THRILLARAMA.COM

FILM CAMERA PRICES TANK

Earlier this week, I had considered selling off some of my analog cameras -- especially a Cine-Kodak K-100 that I had lusted after back in college and finally purchased about 10 years ago.

(By the way, the K-100 was the camera used to shoot that famous "bigfoot" footage back in 1967.)

I also had hoped that my stereoscopic equipment could sell for good money.

But I've decided to keep them, since prices for anything but the most collectible film cameras have completely tanked. In terms of resale, film is the kiss of death.

Maybe it's just as well that I'm not trying to sell these cameras. Each has a strong emotional hold on me. For example, it would have been too devastating to sell my Wirgin Edixa IA and Stereo Realist 1041 3-D cameras. They've been through a lot with me. The Edixa has been with me since high school and accompanied me on whitewater rafting trips, treks into the desert, a snow-filled afternoon at Devils Tower -- and even filled in for a week as my primary camera at a small daily newspaper in Wyoming.

The image here is one of a stereoscopic pair I shot with the Edixa in Los Angeles back in the 1980s.

I'm figuring out how to scan both left- and right-eye views without disassembling the stereo mounts. When I do, I'll post some dimensional images.

GIVING TUMBLR A WHIRL

After reading a report on Podcasting News about Tumblr's new mobile audioblogging feature, I signed up for the service. You can see my initial efforts at lthanlon.tumblr.com. The Tumblr control panel has a fun and easy interface and you'll be up and running in minutes.

By the way, I contacted Tumblr support and they assured me that under the terms of service, subscribers only grant Tumblr the right to show their content on Tumblr and in the service's featured listings for as long as the content is hosted it with Tumblr. They add: "We would never own your content or have any rights to it and you could remove it whenever you want."

Why not say it that way, instead of in the usual legalese?

RIDING THE TRICYCLE

Over at the ChicagoScope podcast, I often feel guilty about focusing too much on my own opinions and overemphasizing the personal pronoun -- even though it's difficult to create reviews and commentary any other way.

Over at Transom.org, a great resource for anybody involved in podcasting or radio, a recent piece by Sean Cole defends putting oneself and even one's friends into a story. Although Cole makes a compelling argument, I still hear Charles Kuralt's warning about riding the tricycle.

Actually, what I ought to feel guilty about is my lack of podcasting for almost three months. I'll deal with that this weekend when I post a podcast about my recent experiences on Amtrak's California Zephyr.

"SOYLENT GREEN": THE BEST OPENING EVER

 
Today I was thinking about the stock photography market and how any hopes I had of making a good second income from it probably are unrealistic these days. It's clear that the actual money is being made from distributing the images, not by creating them.

Then I got to thinking about the best use of stock photography I'd ever seen: the opening sequence to the 1973 classic "Soylent Green." Using stock images and a wonderfully evocative soundtrack that glides from a nostalgic waltz to dystopian jazz, this two-and-a-half-minute sequence tells a poignant tale of how the film's energy-starved world came to be.

The film makes even better use of stock motion picture images when Edward G. Robinson's character learns the terrible secret of soylent green and elects to "go home" -- to submit to state-assisted suicide.

Not many films these days have great title sequences. One of the few good ones I can think of is "Catch Me If You Can."

ARTICULATED CTA BUS

Articulated, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

The Chicago Transit Authority removed something like 200 of its articulated buses due to safety concerns. I was surprised that this bus was in operation on the No. 146 route this morning -- but it turned out to be one of the newer ones unaffected by the issue.

A number of years ago, I used to buy a magazine called Bus World that detailed all the comings and going in the world of buses. I haven't seen that magazine for a long time -- I should check City Newsstand to see if it's still around.

CREEDENCE AGAIN

Creedence Again, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

Tribute band Creedence Again shot a music video at CRC studios in Chicago today. I popped over during lunch to take some photos. Marty Larkin is on the left; Rich Perez portrays John Fogarty.

DISPOSABLE SURGERY

Surgery, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

I used an X-Acto blade to scratch the outer edges of this Kodak HQ one-time use camera's lens. I took care to leave the central portion untouched. Am hoping for a kind of dreamy effect that isn't too obvious.

FIVE FROZEN FINGERS

Five Frozen Fingers, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

Found this glove in the alley behind the CVS at the corner of Lawrence and Central in Jefferson Park. I have no idea what it's filled with and had no desire to check.

This reminds me of an assignment I had to take photos at a St. Patrick's Day celebration for Metromix. The event was in a North Side bar awash in buckets of beer and pantloads of heterosexual hormones. 

By 1:30 a.m., I'd already managed to get the photos I needed, so I headed for the men's room before leaving. When I pushed open the door, I saw a half-dozen guys standing around laughing their asses off while they peed into condoms and latex gloves.

"Hey, man! Take our picture for the Tribune!" one suggested.

I declined. 

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Sign of the Times, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

While visiting my family in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, last week, my sister showed me this photo I sent to her back in 1981 or so from Kingman, Arizona, where I briefly worked as a writer and photographer at the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper.

I learned about the sign from Jo Gray, another member of the editorial staff. Jo had sent a print to the National Enquirer in the hope the tabloid would buy and publish it, but I don't believe they did.

I shot this with a Praktica EE2, a camera I bought as a relatively cheap backup to my Nikon EL2. This East German import, sold through Montgomery Wards with a Penatcon "normal lens" and a third-party telephoto, was too plasticky for my taste, but served me well.

Some shyster jerk at Wards pulled a fast one in assembling the "package," though, since while the Pentacon lens allowed open-aperture metering, the third-party telephoto had to be stopped down -- a major hassle.

The original image is a horribly faded, satin-textured color print, probably shot on Kodacolor 100. I usually didn't shoot color negative at that time, but for some reason I did that day.

CRESTON, IOWA

Creston Junction, Iowa, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

Train stopped for a few minutes here. Our conductor loves to make loooooong announcements. Some folks in the club car were having a great time mocking him. I wouldn't do that -- it's a great way to get thrown off the train.

WELL, IT SUCKED

My friend Rick told me to order something other than the Flatiron Steak, since I didn't care for the one I had last fall.

I should have listened to him. Tonight's steak -- done medium -- was really nothing more impressive than what I've had at chain restaurants.

At least it'll be hard for them to screw up breakfast.

MIDTOWN COIN LAUNDRY

Midtown Coin Laundry, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

Early evening in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Looks like you can still get a load done.

BURLINGTON, IOWA

Burlington, Iowa, originally uploaded by chi_cowboy.

Just crossed the Mississippi at sunset.

DESIGNATED SMOKING STOP

Brief stop at Galesburg. This is a "designated smoking stop" for those so inclined. Train is about ten minutes behind schedule.

SPOTTY COVERAGE

Boy, I sure miss 3G coverage. About 20 minutes from Galesburg now