Sun-soaked Beach Day at Avalon

Kiran changed her mind about attending the first sophoremore semester on-campus, so we quickly made other plans for what was supposed to be the move-in day.

Despite months of planning by students and Oberlin College, at the last moment, our daughter Kiran decided not to attend on-campus classes for the fall semester. The last bit of paperwork with the college did it. She had to fill out a form with her plans in case she fell ill to "COVID-19". She realised that Oberlin, OH is an 8-hour car ride from home, and if she was infected and we had to bring her home, we could not quarantine her inside our car. She did not want to risk infecting us. The news reports about infections breaking out in colleges and universities were probably another push. After a last-minute scramble of phone calls and emails on Tuesday afternoon, since I already had the day off, Bhavna and I quickly made other plans for Wednesday, the day we were supposed to travel to Ohio.

Bhavna and I left home around 8 AM and drove down the shore to Seven Mile Island in Avalon, a borough in Cape May. We arrived at the Avalon Community Hall around 10:30 AM and bought two beach passes. We found a spot near the pier to set up our beach chairs, table and umbrellas and sat down to start our "doing nothing" day.

I brought my Fujifilm X-T2 and XF27mmF2.8 lens, and a vintage camera kit, my Minolta X-700 35mm film camera loaded with a roll of Kodak Gold 200. I captured a few test shots on the Fuji X-T2. I was not too fond of the results from the colour recipe I usually use. It just felt too warm and contrasty. The sky was mostly clear with a few clouds, and the scene was brightly lit.

Kodak Porta came to mind because I had a roll of Kodak Portra 160 in my bag. Fortunately, Ritchie Roesch has two film simulation recipes for Kodak Portra. Because of the abundant sunlight, I chose his Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation recipe. It took seconds to look up his recipe and configure my Fuji X-T2.

Between long stretches of doing nothing, just sitting and staring at the sand, surf and passers-by, I captured beach scenes on my Fuji X-T2 and Minolta X-700. It was fun. I love the sound of the shutter of the Minolta X-700. I shot in aperture priority mode.

Around 1:30 PM, Bhavna and I packed our beach gear and ate lunch at Sandbar Village, an outdoor restaurant. Of course, I ordered a Maine lobster roll and a beer. We regretted not doing anything like this before and why we hadn't visited Avalon and Seven Mile Island.

After lunch, we returned to our previous location on the beach for more sitting around and doing nothing.

I quickly completed the 24-exposure roll of Kodak Gold 200 and then loaded a 36-exposure roll of Kodak Portra 160 colour film. Bhavna wanted to walk the beach. I quickly completed the roll of Kodak Portra 160. We returned to our seats and sat down for another stint of "doing nothing". I loaded a roll of Kodak Ektachrome 100 slide film.

Then Bhavna wanted to walk the beach in the other direction. Surprisingly, I finished that roll of Kodak Ektachrome 100 as well. Bhavna was bemused that I had so much fun taking photographs on an almost 40-year-old film camera. I was surprised as well. Of course, my excitement could turn to disappointment once the film is developed, and I download the scans from the Darkroom.

Around 5 PM, after we had our fill of "doing nothing," we packed up and went home. We enjoyed our day of "doing nothing".

Bhavna, window blowing in hair, Beach Scene
Bhavna | 25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Bhavna walking on Avalon Beach Boardwalk
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
View from Avalon Beach Boardwalk
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Avalon Beach Street
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Bhavna, Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Feet, Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Couple walking Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Couple walking to dock Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Man sleeping under umbrella Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seaweed Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Bhavna Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Food
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Couple Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Surfers Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seagull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seafull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Young Woman Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Chair Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Foot print Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seafull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Sea shell Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seagulls Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seagull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Woman Walking Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
People Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seagull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Guard Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
People Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Dock Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Guard Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Bhavna Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene Life Boat
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene Life Boat
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Seagull Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Boat Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Boat Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
People Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Boat Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Life Guard Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Beach Scene
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
X-700 and film rolls
25 August 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Isolation Photo Project : Day 156

It's one of those times when your mind goes "Why didn't I think of that before".

It's one of those times when your mind goes "Why didn't I think of that before".

The Dark Room, the lab in San Clemente, CA, where I send my film for developing, has a film index with pricing. I may try several relatively inexpensive C-41 films, including Kodak Ultramax 400, Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400, and Kodak Pro Image 100. I have a roll of Kodak ColorPlus 200 in the ES II I bought at B&H photo for $5. All of the E-6 slide films are expensive. In general, Kodak film is low to midpriced, and Fujifilm is costly, and many films on the index are hard to find at any price. I may also use the sorted list of prices at B&H when choosing film once I have exhausted my stock.

Today I bought yet another 35mm film camera, a Minolta X-700. The previous owner, June, is retired and she and her husband are downsizing now that all the kids are out of the house. They own a little cottage on a large land plot in Lambertville, about thirty minutes from my home. June bought the camera in the 1970s and was excited to explain all the features and share some of her husband's images she had photographed. I think she was as excited as I was that the camera would be appreciated. Including in the $70 package, was the Minolta X-700 with attached MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.7 lens, a Minolta Auto 132FX Speedlight, a Minolta 20 Speedlight, a JC Penny Multi-Coated Optics 80-200m f/4.5, and a roll Kodak 800. June mentioned that she had loaded Kodak 200 for me to use. I love it when I meet people who enjoy photography as much as I do.

