New York April Nyc Meet-up

robert blu said:
Uhh, it was a long time I didn't read about your dear dog :) everything ok about?

robert
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Robert,

Sadly I had to put him down. We likely gave him the best 13 months of his life, and we spent many thousands to meet his special needs.

He became sick and had what I would call convulsions. I spent many a night just holding him to comfort him. It seems his decline was spreading to his digestive system and these episodes would begin late at night.

When we took him to the vet we actually was made aware of how sick he was. It was a hard decision and it took a weekend to process. We realized that his quality of life had deteriorated to the point, and his phobias had gotten so bad, that previous things like long walks in Central Park became fraught for him. His delicate stomach no longer allowed us to indulge or spoil him with food.

We finally realized that he only lived to make us happy and other than the love he gave there was no joy in his life. It got so bad that if I sneezed he would hide under the couch for a half hour. What do you do when an animal is only alive for you and your happiness?

We were there when his heart was stopped, and I could not bear the thought of him dying alone. This suffering animal particularly depended on me so much and he became part of me. I understood the abuse and neglect he suffered, and I also understood and identified with his aggressions. In many ways we are the same.

I find myself thinking about him all the time, and it seems part of me remains missing. Towards the end of his life it seemed he aged a year in each month, and it seemed like every day he was and became a different dog.

Despite all the pain and sorrow I would do it all over again. A great example of unconditional love and loyalty. Tears.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Bob,

Funny thing is that the shots I take of Maggie regularly get 3-5K likes within 24 hours, and at times 6K likes.
(...)
After all these calls it seems the discussion leads to how bipolar this industry is and how hard it is to be sustainable. Anyways I can see why that one super model I met only did it for a year and then retired before she hit 21.

Cal
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Instagram Metrics are something a bit frustrating. I decided to publish a modest series and with the right tagging it hit quite some likes, and high ratio to followers given my measly small account.
But growing isn't easy, AFAIK if the algorithm pushes you to be recommended that is it. Keep getting people who follow to unfollow. I don't like the trickery and it leaves a sour taste to the art... Plus also eyecandying which I don't get into that much.

Also the specifics of each project, of course that model is required. You could check if they need a "vintage hipster" next time ;)
Then the lifestyle does take its toll to those that get some success but become delusional.

Sorry to hear about "Brad Pitt" the dog. We never had a pet in house but made friends with some dogs around and they have that serene freedom, unconditional and true.
My friend says that dogs are true friends and cats are like bad women. As a kid during summers at grandma's house there were feral cats and they are not as trustful.
 
jsrockit said:
Any date yet?
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John,

So far no.

The 15th and 16th are booked for me.

The 15th is Lyn's mom's 90th birthday, but Lyn will be in China.

The 16 is a guitar show with my guitar nerd friends. BTW guitars are worse than cameras, can be even more expensive, and in a way even nerdier.

Perhaps the only other obsession worse is cars. BTW my friend Cris owns some historically famous vintage funny car. How cool is that? Then again likely the most impractical thing one could own. LOL.

Anyways musicians are wack-jobs.

Cal
 
Prest_400 said:
Instagram Metrics are something a bit frustrating. I decided to publish a modest series and with the right tagging it hit quite some likes, and high ratio to followers given my measly small account.
But growing isn't easy, AFAIK if the algorithm pushes you to be recommended that is it. Keep getting people who follow to unfollow. I don't like the trickery and it leaves a sour taste to the art... Plus also eyecandying which I don't get into that much.

Also the specifics of each project, of course that model is required. You could check if they need a "vintage hipster" next time ;)
Then the lifestyle does take its toll to those that get some success but become delusional.

Sorry to hear about "Brad Pitt" the dog. We never had a pet in house but made friends with some dogs around and they have that serene freedom, unconditional and true.
My friend says that dogs are true friends and cats are like bad women. As a kid during summers at grandma's house there were feral cats and they are not as trustful.
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Jorde,

The reason why "Maggie" got an agent, and a great one at that, from a leading agency, is not because of her pure number of followers, but through the analytic of engagement. This is defined by repeated followers and by the level and quality of comments.

In this manner "Maggie" is truely an "influencer." An experienced agent saw the value in the deeper analytics and sees who the followers are. The surprising demographic is that Maggie's appeal and biggest audience is not baby boomers but young people with 85% of the bell curve being ages 25-35.

