Analog: from Greek analogos “proportionate, according to proportion,” from ana “thoughout; according to” + logos “ratio, proportion” The other day I sent some of these 35mm photographs to my buddy @BigJoeArt and he said, “Dang! Nice shots! You should make a HAMB thread of those” So here I am. But of course then the thought was, what will the title be? “pictures” “GNRS ’24 plus some” “look what I saw” Nah none of those, something a bit more artistic and mysterious? Analog Hot Rod Photography . Perfect. As I’m sure @J.Ukrop can agree, there just something about old cars on film (https://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=49646). To me, it’s a snapshot in time that’s raw and un-doctored. No photoshop, no tinting, no IG filters. You’re making do with the lighting your given or you make your own in the moment. You go out with BW or color and that’s what you’re shooting that day. You only got 24-36 exposures so you make them count since you can’t rap your shutter like a marching band snare and with those limited shots, you WANT that picture. Action shots are exciting because you’re trying manually focus and move your camera to match the subject. Sometimes the pictures come out great, sometimes they aren’t so great. And I think that what I like about it the most. What you see is what you get. They are analog. They are proportionate, what goes in also comes out. Sort of like life, in which art imitates. And hot rods are art.
Camera is a Minolta SRT 202 with a 28mm lens that I bought from the Long Beach Swap Meet for 5 bucks in high school and I have never cleaned it. GNRS pics are Kodak Ultramax 400 from the Bezos man. Touhy National pics are on a roll of 10 year expired Walgreens brand film I found in my grandparents old things. Enjoy
Thank you all for the kind words. Some I definitely understand being removed, some not as much understanding but ok with, some I'm lost on. For those I'm lost on, I'll try again because I think they are great.
Analog Hot Rod Photography is a great topic… Hello, From a person that grew up with a 35mm film camera back when they came out in the early to mid 60s, for the general consumer (and not early Rangefinder 35mm cameras for the pros,) there are several things we learned over the years. Asahi Pentax 35mm Spotmatic Camera circa 1965. Still functioning and still waiting for the completion of the color roll of 35mm film. My latest version is with an 85mm mini telephoto lens f 1.8 lens, still as clear as day. The USA version of this camera from back in those days was/is called a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic. That company owns the USA rights to the camera sold at the time. So, the name change was to identify those sold only in the USA versus those original cameras sold elsewhere in the world. So, no, it is not a copy, but one of the original cameras. Everything sold in USA camera shops from that date onward has been relabeled to Honeywell from the Asahi Camera Corporation. The stock lens was a 50 mm 1.4 . But, the one thing I learned was to install all lenses with a Skylight filter (not polarized filter, although it was in our goody bag…) that did not change the color or depth of field. The main goal was to protect the expensive lenses and allow shooting in bright daylight + night without changing any light entrance. It also made many photos clearer after developing the film. The 50mm 1.4 was fast so, good for all indoor shots. The 85mm at 1.8 was similar and allowed me to extend my distance from the subject without interfering with composition. The standard film speed was used, although sometimes we boosted the rating up a level for more options. Jnaki One other thing was a tripod. For all indoor shots, if I did not use ASA 400 Tri-X, I used a tripod. When the tripod was interfering with the photo shoots, I used a mono pod for stability with the slower color film. Even when I was using a boosted Tri X Film, I used a monopod for detailed work close up. We all know any movement in breathing or camera action causes blurry images and shaking effect on the photos. Also, using slower speed color films indoors requires a tripod or mono pod for clear photos. So, it is nice that you are still using a color film camera. There are plenty of stores selling 35mm color film cannisters to be creative. So, get a tripod/monopod or a faster speed of color film. Or, using a flash is intrusive indoors, but a good color photo can still be had without a flash if parameters are taken prior to the photos. Not a mass photo shoot in any environment. We gave away our last “modern” version of a Canon AE-2 35mm color camera in new condition to our granddaughter. That camera set up was to be my new direction into surf photography and sailing photography. But, for us, the digital age came on fast and it created a newer direction in photography. Our granddaughter expressed her interests in film photography and 35mm color film + b/w uses. So, with a gaggle of lenses and a historic Hollywood Engineering fold up tripod, she was on her way to doing what we did 57 years ago. Once gathering dust in our cool temperature closet drawers, but now, a different direction of activity for the new generation, including a 600mm auto telephoto lens for long distance clear photo activity. Our granddaughter is involved in film making, film photography and custom images using a wide variety of cameras, including the 35mm color/b/w cameras, now in her arsenal, plus digital components, too. Note: When you get a mono pod or tripod, your indoor photos will show an increase in clarity and focus. Outdoors, in low light or shade, the tripods/monopods will also give you clear-in-focus photos for your rare film developed photos. YRMV
My go to camera for magazine work was a Yashica twin lens reflex model. I could buy them for less than $50 from pawn shops on lower Broadway in San Diego. Sailors returning from deployment in Japan were a great source for cameras. The Yashica was a knock off of the German Rolliflex.
Yeah after I got these back I started looking at another tripod. I have one that works great but its a bit heavy and bulky to be carrying around a car show all day. I want one I can tuck into a small backpack and is light weight. They do make some swank carbon fiber ones that are less than a foot long when folded and are only about 4 pounds. Not terrible expensive for what they are with some in the $150 range. I might baby step to a monopod first and see how I like it. I just dont want to give up my casual freedom quite yet of walking around a show with nothing but a camera haha. Maybe one day when i grow up and get serious.
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