Pine Tree Plantation in Blount County, Alabama

Pine Tree Plantation, Blount County, Alabama :: November 2012 

Coyote Crossing in Blount County, Alabama

As I drove through Blount County on my way to a meeting in Guntersville, Alabama, I spotted these three coyotes trotting mischievously away from an adjacent field housing a herd of cattle. There was no visible evidence that they had done anything disruptive, but they're coyotes and mischief is in their genetic makeup. Besides they appeared to be the most well-found coyotes I've ever seen.

Trio of Coyotes Crossing a Field in Rural Blount County, Alabama

Magic City Marquee, Welcoming New Readership

I would like to take a moment to welcome a new sect of readership. This blog has been picked up by al.com, and you can find it here: Magic City Marquee. I chose that name because of the Birmingham-centric nature of this blog, through which I hope to bring to light the nuances and underappreciated aspects of this city. Additionally, I get out and explore Alabama as much as possible, sharing it here, and generally hoping to entertain as much through misadventure as with executing planned excursions.

So in an attempt to acclimatize any new readers as to what to expect here, I have linked some past blog posts as a sampling:

• Warded Off by Drunken Hillbillies :: Went camping on the banks of the Cahaba River near Centreville. It went badly.
• Oxmoor Road Tunnel in Homewood :: I think the title kind of tells you what to expect here.
• Bovine, Barn, and a Misplaced Van in Blount County :: A rural scene from Blount County.
• Huntsville Half Marathon :: In November, I ran the Huntsville Half Marathon with a friend, my second half.

I hope you will enjoy the offerings here and choose to make it a part of your regular perusal on the interwebs. Please feel free to leave comments and contact me with any questions.

Pecans :: Morris, Alabama

Moonlight Lady of Blount County

In this final implementation from last week's trip through Blount County, I bring you one of that county's residents in her most natural state. I was grateful for how close this momma cow was letting me creep on her without being too bothered by my intrusion during her grazing.

Blount County, Alabama :: Canon Rebel T2i, Tokina 12-24mm f/4 @ 12mm, 1/160s @ f/5.6, ISO 200

Blount County Barn in Disrepair

Blount County, Alabama :: Canon Rebel T2i, EF 50mm f/1.8 II, 1/80s @ f/5.6, ISO 200

Bovine, Barn, and a Misplaced Van in Blount County

I first saw this scene a couple of years ago when I was plotting put-in and take-out points for paddling on the Locust Fork. But at the time, I didn't have a camera with me that would allow me to photograph it as I envisioned. I've had the place on my mind ever since, having returned a couple of time, but never with the conditions being right...until Monday morning.

Canon Rebel T2i, Tamron LD Di 70-300mm @ 70mm, ISO 200 @ f/8, HDR: 1/500s, 1/200s, 1/60s

from a Ninoka nk-700

Ninoka nk-700

In the final installment of the thrift store acquisitions, we are brought to the Ninoka nk-700. Despite my lack of familiarity with the camera and my overall lack of excitement about using it, I was pleasantly surprised by the results.

Though I brought it along, I hadn't really planned on using it on this outing. I brought my Canon EOS 3 with me, since it hadn't been off the shelf in several months, but having failed to
check the battery before leaving the house, I didn't learn until attempting to take the first photo that it was DOA.

So that left me with the Ninoka as the only other available camera to use alongside the Vivitar PN2011. Despite its "glass" lens, the photos taken with the camera were generally less sharp than those taken with the Vivitar.




The Ninoka nk-700 is modeled as if it were an SLR. It has a 50mm "glass" lens, as indicated on the lens' nose. Although it only has one shutter speed 1/125s, it offers four aperture selections: f/6-8-11-16. It does not require batteries.

from a Vivitar PN2011

I went down to the Warrior River, Locust Fork with my friend Tyler on Friday morning. My primary objective was to work on some time lapse stuff, but I also had a couple new cameras I had recently picked up at the thrift store, and they needed a trial run. 

In the panorama below, I stitched three photos together from my Vivitar PN2011 while using its "panoramic" mode, so I suppose its a panorama-to-the-fourth-power. If you peep really closely, you can spy my camera on tripod on the far right, set up for its time lapse work. 

The Vivitar PN2011is the less-sought-after brother to the Vivitar Ultra-Wide-and-Slim ("UWAS"), which bears a 22mm lens. The PN2011 has a 28mm lens, with a fixed aperture of f/8, and a single shutter speed of 1/125s. It has a sliding lens cover, which fortunately prevents you from taking a photo when it is in place. Unlike most "toy" cameras of its ilk, the PN2011 has a tripod socket; additionally, it does not require batteries to operate.

The PN2011 is most noted for its "panoramic" mode. When the slide on the back of the camera is pushed to P, a set of inserts descend that crop off the top and bottom portions of the frame, both on the film plane and in the viewfinder. Another perk of the camera is its bright and crisp viewfinder. There is quite a lot of information to be found about folks who have modified their PN2011's to accept filters, have a Bulb mode, and/or take multiple exposures.

The VIVITAR PN2011 Focus Free / Panoramic Camera can be purchased from Amazon.

Here's Your Sign

Sonoma, California :: Canon A-1, FD 50mm f/1.4, Fuji Neopan 400

Gardendale, Alabama :: Holga w/ Fisheye Lens, Fuji 100 Acros

Jamaica :: Canon EOS 3, EF 24-85mm, Fuji Provia F100

Birmingham, Alabama at the Vulcan :: Holga, Ilford XP2 Super

Blount County, Alabama at Horton Mill Bridge :: Canon EOS 5, EF 50mm f/1.8, Ilford XP2 Super

Gardendale, Alabama :: Mamiya M645, Sekor C 45mm f/2.8, Ilford Pan F Plus

Birmingham, Alabama at Morris Avenue :: Canon T2i, EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5

Fultondale, Alabama at Black Creek :: Canon EOS 5, EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, Ilford FP4 Plus

Gardendale, Alabama at Shady Grove :: Canon EOS 3, EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, Ilford XP2 Super

Agfa Billy Record

One of the cameras I find most endearing is my 1930s-era Agfa Billy Record.

It's a 6x9cm folding camera with leather bellows. Some really nice photos of a Billy Record that appears to be in better condition than mine can be found at 3106 photography.

In Memorium of 9/11 :: September 11, 2008 :: Gardendale, Alabama

There are several variations of the camera. Mine has a JGestar 105mm f/7.7 Anastigmat lens. There are four shutter speeds: 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and B; and three aperture choices: 7.7, 11, and 16. I almost always meter the light by eye and estimate the appropriate combo of shutter speed-aperture with this little charmer.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens :: May 2008 :: Dallas, Texas

When I first purchased the camera, the lens was somewhat hazy, which led to the glow that can be seen on the photos above. But I thought that I could fix it. I was wrong. After disassembling the three-element lens, cleaning the components, and re-assembling the pieces, I now have a camera that is haze-free but delivers photos that offer some interesting and inconsistent distortion (see below).

Horton Mill Bridge :: Blount County, Alabama

Yet with all of its idiosyncrasies, it's a camera that I go out of my way to reach for. I think particular photographs are ideal for it. Both the covered bridge above and the Billy Record have weathered the test of time, and one seems the perfect subject for the other.

The Riverwalk :: San Antonio, Texas