Weekly picks 10-23-2012 – A Day in NY City

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Once again I didn’t get out as much as I would have liked. Too many other things going on. I did manage to go into the city for a day though and the pictures here are from that day. I have quite a few more, many of which I plan to convert to black and white. I still feel that I have a better feel for black and white than I do for colour. This day also gave me the chance to try out a new lens (Canon 50 1.4 FD Ssc Breech dating from 1975), which cost me about $80. I must say that I really like it and you can’t beat the cost. It’s also much easier (at least in my opinion) to take pictures of people in the city. I’m still not that comfortable photographing people in the street. I’m nervous about pointing a camera at someone I don’t know and people in the street tend to move quicker than my reaction times can handle. Still – practice makes perfect. I’m sure that if I keep it up I’ll get better. Cartier-Bresson look out.
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Weekly picks 10-14-2012 – Around Roaring Brook Lake

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Last week was rather busy. Work (mostly electrical) continued at the house so I wasn’t able to get out much. In any case it was a rather rainy gloomy week. I did manage to get in a few walks around the lake with the dog. Eirah’s a member of the Roaring Brook Lake gardeners club. They’re looking for some pictures for their annual calendar so I thought I’d try to pull some together. I already have some older ones, but these are a few taken last week during my walks.
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At the Brasserie Le Bouchon

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This was taken at the Brasserie le Bouchon in Cold Spring NY. We’ve been going there for some time and I like it a lot. It has a nice French ambience – reminds me of when we were living in France. I’d taken refuge from the ongoing work on the kitchen and thought I’d go there for a pleasant lunch. I ended up with a sage and butternut soup followed frisee salad and a baba au rhum. Very nice. While I was eating I noticed the large mirror opposite and the nice checkered pattern on the tablecloths. Just as I was taking the picture the waiter walked into the view as seen through the mirror. Added a slight touch of mystery. Not the sharpest of pictures, but there’s something about it I like.

Bell & Howell

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I was cleaning out a closet when I came across a small, plastic camera with the name “Bell and Howell” on the front. I have no idea where it came from (I certainly wouldn’t have bought it), but I suspect it’s the kind of thing that is given away with a magzine subscription. I was just about to throw it out when I noticed that it must have come with a film too. It’s such a famous camera that it doesn’t even seem to have a name – at least I couldn’t find one even after searching on the internet. I just couldn’t resist trying it out. It has a fixed focus 28mm and fixed (and unknown – couldn’t find that on the internet either) aperture and shutter speed. So no need to worry about focussing and/or checking exposure. The ultimate point and shoot. I took it out and went through a 24 exposure roll faster than I ever have before…point, shoot; point, shoot etc. Twenty four shots in twenty minutes. I can’t imagine how long the camera had been lying around and the ‘no-name’ film had, when processed, some “interesting” colour shifts. I thought they’d look better converted to b&w. I think I’ll keep the camera. It should be suitable for a child. It was an interesting experience, and in some ways liberating to not have to worry about anything other than the picture. I think I’ll try mimicking it with one of my better cameras: set the camera on the hyperfocal distance; use a wide angle lets and a small aperture. Find a sunny day and shoot away.

A new gallery: Bell & Howell
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