Hehe, I logged in to announce the arrival of my lovely 8x10 Toyo camera, and saw that already there were people sending me congratulations! It took me a few seconds to realise that the kudos were not for the camera, but for somehow acquiring a status upgrade here on DA. Six years service has earned the coveted ` !!! Not sure who was responsible, or why such a thing was given to li'l old me, but happily accepted all the same! A nice Xmas present! Many thanks to those who "did the deed" and offered congrats. Hope to live up to the standard of 'senior' member!

So, the Toyo 8x10 arrived this morning, safe and sound, its case swathed in tape and courier documentation. A few slashes of a blade and the camera emerged, looking exactly the way I imagined: huge! Now that's what I call a REAL camera! Scale-wise, it looks so much more like a studio camera than anything else I've owned, and although the process will be a lot slower for taking shots with it, I feel it will be instrumental in drawing out much better photography, and will certainly see a fair bit of action. Looking forward to next year's projects. Just need to track down a better tripod than the spindly little Manfrotto 190 it currently sits on. I feel sorry for that tripod! Like looking at a giraffe carrying an elephant!

Second film tests confirmed that Shanghai film is absolutely correctly rated, and the development time for Rodinal developer is correct for my processing technique. So all that's required now is to actually photograph something! Using the Zone System, that is. Should be a hoot, as should the entire photographic plan for 2010. Lots of new ideas, so stay tuned!

Merry Christmas, if you celebrate it. Merry December 25th, if not


<sup>WTS:
'Enigma' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Window to the Soul' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Motherhood' ink illustration $150 [link]

WTB:
3 x 8x10 sheet film holders
1 x RB67 50mm Sekor-C lens
2 x Mamiya Pro-S 120 film back
1 x 4x5 Toyo bellows
1 x 65mm (or 75mm) large format lens (Copal 0)
1 x A12 chrome film back
3 x Hasselblad lenses: 50mm, 150mm & 250mm (C or CF, T*)
1 x Sekonic L-508 light meter
1 x Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive
1 x Mamiya C220 TLR w/ 80mm & 180mm lenses
1 x Epson V700 or 4990 scanner</sup>

Greetings all,

Happy to say that my new camera, the Toyo View 810 will be heading my way later today (many thanks Merv), and should arrive next week, just in time for Christmas! It's been a long time coming, but well worth the wait. The lens (Schneider 240mm) has some non-critical front damage, but I've sourced a new front element at a bargain price, thanks to KEH, so by the new year, barring any mishaps in transit, the new beastie will be complete and ready for work. You most likely won't see the results from this camera, unless I make a scan of a print, but first I need a scanner! Stay tuned....

One step further in film testing under the Zone System. Turns out that, without a densitometer, the eyeball method of judging neg density tells me that the factory-recommended ISO of 100 is about right for Shanghai film. Go figure Tomorrow I will shoot tests to determine the best development times for highlight detail, then I should be ready to shoot a practice roll of film using the Zone System and my DSLR's spot meter. As always, should be fun. Good to have things to do while I wait for the new camera to arrive! Then I can start work on finishing up that Hasselblad project

Planned as the penultimate post for '09, but if I don't post again this year I'll catch all you fine people on the other side of New Year's celebrations. Enjoy!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep..to gain that which he cannot lose". Jim Elliot, 1949


<sup>WTS:
'Enigma' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Window to the Soul' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Motherhood' ink illustration $150 [link]

WTB:
3 x 8x10 sheet film holders
1 x RB67 50mm Sekor-C lens
2 x Mamiya Pro-S 120 film back
1 x 4x5 Toyo bellows
1 x 65mm (or 75mm) large format lens (Copal 0)
1 x A12 chrome film back
3 x Hasselblad lenses: 50mm, 150mm & 250mm (C or CF, T*)
1 x Sekonic L-508 light meter
1 x Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive
1 x Mamiya C220 TLR w/ 80mm & 180mm lenses
1 x Epson V700 or 4990 scanner</sup>

So true! [link]

Pic of the year! [link]


<sup>WTS:
'Enigma' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Window to the Soul' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Motherhood' ink illustration $150 [link]

WTB:
3 x 8x10 sheet film holders
1 x RB67 50mm Sekor-C lens
1 x Mamiya Pro-S 120 film back
1 x 4x5 Toyo bellows
1 x 65mm (or 75mm) large format lens (Copal 0)
1 x A12 chrome film back
3 x lenses: 50mm, 150mm & 250mm (C or CF, T*)
1 x Sekonic L-508 light meter
1 x Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive
1 x Mamiya C220 TLR w/ 80mm & 180mm lenses
1 x Epson V700 scanner</sup>

"....you see a dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. ...every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. ... Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."

Carl Sagan

An example of this amazing planet: fireworks, a comet and lightning photographed simultaneously! [link]


<sup>WTS:
'Enigma' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Window to the Soul' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Motherhood' ink illustration $150 [link]

WTB:
3 x 8x10 sheet film holders
1 x RB67 50mm Sekor-C lens
1 x Mamiya Pro-S 120 film back
1 x 4x5 Toyo bellows
1 x 65mm (or 75mm) large format lens (Copal 0)
1 x A12 chrome film back
3 x lenses: 50mm, 150mm & 250mm (C or CF, T*)
1 x Sekonic L-508 light meter
1 x Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive
1 x Mamiya C220 TLR w/ 80mm & 180mm lenses
1 x Epson V700 scanner</sup>

Clearly my last journal was just too long for most to read in one sitting. SO!!! Here is a specially prepared SHORT one that should suit everyone (you short-attention-span deviants you!)

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!




<sup>WTS:
'Enigma' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Window to the Soul' pencil drawing $350 [link]
'Motherhood' ink illustration $150 [link]

WTB:
3 x 8x10 sheet film holders
1 x RB67 50mm Sekor-C lens
1 x Mamiya Pro-S 120 film back
1 x 4x5 Toyo bellows
1 x 65mm (or 75mm) large format lens (Copal 0)
1 x A12 chrome film back
3 x lenses: 50mm, 150mm & 250mm (C or CF, T*)
1 x Sekonic L-508 light meter
1 x Nikon F3 with MD4 motor drive
1 x Mamiya C220 TLR w/ 80mm & 180mm lenses
1 x Epson V700 scanner</sup>