Some thoughts coming back from NYC

[furcafe]

In my experience, it is probably 1 of the only events in N. America where you will see a significant number of classic film cameras in use (the ratio of photographers to paraders being roughly 1:1).

Originally Posted by Calzone

PLUG: Saturday June 23rd is the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. The difficulty with shooting this event is not to waste film and ending up with a bunch of tourist snapshots even though its a huge shooting gallery. This is just the opposite problem that you state in your thread.

Cal

[davidtan]

I did see quite a few in last year's parade.

In general, Coney Island is a hot spot for people shooting with film cameras. Heck, I saw 5 different film M Leicas in the span of an hour on the boardwalk once. It might be the association with the likes of Weegee and Bruce Gilden that attracts many of these film shooters to Coney Island.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by furcafe

In my experience, it is probably 1 of the only events in N. America where you will see a significant number of classic film cameras in use (the ratio of photographers to paraders being roughly 1:1).

One year I shot with my "Whiteface" Rollei 3.5F and a Version 1 Tele Rollieflex, and I was instantly a tourist attraction. LOL. One guy shooting a Leica blew an entire roll of film on me and my cameras. He literally emptied his camera.

Anyways this very talented and hot pole dancer kinda knew I was the dude with the cool camera, and she put on a show especially for my Rollei and me. I felt like Richard Avedone as she jumped up the pole, inverted herself upside down, and then proceeded to go spread eagle eventually making a full frame cruxifix on my square negative with her body and the pole.

She held the poses as I shot and cranked and purposely was amazing displaying her body, her strength and most of all her flexability. Now I have a series of four shots that form a great sequence.

About a year later I met this girl again and learned that her name is "Brooklyn."

Cal

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by davidtan

I did see quite a few in last year's parade.

In general, Coney Island is a hot spot for people shooting with film cameras. Heck, I saw 5 different film M Leicas in the span of an hour on the boardwalk once. It might be the association with the likes of Weegee and Bruce Gilden that attracts many of these film shooters to Coney Island.

I'll be truthful: mostly its the women in exhibition mode for me. The event is very much like a New York version of Marty Grauz.

Cal

[furcafe]

People do seem to love TLRs. The 3 times I've been, I've only seen 1 guy w/a Rolleiflex (& it's always been the same guy), using the prism finder & a bracket-mounted flash. Lots of Yashicamats (the K1000 of TLRs), though.

Originally Posted by Calzone

One year I shot with my "Whiteface" Rollei 3.5F and a Version 1 Tele Rollieflex, and I was instantly a tourist attraction. LOL. One guy shooting a Leica blew an entire roll of film on me and my cameras. He literally emptied his camera.

Anyways this very talented and hot pole dancer kinda knew I was the dude with the cool camera, and she put on a show especially for my Rollei and me. I felt like Richard Avedone as she jumped up the pole, inverted herself upside down, and then proceeded to go spread eagle eventually making a full frame cruxifix on my square negative with her body and the pole.

She held the poses as I shot and cranked and purposely was amazing displaying her body, her strength and most of all her flexability. Now I have a series of four shots that form a great sequence.

About a year later I met this girl again and learned that her name is "Brooklyn."

Cal

[furcafe]

Yes, a gay acquaintance of mine aptly dubbed it "a pride parade for straight people".

Originally Posted by Calzone

I'll be truthful: mostly its the women in exhibition mode for me. The event is very much like a New York version of Marty Grauz.

Cal

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Calzone

Anyways this very talented and hot pole dancer kinda knew I was the dude with the cool camera, and she put on a show especially for my Rollei and me. I felt like Richard Avedone as she jumped up the pole, inverted herself upside down, and then proceeded to go spread eagle eventually making a full frame cruxifix on my square negative with her body and the pole.

You love this story... you need a new one this year.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by furcafe

Yes, a gay acquaintance of mine aptly dubbed it "a pride parade for straight people".

Thanks for the laugh. Very true.

Cal

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

You love this story... you need a new one this year.

Already have one: When we got hailed over by the local neighborhood tough guy/ vigil-ant-ee/ bounty hunter in Spanish Harlem on East 116th Street.

Remember when we were getting yelled to, "Hey you two-come over here." LOL.

Next question: "What are you guys doing here?"

Anyways we looked rather suspicous characters and really stood out: a Chinese guy with a poney tail and arrogant chin beard, and a a big white guy with a shaved head both carrying Leicas.

The best was your icebreaker when you were directly asked if you were a cop, "Just because I'm a white guy doesn't mean I'm a cop." LOL.

Anyways life is so funny: you can't make this stuff up.

Cal

[davidtan]

Had a funny exchange with a guy who approached me on Monday when I was shooting at Brighton Beach:

Him: Hey can I get a cigarette off you?

