White. Out.

Since Lefty and I started dating, we’ve gone somewhere every month.  They aren’t always far away trips, but getting out of town and seeing our province is a priority.  This weekend we drove, two friends in tow, to Kamloops and Sun Peaks.

The last time I did a winter drive like this one was when I lived in Edmonton and I was heading down to Calgary with an ex for an interview. Our rental car had about 8km on it when we got it, and off we went into the great white winterland.  We almost got to Red Deer when a passing semi left us in a white out.  We had just passed a jeep that was swerving around.  We were at the front of a caravan of cars. But when the semi blew by, we saw nothing.  Danny tried to hold the wheel straight, but there was a curve in the road and we went off.  We were lucky.  No damage to the car, despite an ice-crusted layer higher than the hood. Someone saw us go off the road and pulled over to drive us into town. Despite a towing ban due to the terrible weather, we were pulled out.  We got the last, way overpriced, room in Red Deer. We made it to Calgary the next morning and made it back home a day later. But for days, all I could see when I closed my eyes was white.

This weekend felt too similar.

Blowing snow, semis, and a stretch between Kamloops and Merritt that I never want to live again.  Maybe taking up skiing is a bad idea?  Traveling in the winter doesn’t sit well with me.

A collection of cameras

Some of my collection of cameras

Anyone who reads this blog knows I like taking pictures. This fall I learned how to use a darkroom. I also have the humble beginnings of a camera collection. I don’t spend much on them, thus I don’t have any really notable collectibles. I like ones that are still in working condition with film that can still be found.

Only a few of them just sit on my shelf. Most get out and about with me every few months.

The List:

Lomography Spinner 360 degree camera
Bought: New in Japan in September 2011
Functional: Yes
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Unknown
Fun facts: Uses four continuous shots to create a 360 spinning picture

Kodak Instamatic X-15
History: Made 1970-1976
Bought: Used
Functional: No, lack of film.
Film type: 126 film cartridge
Lens: Unknown
Fun facts: Love the loud click this one makes. You really know you are taking a picture – if I could still get film for it.

Argus Skylark
History: Web has little about this particular camera
Bought: Used
Functional: Appears to be
Film type: 110
Lens: Ansconar f5.6/24mm
Fun facts: I know nothing about this one.

Minolta Hi-Matic AF2
History: Launched in 1981 as successor to the Hi-Matic AF
Bought: Used in late 2011
Functional: Appears to be – just getting first roll of film developed
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Minolta F2.8/38mm
Fun facts: Just added this to the collection. Looking forward to see how it goes!

Olympus Trip 35
History: It was introduced in 1967 and discontinued, after a lengthy production run in 1984.
Bought: Used
Functional: Yes
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Olympus D.Zuiko F2.8/40mm
Fun facts: Simple. Useful. Think I got sand into it though.

Polaroid Impulse
History: It was released in 1988.
Bought: Found it in the free stuff at work.
Functional: Unknown
Film type: Polaroid 600
Lens: Unknown
Fun facts: Want to get some of the new imitation polaroid film and give it a go.

Minolta 110 Zoom SLR
History: Produced between 1976 and 1979.
Bought: Used about 4 years ago – started the collection.
Functional: Yes!
Film type: 110
Lens: Minolta Zoom Rokkor-Macro – a fixed 25–50 mm f/4.5-16 manual focus zoom with macro focusing down to 11 in (280 mm).
Fun facts: This was my first real addition to the collection. I think I should buy up some 110 film now while I still can, because I want to use this camera into the future.

Canon PowerShot A590IS
History: Released in early 2008
Bought: New in mid-2008
Functional: Has a smudge point in pictures where things blur.
Film type: Digital
Lens: Canon, 4x Zoom lens – 5.8 mm – 23.2 mm – F/2.6-5.5
Fun facts: This was one in a series of PowerShot cameras I had. One died when it ended up in my laundry.

White Lomography Fish Eye
History: None
Bought: New at Urban Outfitters about 5 years ago
Functional: Yes
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Unknown
Fun facts: The white case was a bad plan because light gets through around the lens and I would prefer just black around the fish-eye shot.

Konica Autoreflex T3
History: Introduced in 1973.
Bought: Used – a few years ago
Functional: Yes
Film type: 35mm
Lens: (2) Konica Hexanon AR 50mm F1.7 and Hanimex 70-210mm 1:3.5-4.5 Macro
Fun facts: This is my film baby. She has come with me many places, and though a battery issue caused some problems in Japan and Hawaii, I’m happy to report we’re all systems go again.

Kodak Colorburst 250
History: Introduced in July 1979.
Bought: Given as a gift from brother.
Functional: No, film unavailable.
Film type: Kodak PR-10, Instant film
Lens: f/1:12.8 100mm
Fun facts: Has nice lens strap.

Pentax P3
History: Made between 1988 and 1997.
Bought: Given by sister-in-law’s father.
Functional: Surprisingly, no.
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Magnicon Auto Zoom Macro F3.8-4.8, 28mm~80mm
Fun facts: Because I can’t figure out what is wrong with this camera, I’m considering pulling the whole thing apart to really see how it works.

