Medium Format, High Drama
The sun is setting in Los Angeles. I’m on the 101 with the window rolled down and I’m cranking the stereo. A song that comes on the radio that absolutely: Blows. My. Mind. But, before I tell you what it is, you’ll need to know some background.
Earlier this morning, I see a post on Craigslist:
FILM!!! MEDIUM FORMAT 120 & 220 KODAK… $1 – (LOS ANGELES)
Date: 2008-12-22, 11:54AM PST
I HAVE A TON OF KODAK FILM THAT GETS LEFT OVER FROM MY PHOTO SHOOTS THROUGH OUT THE WEEK!!! I SELL IT FOR 1.25$ A ROLL.UNLESS YOU BUY 20+ROLLS ITS ONLY 1.00$ EACH!!! I CAN MAKE GREAT DEALS PLEASE CALL #(323)XXX-XXXX
Nice. I appreciate an ALL CAPS post like that, screaming a great deal at me. However, my beloved Mamiya 645E, she is broken. Of course she is. I get a fab new lens for this rad medium-format magicmaker and now, though I’ve been trying for weeks and replaced the battery, it won’t meter. Well it will meter. In dusky twilight: f4 at ASA 160? 1/15th of a second. Pitch black in my closet? 1/15th of a second. Shooting a solar flare? 1/15th of a second. Everything I throw at it says 1/15th second. That ain’t right. So, it’s a good thing I’m getting better at hand metering with my trusty L-208. But, still I’m bummed. The guy who sold me the lens did so under promise that I’d shoot like crazy. I’ve not done so, and I feel very guilty. He even threw in his lucky lens cap! I better start figuring out where I am gonna get this serviced.
Excerpt from a user review of the Mamiya 645E that helped convince me to buy it in the first place, just a few short months ago:
“I do all of my shooting from a tripod and don’t mind advancing roll film via the standard hand crank (yes folks film advance is manual, as is focusing and setting aperture)” – outdoorscenics.
Now, flash back to few weeks ago:
I just got the new 55mm lens for the Mamiya! It’s a wide beauty; I can scarcely be more excited. First, I have a love for good wide-angle photos. Barely less significant is that the lens came from a fantastic photographer and doubtlessly has scads of phojo (photo mojo) in it. I fit the lens to the body, make sure the A/M lever is set to ‘M’ since it’s a manual focus camera and off I go.
And, back to this afternoon:
Hmm, there’s the Mamiya user manual on my shelf. I wonder if it has anything useful about my light meter problem.
Excerpt from the Mamiya 645 manual:
Doh! I assumed from my EOS brainwashing what A meant. And, M meant. Ahhh! Sometimes you think you know, but you don’t know at all. RTFM! And now, the Mamiya, she works! I “fixed” her. Clever boy.
So, I call the guy in the Craigslist ad. I set up the meet in Silverlake. I go down and I pick up fifty-eight loose rolls of medium format Kodak film of all various awesomeness for fifty bucks. Less than a buck a roll. Now, I’m set for a good long while. I have no more excuses.
And, I’m driving back with my booty in a lightproof bag. I’m on the 101, the sun is going down in Los Angeles and everything is golden honey. Preset Number One is the bluegrass station and they kick into a down home Kentucky version of Silent Night: No sir! I am done with Christmas music. I hit up Preset Number Two (the seventies station) and what’s just starting?
Life’s a trip.
previous post: Re: The Weather next post: Roll Tape
Tags:film, life, mamiya, photo, story
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 at 12:01 am
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Man, you’re great at telling stories.
Awesome story, camera, lens, fix, song.
Enjoy the 58 rolls of fun.
I’m looking forward to seeing your results!
Busting to see how they turn out. Get busy Mick.
mòni looks back in time when ppl needed to find someone in craiglist to sell film to take pics.
woha, i’m so lazy about going back to film..
that IS a great story. and thank you for calling me a great photographer. now about that film, you wouldn’t wanna sell me some would you?
I have a fixed vision in my head of you as the song started playing: You cranking up the volume, head begins bobbing violently, steering wheel becomes an impromptu drum kit.
You’re documenting verifiable truth here that life is a trip!