A Tale (and Test) of Two Zorki's

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm obsessed with my two Zorki rangefinder cameras, especially the older one, my little Zorki 1. Come to think of it, I'm quite fond of my Zorki 4 as well. Both of these cameras have a special place in my heart and in my camera arsenal, and I've written about them before in this blog (see links above and below). I love seeing them sit on my window sill, and I love putting film in them and making photographs with them. 
They are fun to use, not because they are fancy or loaded with features, but quite the opposite, actually. Using them connects me with the basic functions of a camera:  shutter speed, aperture, focus, and depth of field. I sometimes feel as it I have stepped back to an earlier time in photography when photographers learned to think carefully and quickly about composition and exposure to avoid missing shots. I am not fast with these cameras yet, but the more I use them the more comfortable I get. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that Zorki was a brand name for a series of cameras manufactured in Russian beginning around the time of World War II. They were meant to be copies of the very fine (and very expensive) German-made Leica rangefinder cameras that Russians citizens could no longer get because of the war. My Zorki 1 greatly resembles a Leica ii, and my Zorki 4 is loosely based on a Leica iiic. Of course, the Leica's were far better cameras with outstanding optics, and today Zorki's are dirt cheap compared to the investment one must make to own a Leica. Ironically, I used to own a Leica iiib beginning back in the 1980's until it my house was broken into in 1994. Maybe someday I will own one again. Maybe not. However, for now I have these two Russian copies to play with. 

If I had to pick one really good thing about these cameras, it would be that they actually work. I have had to made some repairs on the shutter curtains of the Zorki 1, and I have had the Zorki 4 shutter completely overhauled by a professional camera repair person, but hey, eventually you have to service all vintage cameras including Leica's. so functionally, my Zorki bodies work fine. But what about the lenses?

In my experience so far, the quality of theses Russian-made lenses are the most significant difference between the Leica and the Zorki. My early experiences with both cameras produced results that ranged from mediocre to out-of-focus bad. It was enough to make me question actually using them until I was able to afford better lenses. However, I decided to try again and do something along the lines of a test. I decided to try shooting subjects at difference distances with different apertures to see what the lenses can do under the best of conditions. Also, I strove to make sure that I was focusing carefully and holding the camera steady to get the sharpest photos possible. 

I started with my Zorki 1. It is equipped with a Russian-made Industar 22 50mm f3.5 collapsable lens that is a copy of the German-made Leica Elmar lens, a very fine lens indeed. I loaded the Zorki 1 with some Ultrafine Extreme 100 film and looked several walks around downtown Chattanooga on sunny days, which gave me easy-to-calculate exposures. I shot subjects at close distances, and subjects at infinity. I developed the film myself and made some prints at Safelight District Community Darkroom, where I am a member. I decided to make prints of only the best shots.

The best way to describe what I found is this:  inconsistency, especially with distant subjects. Some photos of our river bridges (a favorite subject of mine) were just not sharp, even though I set my focus at infinity. Using different apertures, like f8, f11, and f16, did not make a significant difference, either. However, a shot of our local aquarium from a distance was much better and certainly acceptable. Photographs of subjects at a medium distance (about twenty feet) also were reasonably sharp. 

The Tennessee Aquarium. Reasonably sharp
at infinity, unlike other photos at similar distance.

Universal Joint, a local pub. Good focus from about twenty feet.

Where this lens really shone was with shots with five to ten feet. I made several photographs of a public art exhibit called Passages, which commemorates the tragic removal of the Cherokee Nation from Tennessee and Georgia in the 1830's. There are several large ceramic disks that tell of the history of the Cherokee, and I wanted to see how well the Industar lens would render the details. The resulting prints are very sharp indeed! 

Strength of Life, Passages, Chattanooga. I was surprised at how
sharp the details are. Good job, Industar 22!

Warrior Birds, Passages, Chattanooga. I'd take this level of
sharpness from this lens anytime.

I am left with several conclusions. First, it is possible that the built-in rangefinder on the Zorki 1 needs some adjustment. Perhaps the lens is not really at infinity when I set it to infinity, but such a condition would show up more on close up, I would think. Second, I should try again with a tripod to achieve maximum control and rule out "Shaky Hand Syndrome." Putting a 35mm rangefinder goes against the very purpose of these cameras, which was mobility and spontaneity. Third, I would love to try a better lens. I have given thought to either selling or trading some cameras to get a genuine Leica Elmar. Anybody out there have one I could at least try out? 

