photorama

Actually that tree was standing still, but a tree that I’m sure blows sometimes.. right? If I had my light meter, I would be able to tell you what I shot this at, all I know is that it was Velvia 50 film.

Speaking of my light meter, here’s a fun story.

I was told about the equinox and how the moon was to rise over San Francisco, but this wasn’t an ordinary moonrise.. it was going to be huge. Bigger than life type shit. I scouted a location on yahoogle maps (It’s the best!), got in my janky Hyundai rental car and headed out towards the Golden Gate bridge.. finding the spot was easy. Parked my whip, hopped out with my hot-ass chick (justing kidding, there was no hot-ass chick, I’m just hearing R. Kelly in my head) and headed up the path to the top of the hill, which later I came to find out was called Hawk Hill. There are some people up there setting up, and I still had about 45 minutes of daylight left so I walked around for awhile. I found this nice overlook of the hills and whipped out my F6. During this, I pulled out my light meter (Sekonic 758dr) and was toying around with the ambient meter. I zipped it up in it’s pouch and put it away after I was finished. Sun starts to go down so I move over to where the other photographers have their stuff set up and I peeped some really nice color bands in the clouds so I finished off that roll and then pulled out my digital camera and started futzing around. I’ve really started to loathe using it for anything landscape related but that’s neither here nor there. About 20 minutes later cops roll up and tell everyone to leave because the place closes at sunset. Not interested in getting a ticket or my car towed, I gathered my stuff and went back down the path. I went back the way I came and drove closer to the bridge, right as I round this bend I see the moon and DAMN it’s huge! Like, holding a basketball above your head and looking at the sky type shit. I found a spot to park and walked over near this point and it was freezing, had to be at least 20 degrees cooler than the top of the hill, one mile away. I shoot a few shots but it was too cold and I was not prepared in the least. Back at the car, I realize that my light meter is gone. F*@#!!!!! I hauled ass back up the road and parked as close as I could since they closed the gate to the top of the hill. I ran up this road and I could feel it get warmer.. it was awesome. I whip out my phone and turn the brightness all the way up, but nothing. I knew of 3 places I stood and opened my bag so I went to them twice each. Nothing. I couldn’t believe it. How could I have been so careless? I walked down the hill, hating myself and thinking about how I would replace it. I thought I’d make a craigslist post just to be safe. I made it back to the car and drove the longest drive back to the hotel. I couldn’t even muster the energy to go get hammered in the Redwood Room because, what’s the point? I’d probably lose my credit cards or something.

I made a posting (with a reward even!) as soon as I got upstairs, and never heard a peep. Sad. When I was trying to look something up related to work in my gmail, I couldn’t believe my eyes… someone had found my light meter! I quickly emailed back and then realized there was a number there so I called and this wonderful woman answered the phone and I meekly said “Hey, I’m uh calling about my lost light meter I posted about on craigslist.” She quickly said “Yes! I have your light meter!” and so we worked out the shipping details and that was that. I received an email from her later that night telling me what model it was, just so I could be sure that it was mine. You never know, someone else could’ve lost one as well.. though I’d hope no one was as careless as I was that night. I want to extend to most gracious thank you I can to a stranger who was so kind as to return an item that was found. You could’ve kept it for yourself, gave it to a friend, sold it for a decent chunk of change to a camera store, but no you did the right thing. Thank you, Pascale. I hope the favor is returned to you if you’re ever in need.

Really though, as a photographer, light is the most important thing we have. Without it, what are we gonna take pictures of? Now, this may seem really obvious to you, but think about it.. look at any picture.. what sets it apart from any other? Light. There are so many things to take pictures of out there and to me, they’re all pretty boring things, but throw the right light at it and it comes to life.  Shots during the middle of the day? Boring. Sunset? Better chance. Sunrise? Still better chance.

I had this whole thing written out in my head, then I had to get on a conference call for work only to find out it’s cancelled and now my head is empty. Thanks, Yahoo.

The format was supposed to be one image per post, but for the really long ones, I’m putting up two.

Oh, I just bought a used Mamiya RZ67 on ebay for a decent price. I’m looking forward to medium format.