A trip down memory lane

This is hardly the first time I have expressed enthusiasm for Ansco’s old 500 ASA grain monster, a slide film sold as GAF 500. This piece neatly summarizes what I’m going on about.

And, strangely, the effect is very easily simulated with the (admittedly crappy) camera in the iPhone, something I discovered quite by accident.

My boy, in-laws and I were enjoying a fine birthday dinner (mine!) in late December last year and the lad, not too keen on messing with an Italian menu when all he wanted was Chicken Stars, needed some distraction. He hates to waste time. Like his dad he will doubtless read while shaving. So I gave him the iPhone, with all its colors and icons and effects, and he noodled away on it happily, doubtless placing a couple of costly calls to the Southern Hemisphere. Kids learn fast today, and at age 6 I expect no less of Winston. And as for boredom, he models that on his namesake who once submitted three blank sheets of paper as his entry in the ‘Write an Essay about Boredom’ class.

Well, Winnie’s fried chicken special arrived soon enough and he dutifully returned the toy to his dad. As it transpired, cocktails had just arrived and the little lady was proposing a toast to Yours Truly so …. snap! …. and the iPhone was back in my vest pocket.

I thought nothing of it until this evening when I downloaded the picture to iPhoto. Downloads are higher quality than their emailed cousins – for the gory details read my pieces on the iPhone’s camera.

And this is what I saw:

Cheers!

Lovely, soft definition, tons of grain, massive flare from the lighting. It was just like using GAF 500 again.

OK, the hell with the grain. Is that a gorgeous woman or what?