Lastly, I'm not giving up. I'm going to continue to find out what can this camera and lens can do best and/or how I can improve my skills to make better shots with it. Maybe it will make me a better photographer along the way. 

Next time:  My Zorki 4.

Happy Shooting!

UJC Podcast #25: Interview with Mark Gilliland

©2020 Mark Gilliland

Today I recorded an interview with one of my favorite people in the world, who just happens to be an outstanding professional photographer. His name is Mark Gilliland, and like Kelley and me, he is a Chattanooga native. Mark is one of those rare people who make a living doing what he loves to do:  capture beautiful images with a camera, and in his thirty plus years he has worked in just about every field of professional photography including news, sports, features, fashion, food, real estate, and wedding photography. His work has earned him awards from Nikon, the Associated Press, and the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association. When he is not shooting for assignments, he shoots for himself, capturing patterns of light, color, lines, and shapes with an uncanny eye for beauty. His photographic art hangs in museums in Georgia and Arizona. 

I first met Mark when both Kelley and I were just beginning to return to film photography. Mark has had to put up with my constant questions, and he always more than happy to answer them. He truly loves what he does, and I find that and him incredibly inspiring. I hope you get some inspiration from our conversation. I highly recommend that you investigate his work, some of which can be see at www.markgillilandphotography.com. He is a frequent poster on Instagram and can be found @magill3179.

Happy Shooting!

Hello Goodbye

Today’s post is a little different. There are no film photographs or prints to share, and I am not reviewing a camera. Instead, I am sharing with you some news that has been ongoing since mid-July and has only now come into complete fruition, more of less.

I’m retired. 

That’s right. Retired. Retired from being a public school music teacher. Retired from my career, the only career I have ever known. And not just me, either. My wife, Debbie, a career elementary school teacher retired with me. We always have enjoyed taking our journeys together, and this is the start of a big one, one we have been looking forward to for quite some time. One that wasn’t supposed to start for another two years. But scratch that. It’s on.

We made our decision suddenly but certainly while in our VW Rabbit on the way back from our summer trip to the western US to visit both our daughters. We like to take backroads and stay off the interstate when possible, and we happened to be on a very backroad winding our way around Missouri cornfields at the very moment when our decision was made. The day was sunny, and the corn was tall. Debbie was driving, and I was in the middle of a Google meet with my principal. When he announced that a change in our reopening plans had been made, we looked at each other and made our minds up. No turning back from then on.

No doubt you likely are thinking that our decision to retire was brought about my COVID-19, and you are not wrong. However, during the month and a half since that day, we both have come to realize that this choice was the right choice at the right time - pandemic or not. Something inside had been telling me that the end was near for a year already. I’m fascinated by baseball players (I love baseball) who either because of their love of the game or because of the money keep on playing past their time of effectiveness. Sometimes it works out and magic happens. Other times it’s painful. I felt like my “game” was in pretty good shape still, but the daily pressure to be creative (teaching the same standards year after year but always having to have new lessons, songs, games, dances, etc.) was beginning to take its toll on my central nervous system. Certainly our change in lifestyle from urban house owners to downtown condo dwellers had something to do with it, as well. At any rate, it’s time for the next chapter of my life:  Chapter Three.

2004:  Hello

I call it Chapter Three, because I think of my life so far as being divided into two periods. The first was my youth all the way to the conclusion of my college education. The second was my teaching career. Both were periods of generally routine and predictability. Not boring, mind you. My wife and I love our live together as we always have, and we could not be more proud of two daughters we raised. It was a blast, but they are grown now. Changes come and life goes on. Being parents was great. Being empty nesters was great, too. Same thing with college. I loved being a college student, but I also loved being a professional music educator. Each has its season. and now the season has changed again. Now, I am turning the page and starting Chapter Three. To quote Elvis Costello, “Everyday I write the book.” I’ll write it as I go.

