Mesquite Springs

Dry River - Death Valley  2004

This scene borders on Mesquite Springs campground in the northern section of Death Valley. Taken with the Mamiya 645 (I've included black borders as was sometimes the style back in the film days.)

Very nice, although I haven't found that many buyers of desert scenes in the Bay Area. Below, an earlier (2002) 35mm photo, complete with multiple sun flares, from the same site.

Dry River - Death Valley  2004

Mamiya 645

Mike, Mamiya 645 on Tripod - Death Valley  2004

Mamiya 645, Epson Scanner - Marin County  2019

While scanning some "last film" 35mm negatives I noticed a self-portrait on one of the film strips: a timed photo of myself with what looked to be a medium-format camera mounted on a light-weight tripod. First a moment of confusion, then I remembered.

I had purchased a Mamiya 645 in 2003 as a kind of alternative to an expensive digital camera. Back then, even expensive digital cameras were no match for the quality that could be gotten using film. So, my theory was that I would use positive 120 roll film that could be viewed and selected on a light box and then scanned. Not a bad idea! But as it turned out, I only used the camera for about a year and a half, taking just a few rolls of film. In February, 2005 I purchased an Olympus C-8080 digital camera, and started using it full-time.

So, I still have the Mamiya! Found it by poking around the darkroom, finally spotting it way up on one of the shelves. (We still call it the darkroom.) I think I tried to sell it once, but at the time there weren't any takers. The photo above shows it sitting on the Epson scanner that I use.

By the way, the photo of the pink kimono in back of the Mamiya has never been posted on the blog for some reason (taken with a Canon G9). Now remedied:

Pink Kimono, Rain (Kyoto) - Japan  2008

Death Valley Film Photos (35mm) - #2

Sage, Sandhills - Death Valley  2004

Boulders, Sierra Nevada - Owens Valley  2004

My return trip from Death Valley usually goes through Owens Valley.

Death Valley Film Photos (35mm) - #1

Sage, Mountain - Death Valley  2004

Mike, Toyota Truck - Death Valley  2004

I don't know what prompted it, but I recently opened up my binder containing photos from my last few rolls of film. This was in 2004: I purchased my first Olympus digital camera that year. These photos were probably taken with a Minolta SLR 35mm camera.

My Epson scanner hasn't been used in quite a while, so I got out some of the negatives from their glassine envelopes and brought them into the digital world. Mostly photos of Death Valley, which might be appropriate for winter viewing.

So, I still have the little stool in the photo. But not the elaborate carpeted kit for the camper shell. The ice chest is still being used by me, although now it has some bear claw holes  poked in it.

Monday Cow Blogging

Fence, Cows, Rain (San Geronimo Valley) - Marin County  2018

Cows, Tree (San Geronimo Valley) - Marin County  2018

Nice storm light in the top photo.

Newark Airport

Escalators (Newark) - New Jersey  2018

Rotunda (Newark) - New Jersey  2018

Two iPhone photos taken upon our arrival in Newark, but not posted earlier.

Asbury Park Sightems

Asbury Park Hotel - New Jersey  2018

Stone Pony (Asbury Park) - New Jersey  2018

Top: Asbury Park Hotel (not where we stayed).

Next: Stone Pony. Famous.

New York Leaves

Dry Leaves on  Staircase - New York  2018

Frost-Damaged Leaves - New York  2018

Photos taken in the Finger Lakes area, with an Olympus E-M1II.

New York Forest

Forest Trail - New York  2018

Leaves - New York  2018

We found ourselves driving around up in the hills surrounding one of the Finger Lakes in a vain attempt to discover some autumn color. So, no autumn color, but still quite nice.

The lack of any vibrant hues was being commented on by the locals.

Ithaca Farmers Market

Farmers Market (Ithaca) - New York  2018

Rain (Ithaca) - New York  2018

Their Farmers Market has a roof, thank goodness. While we were browsing the stands it really started to come down.

Carrots (Ithaca) - New York  2018

Cuchifrito

Cuchifrito Restaurant (Allentown) - Pennsylvania  2018

 We had to try it. Around the corner and across the street from our upscale Allentown hotel. Lots of takeout orders. Hali and I had rib stew (pork) which was quite good. Dan had tripe . . . by mistake. He didn't like it.

"Cuchifrito" refers to Puerto Rican cuisine. I don't think we knew that. "Aqui Me Quedo" translates as "Here I'll Stay."

Monday Bushtit Blogging

Bushtit - San Francisco  2019

I was walking though Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco when I heard some quite enthusiastic peeping coming from one of the bushes. Little birds! I got as close as I could and zoomed onto one of them with a 12-60mm Panasonic lens on an Olympus E-M1II. (Above image has been severely cropped.)

Interestingly enough, when I got home I got out my National Geographic bird ID book, and actually identified the bird as a bushtit. But I wasn't totally sure, because the color in the photo didn't match up with the book. Barbara confirmed the ID, however.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves (San Rafael) - Marin County  2018

Real and painted.

For some reason, trees in Marin were more colorful than the ones back East.

Food Trucks

Filipino Fusion - San Francisco  2019

Peruvian Cuisine - San Francisco  2019

Seen in San Francisco as I made my way to the Minna Street Gallery.