traditional photography in anyway I can. Well, guess I gotta get another copy a'comin'.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts look through yours. I'm Chris Walrath and this is my blog. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/345-apparently-my-generosity-knows-no-bounds.html Today was a good day. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/330-today-good-day.html Sun, 02 Jan 2011 02:39:54 GMT My Daddy turned 68 today. He was born on a military base in southern Texas along the Gulf, don't recall where exactly. Grandpa was in the Army.

Dad played football in high school with Mike Gottfried at Crestline High in Ohio. He joined the Navy and served on the USS Orion (AS18) from 61 to 65 after graduating from the GL Naval Training Center. He became a machinist and met my Mom at a kegger at Kent State in 68, the year after she graduated from high school. They got married and had me in 70. Dad lost his job when the steel mills went down and we relocated to Delaware. Life has been good.

Our family is big on birthdays. Everyone comes over. The birthday person gets their last meal of choice. We blow out the candles. Get a couple of cards and gifts. So, today, January 1, was Dad's day. We were watching Wisconsin and TCU in the Rose Bowl. Dad would ask a question and get an answer. A few minutes later he would ask the question again. This happens.

See, my Dad has White Matter Disease. This is where one by one cerebral cappilaries just close, pinched shut. It's like a slew of mini strokes, most completely not noticeable. But little by little over the last six years he is just less himself. Sometimes he has a tough time with a name. I always announce our arrival like a fool, speaking our names. Of course, I don't know if he needs the reminder but I don't mind looking the fool so he doesn't have to.

I love my Dad. And I look back to how he was last year at this time and there has been a huge difference. And not to the good. I am not looking forward to next year. It's kind of like he has slid off the shoulder of an H&D curve and is now sliding down the straight line portion. I don't know where the toe is but it is closer than it was.

My Dad took me to a campout that I won a scholarship for because I designed the patch they used (church group like Boy Scouts named Royal Rangers). I was sick and could not spend the Eastern Ohio cool nights of late-September in the cold. But he took me the first night and we stayed through the council fire.

Dad used to put Ron, myself and all of our friends in the family station wagon and we would drive the hour east to catch a Pirates game back when Willie Stargell was winding down his career. I actually got to meet him after a game when he and Jason Thompson were doing an interview after a game.

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY. I love my Pop. I like to think that I have become a man that he is proud of. I know he will not be with us forever. But these days are so much more precious than they were a year ago. It seems like barely an hour, though. Time slips by so fast that we have to take the time to stoop and smell those stinking roses. Because they will be gone in the morning. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/330-today-good-day.html <![CDATA[Chris's Photographic Rule No. 10]]> http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/308-chriss-photographic-rule-no-10.html Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:37:51 GMT Well, so far I have posted four of my photographic rules. I started with No. 6 in the spirit of George Lucas (I know, not number IV but not at the... Well, so far I have posted four of my photographic rules. I started with No. 6 in the spirit of George Lucas (I know, not number IV but not at the beginning, anyway).

Here's a recap.

Photographic Rule No. 6
I don't do weddings.

Photographic Rule No. 7
If the film hasn't been rewound, it might get fogged if you open the camera back.

Photographic Rule No. 8
Always remember to extinguish your subject.

Photographic Rule No. 9
First, TURN THE STINKIN' LIGHT OUT, YOU MORON!

In all actuality, 6 was never posted, but it was alluded to in the post for Rule No. 7. I digress.

It is now time for rule number 10.

Chris' Photographic Rule No. 10.
Rules are made to be broken.

Yeah, there are the obvious choices for this like, say, the compositional rule of thirds. Then there's the ever-questionable sunny-16 rule. But this rule is in reference to my own rules as mentioned above.

Two years ago on the 18th of this month I retired from wedding photography. (see Rule No. 7) I said I would be the fat relative with a camera getting thirds on the wedding cake. Actually, I gotta watch that. Seconds should be enough form now on. Anywho, my mother calls me this morning. And A Moment In Time Photography rides again. My cousin is getting married on October 31 in NYC and she is doing the photography. If she can get someone to stay with Dad she wants to know if I will come along?

I mull it over and think how I hate being at a friend's or a family member's wedding and not being able to enjoy myself and I think that even going to New York I probably won't have time to enjoy the city at all. So I call her back and tell her I really don't want to. I had retired from wedding photography, after all.

Well, this might be different.The will be no church, the will be no reception. The ceremony will be done on a bridge in Central Park. We will have all morning and early afternoon, the ceremony is at 3:30PM. I don't know if they usher in the party on a conveyor belt and shimmy them out of the way for the next group's arrival. Anyway, wow. Even if I don't feel like lugging Bear around the city I could still take the Minoltas and get some great shots of the Park. I would hijack my wife's xT for the ceremony. I would get to see my cousin after a couple of years. And, after talking with Mom, I think she just doesn't want to go this alone.

Well, rules are made to be broken. So, I have to beg off a weekend from my wife, Mom has to find someone to stay with Dad or the whole thing is problematic anyhow. But, yeah, I would like to do this. No hiding behind a camera for 2+ hours at a reception. No figuring when the DJ is going to do what or trying to stay out of the videographer's way. Might have to mess with some pesky snapshootists in the small gathering but that can be easily dealt with and politely besides.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna do it. Never been to New York City, been around it. Love to stroll through Central Park. This should be a weekend to remember.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the introverts stare through their own viewfinders and the extroverts stare through yours, this is Chris Walrath. And this is my blog. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/308-chriss-photographic-rule-no-10.html And Sleep Still Eludes Me. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/298-sleep-still-eludes-me.html Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:43:51 GMT First blog here in a while. I work in the morning but right now I am just winding things down and wanted to get some ideas down on epaper. Well,... First blog here in a while. I work in the morning but right now I am just winding things down and wanted to get some ideas down on epaper.

