New York August NYC Meet-Up 2021

Guys,

I have an Ebony fetish if I go 8x10.

For 4x5 I have Christians old Linhof, and the fixed focus (2 meters) "Devil Christian" that recycles the Linhof back for 4x5.

I do think though my two baby-Linhofs will become my most important cameras for film. Of course they have those famous Linhof grips.

Cal
 
Today I used a micro Totes umbrella that I found on the upper east side that was so new that it still had the tags on it.

Tomorrow I have to unload close to 800 pounds of cedar lumber that is a 10x10 pergola kit. They say I have about 15-20 minutes to perform this. Pretty much I figure is all I have to do is get it off the truck and then I'll move it somewhere more permanent until I get the garage re-painted.

The extra trains gets me to work faster because the train no longer makes stops at Osining and TarryTown. This allows me to leave earlier also.

The next 3 months of work should go quick. I have 5 extra vacation days to get me to December, where I will burn the rest of my vacation time till my last day of work, December 27th.

Despite all the fur-NET-ICK work on the house I am mighty relaxed because I'm not in a rush. Oh-well is my state of mind.

"Maggie" has the "Creature-Junior" (grand daughter) for the next three days. If the delivery of the pergola comes early then I can take C.J. to the pool. She is a water rat.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
Ok, perfect...go for it! I just bought my "large format" camera... the Fujifilm GFX-50R. haha.
Click to expand...

John,

That is a great camera for you. Also mucho crazy. I love it.

What are you going to do with all that resolution and huge files?

"Brutal," I say.

I am finding that my SL2 is brutal overkill. It is like killing someone twice, especially with the Leica "L" glass. LOL.

You know me well, so pretty much the news is I bought a small house and now I'm adding accessories in a Calzone manner. The new front stoop is bigger than the old one. Old habits are hard to break. The custom wrought iron railing is kinda high end.

For those that don't know me John makes fun of me because I will take a M6, add a TA Rapidwinder, a TA Rapidgrip so that an otherwise small camera kinda resembles a Nikon F3P with motordrive and is no longer a small camera.

Phil and John are making fun of my "style."

I'm no crazier than Devil Christian who owns a 5x7 Linhof. That camera is a "porker." LOL.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
John,

That is a great camera for you. Also mucho crazy. I love it.

What are you going to do with all that resolution and huge files?

"Brutal," I say.
Click to expand...

Well, 50mp isn't that much really in terms of printing for galleries. It's about 20x30" print in 2:3 at 300dpi. You have that old 20x30" print I made from a 12mp camera and it doesn't stack up in modern terms. I mean...I had a show in Italy recently in which some old 12mp files were deemed not good enough for the size prints they wanted (i.e. big). The 24mp files made the cut. People these days expect to be able to see digital prints up close and see all detail. Film was different and of course there are exceptions in digital. I figure it's always good to have more than less. However, the real reason for this camera is I want to slow down, do some tripod work and use a different aspect ratio 3:4. I will still use my "small format" Fujis as well. I needed a crazy camera too... 😉 Personally, I prefer making books to making prints but it's good to be prepared for any situation that might come your way if feel like what you do is art. I know you know this...
 
jsrockit said:
Well, 50mp isn't that much really in terms of printing for galleries. It's about 20x30" print in 2:3 at 300dpi. You have that old 20x30" print I made from a 12mp camera and it doesn't stack up in modern terms. I mean...I had a show in Italy recently in which some old 12mp files were deemed not good enough for the size prints they wanted (i.e. big). The 24mp files made the cut. People these days expect to be able to see digital prints up close and see all detail. Film was different and of course there are exceptions in digital. I figure it's always good to have more than less. However, the real reason for this camera is I want to slow down, do some tripod work and use a different aspect ratio 3:4. I will still use my "small format" Fujis as well. I needed a crazy camera too... 😉 Personally, I prefer making books to making prints but it's good to be prepared for any situation that might come your way if feel like what you do is art. I know you know this...
Click to expand...

