New York May NYC Meet-Up

[MrBern]

Townsend would cringe if he read this. He truly resented that fans made a big deal out of Hendrix busting up Strats.
Townsend inadvertently originated breaking guitars on stage. He's quite proud to note that he was destroying Rickenbackers when they were the most expensive guitar in London. Truly an angry young man.
-B

$962.00 for my Rolex overhaul plus tax and shipping. An eight week wait. Seems like a camera repair in length. For the past 16 years though the watch has been running nonstop. Even when I wore my Panerai I kept it running on a watch winder to maintain it. Like a camera it needs to be used.

Glad that "Maggie" is paying for this one. Kinda like a payback for all the free photography I do.

Maggie yesterday got a big gig with a bank/credit card. Yesterday was also her last class of teaching. The end is near of her work career as a professor.

I kinda killed my legs going for that run with the heavy hands on Wednesday. Yesterday's run ended up being only about a mile before I gave up and walked home the remaining two miles.

Its been a while since I have run, and muscles have been reawakened. Use to run from Williamsburg to Dumbo and back on the weekends back in the day.

I'm mixing it up between biking, running and simulated cross country skiing with the elyptical.

At the MET the show "Play It Loud" features 130 guitars of rock stars and other rock history on display. My friend Cris, the guitar builder, tells me that Pete Townsted's Les Paul Gold Top (Number "6") he repaired and in this museum show he is given credit for having repaired the guitar.

I'll get more smut on this. Like Hendrix Pete has been known to destroy guitars.

Another episode of "Guitar Heaven" yesterday. I love the new Fralin pickups in the carved top Tele. Pretty much ideal and just what I want. Now I want to optimize another Tele with a pickup change.

Cal

 

[icebear]

...

Also the scale of the image and print are a factor. I say, "Big prints don't lie."

So I said, "Pick your poison," to Phil. If you do a "Dan" and go crazy you can set up a darkroom for wet printing. You can print large digitally with Piezography like I do and spend tens of thousands on paper and ink. You could contact print large format for ultimate IQ.

The problem you have to know is that printing gets expensive, and that is one reason why few shooters print.

Kinda funny that I took a lot of heat for just making negatives, and having a disregard for printing.

Cal

Well ... you kind of fixed me up with that kind of printing.
Not only the initial cost is the issue. Once you see the print result, you simply must maintain the level of quality until you have those prints framed.
AND there is no going back, neither in scale or quality.

But the results are simply stunning😀

 

[Calzone]

Well ... you kind of fixed me up with that kind of printing.
Not only the initial cost is the issue. Once you see the print result, you simply must maintain the level of quality until you have those prints framed.
AND there is no going back, neither in scale or quality.

But the results are simply stunning😀

Klaus,

At ICP they "cheezed-out" on the framing for Salgado's Genesis. I have to agree with Dan: WTF? No antiglare museum glass or acrylic?

Are your large prints framed yet? That is something I would love to see.

Even the archival storage boxes are not cheap. The archival cut mats you gifted me luckily fit in the $300.00 shipping container I own.

One thing to see wonderful work prints 12x18 on 17x22 sheet, but the wow factor happens when the full impact is reached in a large print done well. The big prints open everything up.

Granted that doing this well requires skill. Any defect will be revealed in a large print.

"Run with the ball," I say. "Go big: or don't go," said Marc Cuban.

Any printing when performed at a fine art level is mucho money.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Bob,

Setadel Studios has a 50 Cron-R two-cam at a great price. Only defect is a ring of haze. You likely could clean this.

A lens for no money for your R-body.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Townsend would cringe if he read this. He truly resented that fans made a big deal out of Hendrix busting up Strats.
Townsend inadvertently originated breaking guitars on stage. He's quite proud to note that he was destroying Rickenbackers when they were the most expensive guitar in London. Truly an angry young man.
-B

Bernard,

Pete was the original. He also destroyed amps.

