A photographically interesting couple of hours in Pleasantville, NY

December 26, 2017 by Howard Dale Posted in Camera Collection, Nikon F, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Reading Leave a comment

A few days before Christmas my wife was going to lunch with a friend in Pleasantville, NY. I needed to get out of the house so I decided to go along with her. I knew that there was a small bookstore in Pleasantville and I thought that I would “check it out” and then grab a bite to eat.

I set off walking in the direction of the bookstore when I spotted this photo store: Photoworks. I’d noticed it before, but it always seemed to be closed when I went by. Assuming that it was largely devoted to photofinishing, scanning etc. I was about to walk by when, looking through the window, I noticed a glass case inside – full of vintage cameras. I went in and asked the women if the cameras were for sale or just for display. She called her husband, George who emerged from the back somewhere and we had a long conversation about vintage cameras. Inside the case were two Nikon Fs (see above). I’d wanted one of these for a while, the price was right and the prospect of actually having a human being I could bring the camera back to in case of problems was appealing. I told him I would consult with my wife and return later.

I continued on to the bookstore: The Village Bookstore, a very pleasant establishment, small but well stocked and with a nice atmosphere. Among the shelves I came across (and purchased) this recently published biography of Robert Frank: American Witness. The Art and Life of Robert Frank.

Time to start looking for somewhere to eat. Then I spotted this building. On the front it said “The Gordon Parks Foundation“, so I went inside to take a look. I didn’t even realize that such an institution existed in Pleasantville. Inside they had a small selection of books by/on Gordon Parks but the bulk of the space was taken up by an exhibition: Element: Gordon Parks and Kendric Lamar. According to the Foundation’s website:

The Gordon Parks Foundation announced the opening of ELEMENT – a new exhibition on view at the Foundation’s exhibition space from December 1—February 10 showcasing Gordon Parks photographs that inspired rapper Kendrick Lamar’s music video ELEMENT from his album, DAMN. Lamar, known for using powerful images in his music videos, directly references and revives a number of Parks’ images that explore the lives of Black Americans, including the 1963 photo Boy With Junebug, Untitled, the 1956 photo from Parks’ “Segregation Stories” series, Ethel Sharrieff, a 1963 photo from his “The White Man’s Day Is Almost Over” photo essay about Black Muslims, as well as photos form Parks’ 1948 “Harlem Gang Leader” series.

“Gordon Parks’ work is continuing to have a great impact on young people – and particularly on artists like Kendrick who, use the power of imagery to examine issues related to social justice and race in our country,” said Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., Executive Director of The Gordon Parks Foundation. “With ELEMENT the music video, Kendrick has helped to call attention to one of the most important artists of our time.”

Long-time friend and supporter of The Gordon Parks Foundation, Kasseem Dean (aka, Swizz Beatz) noted, “I’m so inspired that my friend Kendrick Lamar chose the iconic imagery of the legendary Gordon Parks in his video for ELEMENT. It’s a prime example of how contemporary change makers – artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers – can borrow from the greats of the past who were also working towards social change.”

At the foundation of ELEMENT. are Parks’ photo essays exploring issues related to poverty and social justice which established him as one of the most significant story tellers of American society. “Harlem Gang Leader,” the photo essay published in LIFE magazine, is credited with introducing Parks to America. The photos explored the world of Leonard “Red” Jackson, the leader of a gang in Harlem. Soon after, Parks was offered a position as staff photographer for the magazine, making him the first, and for a long time the only, African American photographer at the magazine. Also published in LIFE, Parks documented the daily life of an extended African American family living under Jim Crow segregation in the rural South entitled “The Restraints: Open and Hidden.”

The Guardian has also published an interesting article on this exhibition: The story behind Kendrick Lamar’s Gordon Parks exhibition

After that I decided that I didn’t have enough time to eat before meeting my wife so I adjourned to a nearby bar
Foley’s Club Lounge for a couple of beers.

