January 25, 2022
Who Could Want This?
The Digi Swap website. There's a video near the top of that page. Just watch it.
The idea is you take your old film SLR, remove its back, attach a chunk of machined aluminum that Digi Swap sells you, and to that machined aluminum thing you attach your iPhone on which you have installed the Digi Swap app. You set the ISO on the iPhone, but shutter speed and aperture are controlled on the SLR. You press the shutter release on the SLR to take a photo. Just to be perverse, I suppose, you then have to use the SLR's film advance lever before you can take another photo. Most of my film SLRs have automatic film advance, so I guess I'm just never going to get to enjoy all the wondrous benefits of this device, none of which I can think of right now.
It's not available for sale yet. There is no price estimate. I imagine the machined aluminum device will have to be customized to fit different SLRs. They say they are developing devices to fit medium format cameras as well as 35mm. They don't mention Android, so they may not be planning to expand beyond iPhones.
In a world where all film production ceased and all digital interchangeable lens cameras disappeared, you would still only need this device if you wanted to use some lenses that just couldn't be digitally faked on an iPhone. Extreme telephoto or wide-angle lenses come to mind, but maybe there are others.
Here's a brief article about it (with reader comments) on DPRview.com.
Digi Swap will be at the Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2022 (CP+) in Japan, if you want to see a demo, February 24 - 27.
permalink | January 25, 2022 at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2022
Four Grave Photos
All of these were shot on Kodachrome in October 1990. I was probably preparing for the Tour De Graves or participating in the actual tour. The Tour De Graves was a bicycle ride that visited most (if not all) of the city-owned cemeteries in Boston. That proved to be too long a ride for some of the people who turned out for it, so in subsequent years it was shortened to exclude the cemeteries that are further out from the center of the city. These photos (or some of these) might be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, but I have been unable to determine for sure which cemetery any of these are in.
permalink | January 23, 2022 at 07:20 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2022
Four Old Kodachromes
Provincetown viewed from atop the Pilgrim Monument, Kodachrome, 1991.
The Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown, Kodachrome, 2002.
Old North Church, Kodachrome, 2002.
Riding to a bike rally in way-upstate New York I crossed over this divide, Kodachrome, 1992.
permalink | January 22, 2022 at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2022
Zakim Bridge - 2002
These were all shot on Kodachrome on one day in October 2002 when the new Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston was opened for pedestrians to tour.
permalink | January 19, 2022 at 07:14 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2022
On Broadway
Not my photo. This came in a recent email from the Museum of Neon Arts. Somebody shot this at the conclusion of the Jewish Lights Over Broadway Tour. I'm the one in the white sweatshirt wearing a pink cap. Left of me (on my right) is Edmon Rodman who led the tour. I think we lost three or four from the group at the mid-point of the tour, the Grand Central Market.
permalink | January 16, 2022 at 07:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2022
Two Pairs
Cactus needles, Kodachrome, 1988.
Longfellow Bridge, Agfa Scala film, circa 2001.
Storrow Drive and medical buildings along the Charles River, Agfa Scala film, circa 2001.
permalink | January 14, 2022 at 06:28 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2022
Two and Two
These first two were shot at Hoover Dam in 2001 using Kodachrome.
San Francisco, Agfa Scala film, 2002.
Also Agfa Scala film, but no record of the date or place.
permalink | January 13, 2022 at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2022
Four More On Ilford Delta 3200 Film
All of these were shot on Ilford Delta 3200 film.
Fireworks in Desert Hot Springs on July 2, 2021.
342 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.
"History Of Suspended Time" by Gonzalo Lebrija.
Our Lady of Solitude Church in Palm Springs.
permalink | January 12, 2022 at 07:21 PM | Comments (0)
January 9, 2022
Four On Ilford Delta 3200
These first two photos are from the cactus and succulent show at the L.A. County Arboretum that took place way back in August. These were displayed indoors without bright lighting, so I used Ilford Delta 3200 film, no filter.
The next two photos I shot at the George Zander Candlelight Vigil and March on Friday evening of Palm Springs Pride week. Also Ilford Delta 3200, unfiltered.
permalink | January 9, 2022 at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2022
Four Photos In The Coachella Valley
Shot on Ilford Delta 3200 film.
Bee in a bloom on my Cereus peruvianus. Kentmere Pan 400 film.
A parking garage in Palm Springs, also shot on Kentmere Pan 400.
Fountain in Downtown Park in Palm Springs. Kentmere Pan 400 film.
permalink | January 6, 2022 at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 5, 2022
Four On Kentmere Pan 400
All these photos taken in Desert Hot Springs were shot on Kentmere Pan 400 film. Kentmere is Ilford's cheaper brand. I used a red filter with these.
Dollar General construction a few months ago.
El Reposo Spa, a former spa on Fifth Street. It's obvious they've been under a little pressure from code enforcement over the last couple of years to finally clean up the place. Not long ago they removed the plywood that had been covering these windows into the hot mineral water pool room, which I'm sure is no longer in use. I would think the room could get really overheated on sunny days.
