Olympus/Zuiko

This old farm is right next to Rte 27, but it’s very difficult to pull over and photograph because the road runs downhill and curves right at that point, and it would be downright dangerous. Besides, the aspect it presents from the road doesn’t allow for good composition since there is nothing to frame the farm buildings. I turned at Shorty Hills drive instead, it’s a very narrow steep drive that leads up to a small residential community (ABAR homes). I asked a gentleman I met there if it would be okay for me to park for a few minutes and take a couple of pictures of the farm, and with his permission, I was able to walk up closer to take this shot. From where I was standing, the barn appears to be in a hollow. Its impossible to tell that a very busy State Highway runs just a few feet from the right side of the barn. The camera was an Olympus Trip 35 with Fuji 200 film.

Shorty Hills Farm

Photographed with an Olympus Trip 35 (40mm f/2.8) and Fuji 200 film

I’ve know folks who eschew their humble 50mm ‘normal’ lens in favor of zoom lenses – the poor normal lens gets pushed to the bottom of their camera bags, and is never ever used except in rare instances when they remember that its good for low light indoors photography – but then again, since most cameras have an on board flash that kicks in automatically when the light levels are low, most take the easy way out. In fact, the manual Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 is so ubiquitous and pathetically cheap on Ebay, it’s almost treated as a paperweight in spite of its superb performance.

So, I beg to differ. The “normal” is the cheapest prime that one can buy, and the 50mm is usually the fastest lens in a lens manufacturers’ line-up, opening up to f/1.7 or f/1.8. A comparable mid-range zoom that encompasses the normal range, such as a short zoom, say 35-70mm or 28-80mm usually has an aperture of f/4 – f/5.6. If one were to look for something in the f/2-f2.8 range, it would run into several hundred dollars, putting it beyond the reach of most amateur photographers. Professionals, of course can always write off the cost of fancy equipment as a business expense. Not being so lucky, we need to do the most with what’s available.

Consider what you can do with this lens in landscape photography, especially in the pre-dawn or twilight hours. In the wide open spaces, the 50mm acts like a wide angle – for that matter, even a 200mm telephoto becomes a wide-angle when encompassing large landscapes! I used this lens to good effect in Colorado – I was at the 4 Eagle Ranch about 45 minutes west of Vail, and I shot with my Minolta Dynax 800si and Maxxum AF 28-80mm f/4-5.6 lens with Fuji Superia 400 film all evening when the light was good. After the sunset, I switched to the 50mm f1.7 because of the rapidly failing light, and took a horse-drawn cart ride down a dirt trail. The lens allowed me to shoot without shake in spite of the bumpy ride, and I was very pleased with the results. The first 4 pictures in the sequence show the progressive fall-off in light – the 4th was really in dusk conditions and I was not at all sure that I had a shot.

4 Eagle Ranch #1

4 Eagle Ranch #2

4 Eagle Ranch #3

4 Eagle Ranch #4

4 Eagle Ranch #5

Photographed with a Minolta Dynax 800s using Maxxum AF 50mm f/1.7 lens and Fuji Superia 400 film

A few weeks ago, on one of that wonderfully, freaky warm December days that I am longing for now, Sunny and I went hiking around Clopper lake from the access point near the Dam. I forget the name of the outlook, but its a bit farther on from the boathouse and usually has better parking and fewer people around. Sunny has made up her mind that there are alligators in the lake, and that she is going to whack one on the head if it shows up near us. Accordingly, she armed herself with a stick and we set off.

As for me, I had the OM-1 with the Vivitar 28-85mm stovepipe lens and of course, the hiking supplies. Drinking water, and stuff. Clopper lake is a wonderful area to get a child started in woodland hiking and I’d recommend it highly. The Trail around the lake is just right – the lake is about 90 acres, and approximately 18′ deep. There are about 8 or 9 shallow inlets. It’s the catchment area for Long Draft Creek. I watched this couple drifting across the peaceful lake. The water was like a mirror in the late afternoon sun.

Clopper lake #1

Clopper lake #2

Clopper lake #3

Photographed with an OM-1, Vivitar 25-85mm f/2.8-3.8 lens, Fuji 200 film
Here are the directions to Clopper lake

I took these pictures back in December on my way to work. It was very foggy, and the visibility was very poor – the Church is right off of MD Rte 27 near Cedar Grove, about 3 miles from Damascus. The street scene is on Antigone Drive, just off Dufief Drive in North Potomac.

Potomac Valley Assembly Church

Antigone Drive

Photographs were taken with an Olympus Trip 35 940mm f/2.8) and Fuji Xtra 200 film
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text and images © 2007 ajoy muralidhar. all names, websites, brands and technical data referenced are the copyright or trademark of their respective owners.

Trash is interesting – it often provides great photographic subject matter, and its very nature dictates that its presence is transitory (after all, it IS garbage) and the randomness of its appearance and arrangement makes it a challenge to compose and photograph. The location makes it even more difficult. I mean, you can’t very well go up to someone’s curbside trash pile and click away, without getting odd looks from passersby.

Besides, in most localities, trash is generally put out for collection on certain days, generally late at night and collected very early in the morning, so the lighting is impossible and the timing is worse. But it is a fun challenge, if you enjoy the unexpectedness. I suggest a mid-range zoom, medium-fast film and an opportunistic attitude. And be very careful. It’s generally better to get out of your car to ensure that you have a good composition, but be aware of where you are. You don’t want to get mugged. Also, it’s best to avoid taking pictures from a car in a residential neighborhood – it might appear suspicious, and someone may report you to the cops.

Trash

Photographed with an OM-1 and Zuiko 75-150mm f/4, Kodak Gold 200 film.

There’s this large reservoir just east of Hampstead, MD – you drive north on Rte 27 from Westminster, and then take the Hampstead-Mexico road past Hampstead, and then continue East onto Mt. Carmel Road. It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it. Probably easier driving west from I-83. It’s a picturesque drive, though. The lake measures 10 miles by 7 miles and its actually located in Northern Baltimore County. Apparently it’s named Prettyboy after a horse by that name that drowned in a nearby stream. The Reservoir serves the City of Baltimore. I had visited it last Summer when I was exploring Westminster and its surroundings – haven’t been back for a while. It’s very rural and peaceful out there, and the surrounding country is all agricultural. I had my Minolta with me that day, and the Phoenix lens. For some reason, I had Black & White film in the camera. (I think it was because the XP2 film was close-dated and I needed to use it ASAP).
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Prettyboy Reservoir

Prettyboy Reservoir

Prettyboy Reservoir Dam

Photographed with a Minolta Dynax 800si, Phoenix 28-105mm f/2.8-3.8, Ilford XP2 400 Black & White C-41 process film, Red 25 filter

More from the Baltimore County website – Prettyboy Reservoir Info
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copyright 2007 ajoy muralidhar. all names, websites, brands and technical data referenced are the copyright or trademark of their respective owners.