doug_schuette

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sorry 'bout that! Been a long, lonely summer break. Sigh!

sigh!

I shot my usual 24 exposures in 40 seconds of freefall skydiving, had a neckbreaker opening with my parachute; while I'm cussing the packer at 3,000 feet I thought I heard my camera rewind on my head, after landing I open the back without checking first, still dazed and confused, and the roll was not rewound. I threw the pictures across the hanger, looked like a kite with a tail. I rarely get upset, but there's no "my bad, do-over" on a first jump photo session. I did get some stills off the video, but nothing beats the 35 for skydive photos. I don't let her pack for me anymore, and I always double check before opening the camera back. ps. I'm not wealthy enough to fly a motorized Leica on my skydive helmet, although one guy occasionaly uses a Hasselblad. Blue Skies!

Fed 2c w/Industar reaaaly poor man's Leica<div></div>

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Wow!!! Very nice. I'm going to look closely for some ideas for my own darkroom. I bought and gutted a 30 yr old 16 foot RV. A huge Sterilite tub holds 3 11x14 trays on top of the stove/sink area; the enlarger is where the broken fridge used to be. In the bathroom, the toilet is removed; a humidifier knocks down any dust before loading film or hanging negatives in the shower. An exhaust vent over the trays keeps me from getting any goofier, and big AC filters cover the inlet under the front bed where I can study or relax. Above the bed is a stereo with the local jazz station tuned in, and rubber mats cover the floor for standing comfort. I'm not going to teach this summer and am really looking forward to getting out there and learning a lot. I had planned building a large shed for my darkroom, but the price of supplies was almost as much as this old RV. Truthfully, I haven't done much out there because of my schedule, but your pictures have gotten me reinspired. Thanks. Blue Skies, Doug.

school hallway before students arrive<div></div>

Perhaps finding happiness in photography requires one to use averted vision, as in amatuer astronomy when looking for a faint star. If you look for happiness, you cannot find it; but if you look to the side or away, there it is. If I am busy about the process of photography, thinking and visualizing and working-whether behind the camera or in the darkroom, when I least expect it, I realize I'm happy. Having fun. Or sometimes I get to see the happiness I brought to others with nice memories I made for them. I think that the study, practice, mistakes, and effort that goes into accomplishing any worthwhile goal makes us better persons. We still revere and award perseverence and accomplishment on Olympic, national, regional, etc. levels-why not a personal level? If my learned skills and personal vision has made others happy and myself, also; I count that a good day! Blue Skies! Doug

Allen, that looks like one of those nasty sword canes the older lady is walking with-good for two legged pests, too. Good old pepper spray works on the rest. If running or walking, never turn your back on them until you've gotten out of their "territory". Besides, that little adrenalin dump you get sharpens your mind and vision, great for photography! Blue Skies, Doug

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I think Jake said it very well; I have enjoyed the W/NW's "theme" that is posted and the amazing variety of responses sometimes seen. The occasional explanation does help. This section helps me with new ideas and viewpoints. If I like a photo, I'll click to the person's folder of similiar photos. That is where a photographer can display all of his or her work. If and when I post somewhere, I am usually humbled because of the much better photos on the thread; however, a great W/NW thread inspires me to try harder and make more mistakes. And a successful shot, occasionally. Blue skies, Doug

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While in the library with my students, I noticed in this week's

"Newsweek" a picture of the press on the floor in front of Richard

Clark's hearing. Among all the telephotos was a 4x5 press camera.

Later looking through "Time" their lead picture is a large B&W photo

from the postion of the press camera. FWIW. Blue Skies, Doug

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Berries 'n barbed wire<div></div>

Clean inside, honest. (Bernie, I want one!)<div></div>

Rene, Although not technically waterproof, any Playmate cooler lined with that bumpy bedfoam sold at WalMart makes a great carrying case.

Double bag your cameras and lenses in Glad resealable bags. Rub some dirt on the cooler and scuff it up. No one will think there might be

a couple thousand dollars worth of camera equipment in there. I use one for my video camera, and other coolers for my 35mm cameras when I'm traveling on my motorcycle or skydiving at other dropzones. I still put the coolers out of sight under a desk or something. A cheesy bumper sticker all scraped up completes the ensemble. Also a Power bar or sandwich and you're good to go. Blue Skies, Doug

Joe, what Connie said is true of the Epson 1670 I got recently from

B&H with a rebate, too. One of the Leica posters wrote something that stuck in my mind when debating what to get, which was scan from prints already finished in the darkroom-why do the darkroom stuff twice with negative scanning and photoshop? Since I am both busy and lazy, a bad combo, this keeps me learning in my darkroom. I'm new at this, but being able to scan my prints to photo.net has boosted my enthusiasm and lowered my excuse making. Blue Skies! Doug

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Sheldon, I have Pentax ZX-M for auto advance and rewind and very light weight. It sits on top of my skydiving helmet and does great. I got an MX to utilize the Pentax lenses I was accumulating. You'll wind up grabbing your ME super to go everywhere. My MX stays with me.

Have fun and blue skies! Doug

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