It is time now for me to shine a touch of warm white light on some of my actual course work here at the RUG. (Rjkschavahuniversiteit Groningen.. or something along those lines.) I am in a Film class and on Wednesday mornings at 11AM, we watch films. Today we watched Inglorious Basterds. Now, if you are at home reading these and think "Oh, hahaha, what a Jackass, he spelled Bastards wrong!" I must swiftly inform you the title is a product of Tarantino's self diagnosed dyslexia. BUT I DIGRESS.
The point of this information is to set the scene, and now, I must continue:
So I show up at the Cinema about thirty minutes early, and it's raining, and of course the place is closed. I have my IPod, F11 Camera, and my Pop's Laptop in my backpack. Now, they are all in their respective cases, but still, it's not good to stand in the rain, no matter what your cargo is. This in mind, I look around for a shop to browse around in and see a little camera store. I stop in, look around, you know, just beatin' the ol' time rag until class starts. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see it. In the big glass case of used film camera's, Dinosaurs from the early 2000's, a mint condition Cannon EOS 300. This camera is, for those of you (like me) who don't know, the predecessor of the ever so popular Digital Rebel. I look through the case and see the Cannon and a very similar looking Nikon, both looking about 5 years old, but not antique by any means. I ask the shop keep what they cost, pointing to the Cannon, and his answer stuns me. The case to the right has lenses for 1800Euro. Old time film cameras from the 60's and 70's for 400Euro. Studio lights for 1400Euro. Tripods for.. well, you get the picture.
"Forty Nine Euro" He says with a smile. "Oh, no no", I correct him, "This Cannon, body and lens." He says calmly again, eyes fixed on my pointing finger, "That camera is Forty Nine Euros"
I ask him if it works, how nice it is, the initial retail price at its debut, and other meaningless questions ("Do you guys develop film?" "What is the tax here?" "How easy is it to find after-market lenses?") Needless to say (or I wouldn't be retelling this tale in such detail) I bought the camera. The guy was just super nice, genuine. I talked to him for about thirty minutes ("Ok, so if I want some blur, but not too much blur, how much do I slow the shutter?" "Ok, ok, how do I get alot of deep contrast?") and he answered all my questions, still smiling, and when I told him this is my first film camera he was legitimately excited for me. The Dutch have their shining moments every now and again. So, I get the camera, I get a case, and a roll of 400ISO film, thank my new friend, and head to the theater, just as the rain stops. The Dooms, as always, have begun to subside.
Here are some shots from around town and my bathroom.
The indoor shots are from a bar,(thats really like 26 bars or something grandly unnecessary) where I ate lunch today, called De Drie Gezusters, or The Three Sisters for all you followers who speak the Kings. Also, a shot of my bicycle I've named KARMA, as after one night of riding it, it has an unpumpable flat tire, totaling the entire rig by insurance standards. I'm working on a self portrait, but I cant decide if I should include my moostash or not.. The Van is always parked by my housing and is as American as it gets.
Carpe Diem,
-Zachary
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