Well, it has been since May 14th since I have done anything photographic other than surf here and go to get a free Beseler 57MT from a fellow PUGer in Phoenixville, PA a month ago. I am not depressed or anything. I just have no desire to print, process or shoot. I did add some new information onto my website at the end of last month.

Work is going well. We saw a huge jump in business in March (about +15%) and have been waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since. We're still waiting.

No, I'm tired and I am heading to beddy-bye. I will leave a more detailed blog when there is something to say.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the introverts look through their own viewfinders and the extroverts look through yours, this is Chris Walrath. And this is my blog. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/298-sleep-still-eludes-me.html First 4x5 processing, Combiplan Daytank and other thoughts http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/265-first-4x5-processing-combiplan-daytank-other-thoughts.html Sat, 15 May 2010 01:00:13 GMT Well, I have finally gotten around to processing my first 4x5 negatives. I had pourchased a Combiplan Daytank in February in anticipation of doing... Well, I have finally gotten around to processing my first 4x5 negatives. I had pourchased a Combiplan Daytank in February in anticipation of doing this. Just took longer to get around to it than I had expected.

The film used is Ilford Delta 100 4x5 sheets. Three of the sheets were rated at EI50 and one that I included was rated at box speed. However, I concluded that I wanted the negative rated at 100 to be less dense as I had exposed important shadows at zone II 1/2. I had intended to process one sheet of two duplicates at N and one at N-1. So I took the opportunity to do so at this time.

I used HC110 (1 litre dil 1:49), Kodak Indicator Stop Bath (1:63) and Kodafix (1:3). I loaded the holder with four sheets of various subjects. Loading was a breeze. I then filled the tank with the developer solution. I agitated continuously for the first minute and then for 15 seconds of every minute for up to six minutes total. I then drained the developer and filled the tank with the stop. I agitated for fifteen seconds and let it sit the remainder of the one minute duration. I then drained the stop and filled with fix. I agitated and kept the duration identical to that of the developer. After draining the fix I filled the open tank with water and then plunged the holder up and down vigorously fifty times. I then emptied and refilled and plunged one hundred times. I then repeated this step for a third rinse. My own variant on the 5-10-20 method of negative rinsing.

(Edit: All of the following are negative scans with reversal and slight adjustments. These are for illustrative purposes only. These are not SILVER GELATIN PRINTS. Yet.)

And the negatives are sweet. I love them. They came out very well. Thie first negative is of Griffith's Chapel in Williamsville, Delaware. It was rated at an EI of 50 and exposed with my B&J 4x5 camera and a 127mm Kodak Ektar lens with a Portra +2 lens for a wider angle. Exposure was set at f/11 for 1/50th of a second. No bellows extension or filter used. Pretty straightforward. I did employ a font standard rise of about 3/4" to combat parallax.

Griffith's Chapel, Williamsville, Delaware - 2010



The second negative is of the Trail's End, a private fishing vessel that is kept in Downtown Milford on the Mispillion River. The film was rated at box speed and given N-1 processing as the other sheets in this batch were rated at an EI of 50 and were given normal development. It was exposed with the B&J and Ektar setup and with a Telek +4 for magnification. Exposure was set to f/16 at 1/100th of a second. No extension, movements or filters.

Trail's End, Milford, Delaware - 2010



The third negative is of a tax ditch located along the Black Farm Trail in the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge east of Milton, Delaware. The film was rated at an EI of 50. This sheet was exposed using a homemade 4x5 view camera with a 140mm lens mounted. Exposure was set to f/8 @ 1/250th of a second. No extension, movements or filters.

Trailside, Black Farm Trail, Prime Hook NWR, Milton, Delaware - 2009



The fourth negative was made from the same location as negative number three. Same camera and lens setup as neg number three. The film was rated the same and exposed at f/8 for 1/60th of a second. No extension, movements or filters.

Roots and Reflection, Black Farm Trail, Prime Hook NWR, Milton, Delaware - 2009



In regards to using the Daytank. It performed well for the technical aspects of the process. It was very sloppy. Which would not have been an issue were I in a well equipped and spaced out darkroom. As I was in a sink alcove that measures 2'x2' (that's an overestimation I'm sure) it was not usable as it was way to sloppy for the confined space I have there and as I am not likely to process anywhere else anytime soon, I have unceremonially dumped it into the trash. I will tray process from here on out. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/265-first-4x5-processing-combiplan-daytank-other-thoughts.html Getting Dug Back In (Bordering on snowbound rant-ola) http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/240-getting-dug-back-bordering-snowbound-rant-ola.html Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:13:35 GMT DATELINE - Milton, Delaware. Wednesday, 10 FEB 2010

The wind is blowing like nuts. It's colder than forty Hades out there. I worked until 10:30 this morning and then bolted for the homestead. Enough of this infernal white stuff. This past weekend I tried to stay ahead of the snow so there would be less to lift when it was over. This weekend the wind is doing it for me. The snow comes down at about a 75 degree angle of attack and goes thataway. Thankfully.

So, been cruising APUG and eBay and Amazon and Facebook and Stratomatic Sim Leagues at TSN and Pogo (Boggle) and listening to my wife on Project Playlist and my daughter playing twenty questions about her new netbook and my son giving his DS a header trying to get the Spirit Flute to work right. He managed to get past the ocean, finally. And I retreated immediately to the porch this time so I've been in here most of the day. And I says to myself 'Self, (I always call my self Self when I'm talking to myself)" I says "Self, this is what it's all about." Chillin' with the peeps. My wife and I exchanging a flurry of come hithers across the room accompanied by a chorus of hearty "I can't see it! I can't hear it!"'s. Just being Dad and techy geek at the same time, all day long.

I probably will have a snow day tomorrow, at least a snow morning. I will try to get to work. Not holding out much hope though. Don't really wanna go in the first place. The kids get a white-induced week off so I deserve at least one day for my troubles, don't I?

