(blog.)louislucci(.com)

Daily (07.26.2010)

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:10:38 -0700

Astoria, Queens NY

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Daily (07.25.2010)

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:58:28 -0700

Astoria, Queens NY

Canon 5d mkII

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Camera: Rochester Optical Co. “Cyko Reko”

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:49:25 -0700

There aren’t very many appliances that live past 100 years in our modern society. the closest things to the possible longevity of a memory is a tool. Tools are meant to last or die with use. I speak of longevity because in these old cameras outlive their owners several times over, meaning both in life span and in their interest in photography or until the camera becomes a forgotten memory.

Interrogatives:
how many people owned this camera before me?
how many lives has the camera clicked it’s shutter from within?
these are mysteries

between the late 1800s and the early 1900s someone heard the same shutter click that i am hearing in 2010.

That all being said, I found yet another Rochester Optical Co. camera today.
a little info from another site:
The Cyko Reko Camera was manufactured by the Rochester Optical Company from approximately 1899 to 1905. Designed as an export model, although also sold in America. It was similar to the pony premo D camera and took images 4 x 5 inches in size. This Camera was constructed of highly polished mahogany wood on the interior, covered with seal grain leather on the outside and housed a red leather bellows. It was fitted with a rapid rectilinear lens and unicum shutter with finger and pneumatic release. Other features include a swing back, rising and falling front, room to store two extra plate.

interestingly enough i cannot find anything that looks like mine though. mine doesn’t have the same type of lens. this requires a more research.

so here are pictures of the camera I purchased:

so this is the click that spanned almost 100 years. who knows the last time someone put any film inside this tool and let it do it’s job.

first a double exposure on Fuji FP-3000b

second taken on 4×5 polaroid.

So this beauty shoots 4×5 film. the downside is the groundglass/film holder doesn’t allow everyday use with my Fuji instant film holder, nor my Grafmatic Back. which leaves me with two choices:
1. using standard 2 sheet film holders. this isn’t a big deal when school is in and i have free access to a changing room to load/unload film. not to mention the free development chemistry for black and white negs.

2. using my Polaroid #545i sheet film holder.
this is my preferred option since i can shoot not only 4×5 Polaroids, but also Fuji QuickLoad and Kodak ReadyLoad film formats without using a dark room.

so now i’m putting word out:
i am trying to get my hands on Fuji QuickLoad, Kodak ReadyLoad, or any of the Polaroid 4×5 that doesn’t require a coater or special development. the name of the game is (obviously) as much quantity for as little cost.

an aside:
the face in the lens was a little fun on my part, see today’s daily post.

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Event: 2010’s Most Influential Person Online

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:19:51 -0700

Heard about this from my often mentioned friend Jeanne Kelly.
Check it out, it’s an interesting connection based visual representation project…

Fast Company is searching for 2010’s Most Influential Person Online.
You are more influential than you think.

My link: http://fcinf.com/v/daqm

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Daily+ (07.23.2010)

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:01:26 -0700

Brooklyn, NY
Lighting Storm

Canon G11

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Daily+ (07.22.2010)

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:32:10 -0700

Bit of backstory: at my job in Brooklyn there’s a backyard which i tend to glance down at anytime i walk past a window. As the job has gone on i’ve noticed a blue jay who always seems to taunt me by showing up whenever i can’t get to my camera quick enough to capture him.

today i was on the third floor of the house and i glanced down into the back yard and there he was, that blue shadow, i ran downstairs to grab my G11 and hope to get a picture of him. once in position i realized that the angle and coverage worked to his advantage…

i shot one frame:

Canon G11

and then the second.

Canon G11

i don’t consider this challenge done.

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Daily (07.21.2010)

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:06:24 -0700

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn NY

Canon G11

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Daily (07.20.2010)

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:22:53 -0700

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn NY

Canon G11

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Daily+ (07.19.2010)

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:50:18 -0700

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn NY

Canon G11

Astoria, Queens NY

Canon G11

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Show: The Demon Beat @ LuLu’s

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:59:32 -0700

I was recommended this band by my very close friend Chris Abell after he had his first recording session with a mindblowingly good West Virginia band.

The Demon Beat Official page

i’ve been to see them every time they’ve had a show in the NYC area. here are some shots from the show. these guys exude rock and roll, they play every show like it’s thier last, they leave the stage drenched in sweat and (depending on how hard lead singer/guitarist Adam Meisterhans windmills) bloody.

There are very few bands that play with so much conviction, and that is my biggest draw to them, passion for their expression.

ont he technical side, it should be noted that i knew the lighting was going to be minimal so i had every intention of shooting them high ISO and processing out in black and white. enjoy, and thank you Demon Beat, you guys rule.

(click to see larger images)