NYC Journal

Imagine you are in “Camera Heaven” where basically you have a “Camera Circus” going on.

In one ring is mucho medium format cameras; in another digital; in another small format; and yet in another large format.

I’m kinda in this space, but also I’m kinda in a limbo of sorts since I can’t move forward and get back to photography yet to sort all this out. I’m kinda in a space where I have too much going on, and pretty much too many paths to explore or continue.

Anyways a very odd dilemma to have too much. Also so much of this gear over the decades got cherry picked, really can’t be replaced, and if could would be costly.

I await which will become the main event in this camera circus.

One factor to think about is that film today is expensive. Anyways this is where my head is today.

Cal
 
Did you know in Operation Desert Storm that Bradley Fighting Vehicles destroyed more Iraqi armor than M1 Main Battle Tanks.

Because they are lightly armored they are more agile. It was said that the Bradley was better off road and the M1 had to stay more on the roads.

There is also a benefit of lower maintenance and better range (300 miles). A M1 needs to be refueled every 4 hours.

In the Ukraine there is a shortage of armored personnel carriers, and a tank without infantry is very-very vulnerable to attack from enemy infantry.

In a U.S. armored battalion two Bradleys (about 30 tonnes) exist for every M1 Main Battle Tank (70 tonnes).

Then I wonder how mud restricts or prohibits movement or momentum In the Ukraine. I suspect a heavy Main Battle Tank is at a disadvantage under muddy conditions and is vulnerable. A lighter vehicle with treads like the Bradley will sink less into the mud.

Operation Desert Storm was open terrain and so is the eastern part of the Ukraine.

When you dig in a bit, an understanding emerges that the fighting vehicles being supplied by the west is likely the best offensive weapon, especially when multiplied by tactics and a NATO style of battlefield management. Basically a force multiplier.

My hope is that we supply enough quantity to ensure victory. The Ukraine needs hundreds.

Speed, agility, and experience are the best assets to bring to a fight.

Cal
 
I have a Masters in TV Broadcast Journalism, and I am seeing how news is “unfolding.”

Post 442 above was made with info I gathered just before the site shutdown on RFF. Today in the blurbs on light tank personnel transports being supplied to the Ukraine some of what I disseminated is being published today.

As our friend John often said, “The best tool for the job.”

Also it seems evident an offensive that involves weather as a decisive element will be played out.

The Ukraine has fought with great valor, and my hope is they get enough support from the west and that support is in a timely manner.

In other headlines I see surfacing that the west finally figured out that the war on inflation also involves the war in the Ukraine, and a repeated message is that our best interest is to end this war ASAP.

A lot of game changing happened, and there is no going back. Realize that Russia and China are allies. Russian isolation by the west will likely continue. This isolation by the west is part of the reason for the war in the Ukraine, now take that a step father.

I personally can live without the cheap goods imported from China, well IPAD excluded, but I think you get the point.

I can also see how defense spending will be part of inflation for a prolonged period.

A friend who was a retired career Master Sargent suggested that because the U.S. has two big moats: the Atlantic; and the Pacific; militarily and economically he said our sphere of influence of most importance were both Canada for resources and Mexico for labor.

Master Sargent Jim’s point was that we could isolate ourselves from the world and do fine.

Years later NAFTA was created.

Building on that point can Russia and China partner up and be fine if isolated from the world?

Cal
 
With the new RFF site I was surprised that somehow I have been awarded trophies, and somehow I am involved in some competition that I was unaware that I was in.

How did that happen? Well I engage with people from all over the world here, and I’ve made many friends. I would even say good friends, and there are people that care about me as well as people I care about.

Basically I’m a kind and friendly guy.

Did you know that you can waste your life on the Internet, and that Social Media is a gigantic hamster wheel. At a certain tipping point it takes over your life and has too much importance.

What do I know? I have seen “Maggie” her life and all the very fraught things that happen when you stand out and have over 750K followers.

Anyways it seems here on RFF I go back a bit, and I see that some people have intruded into our safe place. I wondered why because it was a unilateral invasion. I exaggerate and describe it as being “Putin” like and hostile.

So now I remember in grade school all the name calling. Back then I was not called a “Gas Guzzler.”

Then in high school there was all this immature competitive behavior, and challenges because I was kinda an Alpha Male. Back then it was a constant one sided being attacked because my Ego was strong enough that I didn’t have to prove anything Or respond. I knew my attackers held deficits.

Then recently there has been posting of gibberish in post 436. How childlike and regressive is that.