Also note that presently there are some people trying to "weasel" in on Maggie's success.

My dog definitely knew he was good looking. Really knew how to charm all the women. LOL. He was a heartbreaker, widely known, and I would say famous.

Some people have an infinity with animals, and perhaps because of my animal instincts I am one of them.

I would not discount cats. I rescued a cat that was a black and white Persian. A married couple were going to have a baby, Blackie was old, and they were going to put her down. I was living out in Long Island at the time, but I drove to the Bronx to adopt this cat. I learned from word of mouth, and I actively was not looking for a pet, but I had a cat already I had adopted from a shelter.

Well Blackie was more like a dog than a cat. When I came home from work she would be waiting at the door like a dog. She would jump on my leg, and she repeatedly me-yowed in a manner that sounded like "Cal" my name. It was almost human like when she called my name.

Then I ended up with a third cat "Willie" who basically was a scared-D-cat even though he was a Maine Coon Cat and was about 30 pounds. This particular cat was stupid and not so smart, but because of his size people were actually scared of him. Every time I opened a cabinet or the fridge he came running.

Cleo was this little black cat that was skinny and aloof. She would beat the crap out of Willie who was too dumb to run away.

When I had a loft in Williamsburg I had this huge Chinese earthen urn that held about 50 gallons that I set up as a Koi pond. So I learned Koi are actually really smart, but they are "Pig Fish," and they will do almost anything for food. Because of my feeding them I had to do lots of water changes, and I pumped the water outside through a nearby window.

I ended up having to buy a German filter that pumped 350 gallons per hour, and I added a airstone to oxiginate the water, but surprisingly the 5 Koi I had grew into monsters.

I named one Ali, because he tended to hover near the surface. He was a loud solid orange and he was the type of Koi that had a pronounced scale pattern that resembled armour. Shaq the Koi I named because of his jumping. I trained Shaq to eat out of my hand and he became really big, about 7 pounds. Shaq knew that if he spashed or jumped he could get my attention, and this in turn often led to being fed.

So when I had friends over and they went over to check out my Koi, Shaq would gleefully charge the surface, and my guests would scream like as if it were a shark attack. Anyways these were crazy fish.

When I was married and had little kids I also had an aquarium that featured Brazilian Red Belly Pirana and Asian Snakeheads that are currently outlawed in the U.S. I got the fish and aquarium for free. I got the Pirana because the previous owner did not have the money to feed them, and I got the Snakeheads because the owner said they were destructive and destroying his room.

My three Pirana I named Sonny, Bruno, and Mortisha. I feed them live goldfish. The Snakeheads I added as an experiment, and I did not expect them to live too long. They kinda slithered along the top while the Pirana stayed deep. I kinda trained them with the small net I used to capture gold fish. When I showed them the net they let me know if they were hungry.

With the Snakeheads the goldfish never hit the water, and the Snakeheads would catch the falling fish before it hit the water. With the Pirana they were equally fast if not more deadly. Because I had little kids I always kept them well fed, but my dumb wife told me she almost got bitten by the Pirana. They are rather amazing looking with a metalic specle and very fast and agile swimmers.

Cal
 
Today it is 103K followers. All of the sudden it is jumps in 1K increments in a day instead of a week.

Today is a video all over NYC for a commercial.

Let's not schedule the Meet-Up for Sunday the 23rd. That is the day of the Long Island Guitar Show.

Cal
 
105K followers and this morning flying to California. Will be one of four panelists/fashion bloggers at a otherwise academic event. Even though "Maggie" is an academic she was invited to this conference as a fashion blogger.

This Thursday at the Leica Store SoHo 6-8 PM is some event/book signing. Pretty high probability I will be there.

Cal
 
jszokoli said:
So the question is will "Maggie" get to 110k followers before we have a date...

Joe
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Joe,

Pretty much almost 1K follower increase per day. This conference in California is being held at USC.

We could do the April Meet-Up on the 16th. Maggie I think will be in China for their fashion week, but I think by then she might be close to 120K at the rate she is going. On the 15th Is Maggie's mom's birthday, and she will be 90.

Kinda funny is that yesterday she went up to Westchester to visit her mom, and was recognized by someone in Hastings. "Maggie" was not glammed out, wore no make-up, and was dressed rather slouchy, but she mentioned that it was distressing being a cell-LEB-Bert-T. Basically all she wanted to be was left alone. LOL.

