How many times have you been in a situation where you said I wished I had my camera? My wife says this a lot. Even when she intends to bring her camera along, she forgets it. Grabbing my camera whenever I head out the door has become innate. I feel naked without my cameras. My current setup includes 2 bags and 2 tripods. Bag no. 1 carries my two SLR cameras and one Medium Format Film camera along with their accessories. Bag no. 2 carries my DSLR. I have a smaller tripod and ball head that is suitable for hikes and I have a larger tripod and ball head that is suitable for Medium Format cameras. In fact, it is an over kill for my 645, but I intend to get a Large Format camera one day.
Depending on my destination and duration of the trip, I may take all or any combination of my gear. I do try to keep a tripod near at all times. Tripods can be cumbersome, but they can be your best friend, too! When I head out to take the trash just a couple of miles down the road, I usually grab one bag. If I am taking a Sunday drive, all my gear comes along. The rare occasion that I have forgot to get my camera, I have actually turned the car around to go back for my gear. To put things in perspective, the few times I have forgotten my camera, my family questioned if I was ok, LoL.
All of the shots in this post were things that caught my eye while driving or walking around. They were captured with my trusty Olympus OM1 SLR loaded with Kodak Portra 400. These first two images were taken on a dreaded trip to Wal-mart. I only go to Wal-mart if I absolutely must go. I can’t remember the reason, but it must of been something serious. This may have been when I bought a new car battery. Anyway I noticed a gentlemen playing a saxophone at this gas station. I was not in a position to turn around, so I just prayed that he would be there when I came back. The camera gods must have been smiling because he was still there jazzing it up. I could have stayed their listening him play, but I had to get back home. He was playing along with a R&B track playing in the background. It sounded really nice. I felt like I was stepping up into a Jazz Club. I asked if I could have his portrait and he said sure. After I took a couple of shots, I dropped a few dollars into his case.
Carmello Saxxx
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.8, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
Street Hustle
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.8, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
The next shot grabbed my attention just a few miles from my house on my way home from work. The sky can change so quickly. I have learned that when you spot something, you need to capture it quick. As soon as I found a place to safely pull over, I grabbed my camera and settled on a meter reading. I did not like the power lines in my shot, so I crossed the street and took this shot from an open field. These sundogs faded in and out. They actually remained long enough for me to get my family out to see them. They then vanished shortly after that.
Close Encounters
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f3.5, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
The next 3 images were scenes that grabbed my eye while taking a drive in the country.
Maury County Bayou
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f3.5, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
This Old Barn
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f3.5, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
This next structure looks to be a home or a school converted to a hayloft. I bet this house or barn could tell some stories. My wife speculates that it could have been a church at one time, due to the windows and the 2 front doors.
What was I?
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f3.5, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
I found this next picture while walking around some side streets of downtown Columbia. I intended to shoot the train depot, but I didn’t like the light. While I was checking out the ride, 3 teenagers came out of a garage behind the car. They started yelling “Cornbread, get out here”. I started chatting with the kids about the car. They said it belong to Cornbread who lived in the building. About 5 minutes later, a man came out wearing only shorts. He looked like he just woke up. I asked him if this was his car. He said yes and said that he raced cars. I asked if I could photograph his car. He said no problem. For the next 10 minutes we talked about racing. He talked about the engine that he was going to put into station wagon. Cornbread soon retired back into the building and the teenagers went on their way. I finally got the shot below. By the way, I did come back to get the depot shot on another day. That image can be seen here.
Pontiac Racing
Olympus OM1, Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.8, Kodak Portra 400, Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab
I forgot to mention that actually a lot of people if not most, do have a camera on their person at all times. It called a cell phone. Technology gets better year after year. In the right hands, cell phones can be used to make some very good pictures. Although image quality gets better and better for the small sensors found in phones, you still don’t have the versatility of a multiple lens system. Also there is just something about holding up a camera or phone to take a shot by looking at the back of the screen. It just doesn’t seem right. I guess I am old school. I MUST have a viewfinder.
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