New York February NYC Meet-Up/ Tenth Annual Camera Beauty Contest

LC,

It is a "Safe Place" where all are welcome.

Pretty much it is an over-the-top event with mucho crazy gear, but we make a point to make fun of ourselves, our nerdiness, and our obsessive behaviors.

Last year Chris gave me two boxes of gear that basically got recycled as prizes. This year is kinda lean, but perhaps we can also do a swap-meet of sorts.

I know I have mucho B&W filters, many in Leica sizes that I no longer need. Let's make a deal.

We have a few characters: there is my friend "Snarky Joe" who brought 4x5 Linhof Tech V that was boxed that he got for "no-money" that had "You suck factor." Boy was I green with envy.

Then there is Sam who is an unabashed camera collector who has a stash of cameras you will never-ever see in the wild.

Then there is Christian the clever devil who builds panoramic cameras, and builds one off cameras of Linhof quality scouring parts on EBAY and employing dis Cad-Cam skills having parts laser cut or 3-D printed.

These guys are creatures of the art world if you know what I mean. They are not normal people. LOL.

Cal

Its been a year!? I'll start digging into the backs of all my draws.
 
Its been a year!? I'll start digging into the backs of all my draws.

Chris,

I am assembling a grab-bag of sorts.

I will add that I have an "Acne Studios" basketball that is brand new that came as swag. Oddly it was shipped from France from their head quarters. I speculate a rare item in the U.S. A designer basketball, and definitely a cool gift for anyone with a kid(s).

Yesterday I dropped off a shopping cart full of clothes and shoes at the UES Housing Works. There are three bags of clothes that will be picked up and sold on The Real Real. A couple of boxes of clothes that have to be returned to the brand that was a paying gig.

Out of all the gigs I hate when I have to shoot products that we can't remove the hang tags. Pretty much you have to be clever to hide the tags, and this is a pain. Also this clothing arrives by curry-err and this pretty much clamps "Maggie" down and wastes her time. I encourage her to diss these gigs because both she and I hate how this consumes and wastes time.

Cal
 
So I will throw out a gauntlet for a found free photography related item that must be either "Garbage Picked" or found on the street literally.

Last year I awarded "Snarky Joe" a photography book made by a reknown large format shooter who records the swamps of Florida. This book evidently was run over by some cars and buses before I found it. It had character.

So last year I found this light stand on Third Avenue not far from my house. My speculation is that some clueless hipster was loading up his gear and somehow left this light stand behind. Forensics suggest it was part of a rental lighting kit. Oh-well...

Pretty much I'm lucky finding stuff, even money (three twenties near the Washington Houses, and $20.00 on Randal's Island last year). About 15 years ago I found a Contax T3 in its case when I lived in Williamsburg. Almost stepped on it, initially I thought it was a dog turd, and I was avoiding getting "Amsterdamed."

Back a decade ago maybe I found a Leitz Tripod that I believe was awarded to Sam as a prize. Oddly "Devil Christian" had some parts that went with the Leitz Tripod. Found it on Broadway very near the old Leica Gallery before it closed.

Bring in your found photography to display your "Trophy." Let's see who wins "The You Suck" prize.

BTW I am reminded to play the lottery today. If I win all of you can say, "You suck." All I know is that I'm a lucky guy. Ha-Ha...

Cal
 
We all need one of these, but probably only Cal will get one.
If anyone shows up with one they should win!
Erwin Puts strongly endorses and uses one of these!

Heiland Electronic Wetzlar Tas Film Processor - Made in Germany -- Wetzler

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153809617464?ul_noapp=true


The device simultaneously turns and tilts the film developing tank and adheres to the necessary phases of standstill. This creates a movement similar to manual development. Agitation is however controlled much more precisely. Together with the integrated calculator for temperature compensation your negatives will be developed reproducibly and conveniently in the future.
You can directly transfer already determined parameters for film development; programming only consists of entering the data. Several individual development modes are supported by small external memory modules.
If you temporarily do not need the TAS, you can also easily fit it into a shelf. The device is easily transportable and can even be powered by a car battery.

An overview of the benefits:

• Better acutance of the negatives due to a process of agitation with phases of standstill
• Noticeably cheaper than classic rotational film processors
• Developing tanks already at hand can be used
• Reproducible development results
• Development of 35mm film, roll film, and 4x5” sheet film
• Small footprint
• Supports multiple users due to removable storage
• Ideal for the zone system and two-bath development
• Compensates total development time depending on programmed temperature
• Transportable – can also be used in campers with 12V supply
• Solid, long-living metal construction
 
Steve, I have the lens cap for your little canon. I'll bring it next time.
That Heiland is neat, but you still need to stand by and pour the chemicals by hand. If you are standing there any way, you may as well have something to do like agitating the film.
 
Thanks,

No rush on the body cap. I will get it at one of the next meet ups, if that works for you.
Steve


Steve, I have the lens cap for your little canon. I'll bring it next time.
That Heiland is neat, but you still need to stand by and pour the chemicals by hand. If you are standing there any way, you may as well have something to do like agitating the film.
 
The Heiland reminds me of the kind of things that companies sell to boaters. Lots of neat gear, but mostly you can still get from place to place without it.
 
Yesterday I found a new Polyetheline quart measuring cup. Still has a sticker from the manufacturer on the base. Was on 101st and Lex.

"Maggie" gave me $2k instead of $1k towards a new SL2. This is in addition to the first $2k she gave me.

