Frame Works? Violet with Minolta Lens
Description: An early spring violet with a Minolta lens resting beside it. I took the shot in late afternoon in mottled shade. Background: My second camera purchase was a Minolta Maxxum 5 that came with two lenses, one of which, the 35-80mm, is pictured here. The Maxxum 7000i, the first camera IContinue Reading
“Frame Works?” An Introduction
“Does this frame work?” is a question I ask myself when reviewing negatives. The question comes up because there have been so many times when what’s on the negative is not what I had in mind—not even close. Sometimes the discrepancy is due to a technical glitch such as motionContinue Reading
Minolta Fanny Pack? Uhh…No.
Mindlessly browsing through eBay, I came across a collection of Minolta miscellany, which included a camera, a few flashes, and a fanny pack with a Minolta blue and white logo. I actually paused and looked at it. Then I immediately had one of those “at the precipice” moments—the kind where your lifeContinue Reading
My Guests, Welcome and Otherwise…
Butterflies, hummingbirds, and honey bees were as important as the colors and bloom time when I started selecting flowers for the garden. I have never met a person who was not thrilled to see a hummingbird—they are simply special, with no further explanation required. The same is true of butterflies,Continue Reading
Choosing a Light Meter App
Generally speaking, I don’t like shooting cameras without built-in light meters—the process is too cumbersome. At times, however, it is unavoidable. For example, I have a Yashica Mat 124 with a busted meter, and the pandemic hit just as I was about to have it repaired. A light meter isContinue Reading
A Paean to Rainy Days
I like rainy days, in spring and early summer, but not November. My fondness for rain has nothing to do with flowers or gardens. It’s a deeply held affection from childhood. As a child in rural Virginia, our house sat at the top of a hill. The main street ofContinue Reading
Agapanthus Anxiety
Like the crocosmia, agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) was love at first sight. The plant is native to South Africa, so it is used to a temperate climate. In Atlanta, it usually blooms in June and July, producing beautiful puffs of pastel flowers atop an elegant long dark green stalkContinue Reading
Expired, not Dead
The Vintage Minolta Love Project is in its preliminary stages. Shooting every major Minolta SLR necessitates buying more cameras. Since I’m buying on a budget, every camera is tested when it arrives in case I have to send it back. I wish I could buy the remaining cameras from KEHContinue Reading
There Are Four Seasons, Right? (Not in Atlanta)
First-time gardeners have a steep learning curve—how much water, how much sun, best location, when to prune, what kind of fertilizer. Fortunately, help exists in some book or magazine for all of these. However, the weather is trickier. All guides, articles, and websites assume the usual four seasons when givingContinue Reading
Deciphering eBay Camera Listings: A Guide for Newbies
Since last year, when I dove headfirst into photography, I have taken chances buying gear from Goodwill and eBay. Both sites worked well for me because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on gear, then decide I had no passion or talent for photography. Well, I’ve foundContinue Reading
