I kibbitzed my way into getting a few shots of this photo session last Saturday in Central Park, NYC.
Now this is pretty special, because it was taken on actual film with one of the actual classic Nikon SLRs that Warren generously sent to me a couple of years ago. This was a long time coming, because I promised Warren that I would use these beauties, but this is the first time I took one out for a spin... my apologies, Warren... and I'll try to make up for it in the next few weeks by shooting more with them!
For the record, I took the handsome black Nikon FM with me, mounting a 50mm f/1.8 Nikon Series E lens that belongs to a Nikon EM I bought in 1983. My film was Kodak Gold 200 (less than six bucks for 3 rolls at Target!) I took the roll to Costco tonight and had them develop the negatives and scan them. For about four bucks and change, I got the processing and a CD with 5444 x 3658 .jpg scans of the 24 negatives. Now, if my math is correct, 5444 x 3658 pixels comes out to about 19.9 megapixels - not bad!
I'll spend some more time with Photoshop CS5 to see if I can squeeze more performance out of these scans, but meanwhile, this image is "processed" in Picassa version 3, the free photo editor from Google. The scans all seemed a little overexposed, so I used the shadow slider in Picassa to darken a bit, corrected a little blue cast, and then converted this image to sepia, which seems to me to fit the subject.
I wanted to take the Nikon F2 Warren has also sent me, but at the last minute, I realized I never got split-rings for it so I could attach a proper camera strap (the snap-swivels on the straps won't fit through the strap lugs on the F2 body)... and I wasn't able to get the triangular split rings off of the FM or any of the other SLRs I now have. I'll take a trip to my local Ace Hardware this weekend and get several sets, one of which I'll attach the the F2's strap lugs.
Warren, thanks again for these wonderful cameras - I'll be finally putting them to good use over the next few weekends. In particular, I'll take them into Annapolis and shoot some scenes that I've already done digitally, so I can do some comparisons. I have a 43-86mm Zoom Nikkor that I snagged for a good price on eBay that's going on the F2 - I think it will looks especially cool with that classic lens (it's the newer, 11-element version.)
I have several more photos to post from my NYC trip, taken with the FM, that will follow this one.
Labels: Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, Kodak Gold 200, Model, New York City, Nikon 50mm Series E, Nikon FM, NYC
Just after I took a few snaps of the gentleman, this beautiful young woman stepped in to pose in front of the vintage bike. I think she looks like a young Joan Collins... maybe even more lovely. 
6 Comments:
Wow, really nice shots, Steve. :)
thanks for posting them here. I'm happy that you're enjoying the Nikons that I gave you.
--Warren
That bystander in the upper right background is interesting (in a kind of creepy way). :)
--Warren
"..in a kind of creepy way.."
I agree ;-) I wish I had moved a little to the right to keep him out of the frame. He was just an innocent bystander, but this viewpoint makes it look like he's lurking in the shadows.
Warren, BTW, I just received a very clean Nikon 43-86 zoom 427 in an eBay auction - it makes a nicely balanced and not too heavy mate to the Nikon F2 you gave me... I'm gonna try to shoot that set this weekend.
Very cool that you have a 43-86mm to go with the F2. I can't wait to see your F2 shots. --WT
That's a great photo Steve. I like the 43-86 zoom. I have an early one, and while the extremes of the range have distortions, the low contrast can give some nice glow and old camera looks. Really nice with film!
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