Seventy five year old photographs Roll #11 ... Darwin/Java

[Keith]

Following on from roll #10 posted in this thread.


This roll is the transition from Darwin to Java and the first few photos before leaving Australia show the huge termite mounds they get up in the deep north! The film is Kodak Panatomic and there were forty exposures on the roll.

I'm about to scan the last roll (#16) as I post this one and I have to say it's getting better ... the next few rolls are very good indeed.

Some observations:

The Agfa of the time was much better than the Kodak IMO ... it seems to have held up better and I like the tones of the Agfa a lot more. The Panatomic has suffered from a lot of shrinkage and it has a very thick base making the curl harder to deal with.

The photgrapher spends too much time blazing off shots from the window of the car ... she would have loved digital, she could have done this to her heart's content. LOL

I hope you like these and I'll be interested to see if you agree with me that there is one image on this roll that really stands out.

 

[JayGannon]

I particularaly like the front on view of the sailing boat.

 

[Richard G]

The last one. Looks like she seldom shoots faster than 1/50s. I like the empty seascape too. She would have been tired and hot and sweaty. Easier to be a good photographer in Canada.

 

[johannielscom]

+1 for the last one, love that.

Love them all, in fact!

 

[oftheherd]

Interesting photos again Keith. It is interesting to try to "see" into the mind of the photographer(s), as to what they would be interested in and why. What was so different to them on their trip that they were sure to photograph it. Sometimes it is obvious, as it might have been intriguing to us as well. Other times, you are just left wondering. Do you know if a journal was kept?

I was also interested in the shot of the building with what looks like the word "Electricum" on it. That also looks like the nuclear sign on it.

Thanks again for this series of photos. I am distressed to think you only have six more rolls to go. I am enjoying this too much.

 

[Keith]

+1 for the last one, love that.

Love them all, in fact!

That last shot is a killer IMO ... love it! 🙂

 

[tj01]

The car shot has Kaliasin in one of the buildings, and some other words which is probably colonial dutch. which points to a southern port town in East Java. Some of the bullock cart shots could probably well have taken yesterday.

 

[Ducky]

In photos 3 & 4 the person looks like she is carrying two cameras, or one camera and a case for another. That may help explain the cases on the last roll.
I've never seen a sail rig like the one in the pictures (dhow rig) but it looks like the Sidney Opera House.
Enjoying these very much, Keith.

 

[robklurfield]

such an interesting life documented in all of these. can't wait to see more.

 

[Keith]

I've just finished scanning roll#16 which is very different and wait for it .... there's a deliberate mirror shot!

Though not by Bettina ... but it looks like her camera!

😀

 

[charjohncarter]

Yes, that sailboat is a good one. I also like the woman walking on the dike. Too bad about the camera movement.

 

[Keith]

Yes, that sailboat is a good one. I also like the woman walking on the dike. Too bad about the camera movement.

I thought it was the camera movement that gave it it's appeal ... there's a real sense of motion there which seems to be a signature of her photography style IMO.

 

[Keith]

Roll #12 Indonesia is now posted in this thread.

 

[johnnygulliver]

fantastic project Keith, yes the last shot could be off an HCB contact sheet... I agree w tj, many of the other shots are timeless... Will somebody in 75 years find an old SD card and - I think not.