I can imagine her popularity in China. I think she will be kinda mobbed.

One box arrived yesterday full of clothing and a pair of shoes. I was told more is incoming. I am not exaggerating, but the box yesterday was the size of a suitcase that would be checked baggage. Watching Maggie pack was interesting. I kinda live in a warehouse full of shoes and clothes. In my studio I have the danger of either being crushed or buried alive by woman's wear. Of course my apartment is totally a boobytrap.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Kinda funny is that yesterday she went up to Westchester to visit her mom, and was recognized by someone in Hastings. "Maggie" was not glammed out, wore no make-up, and was dressed rather slouchy, but she mentioned that it was distressing being a cell-LEB-Bert-T. Basically all she wanted to be was left alone. LOL.

I can imagine her popularity in China. I think she will be kinda mobbed.

Cal
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You guys don't still have a date and at the end I've bitten the Rollei bug. Got a Rolleicord V off ebay for 145 shipped. At moments I think I shouldn't have taken it, but like Cal's camera future, I see a bit of speculative investment possible. :p
Listened to a B&H podcast talking about the Cult used film cameras and how Europe is now in vogue taking many of them.

The celebrity thing is something I would find tiring after a while, as a more introverted and reserved person who often likes to mind his own business.
I know that in Asia, just having a different ethnic look makes you a celebrity. Read that it's rather usual for foreigners in china, like some random British guy being stopped by a group of girls in a mall to take a picture.
 
Prest_400 said:
The celebrity thing is something I would find tiring after a while, as a more introverted and reserved person who often likes to mind his own business.
I know that in Asia, just having a different ethnic look makes you a celebrity. Read that it's rather usual for foreigners in china, like some random British guy being stopped by a group of girls in a mall to take a picture.
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Jorde,

Pretty much believe it or not basically I am a loner and mighty antisocial. Many people have difficulties being alone or isolated, but pretty much I grew up alone and now it is likely the space where I find the deepest peace.

Even in NYC I stand out, but I have been to parts of the U.S. where they never-saw a non-white person in real life, and I basically felt like E.T., from another planet.

Among Asians I often get mistaken for Japanese. My boss who is a Chinese immigrant says I look like a Japanese terrorist. LOL. Makes me want to do the geneology test to really see what is in my blood. BTW I don't look like my siblings. Oh-well...

Cal
 
jszokoli said:
Cal,

The 16th is Easter, that would hold down turn out...

Joe
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Joe,

I forgot. The 15th is "Maggie's" Mom's 90th birthday.

The weekend of the 22d-23rd is the Long Island Guitar Show.

So the only weekend open is the 29th and 30th.

Cal
 
In today's episode of "This Old Man" Calvin succumbs to "Linhof Disease" and buys another real crazy camera.

"So Cal what did you do to cure your Linhof Disease."

"Well Norm, of course I bought a Linhof. LOL. You know me, so it is no surprise that I bought a strange one that is also like me, meaning unusual, and in fact is a prototype that has no serial number.

"Basically it can be thought of a transitional model because it is the blend of two model cameras: one a Technika V; and the other the later Master Technika. Did I mention that this is a 6x9 camera? The chassis is of a Tech V, but the rear standard for the ground glass, the film mount, and the side mounted VF'er/rangefinder are of the later Master Tech. The strangest feature is that on this Linhof there are no front or rear standard movements, and yet it resembles a Technika V 4x5 with some Master upgrades.

"I kinda purposely bought a Linhof that not only is rare, but also is one of the last models/versions. Kinda like the "Whiteface" version of a Rollie TLR that has the most improvements. I also love that this camera is basically new, even though the camera is literally 45 years old. Kinda like that old M3 dual stroke I found that had a brand new Leica "L" seal.

"Anyways you know how I kinda love the unusual. I had to buy it, and know that somehow this Linhof, although from the early to perhaps mid 70's, was never used. Basically I bought a new Linhof that seems especially made for me.

"I happen to love grips, and out of all the grips ever created the Linhof grip is clearly the best. Then there is this Porshe like badge/logo... Then there is the German engineering and construction... And then there is of course the German glass.

"Because this camera offers no movements, it is like me, a lazy slacker. LOL. Anyways it suits my style. Because it is heavy, I say I get a free lifetime gym membership for free, and this bodes well for my tough guy from Brooklyn attitude. LOL.

