Balda Baldix: Bicycle Path in Winter

[Godfrey]

Balda Baldix, Ilford XP2 Super​

Ran another roll of film through the Balda, now that it's back from being cleaned and serviced. Works beautifully, and the Baltar 75mm lens has a lovely feel to its rendering. There was quite a bit of overcast flare in this photo from shooting into the morning sun, which lent it a very atmospheric quality.

The Baldix is a very small camera for a 6x6 format negative, and very light. I've got to get to know it better. 🙂

Thanks for looking, comments appreciated as always.

G

 

[rhl-oregon]

Oh that cunning morning flare! I just got a fedora for my birthday and it's going to do double duty as an adjustable hood for the folders in situations like this. You should come back to that serpentine when the light is kinder ( or you pack your hat). It's an inviting angle. Enjoy the Balda. I have a baldamatic that is sturdy and reliable--a classic Euro-tourist 35 for the nonLeica set.

 

[Godfrey]

Oh that cunning morning flare! I just got a fedora for my birthday and it's going to do double duty as an adjustable hood for the folders in situations like this. You should come back to that serpentine when the light is kinder ( or you pack your hat). It's an inviting angle. Enjoy the Balda. I have a baldamatic that is sturdy and reliable--a classic Euro-tourist 35 for the nonLeica set.

I had my hat with me, but I was enjoying the flare...

Thanks for your thoughts. I have two classic folders ... this one and the Voigtländer Perkeo II. The Baldix is smaller, lighter, and seems slightly handier in use. The Perkeo II, however, seems much better made, the Color Skopar lens sharper, and is easier to load.

Both return beautiful photos so I'm not complaining about either. 🙂

I'm back there every weekend, walking that path, so there are always opportunities to capture when the light is right. It's amazing how much variation there is weekend to weekend!

 

[rhl-oregon]

In its current state, it does not evoke San Jose as most of us imagine--more like Roger Fenton in the Crimean War, or Timothy Sullivan in the Civil War; one of those obscure little landscapes where soldiers died or are going to very soon.

This is what I get from rereading/re-viewing "The Camera at War," a book that remains ironically near my comfy chair. I recently published a book of war poems, so certain (otherwise innocuous) images tend to activate the kind of images I was immersed in while writing the book.

However, 120 scale-focus folders are possibly the most peaceful cameras to handle. Just me and the lens and the shutter, then it folds up asleep again. Looking forward to more images of the bike path. I spend a lot of time on them here, mostly as a Trek-er/commuter.

 

[charjohncarter]

Nice one Godfrey, my Hapo 66e is my favorite. Like Robert says small for a 6x6. Now that you have had it 'fixed up' run some E-6 through it. It is just WOW.

 

[Godfrey]

Nice one Godfrey, my Hapo 66e is my favorite. Like Robert says small for a 6x6. Now that you have had it 'fixed up' run some E-6 through it. It is just WOW.

Thanks!

I might run some color film through my 6x6 cameras at some point, to see what they do, but for the moment all I've got in stock is B&W film ... 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

I know, I have so much B&W (I guess I'm lucky), I could die before I use it all. I've had nothing but medical this last year, and didn't do much shooting. We never got together years ago, so maybe this year we can go to a Mission (Soledad, San Miguel, Dolores) sometime. I like your Balda shots.

 

[Godfrey]

Trees By The Path

Trees By The Path

Another exposure from the same park and walk ...

​

The light turned just as I was making the exposure for this one so it has a rather different look to it, to my eye anyway.

Your comments are always appreciated!

 

[rhl-oregon]

This one is fabulous. So much silvery light in the foreground, and the restful shade inthe middle, and darkness above. There's a great Television/Tom Verlaine song with the lines "outside my window/there's a tree so white/I can hardly look at it"

Robert

 

[back alley]

they both have a lovely 'old world' feel to them...

 

[Godfrey]

thank you both for commenting!

G