GGB from Bernal Heights

Photographs

A fabulous vista.

The no less fabulous optic used to snap this image was a 35 year old pre-Ai Nikkor, which cost me the shocking amount of $65 in mint nick. KEH is listing good used ones for under $40 currently. Another $30 saw a CPU installed for recording of correct EXIF data, and a few minutes sweat equity conferred the appropriate Ai relief on the rear flange for use with modern Nikons’ aperture followers.

The web image does not begin to do the original justice, as the large print on my wall testifies. Quite why Nikon users spend multiples of what I paid on modern plastic crap lenses when the real thing can be had for a song beats me. And if you are one of the landscape set, what on earth do you need OIS and AF for?

Nikon D700, 135mm f/3.5 pre-Ai MF Nikkor, ISO 400.

Charles Marville

Photographers

Paris in transition.

French photographer Charles Marville (1813-79) documented Paris before Baron Haussmann tore down the old city and built what we now know as the most beautiful city in western civilization. The narrow streets and crowding gave way to Haussmann’s magnificent Avenues and Boulevards, and Marville’s images are a fine record of the Paris of old.

The show is currently running at the Met in New York though May 4, 2014, and you can read more about the man and his mission in the NYT here.

Update March 2014: A fine piece from the NYT.