APUG Grampians adventure!

[Dr Croubie]

Well, according to the BOM, there were 91km/h wind gusts at Naracoorte at 1230, which would have been exactly as we were driving past, ouch.
In that wind I could barely open the car door, you're right, the 8x10 would have been a goner no matter what tripod.
Didn't get any shots on the way up because we left late, thought I'd grab them on the way back. But then on the way back I didn't want to launch my camera so barely got out of the car (struggled to open the car door in some places).

Just tallied up the film damage from 4 days away:
2x 135 APX 25
4x 120 Ektar
3x 120 RVP50
2x 120 RPX 25
1x 120 Delta 100
4x 9x12 APX 100
4x 4x5 RVP
3x 4x5 Ektar
1x 4x5 Delta 100
4x 8x10 FP4
3x FP100c
1x 9.5x12" MGiv Pinhole Paper neg
and a partridge in a pear tree

My last batches of E6 and C41 are a bit old, probably got enough there to buy new kits of each, then I'll splash some Rodinal on that APX and/or mix up that 5L of Xtol to do the 8x10s.

The Mamiya 645AF that took a tumble is better than I originally thought, the diopter knob broke off but I can still put the viewfinder blind down, just have to manually lift it back up with a fingernail afterwards, so I'll probably keep using it without repair. I'll attack the busted film back tonight and see if I can get it to re-latch properly.

And seeing as I should share something, this is an FP100C from Mt William looking towards Pomonal at about 7am Sat morning:

Sort of looking directly into the morning sun, and FP100C has absolutely no shadow detail by the looks. Hopefully the APX shot looks a bit better...

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Mount William was reported to have been belted with 113km/h gales yesterday around 9.30am, but I was long gone by then.
Nondescript, non-stop roll through the hills and dust. And then it really whipped up! It was mighty blustery at Ballarat and strong all the way to the Otways hinterland. For me and the Little Red Riding Wagon though, it was a tailwind for most of the way. Once over Benwerrin, it was near-calm with flat surf -- bewdiful. My grand total of film use was 9 of 10 exposures on the one roll of 120 RVP50 I packed along, with treats galore for the eyes at Lake Bellfield. Nothing wasted!

Will be home tomorrow after another lazy, hazy day down by the seaside here in lovely Lorne.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Good lord. I got home at midday yesterday. Unloaded the car, sorted the kids and my better half, helped with two loads of washing, took my exposed film into the darkroom and then took the kids to the park. Came home after 2 hours in the park to cook dinner, eat dinner as a family and just when I thought I'd go develope film needed to spend quality time sorting out the impending move OS. Maybe tonight I'll be processing.

 

[Joachim_I]

Got home an hour ago. It was a great meeting. Good to meet everyone. The late afternoon drive on Victoria Valley Road was awesome. I shot 4 rolls of Provia 100F 35mm over the weekend.

The last night was something! I thought our cabin was blowing away. This morning we woke up with an Emu peeking in our cabin, very nice. We left the Grampians today via Redman Road. Lots of wildflowers there but a demanding drive. First time ever that I used some of the electronic off-road helpers of my car. We stopped at Ararat for lunch and explored the Chinese roots of the city. The museum there is certainly well meant but a bit disappointing. Many of the exhibition pieces are modern day fakes. Our last stop today was the beautiful Mount Langi Ghiran winery where we sampled some wine and returned home with a great Shiraz.

 

[munz6869]

And here's the group shot (missing Gary, who got stuck in Dunkeld during SES shenanigans for a bit) - snapped on TXP, and remembering to remove the dark slide thanks to Mick...

Marc!

 

[Molli]

I always love the group shots! Thank you for posting it, Marc. You look as though you're an inch away from going backwards over that cliff

Who does the little one belong to? I know five of the seven faces and I'm sorry I missed out on meeting the other two.

 

[Joachim_I]

Thanks, Marc. Very nice souvenir!

Molli: The little guy belongs to me. He replaced my usual camera backpack (of same weight) for this meeting.

 

[Molli]

A rather belated CONGRATULATIONS!! to you and Zhen. Clearly it's been longer than I realised since I last met up with everyone.

I think he makes for a great upgrade from a camera backpack!

 

[Joachim_I]

Thanks, Molli, and yes, I agree with you.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Molli I'm the daggy chap between Marc and Mick. I've managed to miss meeting you on some of these group gatherings as well. In time I am sure it might happen.

I also need to say thanks to Marc, I had a really good day, and as it happens my family had a brilliant day with out me.

