Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MLK Portrait Shooting


ph1
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Holiday. We stayed at home rather than going out. After breakfast when Phon clearing the table, I saw the light was right. So I grabbed my M6 and told her to be close to the flowers. And here what I got.

I use Leica M6 with Carl Zeiss Biogon 35mm ZM. Forte film ISO 400 developed with Clayton F-76 at 68F for 8.00 mins.

Everytime I look at this picture. I could feel the moment of Sunday Morning. Relax and comfortable...

Monday, December 10, 2007

Big Waves hit So Cal


Big Waves hit So Cal
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
I'd been to Santa Monica Pier on December 5 as being heard of series of big wave hit California coast. It's so spectacular to see big wave. The force of nature is so powerful that could rock the pier.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Hi there!


Hi there!
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
This is my handsome Jack Squirrel. He came for his snack on last Saturday afternoon. I havn't seen him for long time due to there are some cats roaming around my neighbourhood. He came this time with leprous look. There should be something wrong with his skin. Anyway he still posted in his very unique posture, having arms crossed. I could indentify him from another squirrels this way.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Multnomah Fall in B&W


multnomah fall_b&w
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
I've been to Portland Oregon last week. It was totally business trip but I had enough time to visit many interesting places around th area. This is Mulnomah Falls that is one of attactions around the Columbia George. I shot this in color with Kodak UC400 but then digitally converted to BW. It was a bit dissappointed that my Voigtlander Bessa R2M shutter jammed right after this shot. This could be the best that my Carl Zeiss Biogon could rendered.
This place is calm and beautiful. It's too bad that I could not capture all.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

FM2n Renaissance


RIP my FM2n
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
Before I went to bed last night, I thought of my FM2 that had been serving me very well for more than ten years. It's the one that my mother gave me as a reward for getting to the university in 1990. It had been travelled the world with me since then, accompanying everywhere I go and never let me down.
Here came to the end on November 2005 when I visit Aunt Jerd in Fresno. I took it for our group photo and not very well attached it to the tripod. It fell down instandly from the tripod and knocked the ground (concrete pavement of course) The sound of impact almost stop my heart. However It still functioned very well besides film rewided knob came out of place.
I used it from time to time since then that was not very frequent as before due to number of cameras in my collection and the Digital SLRs. But I also took it out from time to time. I noticed that something went wrong with the rewinding knob and I had to try harder to open its back.
Finally the day had come. Ming visited us in LA and we took her to the Runyon Canyon. I finished my last roll of film and could not open the camera's back to unload the film. I pulled the knob harder and the back opened. But the worse came to worse when the rewinding knob came out too. My camera rewinding knob damaged when it hit the ground. Interal friction got worse everytime I open the back as it cracked due to my last attempt to open it. I thought it's gone forever but it's not..
I took it out of the closet last night and figuered out how I could reattach the rewinding knob back to the camera's base plate. It could not be possible because I would need to remove its front cover and shutter speed knob and winding mechanism that I really didn't want to do. So I took a look at rewinding knob and found a tiny locking mechanism at the base core of rewinding knob. This one would lock rewinding spool when the camera back is in locked position. Once the lock mechanism is broken, it prevented unlock position eventhough it has been unlocked properly. So I decided to remove it and put the knob back in its place. Voila.... the knob move freely and lot more easier to unlock the camera back. That works.
So my FM2 is back to life... I am very happy :) really...

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Mom at Santa Monica Pier


Mom at Santa Monica Pier
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
We took mom to Santa Monica pier on Saturday morning. There were not many people there. It's perhaps Saturday morning and people did not want to get up early. We walked on the pier and also went doen to the beach. I was very nice day, cool sea breeze was really refreshing. This picture taken on the pier where she took us a picture. She took a big while to aim and shoot us. It's long enough for me to take her some shots too.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

family portrait day


family portrait
Originally uploaded by Californian Em
It has been almost three weeks since Phon's mother visit us in Los Angeles. We try our best to take her around or have activities together during the weekend. It's a kinda compensate when she was left alone at home during the weekdays. Today is the family portrait day. I took my Ikoflex Ic into action. It rendered best performance and quality!
There must be something wrong with my Nikon FG light metering system. All pictures from Santa Monica yesterday under-exposed. I don't know why...... Let's see if it could be fixed.


Mom&Em
These are from my Bessa R2M with Carl Zeiss Planar
Phon&Mom