Not a long post this time. Just enough to prove to myself that at least some thought is involved in my surfing today.

From Milton, Delaware, where the introverts stare through their own viewfinders and the extroverts stare through yours. I'm Christopher Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/240-getting-dug-back-bordering-snowbound-rant-ola.html Digging out, photography and tunneling. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/239-digging-out-photography-tunneling.html Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:02:57 GMT Dateline - Milton, Delaware. Sunday, 7 FEB 2010. Well, the storm of this decade, or maybe the last one, depends on your school of thought I... Dateline - Milton, Delaware. Sunday, 7 FEB 2010.

Well, the storm of this decade, or maybe the last one, depends on your school of thought I guess, social or otherwise. Nevermind. I digress.

The East Coast of the US has just come out from under two feet of snow. Here in Milton, Delaware we have received 22" of the blessed white stuff. Maybe more. Haven't heard anything official yet. Just counted what I shovelled as I tried to stay ahead of things.

Truth be told, this storm is all my fault. Yup, I made it happen. We had the Presidents Day storm in 2003 where, in Dover, we got 28" of snow. It occured to me that we get our huge snow every six to seven years. Back in 2003 I was stating that we would probably get our next big snow the first couple fo weeks of February in either 09 or 10. 09 passed without major droppage so I claimed it would be the first or second weekend of Feb 2010. Well, here we are, seven years later, and El Fatador hit the nail dead on the head.

Well, I kept ahead of the encroaching blanket of accumulation by shovelling every hour or two. Whenever I got bored inside I would step out for a shovel and a smoke. About three Saturday afternoon I stepped out after a one hour break to find three new inches. Just that quick. I shovelled it and then shovelled the new inch immediately upon completion of the three. I decided then and there that it was time to retreat to the porch and yield the walk and the carport to God and the snow angels.

And when the snow stopped, the storm was gone. Clouds disappeared within an hour and it got cold. But it was a good day all told.

Sorry, I just now stepped outside for a half hour this morning. I took the 4x5 out and made a couple of (as close as possible) snapshots of the snow piled up along the street and (with the 127mm mounted) small people in the background digging out. I used a red filter to darken the skies. Nope, no dramatic winterscape photography for me. And my daughter came out to join me. I could see she was dying to mess around so I encouraged my 13 year old daughter to climb on through the 24" banks of snow around the carport. She apparently needed no motivation, just permission. Heck, a few swipes of a straw broom along the legs and shoes just like when I was a kid in Ohio took care of tracking snow into the house. Every kid should have snow memories.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts look through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/239-digging-out-photography-tunneling.html My New Camera and My New Project http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/226-my-new-camera-my-new-project.html Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:36:12 GMT Well, been busy at the store lately. One of our drivers lost it, pointed out that there was a bad attitude that was affecting everyone and that... Well, been busy at the store lately. One of our drivers lost it, pointed out that there was a bad attitude that was affecting everyone and that someone had to do something about it and soon. He then promptly walked out of the store, nary to been seen or heard from again and thus solving the problem for us.

Well, in his absence there has been more than ample opportunity for me to grab a delivery that would otherwise have been delivered and hit the road. I traveled to distant Greenwood, Delaware with an order for Allen Bawel down at A&J. On the way back I took the Williamsville Road. Upon entering Williamsburg and with exiting looming presently (one intersection, bait and tackle shop, salvage yard and a few houses) I glimpse the sun shining from the southwest face of Griffith's Chapel. I decide then and there to return when I go to lunch in half an hour with my newly acquired B&J 4x5 Press camera.

I show up. I park in the store parking lot and walk across the barren road to the corner of the chapel lot. I walk around a bit but decide on my vantage point as seen from the road earlier. As I am setting up, a customer of mine rides by and asks what I'm doing? I swivel Bear around (that's his new name) and say 'Making photographs. Whaddya think?", indicating the camera. He says to me that he wants me to come out to his house and make photographs of his house and front yard. I tell him I'll get up with him.

I set up the camera. I meter a few portions of the subject area and settle on EV12.5 (1/50 @ f/8. I make the first exposure, flip the holder and then make a duplicate exposure. While out I discovered my next two subjects. But a project occurred to me as well. I believe that I would like to photograph small rural churches throughout Sussex County. I know, not original, but definitely my cup of tea.

Just sharing.

Christopher Walrath ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/226-my-new-camera-my-new-project.html More Than 100 Feet http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/225-more-than-100-feet.html Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:55:25 GMT Sat. Nov 28th, 2009. Got moving about 11 am for Prime Hook NWR with the 4x5. (Man, I could get used to this) I took the Black Farm Trail, a nice... Sat. Nov 28th, 2009.

Got moving about 11 am for Prime Hook NWR with the 4x5. (Man, I could get used to this) I took the Black Farm Trail, a nice walk between a couple of windrows and tax ditches through a field and back to the woods. I have walked this trail many times but never with the big camera. I got to the end of the windrows to a place where I had made an awesome photograph with my old M645j only to ruin it as it was on the first roll of film I ever processed.

I wrote out this procedure checklist (needs revising) and went through the steps to set it up. Took about ten minutes before I tripped the shutter. I love the long-slow with a 4x5. Anyway, the people started walking by. A pair of couples with their dogs and a brief greeting. Then a couple of ladies with their digi-whatever. I offered to let them look through the ground glass. The one with the P&S went first and I was met with a 'Oh, that's nice.' The the one with the D90 peered through and let out a resounding 'WOW!' I explained the movements and such and offered them a tip for fighting solar flare (stand with the front of the lens in the shadow of a tree). They were grateful and went along their way. I shortly followed.