One of my favorite guitars is the one Hendrix guitar that Frank Zappa was gifted by one of Hendrix's roadies. Hendrix destroyed the Guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival. This is the guitar that Jimi lit afire with lighter fluid like he was pissing on it.

It was in the seventies when Frank Zappa resurrected this guitar with a new neck and an aluminum pickguard. The guitar proudly sported a "flameburst."

Still loving the Fralin Big Single and Blues Special bridge pick ups. The brown Super just sounds better and better with more hours.

Lately I'm obsessed with Lollar Charlie Christian pickups. I have another Tele that I'm going to install the Lollar's in. My friend Cris will have to route the neck pickup cavity for me. Pretty much will make/convert my Tele into a jazz box. Also great for jump blues.

Cal

 

[icebear]

Klaus,

At ICP they "cheezed-out" on the framing for Salgado's Genesis. I have to agree with Dan: WTF? No antiglare museum glass or acrylic?

Are your large prints framed yet? That is something I would love to see.

Even the archival storage boxes are not cheap. The archival cut mats you gifted me luckily fit in the $300.00 shipping container I own.

One thing to see wonderful work prints 12x18 on 17x22 sheet, but the wow factor happens when the full impact is reached in a large print done well. The big prints open everything up.

Granted that doing this well requires skill. Any defect will be revealed in a large print.

"Run with the ball," I say. "Go big: or don't go," said Marc Cuban.

Any printing when performed at a fine art level is mucho money.

Cal

Cal,
no all materials are still packed up from the move as this is a temp rental only. It's easier to keep everything wrapped up for the next move and not start framing everything. But yes, I also would love to see my prints framed. The museum quality acrylic does hurt the wallet. 😱

 

[MrBern]

68 Years ago

68 Years ago

NYC Photos from 1951 recreated. Check out all the old Leicas


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/nyregion/nyc-photos-from-1951.html?

 

[Calzone]

Cal,
no all materials are still packed up from the move as this is a temp rental only. It's easier to keep everything wrapped up for the next move and not start framing everything. But yes, I also would love to see my prints framed. The museum quality acrylic does hurt the wallet. 😱

Klaus,

Seems like the luxury housing market is in a bubble. Around 57th Street there are new buildings that I call "needle buildings" that now comprise "Billionair's Row." A new skyline is being erected along Central Park South, but all is not well. It has been reported that half the units remain unsold and are empty.

The horizon is marked with skyscrapper cranes, even though there seems to already be a glut. "Look out below," I say.

Meanwhile affordable housing is in short supply. Mayor DeBlasio and Andrew Como both get hammered for the expanding population of the homeless. The root problem of course is affordable housing.

For the past 4-5 years more young people have left the city than entered. Young people are the future, but this exodus of young people I think is a tipping point for NYC.

Time is the best weapon is an old Chinese expression. In securing a home timing is very important.

All the best.

Cal

 

[Saganich]

Dan,

Please tell me more about DK-50. Because of Chris I think I will be trying D-23 because it seems like an alternative "Slacker's Brew:" A compensating developer; and only two chemicals for cheap-cheap-cheap.

Cal

DK-50 is a metol hydroquinone at 1:1 ratio with high concentration sodium metaborate as an accelerator, so development would be fast (D76 on steroids). It has a low sodium sulfide content, so little grain dissolving, making it a grainy developer. So a fast and grainy developer. Some advantage here for larger format but not so much for 35mm...unless the classic grainy look is the idea.

 

[Calzone]

DK-50 is a metol hydroquinone at 1:1 ratio with high concentration sodium metaborate as an accelerator, so development would be fast (D76 on steroids). It has a low sodium sulfide content, so little grain dissolving, making it a grainy developer. So a fast and grainy developer. Some advantage here for larger format but not so much for 35mm...unless the classic grainy look is the idea.

Chris,

Thanks for the explaination.