2020:  Goodbye

I actually don’t like the word “retirement.” It calls to my mind images of being in a rocking chair taking it easy. That won’t be me, God willing. I’ve got lots to do. Yes, the first couple of weeks have been an adjustment, and we have enjoyed the constant thought that we are not tied down to a routine. But we have plans together for travel, learning, and service. And in all of that, I will make more of my own music than I have been able to do for some time. Of course, I will shoot lots of film, develop it, and make lots of prints. And I plan to write a lot for this blog and for others. I still love to do what I did as a profession educator, and that is sharing what I have learned. And yes, there will be more Uncle Jonesy’s Cameras podcasts. Thank you for your patience. Stay tuned.

Reports From the Road #7: Suitcase Full of Memories

Our long drive began yesterday morning in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it. ended as we turned into our designated parking spot at our condo building in downtown Chattanooga. And with that, our Summer 2020 vacation adventure also came to an end. It had been a lovely day driving the backroads of Kansas, Missouri, and western Tennessee, winding around farm fields on roads named M, B, EE, and J, being up close and personal with golden fields of corn, wheat, and soybean, and truly, truly feel that we were seeing America in a way that can only be done by driving the backroads. What a magnificent way to end a vacation.

We are bringing a suitcase full of memories home with us, and Debbie and I talked about an relive many of them during our drive home. We got to spend time with both of our daughters and sons-in-law, play with our granddog, play games, hike amazing trails, eat and drink together in memorable settings, paddle board, enjoy live music, and laugh together endlessly.  Because they live so far away, these moments with family are more precious than gold.

We unloaded the car and got everything on the elevator in one trip, brought it all into our condo and began unpacking. I found the rolls of film I had shot and put them in the refrigerator. Both cameras still have rolls in them as well. I will develop the black and white film right away. The Ektachrome color slide film will go to a lab (The Darkroom). Or maybe not. I’m considering ordering an E-6 developing kit and doing it myself. In addition to the two rolls of Ektachrome I shot on the trip, I had another exposed roll plus two fresh roll. That’s five rolls of Ektachrome altogether, and I could really save some money by doing it myself. I’ve done E-6 before; it’s really not any more difficult than doing C-41 for color negative film, which I do all the time.

I hope you have enjoyed reading these Reports From the Road. I certainly enjoyed writing them, as the process of writing them helped to sharpen the experiences of our trip in my mind and heart. And yes, I will share the photographs when I have those finished as well.

Thank you for coming along for the ride.

Kevin

Reports From the Road #6 Homeward Bound

The worst thing about vacations is that they must come to an end eventually. The trick is to make as memories as you can while you have the chance, so that when the vacation does conclude itself, it will continue to live on in cherished memories that, unlike the vacation itself, never ends. Make hay while the sun shines, as they say.

Lake Chatfield

With that in mind, we set out to make a our last full day with Megan and Devin a day for the memories. To this end, we went stand-up paddle boarding at Chatfield State Park, which is south of Denver. Debbie and I first tried paddle boarding a year ago in Daytona Beach, Florida, and fell in love with it, so much so we be bought our own boards. Chatfield Lake is a large man-made reservoir that is perfect for SUP, due to the fact that no boats are allowed. This means no wake, and standing on the paddle boards is much easier. We we paddled around the lake, we were treated to a great view of the front range of the Rockies. Not a bad way to spend your last day of vacation.

When we were done paddle boarding, we drove back to Megan and Devin's home to get ready for supper. Once again, Devin was the chef, and his tacos and his quacamole was outstanding.
While the meal was being prepared, I made an effort to spend some time with Megan and Devin's dog, Darlin'. Darlin’ Dog became our granddog ten and a half years ago when Megan rescued her from a shelter in Nashville. I will never forget meeting her for the first time when Megan came to visit us shortly after, and we fell in love with her straightway. Darlin’ is a mix of two breeds:  Rhodesian ridgeback and beagle, 

and she is totally devoted to Megan and to anyone Megan loves, which includes us. Debbie is “G Mommy,” and I am “G Daddy.” While a bit nervous around strangers, with us she is the ultimate herder and protector. Even though she is approaches her tenth birthday and is slowing down some, she still has such great love for the people who love her. I love her as much as I would a grandchild, and I cherish every minute I get to spend with her. She’s a good dog indeed!

