January Smorgasbord

I'm preparing for three upcoming workshops, which also includes learning what a new parts-cutting machine can do. (Most of what I wanted, so far). Combined with January gloom, taking photographs gets snuck in only occasionally.

One of my basement band-mates saw this at a holiday sale and thought I'd like a pick holder to match my amplifier. I hastily moved it to the sofa when a sunbeam popped up. These Fender rubber grips are the best accessibility device for the geriatric condition of my right thumb and allow me to use heavy picks (Rhythm Guitar, ya know). 

Last fall, I bought a set of strings for the Telecaster and accidentally got a heavy set of strings for tuning down two steps. I thought that might be cool on the Warlock. It was interesting but not all that different, and it made it confusing to play with other people, even if I am only transposing three chords. It did allow me to perform a couple of songs that were a little high for my limited vocal range without changing how they're played. Pretty showy for an elderly codger to show up for an open mic with this guitar. (It was just before Halloween.) I recently had those strings tuned back up to E. (It's a Floyd Rose bridge.)  The more percussive sound with the taut strings works for my enthusiastic strumming. Watch out in Oshkosh and Hortonville!

Responding to another sudden appearance of a sunbeam which fell on the jam jars, apparently bumping the camera or double exposing something in the process.

Same surprise sunbeam, another day, with a new cookie recipe without so much pinholiness.

Sarah is allergic to lily pollen, but the blossoms are OK if the dark anthers, which contain the pollen, are removed right away. That gave this one a different look.

Hiding in the Hydroxyl Nebula, the Millennium Falcon and an X-Wing orbit the metallic moon Jinglebell, avoiding the shiny stars in the Chocolate Cluster.

Photo Opp had an event for the closing of their annual juried show, and added a cook-off to the celebration. The line of participating crockpots is spread along the wall beneath the artworks. After conversing with Mike Berman for 20 minutes, who was sitting on the upholstered bench with his new reflective grey beard, I set up the camera next to me while he watched. As soon as I opened the shutter, he got up to talk to Graham Watashka over on the right side of the image.

Half the board of Photo Opp trying out the cuisine. My recollection is that they, too, had left in the middle of the exposure, but it appears they stayed for most of it. I don't remember doing anything to create those squiggly highlights above the table.

One offering at the end of the table was a dip with assorted media to scoop it with in bowls, which might stay put for the whole exposure. The relish in the corner got dished with a spoon, but not moved.

They've now completed the darkroom. I have plans to do an analog-only workshop with 4x5 paper as soon as I drill the 40 pinholes for enough Pinhole Lab Cameras. Repetitive, thick parts like pinhole mounts, film holders, and shutters, which are a pain with a craft knife, are going to be easy and very accurate with the new cutting machine.

Somewhat ironically for this blog, tables full of lenses, which I have volunteered to help catalog. There are several exotic telephotos with M42 screw mounts that fit my Mamiya 1000DTL, including a 400mm telephoto. The biggest temptation to use a lens since I bought a Beauty of a rangefinder here last summer.  n.b. M42 adapters for mirrorless digital cameras are really cheap if you can handle focusing and setting exposure manually.

The EyePA has .23mm hand-drilled pinholes 30mm from a 6x6cm frame, on the axis and 11mm above it. The film is Kentmere 400 semistand developed in Rodinal 1:100.

Yule Fortnight

With the midday sun as low as it gets in the sky, one of our local antifascist groups, Peaceful Patriots, organized an appearance in downtown Oshkosh.

A holiday theme at this time of year.

A fuzzy headed liberal.

A volunteer warned me about the dangers of being doxxed, so I was careful to ask everyone's permission. Most were happy to pose.

This protester was conversing with a guy with a silver snare drum, his head enclosed in a heavy knit hat, and his face obscured by a scarf and sunglasses. He didn't want to be photographed and stepped away. She cheerfully posed alone. We had a conversation about how odd it was to have to protest extrajudicial killing and piracy on the high seas. Not to mention invading a sovereign country to profit from oil again.

Our annual lefse production run. Wouldn't be Yule without it, although there are Norse culinary traditions we happily have let lapse.

The weather has been very overcast and gloomy, so you take your sunbeams where you get them.

For the spooky section of the tree.

Santa puts on more traditional ornaments.

New Year's Eve dinner.

The living room by available light on New Year's Day.

While that was exposing, I noticed the window light reflecting off the dish of Gelt and truffle stocking stuffers. I had a curious, conflicted reaction to the scene. Corona Beer's brand seems to have survived its brush with horror. Maybe my Populist camera can withstand the current evil manifestation of its namesake idea. Someday, gold may also regain its symbolism of celebration.

Merry Perihelion!

The Diversity 30 has hand-drilled .23mm pinholes, on the axis and 11mm above it, 30mm from a 6x6cm frame. The film is Kodak Gold 200 developed in a Cinestill Powder C-41 kit.