Tonight my granddaughter informed me that today (June 29) is National Camera Day.
I had no idea, so I thought I should use a camera. I thought about which one, and decided that I needed a photo of the camera that started me on the path to serious photography over 60 years ago. It was a Kodak Pony 135 -- manual everything, as all cameras were in those days. The original was lost long ago, since it did not move out of my parents' house when I did. I mentioned that to my son-in-law last year, and at Christmas he and my daughter surprised me with this one! (I threw in a roll of film and a couple of accessories.)
WOW, they probably only captured about 20k pixels back then, eh Wayne?......so you're aware, they still make film that will fit it if that is your last roll laying there......
Ha! That was not my last roll of Tri-X, Paul but it may have been the last yellow and green one. Over a decade after I used that Kodak camera, I was shooting so much of it (shooting part-time for an outdoor magazine) that I "rolled my own," buying 100-foot rolls. I also loaded up Panatomic-X (ASA 32) to use when I did not need that "fast and grainy" ASA 400 film. For color, My first magazine cover was shot on Kodachrome 64, which was over twice as fast as my favorite Kodachrome 25. What a difference today, when I used ISO 5,0000 to shoot the firefly that I just posted in the Macro/Close-up Gallery: http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=228653&CGISESSID=9c3e792dfab93aea6ef210cc7486696b&u=12921
With that old Kodak Pony, I had a "clip-on" adapter for my set of three close-up lenses that were basically magnifying glasses. I had to carry a ruler with me to measure the camera-to-subject distance, since it was not one of those expensive "through the lens" Kodak Retina SLR cameras. It was not until about 1969 that I could afford an SLR (Pentax Spotmatic) that actually had a light meter built into the camera! It was the latest thing; you could see the meter's needle (yes, a real needle, not an electronic display) in the viewfinder, and center it in the correct expusure slot by changing the shutter speed or twising the aperture ring on the lens. Speaking of lenses, auto-focus was still science fiction at that time.
That was when you had to actually learn about photography. Reminds me of a couple of years ago when a friend bought a DSLR, but couldn't seem to get the results he wanted. I explained how some of my shots had more or less in focus due to different apertures, and how shutter speed affect my waterfall shots. told him to experiment with different camera settings to learn how they would affect his pictures. A week later, he showed me the results of his experiments with camera settings. "This one was shot in portrait mode; this one in close-up; this one in sports mode; this one was in landscape mode..."
What a great throwback Wayne. My brother and I inherited our interest in photography from my father. I remember him carrying that camera (with my Mom always as his assistant carrier) on all of our family trips. I'll have to ask my brother if he knows what camera my Dad used.
"This one was shot in portrait mode; this one in close-up; this one in sports mode; this one was in landscape mode..."
Wayne, I get the picture......did I really say that....
I enjoyed your story and bit of history, too bad there is not more of that being shared on line these days. Seems like the fast paced world does not allow too much time for reminiscing.
Sounds like you learned like many of us regarding the basics. As all my work is still fully manual cameras and film, my previous years were spent honing my photographic abilities around those items. As a result I spend much time at the ALL analog site with the acronym of APUG. Spelled out as Analog Photographers User Group. I find my world is more split then being a total analog purist. Especially with scanning and using PS. APUG does not share in those views. So, NPN is a good place for tolerance from both worlds.
Speaking of your camera with the swinging arm light meter in it, my first 35mm had the same setup. It was an old Topcon unit..
I cut my teeth on my dad's Retina Reflex and Retina IIIC. Souped and printed in the cellar, a really creepy place in the basement. It seemed haunted when I was a kid.
Cool stories, gents. Wayne, your firefly image is quite nice.
I started out with a Canon FT-b that had a nice metering system in 1971. I shot mostly Kodachrome 25 and 64, along with a smattering of Ektachrome, Panatomic-X and Plus-X. I made my first B&W print in a friend's darkroom in spring of '71.
My dad gave me a Omega 45E with a Schneider-Xenar 210/4.5 in '74, which I used for B&W. It was at this time I fully embraced the Zone System. The camera is now a 'closet queen', but I still use the lens.
Due to the lack of a darkroom in the 80's, I went back to 35mm color, and let the 4x5 gather dust.
It wasn't until 2000 that I graduated to a Mamiya 645-E, which I still have, along with my old FT-b and a couple of Canon AE-1's and Canon FD and Mamiya glass.
Well, MF was nice, but I wanted to get back into LF, so I bought a Tachihara and few lenses from a local gent in 2002. After I basically wore out the Tachi, I followed Lon and Harley and picked up a Chamonix. It's now my primary LF box.
Last winter, I bit the bullet and got my Nikon D-7100 and a couple of lenses. I like it a lot, but still love my 4x5 for those times when LF is the way to go.
So, at this point, with film, I do the scanning/Photoshop routine, and...
Glad I thought of posting some history for National Camera Day. I still don't know anything about National Camera Day, other than the date, but it's fun hearing how similar many of our photographic backgrounds are. That Kodak Pony was my father's until he decided to get into the high-tech world of Polaroid instant photograhpy.
After the magazine I worked for decided to use color on the inside pages, my darkroom ended up in large plastic containers, where it remains to this day. But those days are not forgotten. My photoshop techniques are still based more on actual darkroom techniques than on the more complex tools in the software. Some habits never die.
Neat pic., Wayne. Definitely brings back memories. While it probably didn't hold the same camera, my dad had a camera in a case like the one here and used it to take slides of all our family vacations and other events, with the projection of the images being a fun family event where we got to re-enjoy the moment. I have no doubt about how much that influenced my photographic journey. BTW, should you want it, I've got a half dozen rolls of 35mm Ektachrome 100 VS that have been in my freezer since summer 2006.