When this morning (Tuesday) came, we got up early and said our goodbyes to Megan and Darlin’ (Devin, who has to work late tonight, was having a sleep-in, and we said our goodbyes last night), and we Point per our little Volkswagen Rabbit toward I-70 East and set out for home, sad for the departure but happy for the many memories we carry home with us. Hopefully, I will have some good photographs as well. We stayed on the interstate until just past Hayes, Kansas, when we turned south on US 281 and drove until we came to US 400. There we turned left and drove eastward through golden fields of Kansas corn and wheat and skies bigger than I have ever before seen.

Quite coincidentally, we came upon Parsons, Kansas, in the southeastern part of the state. Although I have never been there before, Parsons has a special significance to me, as it is the home of Dwayne's Photo Services. Since 1956 Dwayne's Photo has operated as a film lab, and in late 2010 they processed the last roll of Kodachrome ever, and processing had ceased everywhere else. Just a couple of weeks before developing that last roll, they processed my last roll of Kodachrome. Beginning in September 1980 when I purchased my first real camera new in the box (a Minolta XG-1) with my first teacher paycheck, I was a devoted Kodachrome shooter. I have hundreds and hundreds of Kodachrome slides stored away, slides that documented mine and my families's lives for thirty years before Kodak discontinued making the film.

Tomorrow, home. Stay tuned.

Reports From the Road #5: Trail Magic

We woke up Saturday morning a bit late tired from our hike up to St. Mary's Glacier, so we took it a bit easier for the day, spending the day at or near our oldest daughter and her mate, Devin's home in Denver. Our one excursion was to Banded Oak Brewery to enjoy some local Denver-crafted beer while hearing some live music. Like most food and drink venues in these pandemic days, everything happens outside with tables widely distances and everyone wearing masks when not eating or drinking. The beer was good indeed, and so was the music from the local honky tonk band, Extra Gold. 

Extra Gold in 2019, Minolta 7s on Fomapan 100

Honky tonk style music is very popular in Denver, but I think Extra Gold stands out with its breezy, almost psychedelic style. Ironically, we saw them play live about this same time last year when we were in Denver to visit the girls, and it was then that I made one of my favorite concert photographs. This time, however, I used my Minolta XE-5 SLR with the 28mm lens and both finished up a roll of Ultrafine Extreme 100 and started a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400. The band played underneath a small canopy in the parking of of the brewery, so I was able to get quite close while still keeping all the musicians in the frame.

Both Megan and Devin are avid outdoor adventurers, and Debbie and I also love a good hike. So, Sunday saw us driving north on US 34 along the front range of the Rockies to a place between Longmont and Loveland called Sullivan's Gulch, where a strenuous two mile out and back trail climbs almost 1000 to a mostly level open field that allows breath-taking views of Long's Peak. Debbie and I have found that walking sticks are essential for trails that ascend and descend, and they sure came in handy on this trial. We picnicked at the trailhead first and then set off underneath a lightly overcast sky, for which I was very thankful.

Long's Peak, one of Colorado's 14,000 ft peaks.

The clouds not only made for cooler temperatures, but also for less contrast and more color saturation. I carried both SLR's with me, as I planned to shoot both color and black and white along the way. We encountered lots of colorful wildflowers and plenty of rock outcrops, but one of the best aspects of this trail is that it is lightly traveled. We only saw three other hikers on the way up and only four on the way down, so it was fairly easy to remain socially distant. When we reached the top, day had changed, and we were greeted with a beautiful partly sunny Rocky Mountain vista! It always amazes me how much clouds will improve a photograph. I decided to try out my 135mm Minolta Celtic lens to get a good shot of Long's Peak. I rarely used this lens; it’s simply too telephoto for me, and it really should be used with a tripod for best results. I didn’t carry my tripod up this steep climb, but I did have my walking stick which just so happens to have a tripod mount on it, which is accessed by flipping open the top of the stick Handel. I don’t actually use the screw mount; instead I just rested the camera on the stick for steadiness and gently squeeze the shutter.

Using my walking stick as a monopod.

Debbie and I at the top of Sulivan's Gulch.

