First Roll Thru the FE2

I found this heavily-patinated but functionally solid Nikon FE2 very affordably priced at a local camera store, and paired it with a budget Nikon E series 36-72mm zoom. 

I'm more than pleased with the results, shot with Kodak Ultra 400 film, December 2023. The setup produced images far better than what I was expecting. Here we go...

Obligatory #firstoftheroll:

Second shot, just firing away in the backyard:

Tomales, California and the surrounding area:

Unfortunately the shack at Nick's Cove just burned down last week, due to a guest overloading the wood burning stove:

Monte Rio, California:

Yeah, the van is not quite in focus. Oh well. 

Random sign, Railroad Square, Santa Rosa, California:

And Buddy's camper:

And a BMW 2002 in Sebastopol that I have been trying to buy over the past few years, having left notes as well as tracking down the owner of the vacant property and writing them a letter. No response:

And now to Colorado and a walk in my mom's neighborhood:

And back to Mom's:

Even though I have a few other cameras that I have yet to run film through, I am eager to get the FE2 out again. 

Shelter Cove On Film

Some photos from the Thanksgiving outing to Shelter Cove, CA. For those unaware, Shelter Cove is a remote outpost on the Lost Coast of California, a 45 min winding road over a mountain range from the 101 in Humboldt County.

Color photos were snapped with a late-1970s Minolta XD. Arguably the best manual focus camera that Minolta ever made.

And some black and white captured with a Minolta SRT-Super, the Japanese domestic market version of the tank known as the SRT-201. 

Obligatory #firstoftheroll

Yeah, I was a little smitten by the 1957 Cessna 182 anchored to the apron adjacent to the airstrip.

Russian River kayaking with the XD

Brought one of my favorite film cameras out to one of my favorite paddling spots to snap some shots and take in the sights. Minolta XD on the Russian River at Monte Rio, CA. 

Riverside scenes

And back to the beach. I am a sucker for most any patterns. 

Green Lake, August 2021

 

Down On The Street

Spotted in Rancho Santa Fe during a little Saturday morning road ride was this Italian gem:

It's a 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale in impeccable condition, still sporting Roma license plates:

While the front end and front wheel arches are lovely, my favorite part of this specimen is the fastback rear light and how it effortlessly blends in to the decklid:

Nicely recessed back panel too.

And found on the rear decklid were these badges:

 The simple and clean interior is a speciale place indeed:

Massive wraparound on this windshield.

From what I've read, a nicely restored example such as this are worth about $150k. And for as much as I love the lines of this coupe, I can think of a whole fleet of cars (and bikes) I'd start my collection with before this.

MELT THE GUNS!!

Thirty-plus years old and still poignant.

Programs of violence,

As entertainment, 
Brings the disease into your room. 
We know the germ, 
Which is man-made in metal, 
Is really a key to your own tomb. 

Prevention is better than cure, 
Bad apples affecting the pure, 
You'll gather your senses I'm sure 
Then agree to, 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more to fire them. 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more desire them. 

Children will want them, 
Mothers supply them, 
As long as your killers are heroes. 
And all the media 
Will fiddle while Rome burns, 
Acting like modern-time Neros. 

Prevention is better than cure, 
Bad apples affecting the pure, 
You'll gather your senses I'm sure 
Then agree to, 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more to fire them. 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more desire them. 

I'm speaking to the Justice League of America. 
The you S of A, 
Hey you, 
Yes you in particular! 
When it comes to the judgement day and you're standing at the gates with your weaponry, 
You dead go down on one knee, 
Clasp your hands in prayer and start quoting me, 
'cause we say... 
Our father we've managed to contain the epidemic in one place, now, 
Let's hope they shoot themselves instead of others, 
Help to civilize the race now. 
We've trapped the cause of the plague, 
In the land of the free and the home of the brave. 
If we listen quietly we can hear them shooting from grave to grave. 
You ought to, 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more to fire them. 

Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
Melt the guns, 
And never more desire them.