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

Hali's Birthday!

Hali, Kids - Japan  2008

Hali in Train - Japan  2008

Wow!

Nagoya Train Station / Tokyo Rain

Waiting in Line (Nagoya) - Japan  2016

Umbrella, Rain (Tokyo) - Japan  2008

One from last year's trip (top) and one I recently discovered from 2008. Not half bad!

Matsumoto

Castle, Heron (Matsumoto) - Japan  2008

Swan, Hali & Mike Shadows (Matsumoto) - Japan  2008

We arrived in Matsumoto, trundled our suitcases over to the train station, had a bite to eat, then boarded the train that would take us to our next stop, Nakatsugawa.

So, no real time for photos. But as Hali and I looked around we were able to recognize some familiar landmarks from our 2008 trip. Just for fun, I've posted two Matsumoto photos from that visit.

Pumpkin in Japan

Pumpkin (Kyoto) - Japan  2008

In front of Negiya, a high-end restaurant in Kyoto.

Trip Advisor has reviews.

And, it was the subject of the very first Japan Culinary Adventure!

I took this photo with a Canon G9 . . . makes a nice-looking print.

Juicer

Juicer - Tokyo  2008

The Japanese katakana characters are: Ji - Yu - Sa - Ba - .

I.e., "Juicer (Bar?)."

Photo taken with an Olympus E-510 DSLR with a 12-60mm zoom lens.

JFK

Tableau - Japan  2008

Butter tableau seen in 2008, photographed using a Canon G9, brought back and reposted for its colorful display.

Price reduction! The Japanese sign translates as "gurasurando bata." That is to say, Grassland Butter.

Amulet

In 2008 Hali and Mike were given amulets from Mie's son in Kanazawa. Ever since then they have adorned our daypacks, except when Mike finds it necessary to switch his to his backpack.

One wonders, could this little fellow be a representation of Daruma? Mike would like to think so, although on close inspection it's hard to tell . . . hm, maybe not.

Photo: Amulet on Backpack—Point Reyes, 2010

Chefs

New Orleans, 2004. Chefs at the Commander's Palace.

Kyoto, 2008. Chefs at Ajihana.

Photos: Chefs—New Orleans, 2004; Chefs—Kyoto, 2008

Monday Monkey Blogging

Very expressive, I deem.

Photo: Snow Monkey—Japan, 2008

Ginkaku-ji

A serene Sunday morning image . . . not overtly religious, still, it was taken at the Zen Buddhist temple of Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto . . . (for some reason, as far as religious images go, I've taken almost exclusively Buddhist and Catholic pix. Very little Baptist or Presbyterian stuff. Actually, you could say, non-existent.)

Photo: Ginkaku-ji Entrance—Kyoto, 2008

Autumn Persimmons

Top photo taken in Woodacre, California. Bottom one taken near Hotaka, Japan.

Photos: Persimmons & Fence—Marin County, 2009; Harvesting Persimmons—Japan, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #9: Self-Portrait with Fruit

Walking around the Ginza district. Thus does the Aki no Ame sequence end. (Ten pix in all, the tenth one, not noted as being part of the series, is here.)

Photo: Self-Portrait with Fruit—Japan, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #8: Tokyo Tower

Rain spattering on the window of the hotel; the blurred, damp metropolis with the Tokyo Tower looming in the background.

Photo: Rain on Window—Tokyo, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #7: Man with Umbrella

We set off to see the Meiji Shrine in the rain. The day had started out wet, with the weather steadily growing more intense; luckily I had my umbrella, my Marmot Precip parka, and some Gore-tex hiking shoes, with the Olympus SLR coming in and out of the parka. The low light levels were particularly challenging since higher ISOs on the E-510 tended to become somewhat noisy. This shot is much better in black and white rather than color.

Afterwards there was lunch at an upscale ramen restaurant at the Omotesando Hills complex.

Photo: Man with Umbrella (Meiji Shrine)—Tokyo, 2008

References:

Meiji Shrine Wikipedia

Meiji Shrine mikereport

Omotesando Hills

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #6: Shiodome

Our hotel was located in the Shiodome area of Tokyo, accessible by a short hike from the Shinbashi Station. A relatively new area, filled with elevated train tracks, modern office buildings and pedestrian overcrossings to take photographs from.

Photo: Rain, Shiodome—Tokyo, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #5: Beer Kegs

There’s a multitude of restaurants and bars underneath the arches and overhangs of the Shinbashi Station in Tokyo. I was able to find shelter under one such overhang during a rainy morning while taking photos of restaurant preparations across the street.

Photo: Beer Kegs—Tokyo, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #3: Rokkaku-ji

Entering Rokkaku-ji the sound of Kyoto’s traffic gradually faded to be replaced by the patter of raindrops.

These figurines are puzzling. At first I assumed that they were meant to be Jizo representations, but after consulting with Professor Levine at UC Berkeley, I now think that perhaps they are emblematic of Rakan—a non-specific Buddhist holy person.

Photo: Rokkaku-ji—Kyoto, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #2: Jars in Rain

I was walking through the Ginza district back to the hotel, utilizing my trusty REI mini-compass, when I noticed these stone jars standing in front of a restaurant. My trusty Marmot Precip parka can be seen reflected in the background mirror.

Photo: Jars in Rain—Tokyo, 2008

Aki no Ame (Autumn Rain) #1: Rocks & Leaves

Leaves scattered on rocks—seen at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

Photo: Rocks & Leaves—Japan, 2008