surprising

http://www.news.com.au/technology/now-to-the-small-matter-of-kodaks-nuclear-reactor-wait-nuclear-what/story-e6frfro0-1226357995341

i am somewhat surprised to hear that Kodak had a nuclear reactor & a few pounds of enriched uranium in their basement. the article indicates they used it for testing - apparently high enough levels of radioactivity (including those airport x-ray machines, to a small extent) can fog film. so it makes sense, but the implication is this was a secret. interesting.

it's no secret to those who really dig such things that some camera equipment made in the USSR is mildly radioactive. in the FSU, the used to include a coating of lanthane glass on their lenses to correct abberations. this could be worrying, except it has a radius of about a metre  - in fact, people who've tested their cameras with geiger counters found a marked decrease in radioactivity levels from the lens to the back of the camera. levels are also so low that it has a radioactive half-life of 110 billion years. in fact, the level of radiation is less than that you'd pick up from laying down in your backyard for an hour on a sunny day, and is barely more than normal background radiation.

anyways, just thought this was an interesting little article to share - Kodak with a secret nuclear reactor, eh? mad.

Hong Kong In The 80s

My new project, Hong Kong In The 80s has started. It should appeal to people who like old photos, Hong Kong, the 80s, and those moments that are half-way between dream and memory. Feel free to pop over, have a squizz, and enjoy (hopefully).

caught off guard

The fountain in Princes Square, Launceston, 2002-2003.
Probably taken with a Minolta XG-M, on Ilford HP-5+.

Abandoned

Holga 135, probably XP-2, possibly Fuji 400

Not really abandoned. Just early morning at the Seaport. I can't for the life of me remember why I was down here early enough to experience an empty car park. Perhaps work? Maybe.

I've always liked this shot, pointy rooves, nice even-ish mix of tones: no black-metal-blacks or blinging whites.

Chalmers via Soviet Russia

I took this about two years ago for International Commie Camera Day. I used a Zorki 4 with an Industar 50 lens (not the sharpest), and if memory serves, some Fuji 400.

And those are indeed birds on the pointy bits of the tower.

From the cupboard #1

"CHILDREN ARE NOT TO RU(N)"

I recently (well, 6 months ago) migrated to a new laptop, and decided I needed to move old photos to new laptop. This gave me a good reason to go through some old images and see what I have.

So, while I don't use film very requently any more, I'll be posting to odd photo here from the archives.

Family Portrait

 

It's honestly not as bad as some might think.

Left to right, top to bottom:

Minolta XG-M; BelOMO Vilia; Holga 135BC

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super; Agfa Isola; Holga 120GN; Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515/18

LSI Fisheye 2; Kiev 4

Holga 120SF; Kiev 6C; LOMO Sokol 2

Kodak Brownie 127; Zorki 4; Agfa Isolette 2; Moskva 4

To my Kiev 6C

Heavy, like a brick

And smells of Mother Russia.

Weapon in disguise?