So I needed out—out from the suffocating cesspool of DUI lawyers, the slurred promises of the perpetually hammered, and the swirling horseshit of my son’s wreck. I needed it bad. And then it hit me—Leica had sent over this camera, some highbrow piece of German craftsmanship I’d yet to touch. A cold reminder, sitting there in its box, taunting me. Now, I’m pretty sure there’s some legal muzzle keeping me from running my mouth about it publicly. But who gives a damn? It’s nerdy enough that no one outside the camera cult would care anyway. What matters is this: I’m suddenly struck by the urge to shoot. Hard. Took a couple of test shots of the old ’38—parked in the office portion of the lab, a sanctuary for neglected dreams. Straight out of the camera, no edits. Just pure digital love letter to Ilford 100 stock. I don’t have much experience with the film, but hell, it feels right. 2025. That’s when I get back on this car. I have to.
I dig shiny and color as much as the next guy but there is nothing cooler than photos of traditional cars in grayscale. And......"A sanctuary for neglected dreams", boy does that sound familiar to me, probably to many members here. Also, I hope the accident doesn't have long lasting effects on the kids, not something that is easily shaken off.
Ryan, I am a camera long term neophyte and know just enough to be dangerous, but that doesn't stop me from trying to improve, every once in a blue moon I grab my simple point and shoot camera,take a photo with absolutely no prior though of lighting or background clutter and it comes out looking like a professional shot it. Then I move on to my Canon T6/1300D, which is nowhere near the equipment you are using but I can't seem to equal the point and shoot cheapo camera. There is not a doubt in my mind it takes some of us a lifetime to master, or at least grasp the simple understanding of just how difficult a task to master the art of photography. HRP
Chances are, he’ll be fine. But what if he isn't? That’s the twist of the knife, the goddamn complication that looms over everything… not just for us, but for the families of the poor bastards who were along for the ride. I’m bone-tired of the worrying, though. It’s a constant weight, pressing down like a thousand-pound gorilla. Sleep? Now it’s just dark hours spent staring at the ceiling... Not forgotten. Certainly forlorn. I'm a shitty photographer. You know how some folks are fascinated by guns? I could give a shit about them... but cameras? Man, I love cameras - new and old. Anyway, the whole point of this camera is to reproduce the film grain of black and white photography using modern technology. This is a 100% crop of one of the shots above: I've never seen anything like it. It feels like shooting film with the convenience of digital. And it doesn't feel fake in any way. Grain is controllable with ISO just like film... and the dynamic range is nuts.
Something about b&w photos just seems more artsy to me, maybe because being black and white makes my imagination work more? Don’t know. I certainly understand the camera thing, I’m an amateur photographer at best. Photography is an art form that I could become totally obsessed with. Dan
I figure it’s because black and white strips everything down to the bones. No flashy colors to distract your brain—just pure shape and contrast, raw and simple. Forces you to actually look at what’s in front of you. And yeah, there’s the nostalgia factor too. Black and white punches you in the gut with that instant sense of the past, like flipping through old memories, even if the scene was shot five minutes ago.
That's quite an honor to be selected to give a camera a workout made by such a respected brand that you have really got to know over the years. I've been in and out here lately and sounds like there's some trauma happening. You are in my thoughts. It sounds very difficult. I like what you have done with it. We're pretty black and white around here for obvious reasons and I suspect you have a host of features on that camera to get back with the new subjects that you focus on. Good to see others with projects taking a slower road to recovery but the main thing is we haven't let them go... Keep on keeping on...
Long before digital cameras I was on a college geology/biology field trip to Hawaii. Turns out the best Hawaiian sunset photos were those taken with a Kodac Instamatic. Even when enlarged to 8x10 they were more impressive than those taken with fancier cameras.
we are not going to let you off the hook... 2025 THE YEAR OF THE THIRTY EIGHT I think maybe once a month starting in feb I will post a thread on the main board titled something like "hey Ryan, what is going on with the 38?"... I know, I am a pain in the ass...
Your '38 is just waiting for the right moment. Life, man. It happens so fast. One day, your are riding around with your girlfriend in a slick ride, McPhail yanks the third brake out and tosses it to the streets, and before ya know it, you are happily married, kids grown, the mean SBC is out of the Double J coupe, and you are pondering its revival. ,
Hopefully the kids have no long term effects. As a dad it took a long time to realize I had, have very little control in what happens in my kids lives. I also found that to maintain my sanity if I have any, was to continue moving forward and not dwelling on things I had no control over. For me my hobbies help tremendously, creativity creates contentment. Oh the best photo taken myself or by my wife is a sunset she took with her Iphone, I liked it so much we had it printed on canvas. I asked her how she captured the colors she said I pointed and clicked- pure luck Dan
I have been playing with cameras since I was a kid. It’s a great hobby, and for me that’s what it is . I’m about as far away from a pro photographer as you could get . But B & W photos always have drawn me in . Anyhow took these this past summer with a 1937 WELTA camera ….
I lost my son due to his DWI. 21 yrs old. Twenty one years ago. That day I went to our church with no one there and screamed at God very angrily. My anger was based on the fact that he should have given me another chance at straightening him out. He was too young to be taken away without a fight. Now I realize we all create our own circumstances. He doesn’t turn on a red light at an intersection or place a utility pole in a specific spot. Just be glad you have something to work with. I’d give up anything to have him with us.
Awe man... I'm so sorry to hear that. Sincerely. Thankfully, Miller wasn't the DUI. He got hit by a drunk driver.
I’m thankful I’ve never had to deal with either scenario, but I am truly sorry to both of you for having to go through it. Different sides but I’m sure equally as hard in their own right.
That's the car you posted a vid of a morning commute with Steve Earle's "Darlin' Commit Me" playing, right? So damn cool.
Wow when I looked at that photo I was sure it was out of a film camera. Looking what I believe that camera is, it has some pretty interesting specs.
My Dad was a semi-pro photographer, never went anywhere without a camera, and we had a darkroom where I grew up. We would take the B&W film and develop it, and then make proof prints to get the correct exposure in the enlarger. It is a great memory. When he passed in 2008, I found 50 glass negatives, not taken by him, and had them printed. I love B&W.....
The Jalopy Journal
