Nighttime...

Well, I finally finished my roll of 35mm TRI-X, and being out of film, decided to leave my little cellulose heaven and go into the sissified world that is digital photography. Actually, to be totally honest, I like digital photography, and the instant gratification that it provides. There is just something about film, though, that I really love. Anywho, I decided to get out my digital last night and use the "night landscape" mode, just to see what would happen. I was actually pretty surprised. Some of the pictures came out pretty well, and I managed to get Venus in a few of them. Anywho, here are a few samples (click to make them big, they look better that way):

Looking at the mountains north of our apartment.


Looking west, the bright light in the sky is Venus, with Saturn above it.

Another view of Venus and Saturn, with the star Regulus above them to the left, and an airplane.

Anywho, thats about it for now. More later, take it easy, all.

Decisions, decisions...

Well, things are still going pretty well here in Tucson, though it is getting hotter. 105º today, it was 108º earlier this week. But, we're surviving it. I made us some Greek food today, it really came out pretty well. We had us some souvlaki and some salad. Not too bad for my first go round, if I do say so myself.

I finally found a place here that sells photo developing equipment, which is a good thing for me. It surprised me how few places sell that. I guess everyone is going digital nowadays, so oh well. I still like to shoot film. Anyway, this place (Jones Photo) also has a contest once each quarter for amatuers. The theme for the summer is "Downtown Tucson", and I am thinking about entering. I'm just not sure yet, just don't know what to do. So I guess I'll keep updating and let everyone know when I decide.

Anyway, just a quick update to say that we are doing ok. Take it easy, all.

You think it's hot where you are...

but you ain't seen nothin'. Check this out. (Click on it to make it big enough to read.)

It's not the 102º that bothers me, check out the station at Oracle and Ina (the third one down). This is a screenshot, and is totally undoctored. That is exactly how it looked on the web.
That's why I avoid that part of town, I tell ya. The humidity just about kills me, as does the heat index. Just wanted to leave a quick post to show everyone just how hot it gets in Tucson.
Take it easy, all.

More photos...

Here we go, some more photos of our little home:

Here is the livingdiningoffice room.




Here is the bedroom.




The bathroom. Well, half of it. I'm standing in the other half.



And the kitchendining room.

Thats about it for now, all. Not much else to say. Oh, except that I have a new link in my "links" section that is just grand. Check it out. Take it easy, all.

Please, don't drink the fixer...

Well, things just keep on a chuggin' along. Things are going pretty well here in Tucson. Yesterday, Amy and I went with her family to float down the Salt River. It was a lot of fun, with only a bit of sunburn between the two of us.


Here is a rough idea of where we went:

A map. We got in at the green arrow, and out at the red arrow.
Pretty straightforward, really.

We started right below Saguaro Lake, which is formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam, about 40 miles outside of Phoenix. It was a fun trip, especially because the water was about 68º, which was great.

In other news, I have begun to develop my own black and white film again. I find that if I put plankets just right, I can block all of the light coming into my closet and put the film on the reel there, then I can develop it in the bathroom. So far, I have had a few good ones, and a lot of clunkers, but I am slowly improving as I figure out the camera that I am using. It is my Grandpa's old Busch Pressman, and it is all kinds of fun. I am hoping eventually to be able to use 4 x 5 sheet film, but for now I am using an adapter so I can shoot 120 roll film.


(For those of you who don't know what 120 looks like, here is a picture.)

120 Medium Format Film. This is Kodak T-MAX 400 Speed.

I also found a place that can do reprints and enlargements from any negative that I decided is a picture that I can't live without, so that will work until I can find a public darkroom so I can make my own prints.

I actually shot a roll of film through an old Kodak Vigilant Six-20 today, so we will see how it turns out.

Anywho, things here are good. I hope to have some updated pictures of the apartment up soon. Take it easy, all.