So basically I realize how unmanly, childish and how immature some of the behavior has been displayed here.

”Grow up,” I say, and stop making fools of yourself.

Also I find it most interesting that these are old men of retirement age. Very amusing.

Cal
 
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Hiya Cal,

How about a hand holdable 6.5x9cm view camera?

Fuji GX680 50mm f5.6 Seiko Shutter by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought the camera from Adorama for $70.

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting broken ornament.

Done Five Fuji GX680 lenses converted to PLaubel Peco Jr by Nokton48, on Flickr

Been working on these five Fuji Gx680 (first I converted them to Plaubel Makiflex Barrel Mount Lenses). When my two Plaubel Peco Junior cameras came in, I decided to convert these lenses, adding modern Seiko Shutters from the Fuji 210mm and 250mm WS series of lenses. All good even the f/stop scales will work good without modifications. These are 90's era cutting edge glass for the Fuji GX680, used for studio and professional use. From left to right, Peco Junior focused at infinity, with 65mm F5.6 GX680. Amazing to look through! Next the 80mm F5.6 GX680, then the 100mm F5.6 GX680, then the 125mm F3.2 Uber Glass. Best of the Best, they also make a F5.6 model. Finally the other Peco Jr, focused at infinity with the 180mm F3.2 GX680. Some portrait photographers say this lens is TOO sharp for portraiture, subjects complain. LOL All these lenses have Beeg image circles, allowing for full use of the Peco Junior's front and back movements. So the best lenses from that era, combined with the tiniest most precise view camera ever made. What a match-up! Can't wait to take out a small bag, small tripod, and try out all this new stuff. In the foreground is the new shorty sawed-off focusing rail, great with the really wide older lenses.

www.ebay.com

🟢 NEAR MINT🟢 Fuji Fujifilm Fujinon GX M 50mm f/5.6 for GX680 II III Japan 1129 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 🟢 NEAR MINT🟢 Fuji Fujifilm Fujinon GX M 50mm f/5.6 for GX680 II III Japan 1129 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com


Rick at GetDPI contacted me on Flikr and wrote a nice article on converting the GX680 to DIGITAL Here:

Fujinon GX lenses on digital medium format

Short version: Fujinon GX lenses for the Fuji GX680 system are an option if you need a large image circle on a camera that provides a focusing rail. Image quality is very good, and they’re inexpensive. However, to use these lenses on a digital camera you really need to disassemble and remount...
www.getdpi.com
 
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Nokton48 said:
Hiya Cal,

How about a hand holdable 6.5x9cm view camera?

Fuji GX680 50mm f5.6 Seiko Shutter by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought the camera from Adorama for $70.

My Plaubel Junior restored with New to me 50mm F5.6 Fuji GX680 lens, purchased broken, at a good discount, from Adorama in NYC. They also included the Uber Rare Gelatin Filter Holder/50mm Hood, it's worth some Dollars so a great deal. The view through the 50mm is AMAZING. Can't wait to shoot some test 6.5x9cm Makina Back Film. EVentually I will buy some type of Digital Medium Format Back. The Peco Junior has a Leica-like smoothness and feel. Plaubel advertised as "The Rolls Royce of Cameras" in the day. Works smoothly and tightly in a Leica-type of way. Also looked through my 4x5" Sinar Normas with this lens. It's amazingly sharp-looking and nice and contrasty view. This will get some use now, rather than becoming an interesting broken ornament.

Done Five Fuji GX680 lenses converted to PLaubel Peco Jr by Nokton48, on Flickr

Been working on these five Fuji Gx680 (first I converted them to Plaubel Makiflex Barrel Mount Lenses). When my two Plaubel Peco Junior cameras came in, I decided to convert these lenses, adding modern Seiko Shutters from the Fuji 210mm and 250mm WS series of lenses. All good even the f/stop scales will work good without modifications. These are 90's era cutting edge glass for the Fuji GX680, used for studio and professional use. From left to right, Peco Junior focused at infinity, with 65mm F5.6 GX680. Amazing to look through! Next the 80mm F5.6 GX680, then the 100mm F5.6 GX680, then the 125mm F3.2 Uber Glass. Best of the Best, they also make a F5.6 model. Finally the other Peco Jr, focused at infinity with the 180mm F3.2 GX680. Some portrait photographers say this lens is TOO sharp for portraiture, subjects complain. LOL All these lenses have Beeg image circles, allowing for full use of the Peco Junior's front and back movements. So the best lenses from that era, combined with the tiniest most precise view camera ever made. What a match-up! Can't wait to take out a small bag, small tripod, and try out all this new stuff. In the foreground is the new shorty sawed-off focusing rail, great with the really wide older lenses.
Click to expand...
Devil Dan,

There’s a lot of cool glass in that package.

