Melancholik!: photos taken with film

11.6.12

Yashica Fumblings

Meet my Yashica

I long wanted to own a vintage range finder. Good thing I was able to get a hold of my Yashica Electro 35 GL at a low price. It's not really in mint condition; there are scratches and dents, it looks pretty used up but what the hell, the photo capturing capability is not lost (I must say still excellent) and that's what matters. My Yashica is one good bargain and I'm loving it.

This is the first camera I own that I have more control of since all of my cameras are toy cameras and point and shoot ones. I was a bit nervous with the first roll, thinking I might waste the whole 36 shots. Thank goodness, that didn't happen but there were only 24 frames exposed. I bet I wasn't able to load the film properly causing the film to not advance in the right way. That wasn't much of an issue though, since I made up for that mistake with the next roll.

The light meter is one efficient function that helps indicate whether there is less or too much light entering the lens when I press the shutter release half way. With that, I can adjust the aperture or find a better angle with sufficient light source. The viewfinder also provides an indicator if I have properly focused on my subject. When the subject is not focused well, there will be two images; as I adjust the focus ring, the images will superimpose into a single image signifying that the focusing is right. A bonus with this model is its ISO, which is from 25 to 1600. I heard this feature is rare in RFs for most only have ISOs up to 800. I have no problem at all with the shutter release, the rewind knob, nor the film advance knob. This camera is quiet and smooth in every click and crank.

The Yashica Electro 35 GL is a very easy and basic camera to use. The only inconvenience is its weight. Of course that's expected considering the kind of material it's made out of and probably because I'm not used to it after all the rest of my cameras are light weight.

I'm still in the process of mastering this camera and trying out different types of film. So far, I'm having so much fun and amused with the results.

Here are a few shots from my first 3 rolls:

30.5.12

And so this is Summer

Instax shots with sisters and cousins

The summer season here is almost over. A few days more and I'll be back reading law books and wracking my brains out. At least before that begins I had a feel-good time for more than two months.

First off a one week vacation in Singapore and one day side trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia which sure is one of the highlights of this year. This experience in detail in my blog entry Singapura: One Fine City.

My cousins and aunt from New Jersey whom I haven't seen for a long time came to visit us for our family reunion. Also my aunt from France, cousins all the way from Dumaguete, General Santos, and my sister from Singapore came over. The reunion was a series of outings- dolphin watching, snorkeling in Balicasag Island, days in the beach of Panglao, ziplining and caving in E.A.T. Danao Adventure Park, gathering at relatives' houses, and grand finale at the Bohol Beach Club. It was good to see the descendants of Rafael and Felisa (my grandparents) gather together.

During the fiesta of our city, my close friends from high school and I were able to spend time together. Although it was just for a day it was worth it; just talking and hanging out. We had so much catching up to do and we were able to do that that day.

The 3 days in Cebu with my boyfriend started with a not so good intro but that was overlapped with good times spent with close friends I haven't seen in a while. I was able to meet the most adorable blue-eyed white cat, Midnight, my friends own. And we purchased our first ukulele, naming it Cece. Now I'm practicing on a few songs and having a good time.

2012's summer was good to me and I can't be more grateful. I can face the new school year with a big smile.

Lomo shots from this summer: