last polishing

Some time ago I already posted photos with brand new, renovated court building in Patras. It actualy was renovated first from the sides of Korynthou and Gounari str. The works still continued from pedestrian Kanari and Maizonos.

Passing one day and having my Rollei with me, group of construction workers were polishing the main stairs (even until now, the main entrance is not used, instead one of the side ones serves the traffic). I am not sure exactly why the color got so 'goldie' but I kind of like it this way.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/ Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Ektar 100

more from gdansk

Of course I did take some more photos while in Gdansk, so I post them today. I chose only the best and representative ones :-P First wider view to river front (with crane in far end):

And here the main pedestrian street - Dlugi Targ - which literally translates to "the long market", the historical main street market in the city. The tall tower with clock is the town hall building.

Both photos: Nikon FM2 + Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f/2.8, Fuji Color Superia 200

trip to poland: wooden crane in gdansk

One of the more recognizable cities of Poland is Gdansk (among Krakow and Warsaw of course). Gdansk's history is mixed a lot with Germany as it was changing sides several times, including long period of being a 'free city' of its own (profiting from taxes from both Poland and Germany :-D).

The main trade mark of the city was always the port. In middle age times it was one of the biggest in Europe. And a game changer was the crane! Capable of loading/unloading cargo ships up to uncommon at that time tonage, made a lot of trade routes to pass from Gdansk rather than any other nearby port. Today the crane is probably the most recognizable spots in the city and of course a must see for any tourist. As I am one, I did visit the place :-D

Photo: Nikon FM2 + Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f/2.8, Fuji Superia Color 200

Achaea Klauss

I was planning to go to Omplos hill for sunset photos for some time now and I finally made it. It was actually quite early when I found correct spot and I took quite a number of shots while waiting for the sun to set, so I still got soft day light and not yet typical red/orange. I was shooting mostly with some wide angle lenses but I took with me my very old Tamron's 200mm tele as well, that allowed me for some nice zooms into the city. Among many shots, I liked the ones with Achaea Klauss vinery:

I won't be writting much about the vinery itself as it's pretty easy to google it for sufficient info. As for the photos, I liked two frames: first one with tighter close up from the 200mm tele and second one with wider view including bypass of Patras and even some of the Rio-Antirio bridge.

At the end of the day, I was not pleased at all with the real sunset photos taken with film :-/ and only kept the ones from earlier shooting.

Photo1: Nikon FM2 w/ Tamron Adaptall 200mm, Fuji Superia 200

Photo2: Nikon FM2 w/ Tamron Adaptall 28mm, Fuji Superia 200

bird's or frog's view?

Very well known place: Agios Andreas church in Patras. I already had one night shot from here posted, almost from very same spot. Today another red filter b/w photo from... well in theory frog's perspective, but could be also bird's perspective as well considering all walking pigeons :-P Enjoy!

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/Tessar 75mm f/3.5 + Rollei red filter, Kodak Tmax 100

much better

About a month ago I've posted some of my unsuccessful results usign red filter on Rollei. This didn't mean I have stopped trying :-P not at all. Very soon after I've shot another roll with some of the photos taken using red filter again. And this time I am very pleased :-D

After previously failing with +2EV and +1EV settings on the camera vs light meter, I've decided this time to keep settings of original (without filter) messurements and it worked! I'm no scientist and have no idea how and why it worked well but I don't really care :-P Anyway the conclusion is (at least for composition with huge portion of bright sky and clouds) that whatever is messured without filter will work just fine with filter on. I had also some second thoughts as maybe the camera doesn't messure shutter speeds correctly but I abandoned this as I am pretty sure I would notice much higher number of failed photos in the past.

Ahh, forgot the most important info :-P Of course it's view to Rio-Antirio bridge from Mpozaitika beach.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/ Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 100

classic Nafplio

One more from Nafplio, probably the most classic frame from there. Every Greek (and many others) will recognize it in one second.

I have visited Nafplio before, in 2011. I remided myself that back then I took some experimental photos with home made camara obscura, built from match box and aluminium can. Here is exactly same spot 3y earlier (You can easily notice that my matchbox camera offered much wider angle :-P, something close to 12-14mm of 35mm film)

Photo1:Nikon FM2 w/ Tamron Adaptall 28mm f/2.8, Kodak Proffesional BW400CN

Photo2: Camara Obscura (home made, matchbox), dont remember the film.

night and day

Taking advantage of long weekend in March (Independence Day on March 25th, Tuesday), we visited very beautiful town of Nafplio. It is very well known tourist destination in Greece, both for Greek and foreigners. One of the reasons is the fortress of Boutzi, located on tiny island at the entrance to the port, historically very important deffensive location.