I walked along a ways and decided to turn around. I met a lady walking by herself. Her name was Judy and she lives in Broadkill Beach. She is a volunteer at the Refuge. She was very inquisitive about the camera. She asked if I had ever entered into the competition that the refuge puts on every year. 'They take film pictures into the contest.' I reply 'They don't take black and white.' She said she would look into that. Well, we'll see.

Halfway back to the Jeep I see a nice composition along the ditch side of tree roots and the reflection. I spend about fifteen minutes and make two exposures.

Tomorrow we go to Barnes and Noble and movies and clothes shopping for the kiddies. But today was a beautiful walk. Edward Weston once said that there was nothing worth photographing that was more than 100 feet from the road. And I can see a lot of amazing photographs being made roadside. But what a life to be missed by never venturing out into solitude and beauty with film and a shutter to click.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the introverts look through their own viewfinder and the extroverts look through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/225-more-than-100-feet.html Sometimes the 12-year old wins. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/223-sometimes-12-year-old-wins.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:23:04 GMT Saturday, 14 November 2009 Well, today began innocuously enough. I had set the alarm for 6:40 am for a date with Steve Graff (aka Sirius Glass)... Saturday, 14 November 2009

Well, today began innocuously enough. I had set the alarm for 6:40 am for a date with Steve Graff (aka Sirius Glass) in Bel Air, MD, at Barnes and Noble to meet for a shoot at 9:30. Hit the alarm. Rolled over. Woke up at 7:20. Crap! Rolled into my clothes, gear already in the Jeep (only forgot one thing which I will rectify shortly) and hit the road. Called ahead when I was 15 minutes away at 9:25. Now, I'm wearing a wool brown fedora and when I pull into the parking lot imagine my surprise in Steve's taste in hats. Well, Stetson, not wool.

We head north of town in 24 through The Rocks State Parks up to St. Mary's road in a roundabout kind of way, via a short walk down to the end of the choke cascade in the creek. We set out just before 11 am for the mile hike back. We get to the ford which is a series of sunken concrete cylinders about 15 inches in diameter that are normally about three inches above the waterline. Well, we have had The Perfect Storm II: Cap'n Billy's Revenge here on the east coast this week so our crossing was about an inch under water on average. I venture down, the stones in water level or just above are not slippery and some of the steps are an inch under. The 40-year old says, 'I'm carrying a back full of LF gear and Steve has his Hassy 503CW's home on his back.' The 12-year old says, 'AW! We can make it.' We came all this way after all. And sometimes, the 12-year old wins. All I can say is thank God for tripods and Sketcher boots. Inch and a half under and dry as a bone.

I set Steve up in a prime spot and move on up and set up my gear. I made four exposures, different orientations and different lenses (the 140mm or the B&L 8", choices choices). After about forty minutes Steve comes over, sets up near me for some more and a D****** shooter, a young man by the name of Tyler who lives in Christiana, DE, comes in and we introduce ourselves. He's shooting a D90 (I asked, striking up conversation). His dig is wildlife, being a young sportsman. So we chat, I ask him if he wants to look through the ground glass. 'Sure.' All I got was 'WOW!' So, Steve and I start to pack up, tell him about APUG and hit the road. We get back to the parking lot at the trail head, Steve passes on to me some great info and ideas for my Jeep, we shake hands and part ways. Steve headed for old haunts in downtown Bel Air and Edgewood. Me, for a visit with an old friend.

But first, I stop on the way back through the park and make a couple more exposures, I make six exposures for the day all told. I then look up Greg (sage) who lives a few blocks from where my grandparents loved. Found the house easily but a friend informed me he had departed about an hour earlier with camera in hand. It was my hope to meet him and shoot with him as well. Much to my chagrin, I later discovered that he had repeatedly tried to contact me to no avail. I turn off my cell while shooting. I had forgotten to turn it back on. I'm a schmuck.

I then go over to a local cemetery. My Grandpa Damon had passed away in February 2007 and with the sole exception of moving my grandmother's belongings from Bel Air to Milford, DE, a year ago, I had not been back. I had no idea it would be such a sorrowful and emotional experience. I had only seen it once, the day he was buried. Three years ago and not in the most focused of mental states. I could not find his grave. I was getting more upset by the minute. By upset, I mean blubbering fat man meandering through a cemetery in the drizzling rain, sporting a dashing wool fedora. I voice my self-opinion aloud. 'What kind of grandson am I? I can't even find my grandfather.'

Then the answer came to me immediately. I am the kind that remembers. I pass on his honestly, integrity, straightforwardness, and devotion to others through me. I am the man he hoped I would be. I have a wife and two children that mean more to me than anything else in this world. And I realize that his gift to me is a self-assuredness that I am doing everything I can and doing it as right as I can. And I know he would not ask for more. At that moment, I had a longing to be back in Milton, in my baby's arms, kissing the cheeks of Ethan and Emily. With nothing left to do but drive, I departed post haste for the only people that really matter, NO MATTER WHAT.

I roll back in and hug the kids and kiss Faith on the forehead. It was a long day, full of twists and turns. New friends. Help from old ones. A reassurance that everything will be OK.

It was nothing like I imagined but it could not have been any better. So, next time the 12-year old in you screams to be daring and follow a different path, take their advice. And hope.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the introverts look through their own viewfinder and the extroverts look through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. And this is my blog. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/223-sometimes-12-year-old-wins.html OK. Just how seriously should I be taking myself anyway? http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/221-ok-just-how-seriously-should-i-taking-myself-anyway.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:54:12 GMT OK. I have been inspired. I mean it. We're talking wholesale revelation here. I mean, look at Jason Brunner. No offense, Jason. But Jason is my hero. His work speaks volumes to his skill and proficiency. His generosity with the knowledge he possesses is a legacy that has only served to make photography better than when he first picked up the camera. Now, how many people figure 'Friggin Focal Length' in pasta? How many promote a DVD by bleep swearing at their own miscues, albeit staged.

