My Newest Camera Family Member

And it's not a Shroedinger's Kit, because my husband suggested that I buy it!

The Reality So Subtle 6X6 with Filter attachment capabilities:

Testing is in Progress and camera review coming soon!

Como, At the Depot

Como, Kitchen Warning!

Requires no Explanation!

Como, Antique Stoves

More about the History of Como, Colorado.  There was also a tour of some of the historic homes.  I have photos of the exteriors on film.  But I found a couple of interesting antique Ranges:

I was not surprised by the wood burning stove (or Rage as they were called).  

But had no idea that there were such early electric stoves (above).  The Universal Electric is 

probably 1920's or 1930's vintage.

Found in the Summer Home of Artist Rita Derjue.

Como Rail Road Festival 2018: Preview

What a day....multiple equipment failures.  But in the end I did shoot some film.  However, we have to wait on the developing.  So a Phone Camera Preview this week:

The star of the Event was 'Klondike Kate', a 1912 Baldwin Locomotive 2-6-2 that was used in the Yukon Territory by the Klondike Mines Railroad.  She later served as an amusement park ride in Oklahoma.  Recently lovingly restored by the Como Railroad Society. See Klondike Kate in Action.

Remarkably it only takes two adults to turn the train.

Of course, followers know that I Love Steam Trains!

Yesterday's Harvest

My squash re out of control.....The most successful year I've had and with only three plants!

Holga Week B&W Repost........

And the first posts from my personal Ilford Summer #filmjune:  We revisit the Toros Curiousos:

And the full sized image below.

When Free Isn't a Deal

My recent Lomo Diana Purchase came with a 'free' telephoto lens.  However, there was  viewfinder adaptor, but no viewfinder.  I contacted them and was told that's how it is.......No wonder they are giving them away!

So How am I supposed to frame my image?  I guess I could attach one of my Mamiya viewfinders, but that just seems wrong!  When Free Really Isn't a Deal.........

Holga Week B&W: Seen Around Town....

Shooting Vegetables.........

Donald pulled out the Intrepid 4X5 to photograph some of our garden veggies.......starting with our Garlic:

Getting in Focus

Final Adjustments

Make the Image....

I'll have some Diana images of Donald and our special zucchini.  But that's on film, so you know that you have to wait.

New Camera Family Member.....

OK, I'm hooked on Diana Cameras.  I've added the Diana F+ and to lenses:  telephoto and fisheye.

Took a test drive this past weekend with the Fish Eye lens and Ilford Delta 400

Early August Garden Update

They just keep coming.  Last night we ate our first Thai Green Eggplants:

And the Squash are thriving too!

But all of my tomatoes are still green

#HolgaWeek No. 4 An Abstraction

#HolgaWeek No.3: Toros Curiosos

Toros Curiosos is a public sculpture placed in a field that used to have cattle I'm sure.   The Toros are now along a path between two strip malls.   More "Paved Paradise".

#HolgaWeek No.2

Continuing the Theme, I shot two rolls of Fuji NPC Expired Film for Holga Week.

An Interesting Construction Site in Downtown Boulder; Housing for At Risk Youth.

Required moving a Historic Home to build an underground garage......

#HolgaWeek No.1

Taken with Fuji NPC (ISO 160) Expired Film.

It started out Well........But

So I seem to be adding up some less successful photo outings here in the 'Dog Days' of Summer.  It's time to put another project to bed.

So let's deal with my 'Frankenstein Camera', The Mercury Universal Camera:

(Intended configuration with spacer and leaf shutter lens)

Well, it just never worked as advertised.  This was my first Kickstarter.  I've participated in some others that have turned out fine like Film Ferrania and SolarCan; and Film Silberra in Indiegogo.  Presently I'm waiting on my "Box Camera"from Kickstarter.

But this one is packed away.  Most of the successes for this camera seem to be 4X5, as posted on their Facebook page. And that's what I might recommend as the best use case.  But for me, the owner of many fine Medium Format Cameras, it became a waste of time and effort. I want to have fun with my photography and have good results with equipment whose function is second nature to me.  Also, I'm going to inherit an Intrepid 4X5 when my husband upgrades, so no point in trying to make this work as a 4X5 either.

The main problem was trying to get the spacer to work with my leaf shutter lens.  It didn't mate properly and even though I asked the developers for assistance, there was only silence.  Also, the Ilex #4 shutter seemed altogether too heavy to use with a 3-D printed body.  And, the Ilex also could not be mated properly to the spacer either:

Resulting in images like this:

I can say that the focusing Screen Worked well:

So it's dead to me, and some of the accessory items that I bought for it will go back on Ebay shortly.......

Here's what it actually cost:

The basic parts together (Spacer is attached to the camera):

For the Ilex cost I did actually buy 2 shutters for that price, so subtract $150 from the total.  And I am going to keep one of the shutters as a novelty item. Having two backs so you can change film types is completely reasonable.