Maceo Mayhem

[didotcicero]

Ok, I just have to share this with you guys (and gals).

Last night I went to a Maceo Parker Concert. Didn't want to risk my dSLR so I brought my Bessa R with 50mm/1.5 Nokton. Had it loaded with some Fuji 1600 b/w film, man was I ready! I mean, come on: Is there any better combination than a rangefinder, jazz/funk and b/w film?

So I went early, got the best spot ever, right in front of mr. Parker. I was no more than 1 meter/yard away from the mike that should be his. Band started to play, crowd gets wild (it was packed) and he enters the stage. Can't believe it, I really picked the right spot. I could touch his shoes if I wanted.

Anyway I took some photo's. And some more. He's plays his sax like no other and here's sweat dripping from his bold head and I getting it all with my cam...

Then a security lady fights her way through the crowd and tells me that the tourmanager wants me to stop taking pictures. She wanted to know if I was filming, but I wasn't. People don't seem to know what a rangefinder camera is anymore.

So I'm a bit confused since the people around me took pictures (and were filming) too. Just before that I checked the frame counter and saw that I took 22 pictures so I told her that if it was a problem I would stop taking pictures. And I did. I took better shots than I ever could have hoped for.

I'm not shure what exactly the problem was. Maybe they thought I was filming, maybe they thought I was a pro. Anyway, I enjoyed the rest of the show. Very, very great show.

This morning I wanted to rewind the film. Somehow the camera slipped out of my hands and fell on the floor. Film door jumped open and the film exposed to some light... I closed the door as fast as I could (not that that would save the film and rewinded it under a black t-shirt

Will it be ruined?

Camera looks ok, but the film press plate came off. Did mount it back on the door, but looks like one of the points that hold it on the door is missing. Any way of fixing this?

[gertf]

I accidentally opened my camera back with film in it, lost three frames but the rest were fine. Definitely develop it and hope for the best..

Shocking story, it must be frightening for them seeing someone take photos with a 'real' camera..

[fishtek]

Yeah...go ahead and develop the film...loss will depend on how much of the film was actually exposed to the light. I think the pressure plate is replaceable...go to the "Voigtlander Bessa" forum and ask for help. Somebody will have the answer, and quickly, too.

Good luck saving the pictures!
Don

[didotcicero]

Film will be back from the lab on friday. Fingers crossed.

[didotcicero]

Great news: film is quite ok (considering it was exposed to unwanted light). Thank you guys for telling me to send it to the lab for development anyway.