John,

When I get an Ebony 8x10 of course it won't need a grip, but a tripod.

I love that big print of yours and it is about the content and composition. Its debatable if it would be better with higher IQ.

Kinda funny how I have gotten into making books that are at a fine art level. Linen hinges, archival tissue cover sheets, and prints on rag paper.

Joe was impressed with my small book that he deems the perfect size for showing work, yet I still like my big book because it is over the top.

"I am mighty clever," I say, because I designed the soft cover books to fit in stock sizes of archival boxes as a great elevated presentation.

My OCD tendencies truely come out because of the neat detail. My books are one-offs.

I am pleased at your growth. Getting a bit crazy is part of that. Who wants to be "normal" or boring. The world is full of mediocrity.

BTW 20x30 image size on 24x36 is a nice sized print.

I collected ten 3x3 Graphmatics for use on my baby-Linhofs. I have a Zeiss 55 Biogon for a 28mm FOV and the Zeiss 100/2.8 which is an outstanding lens. Add in the Plauble 69W Proshift for a 21mm FOV.

I can see me shooting lots of film in the future, and doing mucho wet printing to annoy people. Seems like my true talent is to annoy people. LOL.

Cal
 
Fun to read the happenings in Peekskill, and all the overhauling for sure is entertaining.


Calzone said:
"Brutal," I say.

I am finding that my SL2 is brutal overkill. It is like killing someone twice, especially with the Leica "L" glass. LOL.

Cal
Click to expand...
I haven't been shooting much lately, other than some casual 35mm, but when larger formats are there gotta love it. Just for the brute force. Call it future proofing as well.
The avantage of being entertained with work day to day is that I haven't had any thought towards GAS. Some distant day I should pick up a FF+ rig, and maybe when these begin to pop used and still nice condition. Digital ain't running the obsolescence cycles that used to be. I'd love to shoot 8x10" but I wouldn't do too much due its logistics.
 
Prest_400 said:
Fun to read the happenings in Peekskill, and all the overhauling for sure is entertaining.



I haven't been shooting much lately, other than some casual 35mm, but when larger formats are there gotta love it. Just for the brute force. Call it future proofing as well.
The avantage of being entertained with work day to day is that I haven't had any thought towards GAS. Some distant day I should pick up a FF+ rig, and maybe when these begin to pop used and still nice condition. Digital ain't running the obsolescence cycles that used to be. I'd love to shoot 8x10" but I wouldn't do too much due its logistics.
Click to expand...

Jorde,

The things I love about the SL2 are: IBIS; and the user interface because it is so streamlined and simple.

The upgrade from my SL to a SL2S I'm not so sure the IBIS would be so valuable as in the SL with the higher MP count sensor, so I have to say the SL is still a great camera say to use with my Noct-Nikkor. Big pixel for low light, but then again in low light IBIS is valuable for slow shutter speeds.

The 47.3 MP count on the SL2 has mucho resolution that I see as getting unused. I don't really crop.

I love the look of film and wet prints, plus the process is so gratifying.

On the other hand I can get large format resolution pretty readily digitally, and with a good exposure with the right light and subject I can even get that large format tonality.

I would have to print bigger that 20x30 image size to fully exploit what I can do with the SL2. If they ever make SL2-M the resolution would be mucho crazy, I imagine as if having a sensor close to 75MP.

How crazy is that?

Our HVAC dude is named Jack, so I will call him Jack-HVAC. For just under $10K he will remove the radiator from the kitchen, bleed the oil heating system, and install two zone Mitsubishi Mini-Splits that a EZ-Fit ceiling mounts so we effectively have central air on the first floor.

Bonus is that it is also a heating system.

I intend on having a 5.4 Kilo Watt solar array on the garage with a battery backup. I think it will be fun to figure out the tipping point of how to exploit having two heating systems to compete against each other for efficiency. In frigid cold the mini-split approaches the energy usage of an electrical resistance heater, but it mild and moderate weather it uses almost no energy.