Seems like my life is a bit unstable, and I'm forced to hedge into three different directions photographically: film; digital and large format.

Cal

 

[Saganich]

Hey does anyone happen to have a LARGE format film or paper holder that can be used for exposures? I mean large format, not the 4x5 or 5x7 formats.
I'm hoping to find an 11x17 or 16x20 holder that I can load with paper then use in my super secret art/photo/grad school project.

Aside from that, does anyone know how to build a ULF film or paper holder? I figure I could do it with some clamps and sandwiching wood. My only must is that it has to have a dark slide.

I wish I could get liquid light to behave. I have a quart of that stuff but can never get development right. Or maybe never get exposure right. Who knows. Every one of my experiments with it have failed.

EDIT: I just realized what I need is a large format X-ray film holder. Large, like 1:1 scale chest X-ray holder. Something bigger than 8x10. I wonder if the online-auction-place-that-sucks-valuable-time-away-from-life has such a thing.

Thanks all.

Phil Forrest

I'll keep my eye out. 8x10 is fairly common as the labs do a lot of autoradiography, but larger is rare since all imaging transitioned to digital. I look into the old x-ray film rooms (still a few around) and see what's buried in the backs of the cabinets.

 

[Range-rover]

Bob,

Setadel Studios has a 50 Cron-R two-cam at a great price. Only defect is a ring of haze. You likely could clean this.

A lens for no money for your R-body.

Cal

Thanks Cal, I'll take a look.

 

[Calzone]

Thanks Cal, I'll take a look.

Bob,

Priced right. Will make a nice compact film SLR. Comes with the series 7 filter and hood as a double bonus.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Last night went to an event held at the Public Hotel that was an interactive slide show that involved the film "Up In Smoke" that is part of the Tribeca Film Festival.

The film is made by the son of a firefighter, and in a way is a long goodbye because his father has stage 4 Cancer. Film images and voiceover made a compelling story.

Outside the Public I met this rapper named Richard and did a street portrait. The 50 Lux SL shot wide open has this remarkable bokeh and shapness. I think this will be a great image.

I had a 50 Lux-M ASPH and the SL 50 crushes it. I also own a 58/1.2 Noct-Nikkor AIS and a 50 Lux-R "E60," so pretty much I have a stable of killer 50's that have supreme imaging when shot wide open.

These three 50's when used on the Leica CL (now Maggie's camera) create unbelievable short telephotos.

Cal

 

[Saganich]

Chris,

Thanks for the explaination.

Seems like my life is a bit unstable, and I'm forced to hedge into three different directions photographically: film; digital and large format.

Cal

Old proverb: You can't chase two rabbits at the same time.

 

[Prest_400]

Chris,

Thanks for the explaination.

Seems like my life is a bit unstable, and I'm forced to hedge into three different directions photographically: film; digital and large format.

Cal

I have to fall into the real optimization of Medium format through using slower film and tripod. At the moment just using HP5 Handheld with a yellow filter on the Texas Leica. Works nicely.
Thought about trying Delta 100. However, deviation from a standard while learning acts as handicap and it is only the summer months when slower film is useful up north.


Surprised that ISO400 film in 120 is still a bit grainy. Granted HC110 is not the most maximizing developer.

6x9 is half 4x5", which for me is nice enough as LF is slippery slope ahead, but perhaps my youth does not seem attracted to the much more paused process of LF.



Gear alert: I got, from an estate, a Oly EM5 mk I, grip, flash, AC adapter and 14-150 lens for $180. Just missing the charger, but ordered an offbrand online. I think I can sell the lens for almost that price, and so the camera becomes free. That's the digital depreciation I like!
Also inheriting a Holga this weekend, a camera club member tried one and disliked it, so it will pass on.



The fun part is the ability of use most of these different formats and options. If only had multiple arms like Shiva...

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The fun part is the ability of use most of these different formats and options. If only had multiple arms like Shiva...

