Airman Wilson with The Graflex C-12
I usually check colors and retuch little things on OLD photographs. This one was scanned as is without color correction. I took this of myself in 1968.If you look at my left "watch" hand you can tell that I am holding something. Ut is the bulb of an air release 20' cable. I tripped the shutter of my Rolleicord Vb. This is the only head on view of my venerable Graflex C-12 4X5 government issued camera. I used it for photographing launches of The Minuteman missiles at Vandenberg AFB, CA.
The film was the old Ektachrome 64 and the light meter is one I still use today... the Weston Master V. This would have been good for the "Meta" theme, but I posted a photograph of Christopher Boles, my partner "in crime" in 1968 at Vandenberg. He has postings on JPEG and is an outstanding photographer and a graduate of the famous Brooks Institute.
He and I traveled the coast highway for many months photographing everything... mostly girls.
50 responses
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Christopher Boles said (6 Aug 2009):
Stepping back in time? This is a great portrait of you Steve. I feel like am right there with you. We had our "arsenal" in a tool box for going out on the job site, with the Graflex and a pile of 4x5 film holders. Amazing what we could do with those cameras, and most likely could still do with them. Great Military shot!
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Andre Easter said (6 Aug 2009):
Hey a Super Graphic! Looks just like mine, and yes, I still use it.
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Yasmina Baggili gave props (7 Aug 2009):
excellent capture! Well done.
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Marco Martinez gave props (7 Aug 2009):
Excellent shot. I, too, like it as is -- it gives it lots of character. Great self-portrait.
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eithne mythen gave props (10 Aug 2009):
Fantastic portrait, love the shadows on your face and jacket, and a big wow for the camera...
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Alexander Bussey gave props (10 Aug 2009):
what a beautiful camera!
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Judy Wanamaker gave props (15 Aug 2009):
Great shot! The colors are great too.
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Jan Hoffman said (19 Aug 2009):
Love this shot and walk-back thru time. The C-12 was my second 4x5 and I was very fond of it. Sure wish I still had it!
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John Linton gave props (19 Aug 2009):
All killah, no fillah (as they say it in New England).
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Kathleen Mercado said (19 Aug 2009):
This is fantastic! Wonderful in all respects. A favorite for me:)
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k. pasa? k. pasa? gave props (20 Aug 2009):
very nice self portrait.
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Alexis Gerard gave props (20 Aug 2009):
This is great Steve - what a document!
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Craig Bortmas gave props (24 Aug 2009):
Why is this photo not Hot? ... Thank you for your service!
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Laurie Search gave props (27 Aug 2009):
This is fantastic, Steve!!! What a good lookin' guy!!! :) Awesome self portrait!
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francesco scipioni gave props (27 Aug 2009):
wonderful...
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Karen Roberts gave props (28 Aug 2009):
Thank you for your dedication and service for our freedom! Great work on this!
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Leanna Lomanski gave props (3 Sep 2009):
Poster perfect!
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Karen Roberts said (6 Sep 2009):
Back to vote!
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JOE FAILK gave props (6 Sep 2009):
Back to vote!
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Desiree Adams gave props (6 Sep 2009):
Looks like a 50's or 60's photo! Voted!
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John Linton gave props (7 Sep 2009):
Hell YEAH! Rad!
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Megan Brimm gave props (7 Sep 2009):
fantastic, voted!
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Charles gave props (11 Sep 2009):
Great shot, I love it. I love the story as well. My film cameras all stare at me longingly from the shelves as I pass them by to pick up the DSLR. I really miss using the old Mamiya C33 and Rollei twin lens reflexes. Still admirable performers to this day. Thanks for the trip down Memory lane. Now let's see some of those girls. :)
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Joe Schaf gave props (12 Sep 2009):
Perfect for the Theme! Voted: "YEAH!"
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Norman Caldwell gave props (12 Sep 2009):
Great hardware...great entry!
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Kathleen Mercado said (14 Sep 2009):
Oops...sorry Steve...looks like I forgot the first time! Back to vote:)
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Regenia Brabham gave props (14 Sep 2009):
This is fantastic Steve!! Perfect for this theme!
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*Tim Needles gave props (14 Sep 2009):
Very cool shot!
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Judy Wanamaker said (15 Sep 2009):
Back to vote.
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Deborah Downes gave props (17 Sep 2009):
Wonderful, Steve, and so....right for this theme.
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Paul Lavallee gave props (18 Sep 2009):
Sweet Ektachrome 64!
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Vidyavati Chandan gave props (19 Sep 2009):
wonderful...voted!!
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Andrew Lorimer gave props (21 Sep 2009):
Great capture !!! Well Done
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Janna King said (23 Sep 2009):
Wow, this reminds me a lot of a photo I have of my grandfather as an army photographer in WWII.
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Pat Merino said (24 Sep 2009):
Great memory jogger - I remember those USAF issue glasses - first thing I did on my first leave back home was trade them in for something else ;-) Was an Avionics black box guy but picked up the photo bug in a hobby shop while stationed in Korea - have been shooting ever since - just wish I had been more careful about my film storage choices ;-( Fully into the digital thing now - PatMinNYC USAF 67-71
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Litz Go gave props (1 Oct 2009):
great theme entry, Steve. my vote
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Michael Ball gave props (1 Oct 2009):
Excellent entry!! Voting!!
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Penny Nannini gave props (1 Oct 2009):
back to vote!
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Brigitte Lenihan gave props (8 Oct 2009):
captivating
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Ezra Wardana gave props (9 Oct 2009):
Great! Voted.
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Kat Ryals said (13 Oct 2009):
yes! i love this picture. i have this camera. i love it.
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Bhrahu Pradipto Padmodiwiryo gave props (13 Oct 2009):
yeah!!!!got my vote!!!!
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dp * gave props (14 Oct 2009):
This is great. RAD man! dp
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Andrea Petersen gave props (25 Oct 2009):
This works great for the theme..You don't see cameras like that anymore ...You got my vote!
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Tiia Vissak gave props (26 Oct 2009):
a cool theme image! yes!
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Bhu Sullivan said (28 Oct 2009):
this is super. i love your expression. i love that this is an as-is scan. just great. my vote.
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Stefanie Failk gave props (31 Oct 2009):
Fantastic portrait
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Litz Go gave props (14 Nov 2009):
back to vote!
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Zerina Phillip gave props (19 Nov 2009):
Awesome photo. Voted
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Fadi Tarawneh gave props (1 Dec 2009):
very nice, got my vote.