Discussion
9 repliesTonight my granddaughter informed me that today (June 29) is National Camera Day.
I had no idea, so I thought I should use a camera. I thought about which one, and decided that I needed a photo of the camera that started me on the path to serious photography over 60 years ago. It was a Kodak Pony 135 -- manual everything, as all cameras were in those days. The original was lost long ago, since it did not move out of my parents' house when I did. I mentioned that to my son-in-law last year, and at Christmas he and my daughter surprised me with this one! (I threw in a roll of film and a couple of accessories.)
WOW, they probably only captured about 20k pixels back then, eh Wayne?......so you're aware, they still make film that will fit it if that is your last roll laying there......
Ha! That was not my last roll of Tri-X, Paul but it may have been the last yellow and green one. Over a decade after I used that Kodak camera, I was shooting so much of it (shooting part-time for an outdoor magazine) that I "rolled my own," buying 100-foot rolls. I also loaded up Panatomic-X (ASA 32) to use when I did not need that "fast and grainy" ASA 400 film. For color, My first magazine cover was shot on Kodachrome 64, which was over twice as fast as my favorite Kodachrome 25. What a difference today, when I used ISO 5,0000 to shoot the firefly that I just posted in the Macro/Close-up Gallery: http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=228653&CGISESSID=9c3e792dfab93aea6ef210cc7486696b&u=12921
With that old Kodak Pony, I had a "clip-on" adapter for my set of three close-up lenses that were basically magnifying glasses. I had to carry a ruler with me to measure the camera-to-subject distance, since it was not one of those expensive "through the lens" Kodak Retina SLR cameras. It was not until about 1969 that I could afford an SLR (Pentax Spotmatic) that actually had a light meter built into the camera! It was the latest thing; you could see the meter's needle (yes, a real needle, not an electronic display) in the viewfinder, and center it in the correct expusure slot by changing the shutter speed or twising the aperture ring on the lens. Speaking of lenses, auto-focus was still science fiction at that time.
That was when you had to actually learn about photography. Reminds me of a couple of years ago when a friend bought a DSLR, but couldn't seem to get the results he wanted. I explained how some of my shots had more or less in focus due to different apertures, and how shutter speed affect my waterfall shots. told him to experiment with different camera settings to learn how they would affect his pictures. A week later, he showed me the results of his experiments with camera settings. "This one was shot in portrait mode; this one in close-up; this one in sports mode; this one was in landscape mode..."
What a great throwback Wayne. My brother and I inherited our interest in photography from my father. I remember him carrying that camera (with my Mom always as his assistant carrier) on all of our family trips. I'll have to ask my brother if he knows what camera my Dad used.
Wayne, I get the picture......did I really say that....
I enjoyed your story and bit of history, too bad there is not more of that being shared on line these days. Seems like the fast paced world does not allow too much time for reminiscing.
Sounds like you learned like many of us regarding the basics. As all my work is still fully manual cameras and film, my previous years were spent honing my photographic abilities around those items. As a result I spend much time at the ALL analog site with the acronym of APUG. Spelled out as Analog Photographers User Group. I find my world is more split then being a total analog purist. Especially with scanning and using PS. APUG does not share in those views. So, NPN is a good place for tolerance from both worlds.
Speaking of your camera with the swinging arm light meter in it, my first 35mm had the same setup. It was an old Topcon unit..
I cut my teeth on my dad's Retina Reflex and Retina IIIC. Souped and printed in the cellar, a really creepy place in the basement. It seemed haunted when I was a kid.
Cool stories, gents. Wayne, your firefly image is quite nice.
I started out with a Canon FT-b that had a nice metering system in 1971. I shot mostly Kodachrome 25 and 64, along with a smattering of Ektachrome, Panatomic-X and Plus-X. I made my first B&W print in a friend's darkroom in spring of '71.
My dad gave me a Omega 45E with a Schneider-Xenar 210/4.5 in '74, which I used for B&W. It was at this time I fully embraced the Zone System. The camera is now a 'closet queen', but I still use the lens.
Due to the lack of a darkroom in the 80's, I went back to 35mm color, and let the 4x5 gather dust.
It wasn't until 2000 that I graduated to a Mamiya 645-E, which I still have, along with my old FT-b and a couple of Canon AE-1's and Canon FD and Mamiya glass.
Well, MF was nice, but I wanted to get back into LF, so I bought a Tachihara and few lenses from a local gent in 2002. After I basically wore out the Tachi, I followed Lon and Harley and picked up a Chamonix. It's now my primary LF box.
Last winter, I bit the bullet and got my Nikon D-7100 and a couple of lenses. I like it a lot, but still love my 4x5 for those times when LF is the way to go.
So, at this point, with film, I do the scanning/Photoshop routine, and...
It's all good!
Harley, I see the start of a Stephen King book in this statement........
Glad I thought of posting some history for National Camera Day. I still don't know anything about National Camera Day, other than the date, but it's fun hearing how similar many of our photographic backgrounds are. That Kodak Pony was my father's until he decided to get into the high-tech world of Polaroid instant photograhpy.
After the magazine I worked for decided to use color on the inside pages, my darkroom ended up in large plastic containers, where it remains to this day. But those days are not forgotten. My photoshop techniques are still based more on actual darkroom techniques than on the more complex tools in the software. Some habits never die.
Neat pic., Wayne. Definitely brings back memories. While it probably didn't hold the same camera, my dad had a camera in a case like the one here and used it to take slides of all our family vacations and other events, with the projection of the images being a fun family event where we got to re-enjoy the moment. I have no doubt about how much that influenced my photographic journey. BTW, should you want it, I've got a half dozen rolls of 35mm Ektachrome 100 VS that have been in my freezer since summer 2006.