As for the stock I got through nothing like the Dr. 2 rolls 120 Provia, 3 rolls 120 GP3, 1 roll of 135 Silvermax in the Horizon, 1 roll 135 Foma 400 in the Lomokino, and this bit is cheating, the following day 2 rolls of (135) Fuji 8563 250D in the Minox of the family on the way home. These latter two on cine film are for some colour reversal experimentation with B&W and C41/RA4 etc.

 

[Dr Croubie]

So that would make me the ugly mug on the right that noone's met before

Just threw the 9.5x12" pinhole paper neg through some chems, seeing as I've been up since 5am I may as well. Didn't turn out too shabby:



That's from Mt William looking West this time, maybe around 830am Sat, MGiv, 3 minutes with a 52E yellow-green filter. Might make a decent contact-print.
(and if not, I got the same view on 4x5 Ektar and 8x10 FP4+, one of them's gotta look good)

 

[Oxleyroad]

Impressive!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I'm hooooome! (but no welcoming party to see...). And just in the nick of time with the weather about to lurch from sunny and blue to windy, grey and ... hello!... snowy. :confused:

Meanwhile, this happy-snap of Pentaximus running RVP50 at Lake Bellfield at the setting of the sun on Sat. night is the scene that I will be looking forward to viewing on the lightbox, also caught with faithful little XA running Provia 100F. Unfortunately there was no inspired afterglow here (because of the weather change rapidly approaching); for that colour and spectacle I will have to journey north — toward the Riverina, and beyond to Broken Hill. But first I will rest a bit. September-October-Nov. is when everybody in this travel-mad family hit the road or wing it. Thanks for a beaut weekend Marc!




EDIT: Police and SES blocked the road at the Mount Abrubt walk-in point as I was heading to Dunkeld; two walkers had failed to return back from a day walk. They were found safe shortly and the mess of SES/Police and curious locals blocking the road was gone before we had journeyed back.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Well as everyone appears to be telling everyone else how much and what type of film they exposed, here goes.

I went through 1 roll of APX 100, 1 roll of Lucky SHD 100 and two rolls of Neopan 400, all 135 in my almost brand new Nikon F3, that the missus purchased about 30 years ago.

I must confess that the rolls on the day were only two, the other rolls were shot prior to arriving through the Snowy Mountains, a couple in Canberra and Murtoa on the way home.

Yep, the wind picked up a bit on Sunday, had lunch in the camper on Sunday at Murtoa and she was rocking a bit, fortunately we found a state park that we could camp amidst a forest to alleviate the worst of the weather.

Wonderful drive back home on Monday.

Packing the motorcycle for a trip to near outback NSW leaving on Thursday.

Film will be developed mid October when travels have died down.

Joachim, I concur with your assessment of the modern day fakes, it just isn't what we expected when we visited it a few years ago. On a similar note, we visited an exhibition of the Chinese Terracotta Warriors in far Northern Germany earlier this year on the island of Usedom. Within a few minutes it was apparent we had been dudded as all the warriors were identical, when each, as far as I know, are all individually different. When we confronted the people running the show, they admitted they were fakes as the originals are not allowed to leave the country.

Molli, the hot chocolate is now reserved for the next time we meet, when we have the camper aboard the back of the ute that is.

Mick.

 

[Nige]

Sounds like a good time was had!

I was keeping my options open on where I was going to be (had no plans but was keeping the get-together in mind) but ended up in Broken Hill on Fri night, Kinchega Nat. Park (near Menindee) on Sat night & Lake Mungo on Sun night. We got 'rained in' in Mutawintji Nat. Park (NE of Broken Hill) when it rained 20 odd mm overnight and closed the road for a couple of days, but thankfully missed most of the winds.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Sounds like a good time was had!

I was keeping my options open on where I was going to be (had no plans but was keeping the get-together in mind) but ended up in Broken Hill on Fri night, Kinchega Nat. Park (near Menindee) on Sat night & Lake Mungo on Sun night. We got 'rained in' in Mutawintji Nat. Park (NE of Broken Hill) when it rained 20 odd mm overnight and closed the road for a couple of days, but thankfully missed most of the winds.

Nige, I would be very interested to see representative pics of Mutawintji National Park. It is said to have blood-red rocks at sunrise / sunset? Quite apart from its epic, remote isolation. Rain is a risk in the outback but few people who venture out there appear well prepared for "unexpected" delays like rain holding them in the one place.

 

[Molli]

Molli I'm the daggy chap between Marc and Mick. I've managed to miss meeting you on some of these group gatherings as well. In time I am sure it might happen.

