The Overgrown Path

                                   

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f3.5 Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41 Kit

This is the opposite view from my post The Barred Path, in hindsight the two taken as a single work invoke a sense of having no clear options. One can remain outside the gates, or turn and walk into an uncertain future.

The two present together

                                      

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The Barred Path...

Kiev 60 Arsat 150mm f2.8 Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41

I have an artistic fascination with old doors that I cannot fully explain. I can say the ones that call to me do so at some sort of emotional level.  Maybe it is just a childish curiosity of what may lie beyond, or maybe it is the frustration of not knowing. I do feel they are symbolic barriers to the past, observers of comings and goings that will never tell their secrets.

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Love....

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f4.5 Fujifim Reala 100 Arista C-41 Kit

The "Love" statue near Riverfront Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. Not much to say on this one other than I like the way the Arsat 45mm accentuates the converging lines of the sculpture from this angle.

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Hint of Autumn

Olympus Stylus 35mm f2.8 Out of Data Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit

During its heyday, the Olympus Infinity Stylus was known the professional photographer's point and shoot camera of choice.  Its sharp Olympus 35mm f2.8 lens, compact size, and elegant clamshell made it the perfect pocket companion for serious photographers looking for a convenience and quality. Add features such as decent close focus capabilities and an excellent fill flash mode and you had a camera that would produce SLA quality images without the bulk. I picked mine up at a resale shop for around $3.00 and have never regretted the investment. As you can see from the image above, it is a capable little camera.

Scanned with a Pakon F135 using Pakon's OEM software.

A Devilish Grin

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Kit

This was a creepy find, even in broad daylight. The line "Why So Serious" from the Film "The Dark Night" comes to mind and I expected the Joker to pop out of one of the surrounding dark doorways at any moment.

Shooting with the GA645Zi feeling like cheating as it makes shooting media format so effortless. The autofocus is usually tack sharp and the exposure system is great even in tough lighting situations. The built in flash is excellent for daylight fill, as you can see in this image.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

An Unexplained Madness....

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Processing Kit

Someone made use of a broken plastic chair to jot down a profound thought. Captured as found the full text is;

"An unexplained madness in a trembling mortal form,

Here to bring a thundering God to his knees."

-Anonymous

It is a shame a cannot properly credit the author, but he or she did not sign their work.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo, using Epson's EOM software.

Desert Boulders

Fujifilm GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Processing Kit

Another image from the roll of Fujifilm Reala that sat in my GA645Zi for nearly two years. I am sure my fellow analog photographers feel there are two sins in the sentence previous,

1. I left a perfectly good roll of film in a camera for nearly two years
2. I did not use my Fujifilm GA645Zi for nearly two years.

Either one is bad enough on its own, but combine the two and I really need to do some penance to the Analog Gods.

Anyway, it is a nice image of the boulders in the Sonoran Desert outside of Phoenix Arizona.

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Sonoran Desert no. 1

Fujifim GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41 Processing Kit

Not bad for a roll of film that sat in the camera for nearly two years. This image was taken in the Sonoran Desert outside of Phoenix in September of 2015, but due to my hiatus from analog photography, is sat lonely and undeveloped until now. The roll held up well. I wish I could say the same for the other roll from this trip, which got two unprotected x-ray baths during the trip. I am sure they will be the subject of a future post.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.  

Majestic....

Fujifilm GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Processing Kit - So many tones and textures. I have always loved Fujifilm's Reala and the is one of my few remaining rolls. The GA645Zi makes shooting medium format a guilty pleasure.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Plastic Impressionism

Excel Deluxe-I 50mm f6.0 Out of Date Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit - Another image from the Excel Deluxe-I, showing the unique qualities of the plastic 50mm f6.0 lens. Some of the images have an almost "Impressionist" feel, nice when you are trying to elevate common objects and make them compiling images.

Scanned with a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM Software.

The Intrepid Explorer...

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. I was lucking to find a willing model. He following around and posed at every opportunity.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Test Shot Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The quality of the Nikon 35mm f2.8 is clearly evident, great sharpness and just the right amount of contrast for the Nikon "snap." The One-Touch will definitely go into my arsenal as a day to day carry camera.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Shy Widow

Nikon 8008s Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 - Spiders have always been one of my favorite subjects, with Black Widows topping the list. I tend to shoot digital when hunting spiders as the ability to fire off a lot of exposures to get the perfect shot is definitely a plus. I spent about an hour trying to lure this shy beauty out with the promise of black beetles before she finally popped out long enough for me to capture this one frame.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Tree Fingers

Kiev 60 Arsat Mir 45mm f3.5 20mm extension tube Fujifilm Pro 400H - Leaves of a sapling that sprouted in and unattended flowerpot. I love the symmetry and color.
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Rotten Peak

Kiev 60 Arsat Mir 45mm f3.5 20mm extension tube Fujifilm Pro 400H Asista C41 - An abstract exploring textures, tones and depth of field. The subject is the trunk of an old tree felled by lightning many years ago. It is now home to multiple colonies of ants and termites, a thriving metropolis of endless activity.
Scanned with an Epson Perfection V500 using Epson's OEM Software.

Locked

Kiev 60 Arsat Mir 45mm f3.5 20mm extension tube Fujifilm Pro 400H Arista C41 - an old lock doing nothing more than keeping itself suspended, the hasp is long gone. When the purpose is meaning less, all that is left is the task.
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Dandelion

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f3.5 20mm extension tube Fujifilm Pro 400H Arista C-41 - Every suburban lawn manicurists nightmare, a weed with an airborne delivery system. Hundreds of parachute equipment weed babies waiting to take to the wind. That said, these dreaded lawn demons are very photogenic.
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The Invasion Continues.....

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 20mm extension tube FujiFilm Pro 400H Arista C41 - Another cicada shot, this negative was roughly 1 to 1.5 stops under exposed, so I am very pleased with the scan quality. FujiFilm's Pro 400H has outstanding latitude. I love the tones and lighting of this image, courtesy of the diffused light of a rainy day.
Scanned with an Epson V500 using Epson's OEM software.

2013 - The Invasion Begins....!!!!

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 20mm extension tube FujiFilm Pro 400H Arista C41 - 2013 is supposed the be a peak year for the 17 year cicadas in Virginia, an event the media has dubbed "Swarmageddon." This may be one of the early scouts of the invasion. I did not have to go far to find him, there were several hanging out on my back porch.
Scanned with and Epson V500 Scanner using Epson's OEM software.

Around the House....

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 20mm extension tube FujiFilm Pro 400H Arista C41 - I just like the way the diffused light of a raining day illuminated this candle on the window sill. As always FujiFilm's Pro 400H did a beautiful job rendering the tones of the scene.
Scanned with an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson OEM Software