Tomorrow, Bhavna and I take a “mental health” break from work and are headed to the beach today. I’ll have my modern camera kit, my Fujifilm X-T2 and XF27mmF2.8 lens, a vintage camera kit, the Minolta X-700 and a roll of Kodak Gold 200.


Despite anxiety from her three sons, my mom travelled to St. Vincent in the last week of July. After being tested at the airport, she made it through the country's mandatory 14-day quarantine at our family home in Dorsetshire Hill and is doing fine. Her tests were negative.

She does not drive, so my cousin delivered groceries as needed. Mom contracted a groundskeeper to clean up debris from the recent storms. Many of the fruit trees on the property were damaged and were removed. The mango, avocado, West Indian plum (Spondias purpurea), and coconut trees are gone, and the lawn is a scrabbly mess. But she’s enjoying the sunsets. Here are some recent images she shared.

Doresetshire Hill, St. Vincent | 17 August, 2020 | Apple iPhone | 4 mm (28 mm 35mmFF) | f/1.8 |
Doresetshire Hill, St. Vincent | 17 August, 2020 | Apple iPhone | 4 mm (28 mm 35mmFF) | f/1.8 |
Doresetshire Hill, St. Vincent | 17 August, 2020 | Apple iPhone | 4 mm (28 mm 35mmFF) | f/1.8 |
Doresetshire Hill, St. Vincent | 17 August, 2020 | Apple iPhone | 4 mm (28 mm 35mmFF) | f/1.8 |
Doresetshire Hill, St. Vincent | 17 August, 2020 | Apple iPhone | 4 mm (28 mm 35mmFF) | f/1.8 |

Submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.

Isolation Photo Project : Day 155

I like the way the morning light lit the kitchen countertop. Continuing the Lens-Artists "everyday objects" theme, I photographed the components of my breakfast. Yep, random.

Cream Cheese | Monday 24 August, 2020 | Day 155 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8
Lox | Monday 24 August, 2020 | Day 155 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8
Coffee | Monday 24 August, 2020 | Day 155 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8

Hamish Gill of 35mmc had a realisation regarding his film photography hobby.

The issue I’ve suffered, in short, comes down to the fact that it feels like everything within film photography has gone up in price. The point & shoot cameras I used to buy cheap aren’t nearly as easy to find cheap any more. The film has gone up in price, and so now I spend more money on it, I am more keen to spend more on processing it too. All this has changed my attitudes slowly, but quite profoundly over the last few years.

I started back into film photography last year, and I think I've been on the same journey as Hamish except I came to a similar conclusion much faster.

Up until I discovered 35mmc, I had no interest in 35mm film photography. I gave it up in 1999 for digital.

I had my dad's Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II, but it had fungus in the lens and prism. Then my father died last Spring, and in a fit of nostalgia, I bought a working Spotmatic II on eBay and had it cleaned, lubed and adjusted. Then I bought five rolls of film. Then I bought an ES II and had it CLA and bought rolls of Ektachrome, Ilford HP5 Plus, and Velvia. And then I found my college camera, a Pentax P3. Then I found my dad's Canon Rebel 2000. Then I discovered Facebook Market Place. Today I bought a Minolta X-700 with a Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7.

It started with some nostalgia after my father passed away last year. I bought an Asahi Spotmatic Co. Spotmatic II because that was the 35mm film camera that my father had when I was a child. I had it cleaned, lubed and adjusted (CLA) and shot a roll of FPP RetroChrome 400 Color Slide Film. Then I bought an ES II and had it CLA, shot a roll of Kodak Color Plus which I ruined in the washing machine. I bought rolls of Fuji Pro, Kodak Porta, Ilford HP5 Plus; expensive film. I found my dad's Canon EOS Rebel 2000 and kit lens, added a roll of film and went looking for a used EF 40mm lens. I also shot a roll of Ilford HP5 Plus 400 in a Pentax P3, a 35mm film camera from my college days. That roll turned out ok.

I got back into film photography because I thought it would be fun, but those failures were not fun, and I was wasting money on film developing and hoarding film. I am not having fun anymore, and things have become expensive.

I realised that I was spending more time and money on deprecated technology from the 1970s when it makes more sense to be saving to buy lenses for my Fujifilm X-T2. Last night I decided I would sell all but one of my film cameras. Actually, I want to sell all of the Pentax and the Canon and buy one good film camera, maybe a Pentax P3n. I just want it with one lens; a 40mm or 43mm.


More random bit. I spent some time today, creating a logo for my consulting business. Check out my logo on Looka.


I received a notice that after seven years, the Ever service is shutting down. All customer photos and videos are scheduled to be deleted from Ever servers on August 31, 2020. This is one of those services that I have used since 2012 but have not used since 2016. I had forgotten about. I logged into the website and exported my photos and videos (about 680 items) by capture year and then deleted my account.

In the set of files, I found this June 2016 screenshot from another service.

Storehouse Screenshot 2016-06-13 05-24

Which one of these responses is likely to be heard from me?

XKCD COVID

Submitted for the 100DaysToOffload project.