Seattle with X-700

<p>After my recent <a href="../classic-cameras-forum/00ZvoZ">first visit to Seattle</a>, I went back again for almost two weeks: 30 January to 11 February. Most of the time was spent working, but I had time for the occasional photo during the week, and I had the weekend of 4-5 February to myself.</p>

<p>This time, I decided to take a simpler, if slightly more modern, kit consisting of a single <a href="../modern-film-cameras-forum/00ZJHy">Minolta X-700</a> and one lens, a Minolta MD 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom. Although the lens performed well, within a few days it got quite frustrating to have no focal lengths beyond 85mm, so I picked up a used MD Tele-Rokkor-X 135mm f/2.8 at <a href="http://www.glazerscamera.com">Glazer's Camera</a> on 8th Avenue North (for an eminently fair price). I had read a negative review on Yelp that described the staff at Glazer's as a bunch of film snobs, so I figured they were probably my kind of people. Actually, they're quite pleasant regardless of whether you're buying film or digital equipment. Glazer's is actually three stores within a block or so of each other: one for cameras, lenses, bags, and other accessories; one directly across the street for film, darkroom materials, and studio lighting; and a third for rentals. Their selection of vintage film cameras and lenses was quite good.</p>

<p>On this trip, I shot about half Tri-X and half Ilford FP4+, aside from one roll of Portra 160 that I picked up at Glazer's just to experiment with (none of those shots are included here).</p>

<p><strong>1. Statue, Fremont</strong> <em>(135mm, Tri-X with orange filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-rXFBqrG/1/L/02-Lenin-L.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="600" /></p>

<p>If this looks like a statue of Lenin, well, that's because it is. It's not that Seattle is full of commies, though. The current owner of this statue found it lying on its side in Romania not long after the fall of Ceaușescu. Nobody really wanted it anymore, but he decided it was worth preserving as a remarkable piece of art and mortgaged his house to buy it and transport it back to Seattle. It's for sale if you think you might be interested, but the price is in the six-figure range.</p>

<p><strong>2. Canoers 1</strong> <em>(135mm, Tri-X with green filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-CGjDLkT/1/L/03-Canoers1-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="546" /></p>

<p>One of the things I find appealing about Seattle is its waterways. Lake Union is pretty much in the middle of town, with man-made canals linking it to Puget Sound to the west and Union Bay to the east. There's a seaplane port near the south end of the lake, and it's not uncommon to see small human-powered watercraft such as this canoe at various times. I caught this picture while standing near the south end of the Fremont Ave bridge early one morning on my way to work. The next shot (of a different canoe -- or is it a kayak? hard to tell) was taken a few minutes later from a point near the middle of the bridge.</p>

<p><strong>3. Canoers 2</strong> <em>(135mm, Tri-X with red filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-cgBXwfs/2/L/04-Canoers2-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="540" /></p>

<p>Saturday morning, I went for a walk by the shore near Belltown, starting at the Olympic Sculpture Park. The artworks there are of the modern variety, mostly concerned with abstract concepts rather than representing physical objects.</p>

<p><strong>4. Olympic Sculpture Park</strong> <em>(28-85mm, Tri-X with red filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-L5D8hwF/1/L/05-OlympicSculpturePark-L.jpg" alt="" width="408" height="600" /></p>

<p>What this one is intended to mean, I'm not sure, but viewed from the right angle, combined with the building behind it, it made for an interesting composition. That's enough to justify it as far as I'm concerned.</p>

 

<p><strong>5. Emery Carl, street musician</strong> <em>(28-85mm, Tri-X)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-cZv7CZ6/1/L/06-EmeryCarl-L.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="600" /></p>

<p>At the famous Pike Place market, I came across a wild street musician who was playing guitar and harmonica while simultaneously twirling two hula hoops. He collected quite a crowd. I keep wondering if his name isn't really Carl Emery, but it said Emery Carl on his guitar case, so that's how I've transcribed it.</p>

<p>On Sunday, I took a ferry to Bainbridge Island to look around.</p>

<p><strong>6. Puget Sound seagull</strong> <em>(135mm, Tri-X with red filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-pTrvXB6/0/L/07-PugetSoundSeagull-L.jpg" alt="" width="409" height="600" /></p>

<p>To my surprise, several seagulls accompanied the ferry all the way across Puget Sound, hovering above the boat almost motionless.</p>

<p><strong>7. Mount Rainier from Puget Sound</strong> <em>(135mm, Tri-X with red filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-WWkFmDt/0/L/08-MountRainier-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="536" /><br>

<br />The day was unusually clear for February (so I'm told), and Mount Rainier was clearly visible in the distance.</p>

 

<p><strong>8. Island Vintners, Bainbridge</strong> <em>(28-85mm, FP4+ with green filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-nj9LfVc/0/L/10-IslandVintners-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

The people of Bainbridge seem very pleased to be on an island. They remind themselves of it frequently.

 

<p><strong>9. Bare tree, Bainbridge</strong> <em>(28-85mm, FP4+ with red filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-nwMtZcz/0/L/11-StormyTree-L.jpg" alt="" width="406" height="600" /></p>

<p>I liked this tree and the clouds behind it. I don't really have anything else to say about it, though.</p>

 

<p><strong>10. Pressure cooker, Bainbridge</strong> <em>(28-85mm, FP4+ with yellow filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-R2dpnWz/0/L/12-PressureCooker-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="535" /></p>

<p>This pressure cooker, which I cam across on the grounds of the Bainbridge Island Historical Society (sadly, the Society was not open at the time), is large enough to walk into. A helpful sign nearby says it's the largest one in the history of the island. It also explains what it was used for, though I no longer remember what that was.</p>

<p><strong>11. Bainbridge Island shoreline</strong> <em>(28-85mm, FP4+ with orange filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-qkwRwtt/0/L/14-BainbridgeShoreline2-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I don't recall what that building is, but I like its architecture and its scenic placement by the water.</p>

<p><strong>12. Sailboat off Bainbridge Island</strong> <em>(28-85mm, FP4+ with green filter)</em><br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Travel/201202-Seattle/i-mMQXDWx/0/L/15-BainbridgeSailboat-L.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="537" /></p>

<p>This is just one of those peacefull shots that you just have to take when it's there. The green filter brought the tonal value of the trees up and the sky down for a better balance.</p>

<p>That's all for now. Happy shooting!</p>

 

<p>Nice pictures. Glad you enjoyed your visit here. I believe that "pressure cooker" was used to infuse lumber with coal tar, a.k.a. creosote. The harbor around Winslow is a superfund site because of the legacy of the lumber-treating plant there; coal tar contains a number of carcinogens.</p>

<p>Very nice presentation, Craig, with excellent compositions. I enjoyed looking at all of these.</p>

<p>Impressive - I particularly like <strong>3</strong> and <strong>12</strong> . By coincidence Ive been recently toying with the idea of moving to the Pacific NW, Seattle being an obvious choice. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Nice work, indeed. I'm sorta Lenin to the first one as my favorite. ;)</p>

<p>Sorta Lenin, JDM? Quit Stalin and make up your mind! ;)</p>

<p>Nice photos. Hilarious...I've been to Glazers 4 times in the last 3 years to look at used equipment. I never knew the film store was across the street. I'm gonna head in there next time!</p>