Vintage+Digital Photography Insights by Tim McCauley
I learned photography back in the late 1970s using vintage medium format cameras. My father, who got me started with photography back then, used to speak with longing about a camera he had in the 1950s and eventually traded someone for a lawn mower. Even though we had a few nice cameras, he would constantly … Read more
Fall color - oaks and longleaf pines - Holly Springs NC The fall colors in the woods around my neighborhood near Raleigh NC vary a lot from year to year depending upon the summer weather, and can be quite spectacular, as were the oak trees in 2019. For this shot, I used a Pentax ME Super 35mm camera with a SMC Pentax 50mm f2 lens, and Fujichrome Sensia 100 film. I developed the film, along with the rest of the last dozen rolls of Fujichrome left in my freezer, at the end of 2020.
Windows in late afternoon - Heidelberg, Germany The old city of Heidelberg is a wonderland of historic buildings and places which escaped unscathed from the bombs of WWII. I lived in southern Germany for a few years in the early 1980s, and made frequent Saturday trips to Heidelberg, which was about an hour train ride. I had my Pentax ME Super 35mm camera, which I bought new in 1980, along with two of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses. This image was taken with the Series 1 70-210mm lens (version 2 made by Tokina) on Ektachrome 64 film in September 1983. I still have the camera and 70-210mm lens, which are still favorites after 40 years.
Pink lilies- Raulston Arboretum - Raleigh NC The arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh NC has an abundance of flowers in bloom from early May until the intense summer heat shows up in mid-June. I usually make multiple visits per year because you just never know what will happen. For this shot, I used a Canon AE-1 35mm camera with Canon FD 50mm macro lens and Fujichrome Sensia 100 film. I developed the film, along with the rest of the last dozen rolls of Fujichrome left in my freezer, at the end of 2020.
Bond Falls - near Watersmeet, Michigan Bond Falls is one of my favorite spots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and I try to get there every 2 or 3 years. I had a perfect opportunity in June 2018 with light overcast conditions for nice, soft light. For this shot, I used equipment and film that were totally new to me at the time. I shot the image with a Konica FC-1 35mm camera and a Hexanon 24mm lens on Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film. My discovery of Konica Hexanon lenses was a good one, and the same goes for Ektar 100 film, which makes shooting on 35mm film quite relevant and enjoyable in the digital age.
Fumee Creek - near Norway, Michigan Fumee Creek falls is one of my favorite spots in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, located in a small park right off the main highway. In July, 2019 there was a nice flow of water, as that was not a dry year, and the light overcast conditions were perfect light. For this shot, I used what has become one of my favorite 35mm camera systems. The image was taken with a Konica FC-1 35mm camera with a Hexanon 21mm lens on Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film. My discovery of Konica Hexanon lenses was a good one, and the same goes for Ektar 100 film, which makes shooting on 35mm film quite relevant and enjoyable in the digital age.
Colorful bush on the Haw River - near Pittsboro, North Carolina The Haw River State Natural Area in central NC, about 15 miles from home, is a great place to hike and take pictures in all seasons. I was a bit late for fall color in November 2019, and was quite disappointed with the trip, when I found this bright orange bush among the rocks. I love the way it contrasted with the somewhat dull surroundings. The image was shot with the trusty Canon AE-1 35mm camera with a "new" 20mm Canon FD lens on Ektar 100 color negative film. As I later figured out, that Canon 20mm lens is an awesome 20mm legacy super wide angle - a real keeper.
Smoky Mountain Stream - Great Smoky Mountains N.P, Tennessse I have a few favorite spots in the Smoky Mountains, and this one is off Newfound Gap Rd. near the Chimney Tops trailhead, where two streams come together. For this shot, I used my favorite medium format camera - a Mamiya Universal Press - with a 50mm lens and color negative film (6x8cm negative size). Medium format color negative film has always been my favorite medium, as it can capture a wide dynamic range and is capable of about 35 good megapixels of resolution. Taken in September 2018.
Mountain vista - Shenandoah N.P. Virginia This was my first real photo-taking trip to Shenandoah, in September 2020, after traveling through it briefly in 2016. I got a number of good photos on that trip. This image was shot with the Canon AE-1 35mm camera with a 20mm Canon FD lens on Ektar 100 color negative film. I don't usually shoot this kind of scene with a superwide lens, but that's what it took to get the big oak tree in the picture. Fortunately, the Canon FD 20mm is great from corner to corner at f8.
Devils Lake - near Madison, Wisconsin Devils Lake is an all time favorite for Wisconsin folks who love the outdoors, with climbable rock bluffs rising several hundred feet from the lake. This is a popular rock formation known as Devil's Doorway. For this shot, I used my favorite medium format camera - a Mamiya Universal Press - with a 75mm lens and color negative film (6x8cm negative size). Medium format color negative film has always been my favorite medium, as it can capture a wide dynamic range and is capable of about 35 good megapixels of resolution. This image was taken in September 2005.
Hydrangea - WRAL Gardens in Raleigh NC As everyone knows, 2020 was not a good year for travel or much else. My favorite botanical gardens in the Raleigh-Durham area were all closed, so I discovered the WRAL Gardens - maintained by a local TV station and media company on their property. It's such an awesome place, I'll be back a few times in 2021, especially for the azaleas. Again, I brought along the trusty Canon AE-1 35mm camera and the ever-useful Canon FD 50mm macro lens. This combo is great for shooting flowers, and I prefer 50mm lens for macro over 90mm or 100mm because of the much better DOF. Shot on one of my last rolls of Fujichrome film.
Fall color, maple tree - Raleigh NC I'm always amazed at what I'll find every fall as I drive around town to the grocery store, post office, WalMart, etc. This maple tree was located right off the parking lot at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, discovered as I was getting back into my car after a Saturday service in 2019. I grabbed the Nikon FM 35mm camera that was with me and shot this image with an 85mm Nikkor lens on Fujichrome Sensia film.
