There’s a tide pool on a beach called Crescent Bay, somewhere between Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Beach. I like to go there because I can usually find parking pretty easily and it has some great local tide pools. Not as rocky as the one at Point Loma, San Diego, but it’s nice.

Anyway, I’ve been going there to snap some timed exposures of the waves. It’s a pretty messy business and I always end up wet or slimy. But I always have fun.

The first shot in this series was done a couple of weeks ago. I was unsatisfied with it to a certain extent because I felt it was a bit underexposed, and I wasn’t used to the developer (HC110). So I went back this past weekend to snap a few more shots with Pan F Plus (iso 50). I got even wetter and dirtier than before. That’s OK though, I liked a few of the shots. However, I did somehow make a nasty scratch into the emulsion of the first frame. Luckily, with the magic of photoshop, you can’t notice!

I have a Zero Image 135 pinhole camera that I bought on a whim appearing soon. My fiance had better come home soon from the east coast or else I may buy more camera gear to keep my mind occupied.

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This weekend I’ve barely fired a frame. We’ve been busy scouting wedding locations. The moment we think we’ve found the perfect place, there’s always a factor pointing up in another direction. However last weekend I was a regular shutterbug. Face constantly behind the camera. The main reason was that I acquired a new Olympus OM2. You may be asking why I would get a new Olympus OM SLR when I just got one last month? Well, this one is black you see. Also, I can stop up and down with the OM2 at 3rd stop intervals. So there!

The films I used this weekend were Arista Premium 400 (which is rebadged Tri-X) and Adox 25. Yes, iso 25 film. Super slow, super fine grained. I think I’ve come to the conclusion, when it comes to 35mm at least, that I’d refer using a higher speed film like Tri-X (which is a versatile film that I feel captures the essence of 35mm photography) or a super fine grained film like Adox/Efke or Ilford Pan F plus (which is suitable for big enlargements and detailed work). ISO 125 films like Plus-X just seems so mendium-grained and nothing special in this small format. I also don’t think I should bother shooting color in 35mm any more either - I’m always much more satisfied with color results in medium format.

As for the content of these test shots: Last weekend the coast of Orange County was hit by a deluge of killer waves. Life guards were extra busy and when I was there they were compelled to close the beach. That didn’t stop spectators from looking at the giant waves as you’ll see. The biggest of the waves occured at the jetty in Newport Beach called “The Wedge”. Which was a great locale for people-watching and street (or in this case beach) photography.

The second set is from a local traile called Santiago Oaks canyon where I used the Adox 25. I kept my tripod in tow when I used filters which wasn’t exactly a succesful endeavor because the camera’s meter doesn’t seem to respond to it correctly. I’ll have to compensate the exposure by a full stop next time.

And the last set was a shoot with my favorite model - my fiance. I’m such a lucky guy.

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It’s been a while since I’ve made an entry here at FormerAirline.com. I could give you some excuses but I just think I’ve been lazy.

Back at the start of the month I had the idea I should employ the services of a model to expand my skill set. I made an inquiry as to where to acquire one at my usual haunt at RangeFinderForum.com and they pointed me to ModelMayhem.com. Within a day or two of joining a model named Maile and I set a time for a shoot.

Since she was an inexperienced model, and me an inexperienced photographer when it comes to these things, I think we were well matched. Although, looking back at the work, I think I still have much to learn when it comes to photographing a model. One of the elements to that is I need more equipment. At least a decent reflector.

I haven’t made any progress since that weekend I signed up at the site. Personally I think it’s a very outdated site with all the sophistication of MySpace circa 2005.

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