Don't get me wrong. I respect J for his knowledge and the work he has done. After all, the proof is in the puddin'. I know my stuff. I can quote technique as the day is long. I can show some fantastic work IMHO. I can put together a few articles and call it a magazine. I can show others how to use their gear to the fullest. What I do I do to help others and to understand myself.

And my understanding is this. I am a smart a**, through and through. I do not do it to the point where I hurt others. And if I do I am the first to apologize for any wrongdoings. I am, after all, nowhere near perfect.

And I guess that is the point. I am not perfect. I am the sum of my pieces. And all of them are not nearly as perfect and I would like. And I like things that way. I love being eccentric. I love keeping people guessing. I am proud that most people leave from me with a grin at the very least, a laugh and a shaking of the head is more par for the course.

See, I don't want to be perfect. I don't want to pretend to be something I am not. I am me. Like it or not. And I hope you like it. I really do. But when dealing with me, a person will always know where they stand.

So, although a Christian must put their witness before all else and an editor for Creative Image Maker must present theirself with a certain level of decorum, and an auto parts salesman must always put forth the best face possible, this rascal will always put a little bit of himself into everything he sets his hand at. And if it were any other way, I wouldn't be me.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts stare through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/221-ok-just-how-seriously-should-i-taking-myself-anyway.html Revisiting My Intro Thread After Four Years (subtitled: E-Time Capsule) http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/214-revisiting-my-intro-thread-after-four-years-subtitled-e-time-capsule.html Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:39:37 GMT I thought it would be neat to find my intro thread from 2006. Found it on page 39. Its really cool revisiting your old goals and beginnings to see... I thought it would be neat to find my intro thread from 2006. Found it on page 39. Its really cool revisiting your old goals and beginnings to see where you are compared to where you wanted to be. I actually think I hit it pretty close.

Flash19901 (my handle back then)

Well, I have been a photographer from birth (born with a chrome SRT in my mouth). I only really seriously picked up a camera about thirteen years ago. I have been hooked ever since. I have numerous cameras, varying in format and age and operational condition, but I am a 35mm man. My weapon of choice is my Minolta XG-M of which I have two working bodies and a third for parts, a winder, three fixed focal length lenses (28, 50 (twice) and a 400), two zooms which do the lion's share of the work (28-70, 70-210), two tele converters, tripod, cable and air release, filters, adapter rings and so on and so forth.
As to my particular brand of photogrpahy, I have always taken what interested me. Landscapes, weddings, astronomy (with litttle success), flora, the usual smattering. About five years ago I really came seriuos. I joined my mother's wedding photography business A Moment In Time in Milford, Delaware and helped for about two years. During this time I enrolled with the NYIP. The I got married in 04, read Ansel Adams' series the Camera, Negative and Print and never looked back. Now I am working on a few things. Trying to document my hometown of Milton, De. in images. Working in B&W mostly, including a love/hate relationship I have held for a couple of years now with contrasty imagery ala Edward Weston, shapes and lines with great exposure range between the highlights and shadows. I am going crazy and wish I had done this before. i love photogrpahy. I have taught myself a lot on the technical side to go with my eye. I am always looking to learn more and I am willing to go above and beyond to answer what I can.
In two years I would like to be developing my own B&W and in a couple mroe years after that I want to have my own Darkroom up and running. Feel free to contact me and you will hear from me from time to time. CLICK!

Whiteymorange the clean shaven. The first to greet me to APUG.

Welcome in Flash! Great beginnings. I hope you find lots of kindred spirits here.

Flash19901

Thank you sir. And may the road always rise to meet you.

SteveH

Flash,
Greetings from the Northern part of the state. One question - why wait two years to develop your own B&W ? All you need is a patterson (or like) tank, a dark bag, and some chems. Really very simple and MUCH more economical than having your film developed elsewhere.

roteague (Roger Whitaker, hee hee hee)

Welcome Flash, it is always good to have new people come aboard who are interested in traditional methods.

Flash19901

Actually, Steve, I have a tank, a 120 roll and 2 35mm rolls. All I lack is the ambition. You're right. Thank you.

Buster 6x6

Welcome from Southwestern Ontario Canada. You will enjoy your stay, lot of nice people.

Greg

SteveH

Quote:
Originally Posted by flash19901
Actually, Steve, I have a tank, a 120 roll and 2 35mm rolls. All I lack is the ambition. You're right. Thank you.

Perhaps you need to take a trip up this way and borrow my darkroom for a couple of hours ? It will light a fire under your bottom once you see how your negs print =)

Flash19901

Where should I start, Steve? What should I get to build the darkroom around? What piece of equipment. The enlarger? I need direction and the fire lit under my rump.

AndyK

Welcome from England Flash! I reckon now you are here on APUG it'll be less than two months and you'll be developing your own bw. I know, it happened to me!
Andy.

Stoo Batchelor

Hello and welcome, from South East England.

Stoo

George Losse

Hello and welcome from South Jersey.

Dave Wooten

welcome from Vegas



It seems to me that a few things here strike me as cool and odd. I had completely forgotten that Whitey was the first to greet me. I remembered that Andy was one of the first. As well as Robert and Steve. I can't beleive that, being in the same state and one the size of Delaware at that that we have never met.

Well, it took two years to begin processing my own B&W film as I had hoped. And although a dedicated darkroom is nowhere in the immediate future, I started printing a year later. So, a little ahead of the curve on that one I suppose. I'm still the 35mm man I was then, Minolta, as well, though in a round about way.

