TOP: August 2005 // Mamiya 6, Mamiya 80 f/2.8, Fuji Velvia 64
ABOVE: January 2023 // Nikon D700, Nikkor 20 f/2.8
ABOVE: January 2023 // Nikon D700, Nikkor 20 f/2.8
I used a tripod, obviously, to keep the camera still in each of these images, and I was a little uncomfortable alone in a dark place with my back turned. But I forget sometimes that people rarely notice photographers at work, probably less so today because everyone is so distracted by the devices in their hands. A deep breath is a good reset before setting to work. It didn't take long to get the image I pre-visualized of The Rio, a gem of a theater that sadly has been shuttered since 2020. I think I found a reliable calculation of exposure time for Velvia back when I was more of a nerd about film. (Is that knowledge—or Velvia—still accessible all these years later? Hmm.) I was thrilled to see the light trail when I got the slides back from processing. It was my first attempt! The recent image proves I have a lot of relearning to do. I was captivated by the spill of blue light from the Christmas tree and timed the exposure well enough to get the starbright from the red lamp, but the composition is ... meh. I'll return soon for another look, maybe with a bunch of drunken patrons on their smoke breaks. I doubt they would notice me, haha.
