DownUnder
Vamoosed (for a while)
Ah. Hawaii! Always wanted to live there. Many years ago I had a (Canadian) friend who somehow wangled himself a (no pay but 'benefits') caretaker's post in an old residential quarter of Pearl Harbor, now probably long demolished. I visited him there on several occasions. He lived quite close to the ocean and would go snorkeling with a spear in the mornings, stab a few good fish to grill for our lunch, then take a book and a bottle of something pleasant to the beach for an hour's sunning in the afternoons, and later on enjoy a quiet but productive evening at home (he had a small apartment in an old servants' quarters of some long-deceased admiral's mansion) writing a long novel he probably never did finish.
He had, so I thought, the ideal lifestyle. Eventually age and too much bourbon caught up with him and he had to return to Vancouver for medical treatment and finally, palliative care. He is now gone. I cherish his memory but I do wonder what happened to his manuscript. Not sure it was worth publishing, but it gave him reasons to go on going on, which is what life should be about. I also envied him his ideal life and the pleasures of living near Honolulu.
When I was in Honolulu, I had a deal with some California friends who owned a small serviced apartment in the old Chinatown area of the city. I would go there by taxi from the airport, pay the caretaker $10 a day and settle in comfortably. Those wonderful $3 three-egg breakfasts with unlimited toast and coffee. Walked to almost everywhere, even the long, long trek to the beach at Waikiki.
I digressed, as I do. Movin' on now to things photographic.
In those long ago days I always carried at least one camera with me, usually a NIkkormat with three lenses (28/3.5, 50/2 and 85/2) and shot heaps and heaps of color slide film.
So what camera(s) would I take with me to Hawaii now? Probably a D700 or D800 with two lenses, 28 and 85. Or if I wanted to shoot film only, a Contax G1 with the standard 28, 45 and 90 combo. Or one of my Rolleiflex Ts with a few accessories. All stuff I could easily put in my carry-on bag and take with me on the flight. No film. Easily bought in Honolulu, as another poster has kindly tell us.
I've not been to the USA for some years now, but we plan a return trip to Canada with time in New Mexico where I lived in the 1960s, when the Covid-19 pandemic has receded into the dim past and we can all travel again. So many places to see in the world.
Honolulu is one city I do wish I had lived in. Hawaii is a world apart. Now I want to go just to see that gorgeous camera shop. I think I see a G1 in one of their cases. Drool worthy.
I must dig out those slides and all the gorgeous Rollei B&W negatives. Haven't looked at them in years. This post rekindled many old memories and I will do this next week.
Take what lenses suit you best. Try to limit it to two. One camera only. Bare-bones minimalism will kick-start your creativity and force you to do your best photography with what you have to hand. Always the best way.
And yes, let us see your images when you return. Most of us have been stuck at home (or close to home) for far too long, and we need inspiration. Please!
He had, so I thought, the ideal lifestyle. Eventually age and too much bourbon caught up with him and he had to return to Vancouver for medical treatment and finally, palliative care. He is now gone. I cherish his memory but I do wonder what happened to his manuscript. Not sure it was worth publishing, but it gave him reasons to go on going on, which is what life should be about. I also envied him his ideal life and the pleasures of living near Honolulu.
When I was in Honolulu, I had a deal with some California friends who owned a small serviced apartment in the old Chinatown area of the city. I would go there by taxi from the airport, pay the caretaker $10 a day and settle in comfortably. Those wonderful $3 three-egg breakfasts with unlimited toast and coffee. Walked to almost everywhere, even the long, long trek to the beach at Waikiki.
I digressed, as I do. Movin' on now to things photographic.
In those long ago days I always carried at least one camera with me, usually a NIkkormat with three lenses (28/3.5, 50/2 and 85/2) and shot heaps and heaps of color slide film.
So what camera(s) would I take with me to Hawaii now? Probably a D700 or D800 with two lenses, 28 and 85. Or if I wanted to shoot film only, a Contax G1 with the standard 28, 45 and 90 combo. Or one of my Rolleiflex Ts with a few accessories. All stuff I could easily put in my carry-on bag and take with me on the flight. No film. Easily bought in Honolulu, as another poster has kindly tell us.
I've not been to the USA for some years now, but we plan a return trip to Canada with time in New Mexico where I lived in the 1960s, when the Covid-19 pandemic has receded into the dim past and we can all travel again. So many places to see in the world.
Honolulu is one city I do wish I had lived in. Hawaii is a world apart. Now I want to go just to see that gorgeous camera shop. I think I see a G1 in one of their cases. Drool worthy.
I must dig out those slides and all the gorgeous Rollei B&W negatives. Haven't looked at them in years. This post rekindled many old memories and I will do this next week.
Take what lenses suit you best. Try to limit it to two. One camera only. Bare-bones minimalism will kick-start your creativity and force you to do your best photography with what you have to hand. Always the best way.
And yes, let us see your images when you return. Most of us have been stuck at home (or close to home) for far too long, and we need inspiration. Please!