Me: I don't have any.

Him: Oh. Can I get some change?

Me: Got no change.

Him: Oh. Can you take a picture of me with your camera?

Me: Sure. (Shoots him with my Canon A-1).

Him: Can I see how it turned out.

Me: Sorry. (I show him the back of the camera) It's film.

Him: Oh. How am I going to see the picture?

Me: Well, if I ever become famous, you might end up seeing it somewhere.

Him: ... Cool! Thanks!

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Calzone

The best was your icebreaker when you were directly asked if you were a cop, "Just because I'm a white guy doesn't mean I'm a cop." LOL.

Well, as a bald white guy...I get this a lot in certain neighborhoods.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Well, as a bald white guy...I get this a lot in certain neighborhoods.

Pretty funny that you were identified as Five-Oh because of the Kojack look.

Cal

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Calzone

Pretty funny that you were identified as Five-Oh because of the Kojack look.

And, I'm not exactly the cop type personality wise.

[furcafe]

As a bald(ing) Chinese guy, I get that a lot, too.

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Well, as a bald white guy...I get this a lot in certain neighborhoods.

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

And, I'm not exactly the cop type personality wise.

As you know I got mistaken for a cop once in Long Island City because my Luna Pro light meter was mistaken as a badge holder by some truck driver.

"About time you got here," he said. And then when I said, "Excuse me?" the driver mentioned how he had dialed 911 and was waiting for the cops to show up in this remote industrial part of the city.

Also had my Nikon F3P with motor drive mistaken as a gun by some passerby in LIC near Queens Plaza. This guy scooted rapidly across the street to maintain distance by and kept his eye on me. You know how I generally have a camera dangling in my right hand all the time. Hopefully one day I don't get ventilated by the cops.

Cal

[Lauffray]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

Lauffray, I can't believe I forgot we saw this, but do you often see people getting busy underneath a bridge in Montreal (like we saw in Harlem)?

That's true ! how did I forget about that one ? should've taken a picture and made it into a postcard

Gotta love Calzone's stories btw

[Deep Fried]

Originally Posted by photomoof

mmm no one likes Canadian pie?

I do. I live in a town of 400 people half way between Saskatoon and Regina in the mightily symmetrical province of Saskatchewan. I would have to drive nearly 2 hours to buy a roll of film

I didn't know how to respond when the OP said Montreal is small. The cows outnumber people by at least 50:1 where I live. My daughter goes to a school with about 60 students for K-12. I drive 40Km round trip each day to work and often see no other vehicles on the road. I can drive a riding lawnmower or snowmobile to the post office in town and no one would bat an eye.

[Deep Fried]

As for getting busy, I used to live near 94St and 118Ave in Edmonton. I once saw a patron doing his business with a painted lady in the alley behind my house when I was walking to the bus stop going to work. He paused while I walked behind them and continued as I got a few steps away. She was too stoned to notice him doing his thing, let alone me walking by.

Hence, why I moved to a nice small town when we had kids

[Lauffray]

I don't know, I guess I like stimulation. Saturday morning in my neighborhood, 11am there's relatively few people on the street, weekdays after 7 practically no one either. I mean it's great to live in because it's quiet yet there's stuff happening, just not stimulating enough to shoot I guess

[furcafe]

I'm known for my love of pie, but I've never had pie in Canadia. A friend who travels there for work often recommends their raisin pie (though shouldn't it be sultana pie?).

Originally Posted by photomoof

mmm no one likes Canadian pie?

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by Lauffray

Gotta love Calzone's stories btw

One sultry summer day shooting with John in Chelsea we stumbled upon 5 large cartons of NYC branded condoms that were abandoned. Four out of the five large boxes were still sealed, and only one was open with spilled contents near a loading dock of a warehouse.

I wanted to create an installation to photograph, but John was reluctant to create the huge mess that I was willing to make, or help clean up.

If I had my Rolleiflex with me I probably would of decorated the corners of this loading dock with piles of condems cascading from the corners of the door of the loading dock to the ground below like they spilled out. Anyways there were enough condoms to make a pile that could be waist high.

Cal

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by photomoof

Then you will need this: http://www.amazon.com/Passion-Natura.../dp/B005MR3IVO

Fred,

We both add new meaning to, "I Love New York." They don't call us the Empire State for nothing. LOL.

Cal

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Deep Fried

As for getting busy, I used to live near 94St and 118Ave in Edmonton. I once saw a patron doing his business with a painted lady in the alley behind my house when I was walking to the bus stop going to work.

What's a painted lady?

[Deep Fried]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

What's a painted lady?

a polite way of saying crack whore

[jsrockit]

Painted means make-up?