Three remnants of Johnstown NY. Expired Portra NC. Mamiya C330 with a gorgeous 65mm lens.

The Bear Muffler bear has toppled in the winter winds of the Northeast, but this was on a roll of film from the fall. Ponder the nature of impermanence, and behold the pentagonal flare of a Mamiya-Sekor 65mm.

I just finished a marathon session developing some C-41 that has been piling up. Here I was driving on Route 9W north from Poughkeepsie when I spotted this firetruck off the road in a field. I slammed on the brakes and wheeled off the road. Maybe it was near Esopus? I had 3 shots left on the roll of expire Portra 160NC in the Mamiya C330.

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?

This song.

Life’s a trip.

Play while reading: “Mamma Mia” – Abba

I kill time by browsing craigslist for all the things I can’t get: Jobs, cameras, casual encounters. (Kidding). I’m not looking for those things per se, I’m just feast on distraction. But, it can be risky.

FOR INSTANCE:

I saw a post for a Mamiya 645E. No pics, $200. In Long Beach. Now there are so many things wrong with that. $200 is way too low. Look online and you’ll find people have purchased this medium-format film camera for $400-$1200 dollars. Plus, I’d never in a million go to Long Beach to buy something. I really couldn’t tell you why I replied to the ad. But, I did. I said something like “This is a fantastic price. Why are you selling? And, can I see pics. I’m in L.A. and I rarely get down to Long Beach, but I’m tempted.”

I got a fast reply with some very clear pics and an offer to drop it off in Santa Monica. Wow! They seemed really eager to dump the camera, so I was suspicious. But, I sent the pics to a friend of mine who knows a little something about Mamiya cameras. $200? Is this insane deal too good to be true? And, randomly enough my friend was actually acquainted with the seller! A wholehearted recommendation followed. All the stars aligned, known seller, insane price, delivered right to me.

A day later, it’s a deal that’s done.

So, just like that, I’m the proud owner of a professional medium-format film Mamiya 645E. I’m in over my head on it a little bit. What’s medium-format? It’s film that creates a larger image than 35mm. It’s great for a) vast landscapes, b) creating poster-sized prints with no grain. Great for glossy magazine covers also. c) Wider-than wide angle shots d) it takes a whole different kind of portrait than a 35mm or digital camera, due to how close you can get to the subject and still fit them in the frame. The angles are more more intimate. All these things intrigue me.

And this camera? The 645E?

It’s manual focus. it takes 120 film. It usually uses a tripod, though can be hand-held. It looks strange and badass. It costs more to get the film developed. It’s complex. I don’t have a bag for it.

Ahh! I’m overmatched! But, I’m excited by it.