"I purchased a 6x7 Super Rolliex back that likely came with the Shelf Queen body, and a "Zebra" 6x9 VF'er to monster out the camera (the VF'er is mucho large). The fun part will be rigging out this camera for urban hand held shooting. I will likely set it up with a wide and a normal: for wide I favor a 53/4.0 Schneider Super Angulon or a 53/4.5 Zeiss Biogon; for a normal I will choose either a 95/2.8 Technikar (Rodenstock), a 100/2.8 Zeiss Planar, or a 105/2.8 Schneider Xenotar.

"So now all I need is a 4x5 Linhof. LOL. Let's see if I can daytrade some cameras..."

"Stay tuned for some previews. Will Cal be able to daytrade gear for another Linhof?"

Cal
 
LINHOF UPDATE: It seems that some former employee failed to remove some sold items, so all that is available is the Tech V/Master prototype body. Too-bad. Oh-well.

I got a PM from my Pro Linhof Consultant with a link to a Tech 70 Poloroid back that can use FP-100C and FP-3000b color Fuji films. So now I will have a Luis Mendez rig. My consultant says the image size is 3.25x4.25 so I will have to try and get a lens or more likely lenses that have large image circles for coverage.

I have to get one of those Linhof grips to annoy John. LOL.

Perhaps it was meant to be. Maybe I really need is the rarer 6x9 Super Rolliex.

Understand that I already have a Plaubel 69W that has shift capability and covers a 21mm FOV. Hmmm.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
In today's episode of "This Old Man" Calvin succumbs to "Linhof Disease" and buys another real crazy camera.

"So Cal what did you do to cure your Linhof Disease."

"Well Norm, of course I bought a Linhof. LOL.
"So now all I need is a 4x5 Linhof. LOL. Let's see if I can daytrade some cameras..."

"Stay tuned for some previews. Will Cal be able to daytrade gear for another Linhof?"

Cal
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That was unexpected! Basically because IIRC you stayed out of LF.
Is it a 6x9 Technika? Shouldn't it have at least rise and tilt in the front standard? That would be really nice, despite never tried a view camera I always find its movements would be really useful. Guess I have become sensitive with keystoning. Though I don't know if I'd warm to the slower pace. The Fuji 6x9 is a camera that confuses me. Format says I should go slower (cos film is $) but the thing is actually really convenient and fast to shoot.
Going opposite with the Rolleicord in a way. I have an upcoming move and don't know if I will be able or should take both.

But but the P67II. :p
 
Prest_400 said:
That was unexpected! Basically because IIRC you stayed out of LF.
Is it a 6x9 Technika? Shouldn't it have at least rise and tilt in the front standard? That would be really nice, despite never tried a view camera I always find its movements would be really useful. Guess I have become sensitive with keystoning. Though I don't know if I'd warm to the slower pace. The Fuji 6x9 is a camera that confuses me. Format says I should go slower (cos film is $) but the thing is actually really convenient and fast to shoot.
Going opposite with the Rolleicord in a way. I have an upcoming move and don't know if I will be able or should take both.

But but the P67II. :p
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Jorde,

Tis a 6x9 Technika V/Master that lacks both front and rear movements. Kinda crazy to de-engineer and simplify the latest versions of the 6x9 Technika into an odd camera that now basically has been converted into a 6x9 Linhof Folder. "Mighty cool," I say but also very strange. LOL.

I also have Fuji Texas Leicas, the Plaubel 69W that has shifts, the Rollie, and a Pntax 67II.

Cal
 
Prest_400 said:
You guys don't still have a date and at the end I've bitten the Rollei bug. Got a Rolleicord V off ebay for 145 shipped. At moments I think I shouldn't have taken it, but like Cal's camera future, I see a bit of speculative investment possible. :p
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Nice score! Enjoy it - it's only a matter of time before it will be joined by more TLR brethren! They are addictive :)
 
rajmohan-fotograf said:
Nice score! Enjoy it - it's only a matter of time before it will be joined by more TLR brethren! They are addictive :)
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Its doing a USPS roadtrip I only wish I could, 2 weeks estimate.

Amazing machines in all levels, the vintage adds a flair too. It may be very interesting to use its subject disarming charms.

It's a month of changes and by the end of it I should structure my summer move. Depending on how I'm even thinking to only take the Rolleicord. More economic format plus easier to enlarge if I get to community darkroom. Texas Leica will come as things get settled.
Basically go with the flow.
 
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