Those could be cam’ed for use on Baby-Linhofs.

The glass is modern enough for a digital sensor and has a massive image circle. Not costly. What is not to love?

You can do some mighty big swings.

Cal
 
I anticipated a sale on sheds, and like clockwork it happened, a 10% discount, free shipping.

These shed kits from Canada are made of western cedar, and I pay a premium to upgrade from “finger joined” wood to architectural grade, plus a cedar shingle roof. I read the finger joints become weak and fail over time eventually.

Pretty much the part subjected to rot is the bottom of the shed, so having an elevated foundation can help, and of course a good bed of gravel for drainage. The smell of pine and cedar is wonderful, and of course the cedar is a natural bug and insect repellant.

The small 4x8 cedar shed is already starting to get lighter in color, and eventually will get a light grey patina.

Initially I was going to build the second shed for me, but “Maggie” wanted an outdoor space. Pretty much if I have her not underfoot, I’ll be able to concentrate, and do work without interruption.

Also it is a really nice 70th birthday present for her. She decided that the 8x12 garden shed was too big, so we downsize to an 8x8. The smaller footprint allows for a less full back-backyard and will be more cute.

I can store the pallet/kit in the driveway under a tarp until I build out the foundation. Nested under trees and partially hidden it should look both enchanting and inviting.

So now I’m in CF mode, and I save money as much as I can, where ever I can.

Yesterday celebrated a nephew’s 30th birthday by taking him out to eat. We went to a place near New Paltz.

I kinda learned that “Upstate” is defined from where you are coming from. People from Madhattan think upstate begins just north of Peekskill, but really the divide is whether you are technically north of Albany which is about 100 miles from Madhattan.

South of Albany is “downstate:” North of Albany is “upstate.”

Technically downstate is within the 100 mile sprawl of Madhattan which is about 30-40 million people.

BTW one nuclear bomb, ground zero the Empire State Building on 34th Street, would kill about 30-40 million people.

The people of Madhattan would be lucky to get vaporized because dying of radiation poisoning can be a long process.

The hundred mile radius would extend to the eastern tip of Long Island (Montauk Point).

Peekskill is about 50 miles away, (to Grand Central, 42d Street), I would likely get killed by flying D-BREE even though we are somewhat nested in a valley and protected from a direct line of sight.

I figure I would still get a lethal dose of radiation. Oh-well.

So how crazy am I? I build a shed hoping the best, but I also know life can end so suddenly. Oh-well…

Cal
 
Hey Devil Dan,

Please help me out.

I feel I spread myself a bit thin. I shoot so many formats, and I kinda think of you as a large format shooter. Is my perception true?

Please give insights of how you keep on track with so many ambitious projects.

Is it because you have been retired, got your house built out and in order, and then the time to do so much research and OCD thinking naturally and organically happens?

Cal
 
In the spirit of a true support group, it seems of interest a couple of topics I write about often.

I have suffered from anxiety, and I think instead of thinking about getting vaporize or a lethal dose of radiation that could happen at any time, I would rather live in a smaller universe that I can somewhat control called photography.

Yes I know I’m a Drama Queen but you get the point.

Then there is the technical aspects and that allows control, something in modern life that isn’t always available.

Then as a group we have OCD tendencies and of course hoarding.

The point here is that we all need support…

Cal
 
For Robert and Paul:

“Scales Intervals Keys Triads Rhythm and Meter, published by W.W. Norton, is a programmed text in Music Theory.

Pretty much if you want to learn to read music and open all those possibilities this pretty much will get you where you need to be.

A very simple workbook that is structure with short questions and answers. Pretty much both questions and answers are on the same page and a supplied bookmark masks the answers as you go through the material.

Anyways I though I would share this because this is a text that is used to teach music in colleges.

Anyways consider reading music as learning another language.

Cal
 
Did you know that both “Maggie” and I suffer a bit from isolation from our move to Peekskill?

There are rewards and challenges, but city life and the people that live there is so much more vibrant, more youthful, and more intense.

Just wanted to let people know that we all struggle in different ways.

I also want to acknowledge that this space here embedded in RFF has a lot of meaning to me, and helps me deal with some of the isolation I’m experiencing.