According to Mount Pleasant by George Waterbury, Claudine Waterbury, Bert Ruiz:

Harry Foley was a Pleasantville High School Basketball legend. He was also a Niagara University Hall of Fame and Westchester County Hall of Fame athlete. He bought Gorman’s Club Lounge on Bedford Road in 1950 and maintained the establishment until the 1970s. Foley’s Club Lounge has been a traditional watering hole for generations of Pace University students for nearly a half century.

When my wife finished her lunch we met up and I asked her if she’d like to buy me a Christmas present. She said yes so it was off back to the photo store to pick up the Nikon F with Photomic Ftn finder.

All in all a photographically speaking an interesting day, if rather unexpected.

A New (Used) Camera

November 16, 2017 by Howard Dale Posted in Camera Collection, Cameras, Sony A77 II Leave a comment

I have a lot of cameras, but most of them are old film cameras. I have only three cameras that I use regularly: A Sony RX100 M3, my carry everywhere camera purchased in 2016 to replace a RX100 M1 that died; A Sony Alpha 500 DSLR acquired in 2010; and a Sony Nex 5N, which I now mostly use with adapted legacy lenses.

I use the Alpha 500 when I know I’m going to be taking pictures of things that move quickly. For example I used it both times I went to a nearby airshow. However, I wasn’t altogether satisfied with the results. I couldn’t afford a high end telephoto or zoom lens and instead decided on a camera with higher resolution that would allow me to crop more. I also wanted faster and more accurate autofocus.

After doing some research I decided that this camera would meet my needs and that I could find one within my budgetary constraints (if I bought used). It’s a Sony A77 II.

The first time I tried it I was somewhat confused. I could barely get it to focus. After some tinkering I concluded that the previous owner had changed some settings, but I wasn’t sure which ones. So I did a reset and then everything became a lot easier. I recognized that it was still a complex camera though and as usual it didn’t come with a very useful manual. So I bought David Busch’s Sony Alpha a77 II/ILCA-77M2 Guide to Digital Photography, a very useful book, particularly the section on how to configure the camera.

I’ve used it a few times now an a must say that the more I use it the more I like it. I still find some things a bit bewildering (especially everything to do with focus tracking) but all things considered I’m happy that I bought it.

For some pictures taken with it see:

Flowers in the early morning light
Fall comes to the lake.
Shells.
Rose on our dock.
Roses by the light of the eclipse.
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park – Old Barn.
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park – Gold Star Mother Statue.
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park – M60A3 Series Tank (Patton).
Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park – Bell AH-1 Cobra.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Military Exhibition.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Antique Machinery.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Sheep.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Cows.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Goats.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Llamas.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Revolutionary War Re-Enactors, Around the Camp Fire.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Revolutionary War Re-Enactors, Blacksmith.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Revolutionary War Re-Enactors, Militia.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Native American Exhibit.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Horse Riding.
Putnam County 46th Annual 4-H Fair – Overview.

For a more detailed consideration of the camera that goes way beyond anything I could come up with (at least at this point – it is after all still early days) see: Sony SLT-A77 II Review on Digital Photography Review.

September Film Camera – Canon EOS 888

October 27, 2017 by Howard Dale Posted in Camera Collection, Cameras, Canon EOS 888, Monthly Film Camera Leave a comment

This camera was given to me by an good friend. He’s not all that much into photography and I imagine that if he wanted to take pictures, he would be unlikely to ever use a 1995 vintage film camera. In fact the camera is in such great condition that it looks as if it’s rarely been used at all. If he’d ever used it it would probably have been perfect for him: an easy to use camera aimed at entry level users. It is the kind of camera to bring along to family occasions, use while travelling etc. when you want to capture some pleasant memories without breaking the bank.

It’s a Canon EOS 888 (also called EOS 5000) in some markets.

The bulk of its functionality is controlled by a large dial on top of the camera. It uses 6-zone evaluative metering (or 9.5% partial metering at the centre) linked to the focus points, as is the three zone flash metering.

