Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Looking Back Part 2

Ever since I got the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone I stopped using my Holga 120N camera because the app has filters that produce images with almost the same look as the Holga. Recently I discovered an undeveloped roll of film I left inside the camera. I must admit the images are still different from the Hipstamatic app. It has its own subtle charm that the iPhone app cannot reproduce. Film: Fuji Neopan 400 developed with HC 110 dilution B




Monday, December 24, 2012

Looking Back

Happy Holidays everyone!

While waiting for Santa to come, I spent the morning developing some 120 film that I had forgotten in my camera bag. One of the rolls is from the shots I took last summer with my Yashica-Mat 124G. Film: Fuji Neopan 400.







Friday, November 30, 2012

Testing the Nikon S2 with Jupiter 12 lens
























I discovered my recently acquired Nikon S2 needed some shutter and minor rangefinder adjustments so off it went to DAG Camera Repairs for service. I also was able to find a Jupiter-12, a Zeiss Biogon clone, 35mm f2.8 lens for it. I'm very happy with the results of the first test roll. DAG did a good job servicing the camera and although the Jupiter-12 has a Kiev/Contax mount, it worked very well with the S2 producing very sharp images with good colors. Film; Fuji Superia 400



Monday, November 19, 2012

The Light Gatherer



















My first self-published book, The Light Gatherer. Available at the blurb.com bookstore.


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Can.did Photography Show























A few of my photos will be part of the
Can.did Photography Show at Bliss on Bliss Art Projects.
4149A 45th St. Ground Flr., Sunnyside, NY. 
Opening reception: Nov. 11, 2012

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

A Beauty From Tokyo

















 When I use to go to camera swap meets a few years ago I would
always admire the Nikon rangefinder cameras some sellers were
offering but their incredible high prices was a turn off for me.
How can these cameras be as expensive as the Leica cameras I thought? If I had the money, I always tell myself, I would buy a Leica instead. A few months ago, a friend showed me his newly acquired Nikon S2. As soon as I held it I was smitten, it was beautiful! It felt great in my hands, solid but lighter than my Leica Ms. Another G.A.S attack came over me.
The Nikon S2 is the 4th rangefinder camera the Nikon corporation (Nippon Kogaku) had produced and the second of the S series between 1954 -1958.
Browsing my favorite online auction site, I saw this S2 with a black Nikkor S-C 5cm f 1.4 lens. It was described as in excellent condition and although the bidding time was only a few minutes left, the highest bid was still very low compared to other listings I've seen. I noticed that the seller was the Salvation Army. Maybe not many bidders trust the seller because it's not a normal camera dealer.
I added $50 more to the highest bid and went to bed, expecting to be out-bid by a few hundred dollars more in the end. To my pleasant surprise in the morning I had won the darn thing.
The camera's viewfinder is very bright with a light greenish tint. Focusing is done by either turning the focusing ring on the lens or the focusing wheel on the body just above the rangefinder window.
Some quirks I noticed while using the camera. During focusing, the whole lens mount turns with the lens. Changing the aperture setting is a little tricky because as you turn the aperture ring the whole lens barrel rotates with it unless you lock the lens to the infinity setting or press on to the infinity lock of the focusing wheel. Although the lens is interchangeable, this camera is primarily designed for 50mm lens. You will need an accessory viewfinder for other focal lengths. The shutter speed dial rotates as you make the exposure so care must be done not to touch the dial as you shoot or it will affect your exposure. In spite of these, this camera is a joy to use and will be one of my favorite shooters. For more information on the Nikon S2 and the other S series of rangefinder cameras, please check out Camera Quest.
Here are some results from my first test roll. Kodak BW400CN



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Shooting Before Breakfast

























In the past few Sunday mornings I'm been dropping my wife off to work in lower Manhattan so she doesn't have to commute. The city is quieter at these times with less rushing commuters and not as hectic as the rest of week. I then take the opportunity to shoot a couple of rolls of film before I go home and have breakfast.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Mid August
























Mid August wasn't so bad this year in New York City, it wasn't a scorcher like July.
I took a week off from work and manage to do some morning street shooting to test my recently acquired Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f1.7 LTM lens.