At this point I speculate that energy costs will increase drastically. If in the U.S. only electric cars are available and gas cars are phased out, it is expected that electricity demand will go up 20%. I think this added demand will spike electrical power pricing.

I think I am buying into solar before the surge in electricity also will make demand for solar arrays also go up.

Again owning a smaller home allows me to build out and afford these capitol expenses.

Last night I used a $5.00 CVS coupon. I had to buy $25.00 worth of stuff.

Easy enough, I bought a big package of toilet paper, and large package of paper towels, not an off brand either (Scotts), but both items were on sale at good prices, so I padded up the bill by buying boxes of Fig Newtons which is a well regarded biker food that serves as an energy bar for endurance athletes (also on sale).

Some of the boxes of Fig are now at work for emergency use.

At home, in my porch basement, don't tell "Maggie," I have a lot of consumerables I buy at bargain prices using sales and coupons.

Cheap-cheap-cheap... I am not your typical American consumer. I buy quality, but I also buy quantity. In fact I think I will stop by and get another load either tonight or tomorrow. I got a 20% off coupon. Think of all the money I save... A sure 20% gain with no risk.

In 2004-2007 I day traded commodities, and today I'm stockpiling.

"Only buy quality, and only buy at good prices," I say, "otherwise save-save, and save."

Augie the CF
 
I'm in a relaxed state of mind where I'm relishing my last three months of work. It is a way to transition and say goodbye to a career to mark a new beginning where I have the opportunity to recreate myself.

I'm a bit dressed up because tonight is an event at the Brooklyn Museum that involves a closed/private viewing of some DIOR exhibit.

Fed Ex wasted some of my time. The pergola should be delivered this Friday. Last week I burned two precious vacation days that I didn't need to use, but I made the most of the situation. Bonus is that I missed the NYC flooding from IDA, and this I find lucky.

On one of those days we got a delivery of a "side-board" for the dinning room that is of the craftsman era. "Maggie" found it online and shipping was free, but she bought it sometime in the beginning of July, so it took two months to get delivered.

The driver was a guy who owns a small 10 acre farm in Penn., who had to pivot when Covid and lockdowns shut down the high-end restaurants that were his clients.

He bought one of those big Ford vans with the tall roof and can accommodate 10-11 foot loads. He also sported a trailer that he had from his farm business.

With his gig he said he traveled 47 of the 48 lower states over the last year, he got to choose and cherry pick the journeys he wanted to do, and if he need time off he pretty much could do as he pleased. Sounds like a cool gig for a lazy-slacker.

The new supersized van set him back $41K though, but it seems like a great way to pay for travel, and a lot of photography could be done along the ways.

Financially he makes more money than on his small farm, he likes driving, and the time alone.

"There is a strong demand and I meet lots of interesting people," Joe said.

So there is an idea of instead of street shooting doing "road shooting" instead.

The remnants of Ida dropped over 3 inches of rain in Central Park in an hour, a record. NYC was badly flooded. Pretty much a disaster. Lucky me that I was on vacation and at home. Metro North got shut down.

Meanwhile my erosion control in the back with the steep drop off down to Dickey Brook worked well. I'm in the process of doing further improvements terracing parts of the back.

I don't think the building department can argue with me if I call the steps I've built could be called retaining walls, because to me they are just a series of raised beds. Each step has a wide landing to absorb water, and each step works like a "water bar" to slow down water flow.

Sunday we drove to Conn. to an antiques flea market called "Elephant's Trunk." Lots of cool retro junk, but the only things I bought were three old candle lanterns that Maggie says are More-Rock-N. She argues that they don't go with our Arts & Crafts house, but that's my point.

My taste is too eclectic for her. LOL. Then she will say that I have no style, which I find amusing. Kinda funny how being an individual, being quirky, or having many things I like can be regarded as not having style.

Pretty much I don't think too many people could imitate me and be thought as being cool.

I'm going with the flow. Tomorrow I have the task of picking up "Creature-Junior" the 7 year old grand daughter from school (half-day) and taking care of her for an afternoon.