The camera has fully automatic exposure control, with no manual option.It also has shutter priority automatic exposure, where you set a shutter speed and the camera selects an appropriate aperture. Shutter speeds from 1/8 sec to 1/2000 appear on the selector dial, but in full auto mode the shutter can go down to a full 2 seconds.

It’s quite small and lighter than most SLRs. Clearly a lot of plastic was used in its construction, but it still feels quite solid.

If you don’t want to use the fully auto mode, or the shutter priority AE you can simply select one of the four Program Image Control (PIC) modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up or Sports. Like the fully auto mode these modes control both the shutter speed and the aperture.

Advanced Integrated Multipoint (AIM) control allows the camera to adjust to meet the photographers intentions. For example, if your subject is to the left of the picture, the focusing sensor on the left will be used. This will activate the exposure sensors on the left of the camera, so that the light reading is also taken from this area, rather than from the centre.

The built in flash uses through the lens (TTL, ISO guide number of 12m at ISO 100) metering linked to the selected focus point.

The viewfinder has indicators for partial metering (AE lock); correct exposure (blinks when exposure is bad); and correct focus. The top panel LCD displays the number of frames remaining; self-timer seconds remaining; and the aperture when in shutter priority mode. There’s also a battery level indicator. The camera takes two CR123A Lithium batteries.

The camera features the typical Canon quick load capability. Just pull out the film leader to the clearly marked point, close the back and the camera automatically advances the film. I was surprised to find, however, that the camera advances to the end of the roll, and then counts down as you shoot. ISO is set automatically (i.e. no option to change it manually) from ISO15 to an ISO of 2000.

A quartz date model was also available. However, it’s only programmed to 2019.

The camera came with a Sigma 70-210mm f4-5.6 UC-II.

For results see Canon EOS 888 results.

August Film Camera – Olympus OM2-n MD

September 18, 2017 by Howard Dale Posted in Camera Collection, Film, Monthly Film Camera, Olympus OM2-n Leave a comment

Much has been written (I’ve included links to four pieces below. I particularly like the Mike Eckman article for its honest take on the camera; and the Photography in Malaysia article for its wealth of technical detail) on the Olympus OM cameras including on the OM2-n. Mine also supports a motor drive, hence the designation OM2-n MD.

It’s small and light weight for a camera of its time Compared to modern cameras it feels solid and well built but a little heavy compared to modern cameras.

On top of the camera there’s a lever for off, manual and auto. On the rear there’s a red battery check light, which when you move the lever to the very top remains steady when the battery is fresh, and blinks when it’s getting low.

There’s an exposure compensation (two stops over and under) dial on top (where the shutter dial is usually placed). The rewind lever and the self timer are on the front of the body – to the right.

There’s a flash synch (F,P,X) socket on the left of the lens mount. Most of the pictures I’ve seen of this camera show it without a flash shoe. Mine has one, so I assume it was an optional accessory. Mine bears the words “Shoe 4“. The third article below (i.e. the one from “Photography in Malaysia” provides the following information:

Shoe 4 should be the correct shoe type for all OM-1n and OM2n bodies. It permits manual and normal auto flash control But in the case of OM2n bodies, it will perform TTL flash exposure control; further, it will automatically sets X-sync at the shoe, and via a third contact to provide viewfinder flash ready/sufficient flash LED. Is it possible to use Accessory Shoe Type 1 or “Fix” type shoe on OM-1n bodies ? Yes. Because the Shoe 1 has only one pin and thus it is not possible to use those two pins accessory shoe(s) with earlier OM1 or M1 bodies which has only one socket. In the case of the original OM2 model which has two inputs, Accessory Shoe 2 should be the right type to use with older Quick AUTO 310 TTL flash.

The viewfinder is large and bright and has a split image focusing aid. The viewfinder display changes depending on the mode selected: Manual shows only + and -, automatic shows shutter speeds from 1-1/1000 second.

