its been hard to write

I have even struggle to write in my paper diary, and no, thats not a real personal diary but seems to be morphing into one.. Hmmm.

Well I have taken Cameras out and I have done a shoot. It was pouring with rain. Pouring. BUT Connie was bored being stuck in my shit hole of a house so with the wind and rain, It dawned on my that Kiama blowholes would be going off.

David took us to the lookout, where we got rained on, then HAILED on. :-( Hmmm we hid in the cafe.



Heading to Kiama, we saw that the safe Kiama harbour had large waves in it. Lost of surfers now in the normally calm harbour. Well the seas were amazing. We were correct, the blowhole was blowing High spouts of water. Within a second of arriving, my Mamiya and I were drenched in sea water. Awesome, and having to quickly cover the camera with my jacket, I missed the shot. Ah well.



Off to the little blowhole for more photography this time with the T80.



Not much else.

I actually have three days off. That two whole days and two half days.

Polaroid 101 is now Fully functional. :-) I got this terrific photo of Connie and David. I gave the original to Connie.
People LOVE getting a polaroid.


Met a man in the airport. He called out to us about the Box Brownie on my table, I had only just pulled it out. :-) I ended up having a chat to him about the Brownie and he told me about getting one as a child. He was very happy and I grabbed the Polaoroid 101 to take his photo but alas it was back lit. Damn it!! Still he loved getting a polaroid and even though this was just a shadowy figure..

Least I made someone's day. :-)

Film porn.

Morning shifts has meant an end to everything in my life. The shift sound innocuous 0600-1400 but as I live in the outer metro, it's reality its 0200-1530. A long day. Yes I carry a camera with me but it's dark when I arrive and the sun setting when I leave.
David has been away and so my shooting opportunities are rare ATM.
Sunday saw me and a friend go to Thirlmere. Fabian Armed with the mighty T80, the native 35-70 ac lens and an agfa film, and me with the a-1, a FD 50mm f/1.8 and a chrome film. Fabian wanted my camera... Lol that's my boy. But I do love the T80, an unloved Canon upon release, it's usefulness in teaching children composition without stressing about focus is amazing. The kids love this camera, Its not a dinky point & shoot.

Shane brought three of his four boys and we headed off to the Railway museum. I have not picked up the film that Fabian shot yet, but he used 2 rolls. All the boys seemed to have fun. Shane generously paid for us all to go on the steam train as well.

Film photos when I get them. Until then here are the iPhone ones.







Tuesday last saw my us parcel arrive and inside was a fabulous, battle worn old Mamiya. I tested the shutter and it worked! The thing weighs a ton (3 kg) and the lens that I bought for it separately are, like the camera, scarred, but the iris opens and closes..... Sooooo a test film that can be used for my home E-6 experiment yay!! I can't wait but due to work commitments, it will have to. Rats. Heaps of other types of film including 400 slide for the 3D holga



Wednesday this week was a big filled with slide film HUZZAH!!! 20 rolls of expired slide film. Cheaper than the usual going rate. Thrilled again, perfect film for my e-6 experiments.



The only other thing I can think of is the arrival of an experimental Polaroid 80a modified to take 120 film. It's very cool, but as it is experimental, issues exist. I need to guess how much to wind, I forgot to do a dummy roll. Have to pack the film space with foam, or the film unspools (found this out personally, ) and the sharp edges need taping. Still a unique camera and I do love it. Have not shot a whole roll yet... TBA

I took the Hawkeye out ship hunting.

As stated on my personal blog (July 4 entry I went ship hunting. The US navy was in town and are leaving in the 9th. You can read it there.

ANYWAY I had taken the B'&W film out of the Hawkeye Ace Deluxe... (See previous post) and re-loaded it with my hand rolled colour Kodak Portra. I wanted to test my rolling skills and if this film was ok after its misshandling. Hahaha I am not very gentle.

Anyway here are the results. the light leaks were most likely caused by me as I carried ou of the camera.









You can see where I have just not covered the film as I took it out and the light has seeps in (It was a hot winter's day)

the leaks got all the way to frame one Below



But the test is a success the camera works (for a cereal packet freebie) and the film works fine. I just need to take more care in carrying it.

To the John Vegas, the guy getting a few rolls, take care of the pre- and post- loading of the film, it will leak like this, use in tin foil or a adapted film container.

Oh and LMK your address!!