Friday sometime the pergola gets delivered, and I have to unload an almost 800 pound cedar kit off of a Fed-Ex truck.

So the garage has been painted twice because Maggie thought the color was too white, but now she thinks it is too yellow. In my book the white worked as a good HD primer on a garage that was neglected for decades.

The garage doors need to be replaced at this point, they are too far gone, and also the windows are trash at this point. Other than the old roof the paint looks mighty great.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful that I had the sense not to buy a big house, and also that we bought a fixer upper that retains enough original detail that the project is really can be considered both an update and a restoration.

I would be so unhappy with an old house that was gut renovated because history and much of the original details are often lost forever.

The geography and location are also important. I imagine that when retired that I will spend a few hours a day, trail running, biking, lifting weights, or rowing on my Concept 2 ERG.

My old cyclotron will get overhauled and updated next summer, after I'm already retired. I'm getting the last laugh because the second institution that took advantage of me for two decades I think will end up in way over their heads. They have no idea how hard it will be to find a replacement for me. "Ha-ha," I say.

Right now they are not really taking advantage to train someone to even operate the machine as a bridge until the hire someone. "Oh-well," I say, and less work for me. LOL. "I love it."

Cal
 
Hey Cal,

Tell Phil I have a copy of " Lost over Laos". I've finished it and if he wants it for his clients, I'll ship it to him.

I see the cyclotron thing playing out this way: After you retire, they finally figure out that they need to train a new guy. Then they have to hire you back as a consultant to train this guy and you make about twice as much $$ as a consultant.
 
MrFujicaman said:
Hey Cal,

Tell Phil I have a copy of " Lost over Laos". I've finished it and if he wants it for his clients, I'll ship it to him.

I see the cyclotron thing playing out this way: After you retire, they finally figure out that they need to train a new guy. Then they have to hire you back as a consultant to train this guy and you make about twice as much $$ as a consultant.
Click to expand...

I'm here. No need for another copy, thanks though!

Phil Forrest
 
Hey Cal,

I see the cyclotron thing playing out this way: After you retire, they finally figure out that they need to train a new guy. Then they have to hire you back as a consultant to train this guy and you make about twice as much $$ as a consultant.[/QUOTE]

I see the cyclotron situation being resolved a little differently.

They (Hospital) figures out ahead of Cal’s retirement just how valuable (indispensable) he really is and makes him an offer HE CAN’T REFUSE to stay until they hire and train a replacement. Cal really is a key link to the hospital operation, they just haven’t caught on. Cal is in the “Cat Bird Seat”. Cal, you’re in a great position. Name your price, I say!.

Show me the $$.
 
MrFujicaman said:
Hey Cal,

Tell Phil I have a copy of " Lost over Laos". I've finished it and if he wants it for his clients, I'll ship it to him.

I see the cyclotron thing playing out this way: After you retire, they finally figure out that they need to train a new guy. Then they have to hire you back as a consultant to train this guy and you make about twice as much $$ as a consultant.
Click to expand...

MFM,

Call me mean, but I learned from my gal that consulting for a "start-up" the fee should be a "minimum" of $300.00 an hour.

When you have a vice grip on someone's left testicle that you don't like it pays to be mucho mean.

They could hire the OEM manufacturer to do this but they have to come from British Columbia, and their rate I am sure would be higher.

There are only 1000 cyclotrons on the planet, and only about 60 made by this Canadian company.

They could call my old boss "How-Wierd" but he is a Chinese immigrant who does not command good English skills, is a rigid person, and also a huge jerk.

Truth be told is I don't want the gig, but figure 100 hours of consulting would be about $30K and about 3/4'ers of the price for a supersized FORD van. Don't forget that this money would be taxed heavily.

"Moo," said the Pig. LOL.

Cal
 
Bob said:
Hey Cal,

I see the cyclotron thing playing out this way: After you retire, they finally figure out that they need to train a new guy. Then they have to hire you back as a consultant to train this guy and you make about twice as much $$ as a consultant.
Click to expand...

I see the cyclotron situation being resolved a little differently.