We had a goergious view from the balcony of our hotel room overlooking the whole bay and of course Bourtzi. Both photos were taken from same spot, first one in early morning hours and second one at night. If You will look close enough, You might also notice the castle of Argos in far background (top right corner of the photos), nicely illuminated at night as well.

Photos: FM2 w/Tamron Adaptall2 70-150mm, Kodak Proffesional BW400CN

not baby-friendly

There are lots of things we never notice in everyday life around us... Until we experience them! I have started to see some of them when I became a very happy father. I.e. I was shocked how difficult it is to walk around Patras with pushchair! In the center center, it is still not so bad with some streets being pedestrain only and others having fairly wide and smooth pavements. But situation changes drastically when You get any further.

On my way home from the center, from about Papaflessa str until Skaliopouleio it is simply impossible to walk with a puchchair on most of the pavements. Either they dont exist at all, or too narrow, or blocked by parked cars or so devastated that passing through is not possible. My route home is very carefully chosen with more comfortable streets and simply by walking part of the distance by the road.

Photo: Nikon FM2 w/Tamron Adaptall2 70-150 f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 400

red filter failure

As part of package with my Rolleiflex, I have received original sun protection "tulip" and two color filters for b/w photography, all in nice also original leather cases. For a long time I haven't used them, but recently I gave a try to the red filter - I wanted to achieve effect of nice dramatic sky, not over exposed, but also correctly exposed rest of the frame.

I studied a bit in internet about exposure compensation while using red filter and found out taht in most cases it is needed to increase exposure about 3 stops. Then I also checked with my light meter, where I got results closer to +2 stops depending on the frame. The filter itself mentioned the range from 1.5stops to 3stops (not much helpful :-/). Anyway first attempt was from my balcony and second from pedestrian part of Ag Nikolaou overlooking the sea, using +2 stops in both shots.

As You can easily notice, I have failed :-( Consider also the fact that I have darkened a bit the sky after scanning! Not sure why I failed... as I used the lesser compensation in fact. Imagine how over blown they would be with +3stops! I think I will go for minor +1 next time...

Photos: Rolleiflex Automat w/Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Rollei red filter, Kodak Tmax 400

more of krouzenshtern

Finally I got my film from Rolleiflex developed, so today bigger portion of Krouzenshtern photos, from different angles.

krouzenshtern

Just before Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, the port of Patras had a very exotic guest: four-masted barque "Krouzenshtern", 114.5 metres long, 14.02 metres wide and 7.2 metres in draught. Although originaly built in Hamburg, Germany, today this almost 90 years old vessel belongs to Russian Sailing Academy and serves as training and tourist sailing ship. On it's cruise from mother port of Kalliningrad to Sochi, it docked for few days in Patras.

This photo was taken with FED-5 w/  Industar 55mm 2.8 lens (also russian :-P).

infrared

As I am waiting for some latest films to be developed, today I am posting digital again. But it's from my old, recently converted D70s. After removing hot mirror (infrared light blocking filter just in front of the CCD sensor) and replacing it with visible light blocking filter, I have achieved the infrared-only sensitive camera. Great fun to do the conversion! And even greater fun to play around with the camera and explore all new possibilities...

There are some basic rules to keep in mind while taking IR photos:

1) the AF is not working correct, since the wave length is different. The easy way out of it is to use small apertures (f/8 and smaller) so the DOF is large enough to cover this shift. This + lower IR light available prones the shutter times to be fairly slow even in very good light conditions.

2) most interesting frames are the ones with lots of green (that apears white on IR) and cloudy sky, with as much contrast as possible (prefferably strong sun)

3) It has very nice effect in foggy/moisture environment as IR is not prone to them and allows to see "through"

But these are only basic rules and as always dont have to be 100% followed.

Anyway, the photo above is quite recognizable for anyone from Patras: the view from top of Ag Nikolaou stairs to the downtown, old port and the bay. One of my very first IR photos :-D

Camera: Nikon D70s (IR converted, 715nm) w/Sigma 17-50 f/2.8

Settings: F/9, 1/25s, ISO-200, f=17mm (25mm for FX)

on the tracks

View to Ag Andreas church in far background taken from rail tracks somewhere above Veso Mare.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 400

grocery

One of the best things about living in Greece for me is how close the mountains are. They are everywhere. And among lots of things I like to do when in mountains, like hiking, photography, skiing or simply enjoying food and drinks, is also shopping :-P Shopping the great traditional products: trachana, chilopites, marmelades, tsipouro, all kinds of spices and many more. I just love these places.

