Faceoff.
So last night I loaded my Pentax 6×7 with some Kodak Tri-x Safety Film. It had written on the paper leader to expose for 200 ASA in daylight, and 160 in Tungsten.
“I always thought Tri-x was 400 ASA?”
Could be because this roll expired in November 1961. I got it for $2 at a local antique store.
“Ah well, I guess I’ll meter it at 50 ASA instead of 100 to compensate for the age.”
I was pretty excited about heading out to Manly today to try and emulate my utmost favourite Escher image. I had packed a Circular polarizer, a R25A filter for increased contrast, and an ND8 to allow long exposures.
It took me about 2 hours to get to Manly. I took a walk, spotted this location and jumped the fence.
So I setup my tripod, screwed the filters on to the 6×7, screwed in the cable release, mounted the camera on the tripod, focused the image, work out the math for a photo at f22 with adjustments for a 9 stop decrease in shutter speed (filter compensation), waited for a nice wave…and pressed the cable release.
Slap, a sound like thunder.
“Hang on, that sounded too fast!”
Get up, check the shutter dial.
“Crap!” 1/500 second. Move the dial to bulb mode, advance the film.
Wait for the waves….slap…slap. 40 seconds at f22.
At this point in time I’m so excited by the fact that finally I have a chance to pay tribute to my childhood hero, that I’m shooting with potentially 50 year old film, and at this point it looks like everything is going to plan.
One more sweet exposure passes.
I try and advance the film for a fourth. It jams. I can’t believe this! I try and force it a little bit, mindful of the fact that I’ve only fed two rolls through this camera since the film advance was repaired.
So what was I to do?
While the film meant a lot to me, as well as the exposures so far, there was no way I was going to force it even more and risk damage to the camera.
I give up and open the back. There is a kink in the film, which has somehow caused a portion of the film to appear on top of the paper leader of the 120 spool, meaning that when the shutter opens, the image is trying to imprint itself on the leader, which is “protecting” the film. Some film is close to the shutter, on the correct side, but has not made it to the take up spool.
I pull the film out in disgust. I only had one roll of black and white with me - I didn’t want to taint my purpose by using the Fuji 160s Pro that I had also brought.
With a heavy heart, I begin to pack away my gear, then figure I may as well shoot off a few digital snapshots so that I know what to look for next time.
It is then that I spot the above composition.
In no way does it make up for my loss, but it does give me hope that my trip may not have been in vain.
This captured, I pack up my gear, but pull out my Yashica GTN which has a roll of Neopan 1600 and a red filter attached - meaning I’m telling the camera to expose at 400ASA, as the meter is not TTL . The roll needs using up, and my street skills need sharpening.
I head back to the city, after loading the Pentax with the Fuji colour.
I stop at Museum station to try a few long exposure train shots with the 6×7. Happy with my captures, I move on. Tripod packed away, but Pentax in hand.
A thought occurs to me.
“Ok, rangefinders are the king of the street, and someone’s really going to notice me grabbing a candid of them with this beast…but maybe if I have my ear phones in and act like a tourist?”
I pump up the metal (Demon Hunter) to a volume that cancels the background clutter.
It works.
Elated I meet up with my brother, confident I’ve got some awesome street shots with the king of SLR’s.
I get close to home and realise I forgot to compensate for the Polarizer on my street shots. Still, having shot most of them wide open at f2.8 in daylight, they should be usable.
I drop the Fuji 160s and Neopan off for processing.
I get home and find I’ve won the Pentax P30n and Samsung zoom I was bidding for on ebay.
Sweet!
I arrange to go and pick it up.
I get it home and load it with batteries. The film advance lever is stuck. I’d noticed this when I looked at the camera when picking up a previous win from this ebayer. I figured it just needed film and batteries. Guess not
The film won’t auto load, and the zoom is sloppy. Guess I lucked out on this one - good thing I didn’t pay too much.
Well, I have placed a few bids on “dud” cameras recently, with the intention of teaching myself to fix them. Sure it’s more that what I would have spent, but it seems I got my wish.
And thus ends my day of highs and lows.
While I have gone on a self imposed photography fast recently, I was hoping to make a comeback with some 50 year old vintage.
While this photo may not have been the original outcome I had in mind for today, it is good, even if I’m still slightly too emotionally down to appreciate it.
Tomorrow is another day.