So I suppose this will be my measure for the next four years. I would like to exhibit some prints in the next year or so. I also need to get some good stuff scanned for my website which has seen little change in the last year or so. CiM is kind of spinning wheels right now. It needs to reinvigorate itself. Paper would be a good thing by 2012 at the absolute latest if I am still doing it. I want to really get into LF before the end of 2010. That means tax/G.A.S. season if I can fly it by my wife. I hope HC110 and TMY is still around in 2015. Because I love it and can continue to grow with it as long as it is available. And will House still be on the tele? We shall see.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts look through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/214-revisiting-my-intro-thread-after-four-years-subtitled-e-time-capsule.html Photographic Rule No. 9 http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/210-photographic-rule-no-9.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:59:29 GMT Number 8, if you recall, was to always extinguish your subject. You are instructed to read previous blog for a real hoot. Here is my rule number... Number 8, if you recall, was to always extinguish your subject. You are instructed to read previous blog for a real hoot.

Here is my rule number nine.

Finally got back into the darkroom (read: microscopic downstairs half bath, even more so for one with my generous girth) for the first time in a couple of months for a printing session. Decided to do things a little differently. I have been looking at the work I have done the last two years by guessing at negatives so, that's right, I churned out 25 contact proof prints.

I got the exposure right with a couple of test prints from a good average sheet of negs and settled on 2.5 second at f/3.5 w/o carrier inserted and enlarger (Fujimoto Lucky 60M) to full height. The short duration kinda surprised me. So, I went through my neg folder, chose the 25 rolls and placed about 30 sheets into my paper safe. I exposed one neg sheet onto one sheet of photographic paper. I then insert it into the safe emulsion face down (paper stock side up), take everything below it and shuffle the pile on top of it. This way, when I get to a sheet of paper and I do not feel the emulsion side up I know I have reached the end of the internet. I expose 25 sheets and return three to their home in the Arista box. Go outside for a smoke. Come back in and get to work soupin'.

As I am rolling along, I get to print number eight. I open the paper safe. Now, with only one exception, I have done this once during EVERY printing session since I started in March.

Photographic Rule No. 9



First, TURN THE STINKIN' LIGHT OUT, YOU MORON!

Yep, opened the safe, brain engaged letting my consciousness know that there was an unusual amount of light ambient for this stage of the process and shut the safe tight and how. It was only open for a portion of a second and, fortunately, all of the exposed proof sheets were tunred face down. I cannot distinguish whether even one was more than marginally fogged and that would have been on a burned side through the transparent plastic sheets.

This happened in May when I printed my Round 17 Postcards and I only had to reprint two sheets (4 cards). This happened again in July cutting a productive printing session short by ruining about ten sheets. I don't have to be dropped on my head too many times before I get it, but I do occasionally require a good contusion or two before proceeding.

It was a great day, all in all. Now I can see just what it is I have been doing for a change.

From Milton, Delaware.
Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts look through yours.
I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/210-photographic-rule-no-9.html Winding Time (poem) http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/207-winding-time-poem.html Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:16:11 GMT As I sit and stare and ponder On this life through which I wander, Oft I find myself adrift on Many a varying theme. On one day it may be warm... As I sit and stare and ponder
On this life through which I wander,
Oft I find myself adrift on
Many a varying theme.

On one day it may be warm hugs.
On the next, maybe a thought tugs
From the edge of my own thoughts, out
From the depths of dreams.

And the days are few.

I may be well, I may be broken.
I might be shut or widely open.
'Tis possible I'm in the room,
Or perhaps far away.

Though be no doubt to my intention,
I succumb unto my penchant
For a wee dramatic flair
That helps to light the day.

And the days are few.

It's not of pride or even malice for
Which my hands they clasp this chalice.
I drink of life, unencumbered,
Slicing to the quick.

And if I halt this dear consumption
I must arrive at the assumption
Where I have given o'er my will
Lest the clock another tick.

And the days are few.

O', how I seek the sun's warm light to
Bring me safe and through the night.
Without it I might never see the
Light that is in you.

For, giv'n the opportunity
I would submit to scrutiny
Of absolutest certainty.
And pass as nary few.

And the days are few.

Haunt me with my own life.


-CW 23Sep09 ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/207-winding-time-poem.html Anticipation of a morning of ME time. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/202-anticipation-morning-me-time.html Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:53:56 GMT Well, school starts for the kids next Tuesday. And that means one thing.

In about two weeks I'm gonna be sick as a dog.

Happens every year. Over a thousand children assemble after a summer-long seperation and get ready for share time. Hitting each other playfully, saying things forcefully (spitting), rubbing noses before opening doors, you name it. And my two wonderful and lovely children, the young one for whom I have selflessly sacrificed myself so that they could have a wonderful life, those two beacons of joy are gonna bring home the death of me. Kinda one-sided if you ask me. ;p

So, I check out the weather forecast and find that it is going to get down to 62F Sunday night and only up to 76 on Monday so I think Monday morning is the perfect time for an early morning jaunt around the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge with my gadget bag. Haven't really taken that many pictures this summer. And with the postcard exchange and all coming up and having purchased a new scanner so that I can upload new work for the first time in a couple of years, it's high time I get back out there, trapsing through God's beautiful landscape and opening the shutter of my heart with the aperture of my mind and making some golden hour magic. The golden hour I seldom greet without four cups of java or a sleepless night.

See, I fancy myself a morning person. I just have to make the effort and I seldom do. I either have to be on vacation or camping in order to move myself of my own will at the other 6 o'clock of the day.

But I'm going out. I am going to make some beautiful foggy photographs, I am going to process the negs and then I am going to make a killer print that would earn a clap on the back from dear old Ansel. I doubt anyone will be there to meet me but I am going to show up about 6:15 and wait for the gates to open. Catch the low light fog in action (note to self: been a while, pack the tripod) as the sunlight beams through the trees. I might even take a roll of Portra with me. Haven't shot any color in over three years but this might be the time to allow Happy Harry's Discount Drugs (wonder why he's happy?) butcher some of my film. Or maybe I'll stick to my handy-dandy monochrome film. I'll be travelling light so I'll have my XG-1's on me. No MF or LF on this trip.