The shutter seems to be quieter than I’d normally expect from an SLR from that period. It’s electronic and will only fire with a battery.

The back is interchangeable as is the focusing screen.

There’s no shutter dial on top of the camera. Everything is on the lens: aperture, shutter, depth of field. I guess the idea was to have all of the controls in one place. This is convenient but since the lens itself is quite small it means that it can be hard to locate the right dial when you want it. I imagine you’d probably get used to it though.

Olympus OM-2 MD (1975) on Mike Eckman dot com.
Olympus OM2 (OM2N) – Camera Review on Casual Photophile.
Modern Classic SLRs Series : Olympus OM2(n) SLR camera on Photography in Malaysia
A trip down memory lane with the Olympus OM2n by Ibraar Hussain on Steve Huff Photo.

Olympus Mju (Infinity Stylus) II Zoom 80 – Results

September 6, 2017 by Howard Dale Posted in Buildings/Structures, Camera Collection, Cameras, Film, Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic Zoom 80, Olympus Mju II Zoom 80 Leave a comment

Here are some results from my July film camera (See: July Film Camera – Olympus Mju (Infinity Stylus) II Zoom 80).

I’d taken a some pictures (in Croton-on-Hudson and while walking to meet a friend in Ossining, NY). Then I went with my wife to Muscoot Farm to see a friends’ paintings – part of a water color exhibition being held there. I was getting close to the end of a 24 exposure roll so I decided to quickly finish it off so I could send it to be processed. I got up to 24 exposures, and then past. Fine, I thought, you usually get a few extra exposures. But then the the exposure counter kept on going. I glanced at the small window in the back of the camera and confirmed my suspicion that I had put in a 36 exposure roll (I have a number of very old rolls of Kodak Gold. I don’t know where they came from, but when I’m trying out a new camera I just grab one of them). As I’m never sure how well a “vintage” camera will work, I don’t usually spend too much time on getting a great shot. This time, however, I was definitely “snap happy”, just wanting to finish the roll and get it off. I suppose I was using the camera as intended: point shoot, point shoot, point shoot…So how did it all come out?

Not too bad as it turns out. Of the 36 exposures there were about 16 I liked. Of the remaining 20 I rejected 7 because I’d taken more than one picture of the same subject and I liked another better. The pictures were OK, but I liked others more. That left 13, 4 of which I rejected because of poor composition (i.e. my fault rather than the cameras); 5 because of blur (possibly because the camera had selected a slow shutter speed); and another 4 where the exposure was way off.

The camera is certainly capable of taking decent pictures. However, I did have some problems with focus/exposure. I’m not entirely sure which one it was because it seemed to happen most when I tried to focus on bright objects (e.g. a bright, white building in full sun, a white flower etc.). The resulting image came out very badly overexposed, to the extent that I couldn’t really determine whether it was in focus or not.

I also experienced the same problems as I’d had the Olympus Infinity Stylus and Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic: the inconvenience of having to turn off the flash every time I turned the camera on; the complete lack of any kind of information re shutter speed and aperture.

In addition this particular camera suffered from the light leak problem I mentioned in my earlier post. I’d had this in mind when I took the pictures and had composed somewhat less tightly than I usually do. This allowed me to crop out the leak on most of the exposures.

I felt that the lens was not as sharp as that on the Stylus and the the Stylus Epic, particularly at the long end of the zoom where it was soft.

On the plus side I was pleased with the one flash exposure I took.

I’m not likely to use cameras of this nature very much as I don’t like the lack of feedback on shutter speed/aperture. If I were to use one I would be more likely to use either the Stylus, or the Stylus Epic because of their better lens and the fact that the zoom isn’t all that helpful. And then there’s the light leak. That would be enough to prevent me from using the camera regularly. So all things considered it’s decent picture taker, but not for me.

Above Ossining, NY Street Scene