Pentax K1000 unveils dramatic moments

[CosteaM]

My scanner broke so it took me a while to get a new one and get back to scanning the negs from my vacation last

summer. In fact I was away one week only but the location is magic; I keep going back there every year. If you

don't mind I will take you with me to Tobermory, Ontario and few wonderful places in the Bruce Peninsula on the

shores of Georgian Bay. I carried along a Pentax Spotmatic SP, a Pentax K1000 and my Hasselblad 500 C/M. All

manual cameras with various lenses. I used 24mm and 28mm on the Pentaxes and 80mm and 150mm on the Hassy. For

film I shot APX100 and Kodak Plus X, developed in D-76 dilution 1:1.

This will be the first post in a series dedicated to the beauty of nature in this part of the world.<p>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2946526439_5bc44a8df3.jpg?v=0"><br>

Lion Head at the bottom of the Bruce Peninsula - Dangerous clouds are gathering and we could see through

binoculars a small boat in the middle of the

storm.<p>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2947385362_9f4d343fb4.jpg?v=0"><br>

 

Slowly the boat advances but it is still the middle of the storm fighting heavy rain and strong winds. This lake

has a long history of boats and

commercial ships sank during storms. The danger is real.<p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2946678321_4f5910fc67.jpg?v=0"><br>

the cloud and the band of heavy rain follow the boat like a beast. a real drama unfolding at the horizon.<p>

 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2946526097_dac4f724db.jpg?v=0"><br>

After more than half hour of sailing against strong winds and heavy rain the small boat makes it safe to the

shore. That was close...<p>

 

I had my K1000 with 2.8/ 28mm SMC Pentax on a tripod and shot this scene moving closer to the water line as the

boat approaches.

[craig_supplee]

That is a very lucky captain on that boat. Looked like a bad storm. Great capture on your part. I can just imagine standing there watching this scene unfold. Doesn't look like a very fun spot for a swim with all the rocks.

[LenMarriott]

Mihai, Long time, no see. A great sequence with beautiful tones. Did you approach the boat owner? My bet is you'd be able to sell him\her a set & perhaps turn this into a double bonus. You've also demonstrated the potential of medium speed B&W film and some pretty basic traditional gear, all we ever used to have. Best, LM. (Barrie)

[connealy]

Nice results from those films. Do you have an adapter to use the older lenses? The bayonet mount

seems like it would be nice. My old Spotmatic has gotten pretty loose, and I manage to screw out the

lens fairly often while focusing.

[CosteaM]

Thank you all for your nice comments.

Craig - yes, definitely lucky people on that boat and swimming in these waters for a long time is not recommended because it is very cold.

Len - I've been around, not very active mind you. Me and my family were trying to set up a barbeque but rain started heavy around the time when the boat was coming ashore so we had to take shelter in the car and forgot about the people on the boat. I'm sure they would have been interested in some prints. Best to you, Len.

Mike, yes I do have a Pentax adapter from screwmount to K bayonet but I didn't use it here. This scene was shot with the 28mm SMC Pentax on the K1000. I also had a deep yellow Tiffen filter on the lens that I forgot to mention.

[sw12dz]

Excellent presentation, Mihai. It looks like a lovely vacation spot and probably has a completely different look when the sun is shining. Your photos really catch the intensity of the storm and I can almost feel what those people on the sailboat must have felt (great relief to set foot on dry land). I'm not familiar with the area, is this a part of the Great Lakes? Thanks for sharing.

[Rob_the_waste]

Mihai, Little Tub Harbour in Tobermory is one of the most scenic places I've ever photographed. The water is cold, clear, and an uncanny blue. I've gone to Tobermory at least once on every vacation we've taken in the Bruce. We've stayed in or around Sauble Beach. I can often be found at Sauble Falls.<div></div>

[Rob_the_waste]

You really captured the essence of that storm. The storms seem to whip up out of nowhere. The photo was taken with a Fed 5C and Industar 61LD.

[ralf_j.]

Good shots Mihai. I am impressed with the low grain on your APX100 shots. I find this film to produce great tonality,

but grain seems too coarse for me on straight D76 or rodinal 1:25.

[CosteaM]

Stuart, thank you - yes, this is part of the Great Lakes (actually Georgian Bay is part of Lake Huron).

Rob - thank you. I've never been to Sauble Beach but it is part of future plans.

Ralf - thank you; perhaps low grain comes from the fact that I shoot APX 100 at 50 ISO and underdevelop to keep details in the highlights. By underdevelop I mean about 20-25% less.

I'm at work now but I can get back to you with exact developing time if anyone is interested. I would use normal development for subjects where difference between highlinghts and shadows is below 3 EV stops.