Turning Father’s Polaroid into a Medium Format Film Camera?

It has been a while since I've talked about one of my cameras. I have inherited my Father’s Polaroid Land J33 camera. Much to my chagrin, it turned out to be a roll film camera (such Polaroid film was discontinued long ago). So my real hopes of making practical use of this camera were ended.


The Land J33 was used regularly in our family to record seasonal events, such as BBQ, House Parties, and our Annual Easter Pictures.




















My Mom in 1959 with our tenant's cat Mister.






















Me in 1962 with my favorite Bunnies from Easters Past





















All of us (dad taking the picture) at an amusement park on Long Island, 1962


I have found on the internet, instructions for “converting” this camera into a standard medium format film camera. But with no way to advance the film (Polaroid film was advanced by pulling on a paper strip attached to the film), the film must be advanced manually by opening the camera back. Of course this must be done in a darkroom, or a film-changing bag (both of which I have access to). But it will never be a ‘practical’ camera to use, and that is disappointing.

The camera is in excellent condition. And I will run a roll of film through it and report back to you later. It will require Ilford ISO 3200 film, as the original Polaroid film was ISO 3000.

Faith on Film: San Carlos de Borromeo, Carmel

The Mission that was nearest to where I lived was San Carlos de Borromeo, better known as Carmel Mission.

I had thought to complete a series on the California Missions while I lived there. Then we moved to Colorado and the project ‘ended’, although I hope to do a bit more on occasional return visits.











All images shown here were taken with the SRT-202 using a tripod, except for the façade which was hand held. I had to crawl under a shrub to get the angle that I wanted. I have only printed a tiny portion of the scenes from this Mission:






Facing the front door




Main Altar






























For history buffs, this is where Fra. Junipero Serra, founder of the California Missions, is buried. His Funerary Chapel is shown above.





























Another exterior photo from the courtyard. And Behind the door we find.............





































And a dressed Virgin, like the many I saw in Spain years ago.






Film: Ilford ISO 100 & 400
Lens: Tamron 28-200 f/2.8 Zoom
Mission Façade and courtyard printed on Warm Tone Paper; interior shots on cold tone paper.

The Photo I wasn't 'Allowed' to Take!

I had asked a few of you about your experiences (especially since 9/11) taking photographs of skyscrapers and other interesting buildings. Here in Denver I think they are overestimating their importance in the world. Not many people overseas think of Denver when they think of the USA. It's a nice place, but it is not Iconic to others.

But my real point is, why build an interesting structure and then not want anyone to notice? So here are the Photos that security at the un-named building (because honestly I don't know the name) didn't want me to take. I had gone there because an image by the Canon Viewfinder reminded me of a church I had seen in Denver, that had a skyscraper built around it.







We will revisit the 'Church of the Holy Ghost' in a later Faith on Film.



Camera: Minolta X-700
Lens: Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye
Film: Ilford ISO 400

Farewell Good Friend: Eric Kunzel

And so another Icon of my early life passes on. I have chosen a couple of quiet Ohio Scenes, again from the Hocking Hills, for the memory of Cincinnati Pops Conductor, Eric Kunzel. He founded the Orchestra in 1977, but I remember his beginnings with the Cincinnati Symphony, conducting their Pops concerts since 1965. So I grew up with him too.









At his final concert appearance on August 1, 2009, 10,000 people turned out at a local Park to say farewell. I'll take some quiet time today to reflect on the richness of my exposure to the Arts and Music as a child, and listen to some Cincinnati Pops recordings.

Embrace The Blur: Because Accidents Can Be Interesting

I was as usual, fooling around with one of my Holgas while visiting friends. This version, the 120N, has a BULB setting and a tripod mount. Anyway, I wanted to take a few photographs of some interesting vegetation in the yard. But the camera was on the BULB setting and I had made several exposures before realizing this. One ‘accident’ that I liked was this Norfolk Island Pine. Did you recognize it?

My Point is that accidental exposures can be fun and interesting. If you are using film, then you probably have some interesting accidents lying around as unprinted negatives or discarded slides. Take and second look. And digital folks, maybe you shouldn’t delete every exposure that doesn’t seem quite right based upon that tiny screen on the back of your camera. Keep them all and take a second look on the computer, because there are interesting digital accidents too!

I will end with a quotation that I have borrowed from the Photophile's Blog----

Sharpness is a bourgeois concept.
- Henri Cartier-Bresson