I'm completely in agreement about the vultures! I get leery, sideways looks from people when I become ecstatic about the appearance of The First Buzzard of Spring (March 29 this year). Everyone wants to talk about the First Robin, but they winter over; I love robins, but what's the big deal if they're here all year? 😉Good rainy Saturday morning here in the wilds of eastern Ontario. A cup of No-Name brand coffee in the old Murchie’s mug (sorry I only have a few mugs - I’ve been officially limited by my loving wife), along with a delicious toasted hot-cross bun shmeared with some tasty Canadian peanut butter (the pride of Sussex, New Brunswick). Topping it off - so to speak - is one of my Hasselblad 1000fs with the CFV II 50C digital back, the late Arnold Crane’s chimney finder and a 250mm f/5.6 Zeiss Sonnar lens. I don’t use this lens all that often but I noticed a rather large gathering of turkey vultures congregating in a tree at the bottom of the driveway (hmm maybe they know something I don’t know?). Donned my hat, coat and rubber boots, mounted the 250 to the Hasselblad and headed on down in the light rain to check out the scene. I counted 16 of them and managed to get a couple of photos before they all flew off.
They’re likely my favourite bird and I think if I were to come back as anything I’d think a turkey culture would be a good choice. You have lots of friends, not really much in the way of predators and you leave the killing to someone else.
Oh are you in Cerrillos?I'm completely in agreement about the vultures! I get leery, sideways looks from people when I become ecstatic about the appearance of The First Buzzard of Spring (March 29 this year). Everyone wants to talk about the First Robin, but they winter over; I love robins, but what's the big deal if they're here all year? 😉
You'll be glad to hear that the big flock that roosts in the center of town in Cerrillos, NM is larger than ever this year, maybe pushing thirty individuals. It's a treat to watch the tourists glancing nervously upward as they all circle low over the main street before roosting for the evening.
Wiser societies than ours, those that have a more profound appreciation of the cycle of life and death, have long held the vulture sacred. I do as well.
No, but it's close by. I spend a lot of time there hiking, and shooting. And not infrequently enjoying a cold brew afterward. It's one of the most fascinating areas in NM!Oh are you in Cerrillos?
Reason I ask is I have a number of friends in Madrid.No, but it's close by. I spend a lot of time there hiking, and shooting. And not infrequently enjoying a cold brew afterward. It's one of the most fascinating areas in NM!
Yes, there are a number of familiar faces in "Mapping the West". For example, Shelley, at whose B&B you've stayed, is a member of a band called "Roadhouse Karma" that often plays at my favorite watering hole in Cerrillos. I mentioned to her once that she was known to me through your photos on RFF; she seemed both astonished and flattered by that!Reason I ask is I have a number of friends in Madrid.
I'm glad to know that someone else is keeping an eye out for them. They don't get much love!I saw the first TV of the year on Friday of second week in March. Just about right. Could set your clock to those guys.
And a scrumptious looking CL to go with it!If it's Italy half the day it's Apperitivo ..... not café
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Welcome back to RFF, and photography! And we don't care what you drink, just keep shooting...I’ve been a long time lurker here since 2010/2011. After such time, life happened and I just stopped browsing through and almost quit photography entirely. But now that I’ve picked up from where I left off, searched Google for “Camera and Coffee Rangefinder forums”, and was immediately led back to these forums. I just felt a wave of nostalgia and surprise that this place is still very much alive.
So here I am, hello to all of you, and I hope you wouldn’t mind the presence of an iced latte.
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Welcome back 😊I’ve been a long time lurker here since 2010/2011. After such time, life happened and I just stopped browsing through and almost quit photography entirely. But now that I’ve picked up from where I left off, searched Google for “Camera and Coffee Rangefinder forums”, and was immediately led back to these forums. I just felt a wave of nostalgia and surprise that this place is still very much alive.
So here I am, hello to all of you, and I hope you wouldn’t mind the presence of an iced latte.
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If it's Italy half the day it's Apperitivo ..... not café
View attachment 4860215
I’ve been a long time lurker here since 2010/2011. After such time, life happened and I just stopped browsing through and almost quit photography entirely. But now that I’ve picked up from where I left off, searched Google for “Camera and Coffee Rangefinder forums”, and was immediately led back to these forums. I just felt a wave of nostalgia and surprise that this place is still very much alive.
So here I am, hello to all of you, and I hope you wouldn’t mind the presence of an iced latte.
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Welcome to RFF, rokkorboy! I like the Hi-Matic.
I'm a bit of a Minolta/Rokkor fanboy, myself, with Minolta Autocords, SR-Ts (including a favorite black SR-T 102), and a couple of X-570s + winders). I came back to the US from Portugal in 1981 and had no money. My dad gave me his Minolta XG-9. I started building my kit in 1984 when I bought a new SR-T 201, an X-570, an Autowinder G, and some lenses. Then Minolta introduced auto-focus in 1985, but I decided not to go that route.
- Murray