Well, I'll leave the rest to God and find out what he has in store for me then.

From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts stare through their own viewfinder and the extraverts stare through yours. I'm Chris Walrath. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/202-anticipation-morning-me-time.html Photography, Life, Boredom and Rant http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/198-photography-life-boredom-rant.html Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:54:58 GMT I was reading hoffy's post regarding long term photography projects and it got me to thinking.

I have printed in two months. I haven't processed any film in as long. I haven't made many photographs in the last month or so. And yesterday was the first time in months when a camera did not accompany on my trip to work. CiM is kind of stalling right now as there is nothing to put in the September issue. And I have lost the urge to chase down material for publishing.

In short, I have lost my photographic desire. I do not presently find it worth the while to drag out the enlarging kit and set it up. I want to do it but when the time comes I easily find a reason not to. Same for processing. I carry the camera with me daily out of a self-assigned duty. Photographically I am going through the motions.

It's summertime. Time for kids and family and barbeque and trips and humungous thunderstorms and brown grass and deciding when to take my vacation from work and on and on and on. I normally am somewhat laid back photographically in the summertime because I react adversly to heat.

Now, don't fear. I know I will make photographs again one day, sooner or later. (Even that was said half from a feeling of obligation so scratch that). The only problem is that, other than working, spending time with my family, surfing the net and photography I don't do much else. Well, the net has been getting boring and photography is dead for me right now. I'm not at work and we are watching the movie where the Muppets go to Oz. So.

I am bored out of my stinking gourd! I want to do something but I don't feel like doing anything. I hate it when I get to be like this. I don't even want to finish this pointless rant. I guess it's just to get my feelings down on silicon. And the Muppets and a catnap are winning.

So I might not be around for a while. I just need a complete break from photography. I will keep an eye out for stuff for CiM because that is a commitment but if nothing comes in there won't be anything for an issue. Because I wrote a couple of pieces for July and the whole show for August and there is just nothing left in me for it right now.

I know, we all go through this and I have advised others in their time of gloom. So I am going to take my advice. I am going to put down the camera. You know what, just let it sit. The more I want to use and and don't use it the more it depresses me. So forget about it. Let it sit in the corner in its bag where the dust won't get into it and the sun is not on it. Let the exposed film sit in its bag where I'll get to it eventually. Let the enlarger and the folder of neg sheets sit and wait to be contact printed whenever I feel like getting around to it. If I feel like getting around to it.

I dunno. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/198-photography-life-boredom-rant.html Moving furniture and old photography books. http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/180-moving-furniture-old-photography-books.html Sat, 16 May 2009 18:55:56 GMT Well, today I met my brother at his mother-in-law's house to help him move some of her furniture out to sheds. She's getting her carpet redone. Well, it didn't take long and it wasn't hard work. But she insisted on paying us. She handed me $50 and I immediately said 'No!' I was more than happy to help. She said to take it or she'd beat me. I looked at Ron askance and he said she would fuss until I took it. I relented. 'This is for the last time (helped before), this time and the next time if I take it.' She begrudgingly agreed.

On the way home to Milton I thought I would go to the local antique store in town hoping to score a sweet old camera with my new found fortune. I had visions of Speed Graphics dancing in my head. (You wish) I browsed and all that my search turned up was a Kodak Instamatic (I have one), a Brownie movie camera and a Brownie Hawkeye that takes 620 film. I passed on all and kindly thanked the clerk, a college aged student who looked like he had more on the mind than merely tending to relics of ages past and some not so past. And on a classic beach Saturday. Poor kid. The only thing of intrest was a satchel with Alice clips that I could attach to my LC1 backpack with which I lug my 4x5 around. But I was not ready to part with the $25 necessary to carry it from the premises. I then proceeded to the bookseller up the street, stopping along the way to snap off a couple of shots of ivy growing on old brick in the historic area downtown.

Upon entering I am greeted, even though the proprietor and I are not on first name terms. He is on speaking terms with anybody who enters his domain and I suspect anyone who did not reciprocate immediately would be banished to the nether regions of the public library. I ask if he has any general photography books in the shop, older ones. He starts looking. He had just gotten a box of books in earlier in the week and low and behold there were five or six in it. I sit down to peruse the material and he busies himself somewhere else in the 300 sq-ft shop. Small shop, really tight and really full of books.

A couple of minutes later he returns and shoves another pile of literature in my face and proclaims 'You might want to check these out as well.' I graciously accept his gift. As I continue he asks if it would be alright if he stepped over to the ATM and then got some lunch from next door, he'd be back in about ten minutes. I had never been there during noonish hours and it struck me as nostalgic, this quizzened looking shop keeper of yore. A bookworm, no doubt, but not diminutive be any stretch of the imagination, a good two inches taller than myself. He puts me to mind of all accounts I have ever heard of Alfred Steiglitz, wild hair, glasses, singular mind and all. I say 'Sure, I'll tend shop for a few minutes for ya', partly in jest. He thanked me and out the door he went. I don't think he would mind, I snapped a shot of his shop with books on either side and his desk small and crammed back into the corner. I'll have to give him a print.

Upon his return I finished my selection. We had a brief discussion about e-books and missing the tangible relationship between leather and hand, ink and eye. He remarked in my use of a media that was rapidly becoming defunct. I told him that not only do I shoot black and white, but also large format, and process my own film and make my own prints. He seemed to admire that given his rustic nature and the haphazard condition of his shop; everything out of place and yet in its place in that microcosm of yesteryear, that little universe of history. Written as it should be, not projected.

Well, given the prices handwritten in pencil inside the covers I had about $30 worth of books and was hoping to haggle him down to $20 or so. He considers the stack of books I hand to him, proudly stating I would like to take these, and says 'I'll take $10 for the lot.' I gladly hand him the ten spot and he thanks me for his landlord's sake and bids me farewell as I pass through the door. I was mindful not to let the door shut too hard as I left.

