Konica Pearl II—An Awkward First Outing
The first time I saw a picture of the Konica Pearl II, I knew one was in my future. It had the right balance between art and machine; what little I had read about it was decidedly positive. My quest for a Pearl grew from my desire to shoot withContinue Reading
Succumbing to Passion (Fruit)
I don’t quite recall when I first experienced passionfruit. More than likely, it was at one of the two Brazilian restaurants we frequented in DC. “Brazil Tropical” was on the way to Georgetown, on Pennsylvania Ave (I think), while “Dona Flor” was on upper Wisconsin Avenue across from the movieContinue Reading
Flash-a-Palooza!-1: Here a Flash, There a Flash
Like most people who buy eBay lots, I have extra items that sellers tossed in. For example, very early on, when I had no intention of forming a Minolta collection, I won an X-700 system that came with a “G” winder still new in its box. That and the VC-7Continue Reading
The Pink Flirt Day Lilies Have Returned!
Well, gardening season is at hand, and I’m more excited about this season than I have been in a while. I miss playing in the dirt, and all signs indicate I’ll be pulling weeds before long. When brown descends across the yard every winter, anxious waiting takes hold, and thereContinue Reading
Minolta Rangefinder Meet & Greet
Time passes quickly, as it was a little more than two years ago when I wrote a post (Minolta Love—Enjoying My Toys!) describing my impression of all the cameras I had at the time. Should you read that post, you will find that I had only two non-SLR cameras—a 7sIIContinue Reading
The Winter of My Discontent (Hoping for an Art-Filled Spring)
Like gardening and photography, my artistic efforts, especially painting, have taken a hit in the last two years. I don’t pretend to be an artist, but I have seen encouraging progress since I started in the summer of 2020. Unfortunately, my efforts have been in spurts. Typically, a few weeksContinue Reading
Minolta XK Day!
The XK was Minolta’s first stab at a professional camera. It did not sell well. However, it was advanced for its time and backed by a range of excellent gear. These days, the XK is very much a collector’s item. Working models are pricey and, until recently, relatively hard toContinue Reading
Lemony
Ahh…it must be January! The sitting room is bathed in the fragrance of lemon blossoms! Only a few have opened, but already, the downstairs has taken on the delicately sweet aroma. The tree has been with us since 2018, and in most years, it only had a few flowers, butContinue Reading
My December: The Canon Serenar 50mm 1.8 LTM was a Bust, and the Vivitar 35ES…
Cameras with interchangeable lenses slowly goad one into buying more lenses. Curiosity often overtakes common sense, and the nagging desire to try another lens wins out. My Minolta-35 with LTM mount has done this to me. I managed to obtain a 45mm f2.8 Minolta lens for it, and that lensContinue Reading
Winter Warriors
Geraniums add a splash of color and a dash of understated charm each summer. I usually put two colors together, one pink and one deep magenta. Typically, sweet potato vine or creeping Jenny adds a bright green counterpoint, while a purple flower, like alyssum, adds a final accent—none of theseContinue Reading
