Returning to the Arts–I’m Drawing and Painting, Again!
After a nearly eight-month pause, I’m finally getting back to art. Surprisingly, my drawing and painting skills improved during that time! If I had to give a reason for the improvement, I would say it is due to improved concentration leading to better observations. Drawing people has always been aContinue Reading
Goldfinch at Lunch, Opus 1
It has taken three years—THREE YEARS! After waiting, not so patiently, for three years, I finally managed to get a shot of a goldfinch munching away on coneflowers seeds. Goldfinches are tiny birds, maybe three inches from beak to tail. They are also very skittish. Sometimes they come inContinue Reading
VMLP 25: Minolta (1985) AF 35-105mm f3.5-4.5—Buy One (You’ll Thank Me Later)
The Minolta AF 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 is an oddity. It is widely touted for its sharpness and has an overall rating of 4.64/5 (sharpness, 4.78) on Dyxum, with the main ding against it being relatively poor flare control. I have seen it mentioned glowingly many times in forums. Yet somehow, IContinue Reading
My Old Car
Every January, I have had to get my Georgia license plates renewed. It has been an annual ritual that ticks off a year of living. An emission inspection is part of that process. This year, my car failed. That failure was not altogether unexpected, as my car is (was) aContinue Reading
Minolta Mirror Magazine: Buried Treasure
As a Minolta fan, it is always heartwarming to read about the former days. Whether those days include innovations and breakthroughs or missteps and dead-ends, the stories are compelling. Unfortunately, many of these tidbits are found in old magazines and forums but rarely in some organized collection. Most books aboutContinue Reading
Here’s to Life
Back in the days when Tower Records was the place to shop for music, I used to spend at least two afternoons each month browsing the jazz section for new releases. I had long since learned that jazz critics and I did not hear the same thing on recordings, so reading magazinesContinue Reading
VMLP 24: The Minolta A–Minolta’s Rangefinder Reboot
I did not expect much from the Minolta A. I bought it because, having decided to try Minolta rangefinders, I figured why not start with the first member of the modern 35mm fixed-lens line. The Minolta A is the oldest child in the family of cameras that ended in theContinue Reading
Halcyon and Fire Island Hostas: Back from the Dead
I’ve written before about the relentless march of the ferns that led me to relegate some of them to the backyard. I had to banish most of them because they nearly wiped out the Halcyon and Fire Island hostas. With its deep blue-green foliage, the Halcyon was reduced toContinue Reading
Rangefinders: The Epilogue
Beware of people asking questions. By nature, I like to be helpful. Teaching is something I enjoy. For better or worse, it can also lead to unintended gear purchases. My most recent adventure began when someone in a Minolta camera group asked what a Minolta Super A set was worth.Continue Reading
Buying Your First Minolta Autofocus Film Camera and Lenses: Advice for Newbies
If you are new to Minolta autofocus gear, very likely, you are having a hard time deciding on what cameras and lenses to buy. Minolta cameras and gear were marketed in North America as “Maxxum” and in Europe as “Dynax.” There is a lot of info available in blogs andContinue Reading