Right in the center, on Pantanasis str, there is a traditional grocery "Efdokia" with all the great food from all over Greece. Everything fresh and tasty. One reason not to go to the mountains any more :-P

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 100

"faros" once more

There a some iconic places in every city, so called "must see" or "must be", included in all city guides. Patras has of course it's own as well. Ag Andreas church, old port, fortress, Psila Alonia square or lighthouse are just few to mention. It became obvious for me that I have to "reshoot" all of them with my Rollei now. This probably means some repetitions of photo's subjects that had appeared here before - sorry for that - but it is simply a must :-D Today, the lighthouse. No real need to write a lot here again about the place itself.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 400

"highlands"

Psila Alonia square in Patras. The name can be translated to "highlands". One of the most popular places to go for a walk with a kid or a dog, or coffee or lunch. Full of green and shadow in the summer, and sun as well if needed in the winter.

Taken during rainy winter weather (it's actually January 1st) from one of balconies on the square for a nice panoramic view from above.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat w/ Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Ektar 100.

vespa christmas charity ride

On December 15th, 2013 there was a charity ride organized on old vespa scooters. Here the bikes were waiting for the riders, next to fully painted old building with various grafitti. Taken on Riga Fereou, outside of Onisimon cafe.

Photo: Rolleifles Automat w/ Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 100.

christmas carousel

This year's Christmas decorations in Patras where really nice. Specially plateia Gewrgiou looked very christmassy and offered a lot of fun for the kids. This one is a long exposure (~4s) looking at carousel in full motion and moon in the far background. The gentleman in front of me was also impressed :-D

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat with Tessar 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Tmax 100, developed and scanned at M. Alexopoulos (www.amfotolab.gr)

slowly abandoning digital

My first camera that I paid for with my own money was digital Nikon D70s, back in 2007. At that time this model was already 3y old and fairly affordable even for me. Digital photography was already dominating and I didnt even consider going analogue (both for performance and cost as well).

But, having spent last 6y or so, shooting pretty much only digital, I have started to get to know more and more about photography in general and somewhere in time I've started to be tempted by analogue and film techniques. It was the pinhole photography that came first! After browsing in internet some amazing efects that could be achieved with home made, matchbox camera obscura, I wanted to try it myself! And I loved it from the start: the "building" of the camera itself with several failed results, through the first tries, the waiting for prints, fixing the "construction" and recalculating exposure times, all till some first successes... great experience.

But soon it was not enough. Long exposure times limited me to specific shooting only. As I was already in love with film, I wanted a real full manual analogue camera to really learn about photography. I was lucky enough to find in my father's old stuff, hidden deep in old boxes, russian camera FED-5 with Industar lens 55mm f/2.8. Full manual, great for learning. Despite being 40 years old it still gave me some nice results and I kept taking it more and more often together with my digital Nikon.

Just few months ago, I got a crazy idea of trying out medium format. And this is actually where analogue and film can still come out cheaper than digital! As the prices of MF digital cameras are out of this world for me, the reasonable option was to look for some antique on ebay for few euros and repair it for another few euros to become operational. This way, in December 2013 I became an owner of Rolleiflex Automat with Tessar 75mm f/3.5 from 1938 :-D No need to mention that I fell in love immediately...

I have already posted one photo from this camera last week (from Psila Alonia square, top of stairs, looking to Trion Navarchon pedestrian str) and several others from FED-5 throughout the last year. Today is the icon of Patras, Agios Andreas church at night with about 4s exposure. Doesn't it look great on film?

As I shoot more and more often with both FED and Rollei now, I noticed recently that I do not carry my digital Nikon's at all for walks around Patras! I am not saying I will abandon them completely but I am thinking of posting here only photos from my new-old toys :-D

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat, Kodak T-max 100, developed and scanned at M. Alexopoulos (amfotolab.gr)

3 admirals from 3 cameras

Trion Navarchon is pedestrian street in Patras, starting from the lighthouse down by the coast and going up until Psila Alonia square, ending with stairs. The name translates as "the three admirals".

One of my favourite views in Patras is exactly from the top of the stairs, looking down the pedestrian road to the lighthouse. Today, the very same view from three different cameras: german Rolleiflex Automat from 1938, russian FED-5 from 1970s and japanese digital Nikon D70s.

Photo: Rolleiflex Automat with Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Kodak T-max 100

Photo: FED-5 with Industar 1:2.8 55mm, Agfa RETRO 100 (expired)

Photo: Nikon D70s with Nikkor 1:1.8 35mm