Photography with Warren's Nikon F2

I finally took the Nikon F2 that Warren generously gave me a few years ago out for a shoot. Here are some images from a roll of Kodak Gold 200 taken in Annapolis last Saturday afternoon. I took the roll to Costco (Price Club) and they developed and scanned the negatives for me (the scanning resolution works out to 19 megapixels!)

I used a Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.5 zoom, a classic lens, the first version of which is reputed by some to be the worst lens Nikon ever made. This one is the 11-element 1976 AI version. I rather liked its performance, which was limited anyway by my presbyopic ability to focus properly without a prescription eyepiece.

I made some very slight adjustments for exposure and color temperature in Adobe Camera Raw, then added a very little bit of sharpening in Photoshop to get these end results. I'm very happy with the colors, but the grain of the film is very apparent, even at less than 50% magnification in Photoshop (hard to see in these 800-pixel, web-sized images.) I attribute that to the film itself, and will try Kodak Ektar 100 or Portra 160, both of which are said to be much better in terms of grain and suitability for scanning.

In any event, I am enjoying displaying and using these classic cameras. With my recent attack of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS,) I've already acquired far too many classic SLRs in the past month or so, but at least they'll keep Warren's two Nikons company. I'll be shooting most of them over the next few weeks and months and will report back on them as well.

Thanks again Warren!

Portrait of My Mom, Circa 1977

Doris Tang (May 31, 1931 - November 16, 2009)

My mom passed away on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. A few years ago, I was looking through some old b&w negatives that I had from years ago. I found this portrait that I took of my mom in the 70's. I think it was 1977. At that time, I was shooting with a Nikon F2, and probably a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 with Kodak Plus-X film. I developed the film at home. Well, at the time, I was just practicing my portrait technique, and I never thought that I would be using this picture 32 years later for her memorial service.

--Warren

Departure Poem

Detained in this wooden house for several tens of days,

It is all because of the Mexican exclusion law which implicates me,

It's a pity heroes have no way of exercising their prowess.

I can only await the word so that I can snap Zu's whip.

From now on, I am departing far from this building.

All of my fellow villagers are rejoicing with me.

Don't say that everything within is Western styled.

Even if it is built of jade, it has turned into a cage.

-Anonymous

@ Angel Island Immigration Station

For a great multimedia web site about the history and poems at the Angel Island Immigration Station, go here: http://www.poeticwaves.net/

Nikka and Simon

Nikon F2, 50mm f1.4, Fuji 400

We went to visit our friend, Linda, in Pacific Grove a couple of months ago. It was nice to see Nikka and Simon again. As you may remember, I've posted pictures of them here before. Nikka is older now, but she is still the most lovable cat that I've ever known.

--Warren

Inquisitive

Nikon F2, Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4, Fuji Superia Xtra 400

I caught this moment as our Angel Island tour brought us to the room where a poem carved into the wall of the immigration center was discovered underneath layers of paint. The tour guides passed around replicas of poem carvings for us to ponder as we listened to the story of how the discovery of this poem eventually lead to the preservation of this historic place. This young man was taking in all the lessons and information that was presented to us.

--Warren