They (Hospital) figures out ahead of Cal’s retirement just how valuable (indispensable) he really is and makes him an offer HE CAN’T REFUSE to stay until they hire and train a replacement. Cal really is a key link to the hospital operation, they just haven’t caught on. Cal is in the “Cat Bird Seat”. Cal, you’re in a great position. Name your price, I say!.

Show me the $$.[/QUOTE]

Bob,

I am a modest guy, and I know no-one is irreplacable, but surely the powers that be made mucho mistakes over more than two decades to create this "sich-E-A-tion."

Not having me around for the rebuild/overhaul/upgrade is huge. The cost here is $2M. "Ha-ha," I say. What a pickle they are in. LOL.

"I don't mean to be nasty," my crazy big-boss use to say who was prone to full blown rage attacks and had paranoid tendencies, but I say, "I don't mean to be nasty," because the situation is kinda funny.

Not having a trained replacement is one thing, but working 10 hour days six days a week which will be required during a 3 month rebuild/overhaul/upgrade I would have to seriously inflate my fee.

Like I said this blood money would get taxed big-time, so I have to say, "Moo said the Pig." I'm cool with just letting the powers at be take the crap-bath, I treasure the thought.

We are talking a series of errors that might mean wasting $2M.

Also I hope the $7K-$8K worth of hand tools goes back to my main campus. That cost was 20 years ago so to replace those Sears Craftsman monster rollaway today I say would be double. Then all the thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and Swagelock fittings...

"I don't mean to be nasty, " I say. LOL.

I laugh every day. This situation is just so funny. The part of me that is Cantonese and Chinese is surely not am I bred by almost a thousand years of fuedalism, but I also have that "revenge" gene.

I'm not fo an eye for an eye like in western culture, two decades of being disrespected, taken advantage of, and being discounted makes me want to take two eyes.

"I don't mean to be nasty," but some of this is culture and some of it is genetic.

Cal
 
MrFujicaman said:
Gee Cal...it's gonna take at LEAST 250 hours to train the new guy! (Busy laughing my ass off)
Click to expand...

MFM,

The sich-E-A-tion has me amused. Meanwhile no one is getting trained.

"Oh-well," I say.

Just after Thanksgiving and I will be gone.

I had to replace rotted board that was trim under the front stoop, and when I opened it up I saw a rotten 2x4 that once was a sill. I replaced the previous ratty fix with a pressure treated 4x6.

The porch basement was mucho drafty, and now I know why. So now I'm considering the porch basement which is a 6x15 that it could be easily made into a nice darkroom, and a slop sink and plumbing is really nearby.

The bad is that the ceiling height slopes and at the low end is only about 6 feet. Also at one end a 4x6 platform exists that is about 10 inches tall.

The good is that I have a hospital grade articulating arm that would be mucho cool to have as an enlarger table that would allow swinging the enlarger around into this "nesting" area when I'm developing a print or film.

There are two windows on either narrow six foot sides, so I could add ventilation. The walls of the foundation are field stones so once I frame things out it makes sense to use sprayed foam as insulation for the walls, but I would use rigid foam for the ceiling.

The lazy-slacker in me says this is the least amount of work and the easiest way to go. I can see me doing lots of printing in a room that is long and narrow, perfect for a darkroom.

Since I had the house somewhat apart, I did a really pro job of sealing it with "Great Stuff" spray foam. The space is pretty well sealed now, and the big draft is from the tongue and grove porch floor that when sealed with rigid foam will become a rather cozy space.

I'm kinda excited...

Cal
 
The DIOR private opening at the Brooklyn Museum was cool. What I loved the best was the classic fashion photography by the big photographers like Avedon, Horst, Penn, Abramowitz...

Almost all of these shots were B&W.

****************

The garage got painted a third time, now "Maggie" is happy with the color. She still has to change the color of the eves.

*******************

Sadly Maggie's cousin died of Covid at the age of 58. He was in the hospital for about a month and they could not save him. Kevin was overweight.

Be careful out there.

Cal
 
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