my glass i saw: Swords

[Brian Moore]

Fort Tejon, California. August 6, 2011.

I've passed Ft. Tejon a thousand times. So have you if you've ever travelled to or from Los Angeles by car on I-5 through "the Grapevine" pass. On this day, with an unusual amount of time on our hands as we made our way north, my wife and I decided to stop at Ft. Tejon for a look.

Turns out to be a delightful stopover if you have an hour or two--or just a few minutes. The original barracks still stands, and within it are displayed some of the typical accoutrements of your average US Army dragoon circa 1854-64. There is also a blacksmith workshop and a carpenter's workshop, and a number of docents to help explain the goings on at the fort when it was garrisoned. (Upon learning of my nationality, one of the docents declared himself to be a descendent of John Balliol.)

I took this photo inside the barracks with my Canon F1, filled with Kodak Technical Pan ASA 25 film (expired). I processed the film in Rodinal (R09 One-Shot) 1:100 for 60 minutes.

 

[Pete Askew]

Very nice Brian. Still retained its fine grain I see. I guess it lost a bit of contrast but that's certainly not evident here. The composition makes one curious about what's on the shelf!!

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Pete. Your powers of perception never cease to amaze me. I over-developed that film and had to adjust contrast and lightness to get something presentable. On the shelf: Several articles of dragoon clothing (troosers, jacket) hanging down, and on top I think some boots, a lantern, a shako and an officer's peaked cap.

 

[Pete Askew]

It's funny isn't it though that it's the OoF elements that draw the eye rather than the swords! Nearly thuoght you'd written dragon clothing there for a second!

 

[Brian Moore]

Maybe it's the location of that set of objects within the frame that draws the eye, and not so much the oof?

 

[Pete Askew]

That's probably as the daigonal leads you there. I guess I just kind of expect to be stopped by the in-focus element and I'm not. I really like the image because of this most of all I think.

 

[Brian Moore]

I really like the image because of this most of all I think.

That's interesting, Pete. As I look at the image now I find my eye drawn along the path of the sword handles right to the oof shelf. I'm sure that was happening before you commented but I wasn't picking up on it consciously I guess.

 

[Paul Lange]

I think it's because the in focus sword doesn't stick out like a sore thumb so it just helps to draw your eye from the bottom right to the top left.

 

[Brian Moore]

I think you're right, Paul.

 

[Paul Lange]

You know what, sometimes that happens you know!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Interesting. Living in southern CA, I've passed by here dozens of times, too, but have never stopped. Will try to do so when I get an opportunity.