Film Photography Project and Picturing Wanteete

Image Source: http://www.picturingwanteete.com/project-history/

 

If you know me, you know that I'm a big fan of The Film Photography Project (FPP). (Click Here) to check them out.

 

Well, FPP supported a project called Picturing Wanteete, where Louise Rita Contino moved to a village in Uganda (Wanteete), and shared photography with seventeen of its residents. The cameras she used, all Pentax K1000s, were donated by FPP.

 

(Click Here) to go to the project web page. I would love to see an exhibit of the pictures. Apparently, there was one in NYC earlier this year; I'm not sure if it's still up. But really, I just love the concept.

 

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I'll Be Adding This to my Photo T-Shirt Wardrobe

Image Source: http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/fpp-t-shirt-k1000

 

The Film Photography Project has issued their first t-shirt, with the venerable Pentax K1000 on it! I'll be buying one of these.

 

(Click Here) to see it on the FPP site.

 

I've already got several classic camera Ts from Dodge & Burn. (Click Here) to check them out.

 

Yes, I'm a camera geek. No need to try and hide it any more.

 

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Spur of the Moment - Pentax K1000 in the Snow and Ice

I am a firm believer in having a camera (or cameras) with me at all times. For example, in my office at work, I keep a Pentax K1000 on my bookshelf. Completely functional (except for the dead battery), and with a 40-80mm SMC Pentax-M f2.8-4 lens mounted, this camera is ready to go at a moment's notice.

Pentax K1000 at the Ready, by Reed A. George

Photographed with Apple iPad Air(!)

 

A couple of weeks back, on a cold winter afternoon, the cabin fever just became too much. I loaded up a 24 exposure roll of Walgreens iso 200 film and went out to shoot the entire roll in about half an hour. Here are a few results from that outing:

 

 

 

All Shot with Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax-M 40-80mm f2.8-4 Lens

 

This little diversion really helped me get my head back into work. Every time I use the K1000 I'm reminded of my photographic beginnings, and the joy I've derived from it over the years.

 

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Nikon's Promise of the Return of Pure Photography

When I think of pure photography, I can admit that I think back to my early days of photography, and my first "real" camera, the Pentax K1000 (which I still have and use). I shot Pentax instead of Nikon solely because of price. That said, my Pentax gear performed flawlessly for decades, and still does.

 

Anyway, the feel I get in my hands when I think back to then is one of an SLR camera, my right hand clamped onto the right side, finger on the shutter release, while my left hand cradles and sets the focus and f-stop (manually!) on the lens. Shooting an old Nikon film SLR - my FM2N, F2, or Nikomat, brings back that feeling very, very well. That's photographic home for me.

 

These days, "pure photography" to me means a couple of things. First, it means exactly what it used to: a great film camera and some real brass-and-class lenses. I've got no problem continuing to use the nicest old film gear. Second, if I extend it to the digital world, it means the Leica M9.

 

Pure Photography, by Reed A. George

Apple iPhone

 

Ironic, writing about pure photography and shooting what's in front of me with a telephone... Sorry for the poor quality image - I'm traveling, waking up in a coffee shop, and didn't have a mirror to shoot the M9 and iPad in.

 

Anyway, if you follow photography equipment news at all, you've undoubtedly already heard about Nikon's upcoming announcement of a digital SLR that promises to bring back "Pure Photography." Supposedly, we're going to be seeing a manually-controlled digital SLR that is similar to the FM2. The announcement is supposed to come early in November.

 

(Click Here) for a teaser video from the Nikon website.

 

I can say that I hope the camera lives up to the hype. A full-frame Nikon with all manual controls, which can reportedly even use pre-AI lenses (!) will be awesome. I'll want one.

 

I'm quite pleased with the M9, and will not give up on digital rangefinder photography. In some ways, it's more "back to the basics" than an SLR will ever be. However, it's not really my photographic history. I didn't have the opportunity to shoot a Leica until years after my Pentax K1000 days. I really love it, but it's not my roots.

 

So, Nikon, bring it to us. Reports, rumors, blurbs, say this will be an incredible camera, at a reasonable price. Let's see if you can pull it off. If so, I'm very pleased to buy a digital equivalent of my Nikon FM2N.

 

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Skeletons From The Closet - Final Results Post From January's Camera - Pentax K1000 in New York City

I took the K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7, and SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5 lenses with me on a weekend trip to New York City. One of the nice things about living near Washington, DC is that I can grab a very inexpensive bus ride up to the city, even on a normal two day weekend. This time, I went up to meet my long-time friend Michael Williams and his family who were visiting from Australia.

 

I've already written about the photo tour I joined on that trip, hosted by NYC Photo Safaris. (Click Here) to read about that in my Whole Lotta Leica post. My choice of equipment (Leica M9 with a 1937 5.0cm f3.5 lens, the K1000, and only two prime lenses) did not match well with the class. That said, I still had some fun. Here are a couple of shots that I got using the Pentax during the tour:

 

Repeated Forms, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 135mm f2.5

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

Singers in Central Park, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

 

While in the city, I got a lot of walking in, as usual. I love just exploring the city. There's so much to see.

 

Storefront DJ, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

 

Hanging Out, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

 

Of course, Chinatown was one of my target locations. I love photographing in Chinatown - whether it be in NYC, San Francisco, or even the small version here in Washington, DC. There are always interesting people to meet and photograph.

 

Far Eastern Bluegrass?, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

Columbus Park Morning, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

I love how you can see the silhouette of the people practicing Tai Chi in the background on the left. The signs with Chinese characters also help to give a sense of place to this image.

And finally, here is a shot of my friends from Australia: Michael, Adele, Maddie, and Matthew (left to right).

 

Aussies in the City, by Reed A. George

Pentax K1000, SMC Pentax 50mm f1.7

Kodak Tmax 400 Film

I'm now well into February, and honestly missing my K1000, which is now back in the closet. I haven't had nearly as much time or weather to get out and shoot so far this month. I'll have to concentrate to have some results to show you for this month's Skeletons pick - the Super Ricohflex TLR. I'm sure I'll come up with something.

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