She in turn asked for the CL back and is now taking photography very seriously by learning how to use the CL in manual mode. Previously she only used "program" mode and pretty much only could use the CL as a point and shoot.

Good thing the CL has intuitive and simple menus. Way back when she bought the Leica D-Lux I knew it was a mistake and that the CL would be the ideal camera for her.

I held one in the Leica Store in SoHo and mentioned, "Look how small this camera is, but she was fixated on the D-Lux because other bloggers raved about it. She only looked up for a brief second, but showed little interest. I also warned her about "cheaping-out" which is what she does all the time.

Only took about two years for her to listen too me. I now laugh, Ha-Ha.

John would throw up, but she said the camera seems a little too small, and inquired about the $180.00 grip. When I told her I had one, she really liked the ergonomics, and yesterday we went to B&H to buy the fingerloop.

Pretty much a thick rubber band with a thumb screw (size small) for $89.00 ($118.00 and $130.00 elsewhere). Oddly the sizes medium and large cost $118.00 at B&H. Likely the $89.00 price was a mistake. Oh-well.

I have to admit, the ergonomics with the grip and finger loop is mucho good.

It was only one day, but Maggie became a much better photographer by learning how to use the camera in manual mode.

Cal
 
Oh no, I thought it was perfect! If you send it out with a body cap, iy most likely will come back without it.

DAMMIT!!! lol
Film advance is wonky, something with the gearing i guess. Can be pushed beyond its stop point, and my last 2 rolls noticed uneven spacing between frames, so its going past.
Still using it, not that big a deal, just preparing..
 
I will be picking your brain next time we see each other Christian, 4x5 is very dim.. Was curious if you knew anything about fresnels, positioning, focus etc..
 
Lots of Coyote sightings lately. Reports in northern Central Park on the westside and 102d Street. Also packs and pups have been seen in Inwood Hills Park (northern Madhattan).

I speculate that there likely is a big concentration of Coyotes in Highbridge park (northern Madhattan alongside the Harlem River) and yet no sightings because in this abandoned NYC park people don't go there because it is kind of a feral wild place that is a no man's land if you discount the homeless encampments.

There are reports of a crossbreeding between northern/Canadian timber wolves and coyotes creating a hybrid "Coy-wolf."

I have this Lumix LX-7 that has a F1.4 24-90 equiv zoom. Only 10.1 MP, but it is kinda nice to use as a light meter with the bonus of also being a camera. Pro-Mone does this, so I am following his lead.

Cal
 
Lots of Coyote sightings lately. Reports in northern Central Park on the westside and 102d Street. Also packs and pups have been seen in Inwood Hills Park (northern Madhattan).

I speculate that there likely is a big concentration of Coyotes in Highbridge park (northern Madhattan alongside the Harlem River) and yet no sightings because in this abandoned NYC park people don't go there because it is kind of a feral wild place that is a no man's land if you discount the homeless encampments.

There are reports of a crossbreeding between northern/Canadian timber wolves and coyotes creating a hybrid "Coy-wolf."

I have this Lumix LX-7 that has a F1.4 24-90 equiv zoom. Only 10.1 MP, but it is kinda nice to use as a light meter with the bonus of also being a camera. Pro-Mone does this, so I am following his lead.

Cal

Coyotes are lovely animals to watch. They have a way of moving where I can identify them from a long way off. I see a pack of them about once a week, but I live in the desert so it’s to be expected.
 
I will be picking your brain next time we see each other Christian, 4x5 is very dim.. Was curious if you knew anything about fresnels, positioning, focus etc..

Take off your sun glasses...open the aperture... Yes, 4x5 is dim. Shielding the light with something better than a t-shirt helps. Shoot in bright daylight! For interior shots I used to place a maglight in the scene to check focus. Take your time to let your eyes adjust to the dark.
The screen is brightest when you are looking a direct line with the lens. Especially with wide lenses the edges get dark. My focuser has a foot that angles a bit so you can see it from the best angle. I'm not a fan of fresnels, but the one I had was all scratched, so it kind of made things worse. Perhaps a good one is more helpful.
 
Coyotes are lovely animals to watch. They have a way of moving where I can identify them from a long way off. I see a pack of them about once a week, but I live in the desert so it’s to be expected.

Henry,

I remember getting awakened one night from the sound of a nursery of babies crying and screaming, it was a pack of Coyotes; and I was living in the Santa Fe National Forest 47 miles from civilization, living in a two bedroom log cabin ($400.00 a month rent).

A friend of mine had wolf Hybrid dogs. Part of these dogs remained wild, and I would say they were not fully domesticated. They tended to wander off and got into trouble hunting chickens and sheep. They were beautiful animals. I learned how instinct and behaviors can be innate/genetic from their breeding.

Cal
 
The OEM neck strap for my SL is worn to the extent that it warrented replacement. Last night I utilized the glove like section of a Nikon AH-4 handstrap to fashion a nice wrist strap for my SL.

I have a minty spare glove section for when I get a SL2. This large bookbag I use for my SL has room to spare where I can carry two rigged full frame L-mount cameras, and the lack of neck strap promotes using this bag for protection and for transport.

One of the prizes I will be bringing is a leather bag. It is kinda like a soft briefcase in size and kinda urban casual for carrying a laptop and a camera kit. Pretty much unused and is part of the swag that "Maggie" gets sent that I want to recycle. Made in Canada.

Cal
 
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