Зенит-ET/Zenit ET
History: Part of a long line of Soviet Cameras – appears to be from 1991
Bought: At a flea market in NYC in 2009.
Functional: Yes, but some pictures are dark along the top – may have some light just barely getting in.
Film type: 35mm
Lens: Helios 44-3
Fun facts: Has “Made in the USSR” on the bottom despite USSR crumbling. Was last batch of cameras to have this.

Fujifilm Waterproof QuickSnap
Bought: New in Hawaii in 2010
Functional: Yes
Film type: One time use 35mm
Lens: Unknown
Fun facts: Never finished the roll so it just sits here and waits to be used.

Canon Rebel XTi
Bought: New in December 2007
Functional: Not really
Film type: Digital
Lens: Canon Zoom EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
Fun facts: I loved this camera through a lot of ups and downs. In early 2011 it was constantly telling me to restart the camera. I could barely get a shot off before it would “Error 99″. I may take it apart in the coming years.

Canon Rebel T3i
Bought: New in Calgary in May 2011
Functional: Very!
Film type: Digital
Lens: (4) Canon Zoom EF-S II 18-55mm F3.5-5.6, Canon Zoom EF 75-300mm F4-5.6, Canon EF 50mm F1.8, Lensbaby Muse
Fun facts: I never buy the really expensive camera bodies/lenses because, frankly, I don’t think I can afford them. I get good enough pictures from what I’ve got and unless I can make some money from photography, I can’t see it happening.

iPhone 4
Bought: New in Summer 2010
Functional: Very
Film type: Digital
Lens: 29mm equivalent
Fun Facts: Instagram has become one of my favourite apps, though if you post more than a handful of photos a day, I will delete you.

 

Still looking for opportunities for photos

Here’s my friend’s new kitten. She is WAY adorable.

Tomorrow I also head back to the darkroom.

Goal on the go: #1

As I come up with random goals, I figure I will post them on the go. I’m currently at a wedding. They just played “Time Warp”.

On the go goal: See Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I don’t know what to do with my pictures now that the Photo Throwdown is over

Checking out the Van Dusen Gardens, January 1st.

What am I supposed to do with these excess photos?!

The year in (200) photos

2011.

How about we recap the year in point form?
If it was down to one word, it would be “happy”.

Places I went:
Mexico: Barra de Potosi & Zihuatanejo
Vancouver Island: Victoria, Nanaimo & Tofino
Alberta: Canmore, Calgary & Edmonton
BC: Lower Mainland, Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Mayne Island, Harrison Hot Springs & Predator Ridge
Japan: Tokyo & Kyoto
US: Skykomish & Leavenworth, WA & Portland, OR

Life events:
Ended relationship
Started amazing relationship with Lefty the Australian
Won a broadcasting award
Turned 30
Moved from my Oak Street apartment
Moved in with Lefty the Australian
Got rid of my car
Changed role at radio station – now a reporter again

Seriously, it’s been an amazing year. Some hard decisions were made, but I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Lefty is the most wonderful man I’ve ever known and his presence has changed my life.

Can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store.

365: We did it.

Despite my failure to post December’s photos in a timely fashion, I still want to do something with photography in 2012. I head back into the darkroom in January to continue processing my pictures.

I’m never going to be a “photographer” or at least on the professional level.  I can’t imagine finding the money for the lenses and bodies and lights.  But pictures and my collection of old cameras are two of my favourite things in life.

A picture a day wasn’t a difficult challenge for someone like me. I love capturing moments, oddities and everything in between. I took 10,175 pictures this year (not including film) – that’s 28 a day.

The thing I hated was that wordpress wouldn’t fit my photos from the mobile app into the page size. I had to go in and manually format every single photo.

I probably won’t continue the throwdown in its current format. But what can I do? A monthly round-up? Weekly? Any suggestions?

I will also try to post my 100 of 2011. It’s a nice way to look back at the year in photos. That’s likely coming this afternoon. (Two posts in one day? Yes.)

And… finally… your final shot of the year.

Balderdash! (iPhone 4 - December 31st)

Check out Andrea Woo’s blog to see how she did.

336-364: Photographing happens, posting doesn’t.

To make up for the last 20+ days, here are two slideshows worth of photos:

First: Christmas on the Island with my family

Second: The rest of December

 

A photo, every day, all year. Tomorrow is the final day with Andrea Woo.

335-338: West of the West weekend

 

Spent the weekend in Nanaimo, Tofino and Ucluelet with Lefty the Australian.  We had a lovely time.  Sorry the slideshow has so many pictures!

Whilst Andrea Woo prepares to never take another picture again, I’m considering the idea of trying to make it to 1000.  But is it a photo throwdown if I’m the only one in it?

334: And then there was one… month.

The view, again. (November 30th)

This past month I’ve been terrible at updating the blog with photos for the throwdown.  Thankfully, it hasn’t stopped me from taking pictures.  In fact, with a darkroom class at Dunbar Community Centre, I’ve been throwing myself back into film photography as well as using more than just an iPhone as of late.

I’m off to Tofino this weekend, so hopefully I have some good shots to upload come Monday.  No storms as I had hoped, but relaxation will still be in order.  Wish me luck.

A photo, every day, all year. We’re into final weeks here with Andrea Woo.