I hope all of my Saturdays are this productive. A good way to end a good week. Back to work on Monday. Now to the readin'.

ChrisW



Here's what I got for ten bucks.

'Photography - Its Material and Process' by CB Neblette of the Rochester Institute of Photography - Printed 1952 5th Ed.

'Lenses In Photography' by Rudolf Kingslake - Printed 1963 / revised

'The Complete Book of Enlarging' by Morris Gurrie of the Chicago School of Photography - Printed in 1949 / 1st Ed

'Dictionary of Photography' by A. L. M. Sowerby - orig printed in England in 1943, reprinted in US in 1944

'Enlarging' by CI Jacobson and LA Mannheim - Printed in 1967 / 19th revision

'The Theory of the Photographic Process' by CE Kenneth Mees of Kodak research - first printing of 1954 revision

'Amphoto Black and White Processing Data Book' by John S. Carroll - printed in 1972 / 1st Ed

'Kodak Professional Black-and-White Films' by Kodak Eastman Co. - Printed in 1990 ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/180-moving-furniture-old-photography-books.html Fortune Favors the Foolish http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/175-fortune-favors-foolish.html Tue, 05 May 2009 00:04:38 GMT Well, in my bout of G. A. S. this winter I had a pang of regret. Not that I had given away all of my Minolta X and S series cameras to friends to... Well, in my bout of G. A. S. this winter I had a pang of regret. Not that I had given away all of my Minolta X and S series cameras to friends to get them started in photography. But rather that I missed my cameras. BADLY. So what's a G. A. S. stricken photographer to do? You guessed it.

I went ebay crazy. I found the lowest prices Buy It Now and won four auctions. XG-1 with a 45mm Rokkor f/2, a Vivitar 28mm f/2.8, a Albinar 80-200 f/3.9 MD mount Macro Zoom (don't know why they couldn't just call it an f/4) and a 2x teleconverter. Under $85 USD all told, including shipping. Well all was well but when I got the camera the mirror was jammed up. 'Blown capacitor'. My first thought so I contacted the seller. As the lens was in good shape we decided to split the $30 difference. She refunded $15. I have the Minolta repair manuals and thought, 'Hey, it's junk. I can always get around to trying to replace the capacitors. It's bait weight as it is.'

Well, the other day I'm fiddling around with the camera and this time I open the back and look at the shutter curtains. But this time I look closely. The outer curtain is not quite perpendicular to the direction of travel. Hmmmmm. I take my ink pen and press ever so slightly on the curtain from the side. "NEVER TOUCH THE SHUTTER CURTAIN!" I know. I mean, I may not be a rocket scientist (stop snickering, Eugene) but I know how to ruin a perfectly broke camera like the best of us, right? So I figured what the heck, right? I press slightly and the shutter snaps to the left on the tension of the spring. Huh! O.K. Now there's a slight gap between the inner curtain and the left side of the format hole now. What the heck, right? I press on it ever-so-slightly and all of a sudden it snaps over on the spring's tension.

And then I hear the most beautiful sound I have ever heard other than my wife saying 'I do'. You know, the thing that you hear and you know that the world has just righted itself even if only for the briefest of moments. That's right.

The mirror slaps open. OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have another camera. I told my wife that I had another working camera. All she could muster was to slap her forehead, shake her head and utter, for the umpteenth-times-infinity time, 'Don't you have enough cameras yet?' Well, she has added the 'yet' over the years as my penchant for suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndome has become clearer to her. My response . . .



Never.



From Milton, Delaware. Where the intraverts look through their own viewfinders and the extraverts look through yours.

I'm Chris Walrath. And this is my blog. ]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/175-fortune-favors-foolish.html First Day of Printing a Success! http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/173-first-day-printing-success.html Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:53:40 GMT Well, I started out about 11:30 here in Delaware, yeah, I played hooky. About twenty minutes of setup and such into it I discovered I wasn't using the grain focuser properly and ditched it to move on. I'll learn how to use it later.

OK. Lucky Fujimoto 60M enlarger, Gra-Lab Timer, red safelight, slightly expired Ilford Warmtone RC 8x10 paper, Arista Paper Developer (1:9), Kodak Indicator Stop Bath (1:63) and Kodafix fixer (1:7). The makings of destiny. I'm sorry, feeling bombastic.

I select a light mannered negative of my niece on a swing, taken on July 10, 2006 on her third birthday. Opened lens up to f/2.8 to focus it. Ran a test page (32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1) and decided on 16 seconds exposure. Developer for two minutes. Stop for 15-30 seconds. Fix for minute and a half. Then out to the kitchen where I had set up a big 16x20 tray cocked up to drain into the kitchen sink, tap running very slowly for rinse. It looked good but I wanted it darker. Tried 32 seconds. Oops. I know. Wrong way. Test number three for eight seconds and that was a tad light. Test four for 12 seconds. I liked it so much I ran off four more for family.

Then I selected a photograph I made six years ago, promo shots for my former roommate's band. First print was a little light. Second print was perfect at sixteen seconds.

Then I decided to tackle Water #1 from May 2006. First print for twelve seconds was awfully light. Second print at 20 seconds looked good but the top of the print was still a little light. Third exposure at 35 seconds. Bottom of print turned out right but the bottom was a little low. So I exposed the fourth print for 35 seconds, dodging the bottom portion for 15 seconds giving it only 20 seconds. Looks kinda nice.

So that was my first day of printing. Fifteen prints drying in the folded Shamwow's (necessity is the father of invention) and only five junkers. 75% good. Seven looking GREAT! I loved it. Five hours! I'm famished. Later.

ChrisW
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]]> Christopher Walrath http://www.apug.org/forums/blogs/christopher-walrath/173-first-day-printing-success.html