Cal
 
HI Cal,

In a hurry today but I want to share this with you. Robert Fripp and The League of Crafty Guitarists. Recorded live in a Basilica in Italy. I have this on vinyl. It's my favorite cut, just sooo beautiful.... Hope you enjoy it. Will talk more later.

 
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Nokton48 said:
HI Cal,

In a hurry today but I want to share this with you. Robert Fripp and The League of Crafty Guitarists. Recorded live in a Basilica in Italy. I have this on vinyl. It's my favorite cut, just sooo beautiful.... Hope you enjoy it. Will talk more later.

Click to expand...

Dan,

Thanks for posting this.

I think you understand that I like music that has passages, even though I don’t think of myself as a composer.

You should also know I’m a big fan of Al Dimeola when he played with Chic in his Electric Band.

Cal
 
My favorite Al Dimeola LP, that I own is "Elegant Gypsy". Thanks for reminding me to listen to it. Bought it when it came out
 
Walked into downtown Peekskill to get some coffee and to say hello with out friend Brian the Peekskill Smut Queen.

Pretty much got the inside view from a small businessman on the politics and the players in Peekskill. Pretty much the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Peekskill is too working class and perhaps too much of an immigrant community to become a Beacon. I’m cool with that.

Anyways I’m under the opin that a slow evolution over a vast amount of time preserves the original community. Developers and rapid change I see as being the bad way to go.

On the 2 mile walk home I hear someone call out my name, “Calvin,” but I don’t recognize the person because of the surgical mask. It is my friend Andrew who I know from the hospital where I use to work.

Perhaps I might know Andrew for two decades, and know he works in IT and has been working at my former hospital for 33 years, but Andrew told me of announced layoffs.

Pretty much no announced planned layoffs really ever happened as far as I know.

I’m going to dig in and spy around to get more smut.

Cal
 
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Nokton48 said:
My favorite Al Dimeola LP, that I own is "Elegant Gypsy". Thanks for reminding me to listen to it. Bought it when it came out
Click to expand...
Dan,

I have one of Al Dimeola’s picks. At the guitar shop I worked in he dropped off an Ovation to get some work done on. Very low action. I love when Al and Chic did note for note those blazing runs. So tasteful and so precise.

Fripp has that precision.

Sadly I don’t think I may ever be able to play like that. LOL.

Cal
 
So this is a long thread.

I don’t really know if I should start another thread. I intend on doing a mind probe of Devil Dan. Dan earned that title because he is a Clever Devil like Devil Christian another really clever thoughtful guy.

I will say retirement is not easy, is not what I expected, and is kinda fraught. Not so easy a transition, and not one thing I planed for actually happened.

Then we have a Devil Dan who is kinda crazy-good and does all these things we only dream about.

Know that DD has been retired for a while, and somehow he hoarded all the right stuff when it was not costly. Pretty remarkable his darkroom and all he does and accomplishes.

Meanwhile my photography, my darkroom, my shooting, my printing are all on hold while I try and get on top of all the work needed to get my house “one and done” so I can get back into my photography.

So I plan on digging in and learning from DD because he is way ahead of me.

Should I start another thread? Should I keep this one going?

Anyways I kinda do this for you, and this really is your thread.

What say you?

Cal
 
Cal,
I hung up my spurs in 2016 after working in sales for 42 years. I was a road warrior, traveling many miles from home and living in hotels a few days at at time. I don't miss it at all. My wife was born in Colorado and we have spent a lot of time in the state. Upon retiring we moved here.
The house we purchased was rented out when we bought it and we had to wait six months for the lease to expire so we could evict our "renters from hell". Spent the next year and a half remodeling the place and it is now very comfortable. Did some exploring and really enjoying our retirement. Then Covid struck. I feel like we have been robbed of about three of our "golden years"but things are starting to kinda be normal again.
Lucky we did the work on our place before "C" hit because as you are now aware, it is far more complex and costly to do those things.
Hang in there and with some luck you will get 'er done and can return to pursuing your interests in life.

As for starting a new thread, this one is at 23 pages now. There are some posts here that are in the 40's or more. Maybe cut it off at 50 and start a fresh one then. Perhaps it could coincide with seasons changing or something like that.
 
Austin,

Thanks for the support.

I guess I didn’t factor in Covid.

Things would surely be easier without Covid.

I don’t think inflation, the war in the Ukraine, and Covid impact are going away anytime soon. These events effect me deeply.

I think I’m in a great place, all things considered, but how does Devil Dan do what he does. So prolific in pulling off crazy projects. The last 2x3 project exploits great glass and is really clever.

Cal
 
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