Critique Welcomed Window Seat

[Chris Dodkin]

One of the advantages of a camera as small as the Rollei 35, is that you can take it anywhere. And being mechanical, rather than electronic, you can use it on a plane during takeoff, flight, and landing.

So here is a set of images, taken on Ilford XP2 with my Rollei 35, from the Window Seat:

Takeoff

Point Loma

California Coast

Wings over the Big Bay

America's Finest City

Into the Sunrise

Fly By

Taxi Runway 25 for Takeoff

Rocky Mountain High

Over the Mountains to the Ocean

Interstate 5 from Final Approach

Thanks to Southwest Airlines for a smooth roundtrip from San Diego to Denver and back.

All images scanned at enhanced resolution using a lab based Noritsu scanner - processed in Photoshop and NIK SilverFX

 

[Pete Askew]

Fabulous series Chris. I especially like the first with the hint of movement in the plane taking off. The wing makes a wonderfully graphic element in the shots and there's some great layers in the aerial views. Don't Southwest do a photo competition like BA? One of those wing-tip with name shots might appeal. Could you also be tempted to crop that bit of engine nacelle from the Runway 25 shot off, just to make it at ouch more graphic?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Love them all, but the last really reminds me of Carry Grant era films. Wonderful!

 

[Pete Askew]

'Vertigo'?





I know, James Stewart but close.

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

they're all impressive (I really NEED a Rollei 35 now) but I love "Taxi Runway 25 for Takeoff" most of all, the bold geometric bits and a landscape all in one.

 

[Paul Lange]

What a splendid set Chris and all from a tiny 35mm camera. You can't really complain about IQ can you. I'm surprised you still didn't get stop by an officious attendant over some rule they had just made up on the spot there and then.

 

[Pete Askew]

Absolutely. A clear threat to security. Potential terrorists will now know that planes have wings. And just imagine if someone snapped them off. And it'd be all your fault!

 

[Dave Moss]

Great series Chris

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Pete - I figured I'd go full frame on the set, but will go back later and re-do Runway 25 with that crop. The Southwest inflight magazine 'Spirit' does a monthly photo comp, I figure I'd better enter one

Thanks Rob - isn't it odd how the camera/film changes the decade

Thanks Andrew - EBAY is your friend, but it may take a while to find one without too many dings at a good price - some people want crazy money for their Rolleis - took me about a week of watching to find mine.

Thanks Paul - IQ is good at web size, a little grainy for my liking, but Hamish had challenged me to use something grainy, so I felt I had to!

No hassles from the flight crew - I was all ready with my 'but it's a film camera' answer as well

Thanks Dave - it was a lot of fun, and something I've wanted to try for a while now - I have a fascination with shooting out of the plane window

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

Thanks Andrew - EBAY is your friend, but it may take a while to find one without too many dings at a good price - some people want crazy money for their Rolleis - took me about a week of watching to find mine.

you're not joking, some of the prices are a little on the 'optimistic' side, £100-300. One wants £550.

Tempted to bid for a 'broken' one (lens is stuck 'out') if I can get it for less than £30...

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmmm - The lens has a release button, but will not release unless the shutter is cocked/film wound on first

Could be an easy fix or not - depending on whether the seller knows how the camera works!

If it's a mechanical issue - then tear-down and fix would be your only option

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

Mmmm - The lens has a release button, but will not release unless the shutter is cocked/film wound on first

Could be an easy fix or not - depending on whether the seller knows how the camera works!

If it's a mechanical issue - then tear-down and fix would be your only option

It's a gamble - is it an easy fix.. or not.

I'm going to find out now, as I just won it. That's my weekend taken care of. Now where are my precision screwdrivers?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

It's a gamble - is it an easy fix.. or not.

I'm going to find out now, as I just won it. That's my weekend taken care of. Now where are my precision screwdrivers?

Great - love to see how you get on

 

[Beth Anthony]

love the shot of the rocky mountains from the sky. dare i say it...it'd be a nice abstract if made into a square crop from the bottom..

 

[Chris Dodkin]

love the shot of the rocky mountains from the sky. dare i say it...it'd be a nice abstract if made into a square crop from the bottom..

Thanks Beth - Pete put you up to that didn't he!

Not a bad idea though