Of Heroism and Backpack Retrieval, Sipsey Wilderness

...which immediately sent Daniel into action, charging down the hill and plunging into frigid ankle-deep waters to rescue the bag. 

The selfless act of one man, who had no regard for his own dry feet, shoes, socks, and pants when it came time to retrieve the backpack of another, which ironically contained a couple of rain jackets.

Daniel heroically described the water as "not all that cold," though there is some thought that mostly he just couldn't feel his feet.

If you're just picking up the story here, the first half of this lurid tale can be found on the prior post, here.

Walking the Line and Letting Go, Sipsey Wilderness

Blake's Balancing Act over Borden Creek, Sipsey Wilderness

While on our most recent trip to the Sipsey Wilderness, Blake spotted a tree that had uprooted and was jutting out off the bank and over Borden Creek, so in typical Blake fashion, he ventured out. 

Unfortunately for Blake, he was sporting a lumpy backpack that was doing nothing for his balance, and he decided to cut his losses.

The bag landed where it was supposed to, at the top of the embankment, but the steep bank failed to uphold its end, and sent the bag tumbling end-over-end to a cold, wet demise...

Flea Market Find: Kodak Pony 135, Model C

Kodak Pony 135, Model C Cameras

While visiting a flea market, mostly by happenstance, which has always been an empty well for me in the past, I came upon a booth with a plethora of Kodak cameras of this ilk. Aside from the two Pony 135s pictured here, there were also Pony II and Pony 828 models, most of which appeared to be non-functioning. But when I picked up these two and ran them through their paces, they seemed to be in good order. As I write, the first of these has a roll of film that is waiting to be finished, in order to verify functionality.

Like many lower-end cameras of its era, the Pony 135 has a Bakelite body. The Model C was in production from 1955-1958; it has 4 shutter speeds ranging from 1/25s to 1/300s, plus B; however, ony my sample, only the 1/300s appears to be timely. The 44mm Kodak Anaston lens is wide open at f/3.5 and closes down to f/22.

With volumes of these able to be found on the used market, their value is quite low, so if it turns out mine have inoperable problems, I guess they'll just make for some antique-ish paper weights.

Kodak Pony 135 Model C Camera, Anaston 44mm f/3.5 lens

Trio of Horses, Gardendale, Alabama

A Citified Horse, Gardendale, Alabama

An Equine Resident of Gardendale, Alabama

A Celebration of Those We Love

On this day, like almost all other American-celebrated festive days, which is overwrought with silly commercialism, what most important is that we choose to celebrate those we love.

Encompassed by Fog in a Fultondale Wood

Encompassed by Fog in a Fultondale Wood, Fultondale, Alabama

Black Creek Park after Dark, Fultondale

Black Creek Park, Fultondale, Alabama

Toadstool Village at Fultondale Children's Park

Toadstool Village at Fultondale Children's Park, Fultondale, Alabama

Water Droplets in the Abstract

An Abstract of Water Droplets :: Canon Rebel T2i, Tokina AT-X 35mm f/2.8

This and other examples of my abstract photography can be found at this gallery, here.