You only need multiple sets of arms if you want to work with a bunch of formats simultaneously. I now have still cameras in the following formats: 16mm, 35mm, 120, 4x5 and 5x7. I'm working on an utra large format pinhole as well. Add to that my motion picture gear which includes an 8km camera, Super8, and FOUR 16mm cameras, one of them with a set of top class lenses that can't be beat. Then there's the digital gear. I certainly don't play with more than one at a time but I DO use them all, sometimes on the same shoot or on the same day. I dont even know how many 35mm cameras I have, but each has its strengths. Sometimes it's just the ability to use a certain lens. So don't limit yourself unnecessarily.
Phil Forrest

 

[MrBern]

Cal,
Ive always wondered why Lennon asked for a humbucker pickup on his Gibson, but then the Tech suggested th Charlie Christian Pickup.


As for the Hendrix/Zappa Strat, Ive seen some of the online descriptions of its different restorations.
I hope youve seen this youtube by Dweezil Zappa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OtCllDjFc

Bernard,

Pete was the original. He also destroyed amps.

One of my favorite guitars is the one Hendrix guitar that Frank Zappa was gifted by one of Hendrix's roadies. Hendrix destroyed the Guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival. This is the guitar that Jimi lit afire with lighter fluid like he was pissing on it.

It was in the seventies when Frank Zappa resurrected this guitar with a new neck and an aluminum pickguard. The guitar proudly sported a "flameburst."

Still loving the Fralin Big Single and Blues Special bridge pick ups. The brown Super just sounds better and better with more hours.

Lately I'm obsessed with Lollar Charlie Christian pickups. I have another Tele that I'm going to install the Lollar's in. My friend Cris will have to route the neck pickup cavity for me. Pretty much will make/convert my Tele into a jazz box. Also great for jump blues.

Cal

 

[Prest_400]

You only need multiple sets of arms if you want to work with a bunch of formats simultaneously. I now have still cameras in the following formats: 16mm, 35mm, 120, 4x5 and 5x7. I'm working on an utra large format pinhole as well. Add to that my motion picture gear which includes an 8km camera, Super8, and FOUR 16mm cameras, one of them with a set of top class lenses that can't be beat. Then there's the digital gear. I certainly don't play with more than one at a time but I DO use them all, sometimes on the same shoot or on the same day. I dont even know how many 35mm cameras I have, but each has its strengths. Sometimes it's just the ability to use a certain lens. So don't limit yourself unnecessarily.
Phil Forrest

I tend to walk around with a backpack and have the 6x9 with the m43 using the tele zoom, maybe a small 35mm as well. Before an outing I tend to think about which combination I'll use.



Remember how you wrote about having 16mm, motion picture is something really good but boy must it be a quick way to burn budget on footage.


Earlier today I was in the darkroom and finally got a bit the rythm going. Talking LF, First ever time I printed some of the Acros I shot long ago and that film on 6x9 was very hard to pin in the grain focuser... Very fine grained. Although I see my Texas Leica might have the RF slightly off as a crop on 8" wide paper seemed a bit soft.
4x5 is "only" twice 6x9 so were I to jump into LF willingly, I might as well do 8x10 and contact print.

I've seen a photog on IG building a LF pinhole out of paper boxes, really not a bad idea for a budget experiment.


35mm is the Hotel California of formats... I thought I'd stop using it after jumping to 6x9 but it's either me coming back to it, or just cameras being adopted.



And again choices... Didn't we talk about: B&W, C41 and E6? I try to rotate a bit of color every once in a while 😀

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

Truth be told is I have cameras that are shelf queens, but I can see using them in the future. Also took advantage of buying them t the right prices. Kinda like seeing a twenty doll bill laying on a sidewalk: you kinda have to stop and pick it up.

I'm also a carry only and use only one camera at a time.

To fight feeling vulnerable as I age I need the mobility. Also the use of a bag to conceal or keep your hands free, just in case something happens.

Cal