I'd say you've been planning your participation rather well, actually! Did you not know that there are people all across Australia (and a couple of other countries, also, if I'm being honest) who are STILL standing in a bewildered stupor wondering what on earth happened and how it is they can go about getting a refund for that portion of their life?!

Besides, didn't I read somewhere back there about an overseas move?

So that would make me the ugly mug on the right that noone's met before

Dr. Croubie, I'm detecting a questioning tone. Are you not sure? Can anyone else in the photo confirm whether that's really you or not?!

Molli, the hot chocolate is now reserved for the next time we meet, when we have the camper aboard the back of the ute that is.

Mick.

Thank you, Mick, you are very kind to remember that offer and also to provide a rain check

You've also just brought to my attention a most grievous oversight. While everyone has oh-so-lovingly detailed their film use, no one has yet to mention if the bakery meet up happened and if the Vanilla Slices were all they were purported to be.

Weren't they the reason you all drove halfway across the country??

 

[Dr Croubie]

Dr. Croubie, I'm detecting a questioning tone. Are you not sure? Can anyone else in the photo confirm whether that's really you or not?!
You've also just brought to my attention a most grievous oversight. While everyone has oh-so-lovingly detailed their film use, no one has yet to mention if the bakery meet up happened and if the Vanilla Slices were all they were purported to be.
Weren't they the reason you all drove halfway across the country??

Well, personally, I don't know who or what I am for this week, the 'new job' (trial contract, really) that I had to get back for started at 40 hours and is now at least 60, so I've been pulling rather long days. Today I 'slept in' until 615am and feel so much more refreshed.
At least I'm getting paid by the hour.
So that may be me, I can't remember anything more than 2 hours ago.

As for the vanilla slice (which I somehow do remember), I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or not.
For a start, it was thin, like 1cm worth of custard. The ones you get around here are a lot thicker, about an inch.
But thin could be good in a way. The thick ones here, you bite them, and there's not enough back-pressure because of all the custard, so it all gloops out the side and you're left with two biscuits and a hand (or bag, lap, or floor) full of custard.
This one was actually edible, in that the custard stayed where it should.
Also, the top/bottom were more biscuity, which had softened a bit from the custard, teeth went straight through them. Over here they're more like pastry, but when the pastry here soaks in the custard it becomes tough and leathery and harder to bite, which also contributes to not being able to bite through it and custard going everywhere.
But maybe that's half the fun, it's a skill in itself eating an inch-thick leather-pastry slice instead of just gulping down a thin thing that stays in one piece (just like shooting LF film instead of a P&S digital).

Conclusion: Small but easier to eat, tasted OK.

 

[Nige]

Nige, I would be very interested to see representative pics of Mutawintji National Park. It is said to have blood-red rocks at sunrise / sunset? Quite apart from its epic, remote isolation. Rain is a risk in the outback but few people who venture out there appear well prepared for "unexpected" delays like rain holding them in the one place.

Gary, in the next day or so I'll upload a few digi's and post a link to them.

Cheers, Nige

 

[munz6869]

Here's a snap of Dr. Croubie in action, made with the ridiculous 500mm lens on the Mamiya 645 Super... from some distance away

All up I think I went through 14 sheets of 5x4" TXP, and three rolls of Fuji Neopan Acros 100

Marc!

 

[munz6869]

...and Richard's 8x10"... resting.

Marc!

 

[Dr Croubie]

That's a rather unfortunately placed tripod leg right there. But beautiful rendering on the 500mm, I gots ta get me one of thems...
Get any good closeups of anyone's nostril hairs in any others?

Meanwhile, guess what arrived on Thursday? New tripod for the 8x10, Vanguard Abeo Plus 363CT. 3kgs of Carbon Fiber Goodness, put the 8x10 on it and it's solid as a rock. $500 at B+H, got this for $100 on fleabay, probably my best bargain ever.
Now we need another outing so I can shoot 8x10s without the camera swaying in the breeze when there isn't one...

 

[Yamaotoko]

That's a rather unfortunately placed tripod leg right there.

View attachment 95494

Here's a snap of Dr. Croubie in action...

Well, even if you were disappointed with the vanilla slice, at least your tripod had a good time!

 

[Yamaotoko]

I do hope that was intentional 'resting', rather than, gust-of-wind 'resting'...

View attachment 95495

...and Richard's 8x10"... resting.

Marc!

 

[Dr Croubie]

Yeah, it was 'time to shoot a 4x5" and can't be bothered lugging the 8x10" back to the car yet' kind of resting.
Just like the films, in the holders, that I still haven't developed yet...