Hikes like this one do not come along very often for me, and a was quite sincere when I told Debbie that today had been one of the best days of my life. However, it was not over yet. Megan and Devin took us to Ironton Distillery and Crafthouse for supper and spirits. Ironton crafts a number of spirits such as vodka, gin, whisky, rum, and others with great attention to detail. They also make fine thin crust pizzas and serve their products in a lovely outdoor patio setting that is maintained by the landscaping company for which Megan works. We were awed by her colorfully artistic barrel plantings that are carefully placed throughout the patio. I made a few shots of the patio before it got too dark, and then we all enjoyed a great meal and time together.

Monday will be our last full day in Denver, so stay tuned to hear about our adventures before we begin our journey home.

Reports From the Road #4: All Gonna Meet Down at the Cadillac Ranch

After spending the night in Amarillo, we began the day with a visit to the iconic Cadillac Ranch just west of town. In case you don’t know, Cadillac Ranch is “sculptor” art installation that consists of ten vintage Cadillac automobiles in a row with their front ends buried in the Texas soil and their tail fins jutted upward into the sky, all at the same angle. The installation is considered interactive, and each colorful car has been painted over many times by visitors and artists. I didn’t actually know where Cadillac Ranch was until I researched hotels for Wednesday night and found that it was only about two miles away. Although we did not get up and out at the crack of dawn, we did check out quickly and set out for it in the bright cloudless morning sun. I stupidly thought that we might be the only people there and that I would have the opportunity to make some photographs of the famous monument with no one else around.

However, as we approached the site, I saw dozens of parked cars along the side of the road. We parked our car and walked through the gate toward the site, and I could see a large number of people gathered around the cars, all actively painting the cars with cans of spray paint. I realized that this probably happens everyday and that, unlike most art, the appearance of Cadillac Ranch is never static. I shot several frames of  Ektachrome E100 color slide film with my Minolta X-700, and while I tried to isolate a single car to show off its bright colors, I also made some shots that included the “artistic” activity that was going on. It was fun, and now I’ve been to Cadillac Ranch.

Next, it was time for a long Thursday drive through west Texas and northeaster New Mexico to reach Colorado and eventually Denver, where our oldest, Megan, and her mate, Devin, live. I loved that the road was all state and US highways until shortly before Colorado. Driving the backroads puts you up close and personal with the landscape and the places where people live, work, and farm. I was amazed at how often the landscaped in Texas, changing from the flattest farmland I have ever seen to rocky hilly prairie to almost desert-like conditions with cactus all around. We stopped once to photograph a church, but we could have stopped again and again if we weren’t on a schedule. I also kept on eye on the car thermometer and watched it climb upward, eventually reaching 102°F in southern Colorado. Suddenly, as we drove north along Interstate 25, the Rocky Mountains came into view. High heat and high peaks!

We finally reached Megan and Devin's warm and comfortable home in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day relaxing in her colorful flower garden. Megan is a very talented landscaper who aspires to have her own landscaping business someday. Because she also is a talented visual artist, she is building a reputation for her creative flower plantings, and this is clearly evidenced by her own beautiful and thriving flower garden. You can feel her love of beauty and nature there, and we had a wonderful evening catching up with lots of laughter and love.

The next day we had a tasty breakfast of breakfast burritos crafted by Devin. Devin works in the restaurant industry and is a master of burrito making; his burritos are rolled perfectly, and they are a joy to eat. Actually, Devin has many talents, but none so pronounced as his musical talents. He is a fine guitarist who also gets around well on bass and drums. As a singer and songwriter, he spends a lot of time crafting his music in his studio, which he has fashioned in the garage. I got to jam with Devin after breakfast, me on drums and Devin on guitar. Fun!

Next, we drove into Clear Creek Canyon and climbed until we reached St. Mary's Glacier. The air was clear, and the Rockies were sharp, present, and beautiful. We walked up to the snow, and I carefully walked out onto the glacier, trying desperately to not fall (unsuccessfully, of course.) I shot a lot of color and black and white film, as I managed to carry both the XE-5 and the X-700 with both a 50mm and a 28mm lens. In a landscape situation like the Colorado Rockies, a wide angle lens is a must. The bright sunny conditions made for a sunny f16 day. Once we had enough of the snow, we set up hammocks and had a great picnic lunch. That with a home-cooked meal back at Megan and Devin's made for a truly great day.

Stay tuned.