This is the mobile home park between Fifth and Sixth Streets which is also finally getting seriously cleaned up.
permalink | January 5, 2022 at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 4, 2022
The New Long Canyon Trailhead
I went to explore the new Long Canyon trail not long ago. The actual trailhead isn't right there where the MWD dirt road intersects paved Long Canyon Road. Nor is it at the other end of the MWD road, where the aqueduct lies. Instead, it's about halfway between the two. The parking areas are obvious, but if you miss them there is this sign.
BTW, that was shot on Rollei Infrared film with an infrared filter, as are all of these photos.
The trail proceeds not on the MWD road, but to the right, in the wash between the great stacks of tailings from the aqueduct.
A lot of bees around the eastern "hatch" for the aqueduct. I concluded they must have a hive down below the hatch. If they were simply gathering water, then I should have found just as many bees around the western hatch, but I saw none.
permalink | January 4, 2022 at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)
January 1, 2022
Four More Infrared Photos
These were all shot in November using Rollei Infrared 400 film with an infrared filter.
A double-wide on Sixth Street in Desert Hot Springs.
Palm Springs viewed from Painted Hills Road.
Also from Painted Hills Road, but turning more towards Cathedral City. Albert Frey's Cree House is visible in the lower right.
Desert Hot Springs. The road running away from us is Mission Lakes Boulevard.
permalink | January 1, 2022 at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
December 31, 2021
Four From Palm Springs Pride
All of these were shot on Let It Snow! film with a dark red filter.
permalink | December 31, 2021 at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2021
Venice Beach Live Cam
permalink | December 29, 2021 at 04:38 PM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2021
Four More On Let It Snow! Film
All of these were shot with Film Photography Project's Let It Snow! film which is sensitive into the infrared zone. I used a dark red filter.
A Palm Springs bike rack.
The fountain in the new Downtown Park in Palm Springs.
Another shot of "History of Suspended Time" by Gonzalo Lebrija, this time with Palm Springs Pride happening in the background.
The mural at Delicia's on Pierson Boulevard in Desert Hot Springs.
permalink | December 28, 2021 at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
Canon Announces No New DSLR Models . . . Ever
"Canon CEO, President and Chairman, Fujio Mitarai, confirmed the EOS-1D X Mark III will be the company’s last flagship DSLR camera." IOW, they will not be advancing the line. All their creative energy will be going into mirrorless cameras. So it's not the end of Canon DSLRs, at least not yet.
permalink | December 28, 2021 at 05:53 PM | Comments (0)
December 26, 2021
A Kodachrome and Three Agfa Scalas
A view towards Beacon Hill shot from the tower on the Longfellow Bridge that is on the downstream Cambridge side. Agfa Scala film, probably around 2001.
View from the same spot across the bridge at the matching tower on the upstream side with the two Hancocks and the Prudential in the Back Bay as background.
"Echo of the Waves" by Susumu Shingu at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Kodachrome, 1991. Checking Google Streetview, this sculpture is no longer standing there. This page in the Smithsonian's Art Inventory Catalog makes no mention of its removal. I can find no information about its removal.
My Cereus peruvianus cactus forming a flower bud while living on my windowsill in Boston. Agfa scala film, around 20 years ago.
permalink | December 26, 2021 at 08:43 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2021
Jewish Lights Over Broadway
The Museum of Neon Arts seems to be able to schedule a tour (or two) during each COVID low point. This past Sunday they offered "Jewish Lights Over Broadway." The route was simple. We met at the Eastern Building which is almost at 9th and Broadway. From there we walked up to 4th and Broadway (the Bradbury Building), turned around and came back down on the opposite side of Broadway. Along the way the tour leader shared his incredibly detailed knowledge on the history of the buildings, the neon, and the people who built it all, many of whom were/are Jewish. I'd be willing to do this tour any time of the year, although if you tried it in the summer you'd have to wait until well after 9 o'clock to insure solid darkness to appreciate all the neon. But at this particular time of year it appealed to me even more because it looked like a social event during the holiday season that was NOT likely to include traditional Christmasy stuff. And Hanukkah has passed, so I wouldn't even have to hear a dreidel song.
The entrance to the Eastern Columbia Lofts.
The neon wasn't turned on, but it was still up there.
Also at the Grand Central Market. The MONA had some connection to the creation of this display.
The complete set of photos is here.
permalink | December 22, 2021 at 12:15 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2021
Three Kodachromes and a Digital
On the Charles River Esplanade, Kodachrome, 2001. IIRC, I shot this on 9/11/2001. I worked in downtown Boston as a federal employee. We were sent home early, it was a beautiful day, and I wasn't sure the subway would be entirely safe, so I walked home, getting this photo on the way.
"Shoshone," by Mark Di Suvero at the base of FourFortyFour South Flower in Los Angeles. That's the Bonaventure hotel in the near background. This is a digital shot that I took two days ago.
