mightaswell add my own plug

[snuck]

Well I guess I should have done this as I am fairly old to lurking but relatively new at posting. You all seem friendly enough.

Victor Samou Wong here, hailing from Toronto, Ontario. Currently am a teacher of fine art and media, and biology, and I have been a computer animator and graduate of molecular biology.

Claim to fame include melting my digital camera with DEET. Muskol, industrial strength. Gotta love the realities of the woods up here in Canada. Anyway that might be one reason why I'm fond of my combat graphic.

I started into LF a number of years ago, but put it off for a while until lately where it's come back with quite a vengeance. Almost ready to move onto another camera with more movements as my combat graphic is almost ready for the keep it in a case to admire for future generations stage of life, and I want to develop more as a LFer.

I like carrying my gear in a nice mobile package that I can bike with. I am a new Rodinal addict, someone help me.

[Eric James]

"DEET or don't" was my motto when traveling in Southern Ontario - even the 100% Muskol stuff wasn't enough on occasion. I remember one trip when the flies were so bad at Buffalo Crag that we ran screaming and drove to Cow Crag; at Cow Crag we stayed long enough to turn around and run back to the car. We found relief at an air conditioned Tim Horton's.

If you get a wooden camera Snuck (aka Victor) you might find that Muskol adds luster and smooths focusing:)

[Ron Marshall]

Welcome Victor. Interesting combination of fine art and molecular bio.

What film do you use the Rodinal with? Have you tried it with TMX or TMY.

[Colin Graham]

Hi Victor. What do you use to pack your gear in on your bike? I've always wanted to combine the two things but as much as I biff...I'd need armored panniers or something. Anyway, welcome. I like the Ford shots.

[Capocheny]

Hi Victor,

Welcome to the zoo! :)

Good to have more Canucks on this forum. I'm in Vancouver, BC.

Cheers

[roteague]

Hi Victor, welcome from Hawaii. I made my first trip to Toronto in May for the APUG conference. Beautiful town, I'm looking forward to returning next year.

[snuck]

"DEET or don't" was my motto when traveling in Southern Ontario - even the 100% Muskol stuff wasn't enough on occasion. If you get a wooden camera Snuck (aka Victor) you might find that Muskol adds luster and smooths focusing:)

It's not even Manitoba... where the mosquito is the provincial bird.. yuk yuk yuk. Yeah it was a disaster that DEET was.


What film do you use the Rodinal with? Have you tried it with TMX or TMY.

I use my film with TriX 320 currently. A proprieter at the Georgetown Camera Exchange sold me a box of fifty out of date for about $30 bucks. I didn't complain. I like the combo, it's lovely. I use it rated EI 200 semi-stand 1:100 anywhere from 30-50 minutes. I'll miss it when the box is finished up.


Hi Victor. What do you use to pack your gear in on your bike? I've always wanted to combine the two things but as much as I biff...I'd need armored panniers or something. Anyway, welcome. I like the Ford shots.

Usually I don't regale people with how I carry gear in the fear that they'll try the same and get herniated discs. What? You want herniated discs? Ok, here we go.

I usually carry my gear, not on my bike, but on my body using a LowePro ProMag1 AW. The sweetest bag ever made. I can Jam in here my Combat Speed Graphic KE12, 3 lenses, my spot meter, and two grafmatic backs. If you had a smaller camera, which you may very well have, you'll be able to fit more in. Note that the grafmatic backs allow me to travel a great deal lighter than if I were stuck with film holders. The bag, which has since been seceeded by the Promag2 has a nice wide belt for distributing weight to the hips. Important because if the weight is on the hips, it isn't on your back, meaning that you have staying power. The bag is also tall with a slim profile, which gives more maneuverability to your body. The bag takes a beating, mine has been to Africa and back, it's been through minus 30 weather and plus 80 billion degrees weather, it does quite fine. With about an inch of closed cell foam and a plastic plate at the base, it can handle those booboos.

In any case to go biking, I usualy pack the bag as described above, then attach my tripod tp the shoulder strap.

[darr]

A warm welcome from Florida Victor. Welcome to the LF Community.

[Brian Ellis]

A warm welcome from Florida Victor. Welcome to the LF Community.

And as a former Florida resident I can assure you that darr's welcome is very warm indeed at this time of year. : - )

[Ron Marshall]

I use my film with TriX 320 currently.

The bag takes a beating, mine has been to Africa and back

I've heard that TRX and Rodinal is a pleasant, if somewhat grainy combination. I'll try it with TMY. I've read it's not so great, but I like to see for myself, since everyone has a different preferences.

Where have you been in Africa? I've been to South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Namibia and had a wonderful time. Great photographic potential.

[Michael Daily]

Hello, Victor, from Indiana. Toronto is a fine place--my wife and I have been there a few times and loved it. As for old Rhodinal, I have some and no intention of using it. I've had it for over 30 yrs and it wasn't new then. If interested, PM me.
Michael

[Jim Rice]

I have a current interest in Malawi........anything I should know?

[Ron Marshall]

I have a current interest in Malawi........anything I should know?

I was last there in 1992, when Banda was still in power. At that time it was a wonderful place to visit, completely undeveloped, not even TV. It was then one of the five poorest countries in the world. About half of the people on the streets of the capitol city were in bare feet, as they couldn't even afford the cheap plastic sandles that most of the other half wore.

There were a million refugees from the Mozambique civil war. All that aside the people were the friendliest and happiest I have seen anywhere.

The country is very beautiful. One third of the country consists of Lake Malawi, 500 km long with 500 species of brightly coloured tropical fish. There was a place where one could rent scuba gear for a reasonable price. I went with a friend and it was spectacular, and deserted.

Lots of reasonably priced good quality accomodation, some reasonably good game parks, nothing to compare to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe or Tanzania in terms of wildlife, but rugged isolated and pristine.

Mind you all of this is based on my last visit in 1992.

I can give you lots more info if you are interested and perhaps a contact or two.

Are you planning a trip?

[snuck]

I've heard that TRX and Rodinal is a pleasant, if somewhat grainy combination. I'll try it with TMY. I've read it's not so great, but I like to see for myself, since everyone has a different preferences.

Where have you been in Africa? I've been to South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Namibia and had a wonderful time. Great photographic potential.

Zambia, the land of carjackings and beautiful evenings, burning hills.

[JW Dewdney]

"DEET or don't" was my motto when traveling in Southern Ontario - even the 100% Muskol stuff wasn't enough on occasion.

All I can say is "SKIN-SO-SOFT" - (you probably won't clue in unless you're from Canadian mosquito country)

[snuck]

I have a current interest in Malawi........anything I should know?

I am sure that Malawi is peaceful too. Unfortunately that may have more to do with AIDS rather than the absence of war. Malawi is the land of the nice fish for the scuba inclined, but how you're going to get an underwater case for your Canham DLC is beyond me.

Be sure that your doctor knows that you are going to Africa, he'll probably send you to a tropical medicine clinic where you can get the requisite immunizations and antimalarials. You need to take antimalarial prophylactics to avoid a very bad time. Not that you don't need to bring gaviscon anyway.

Our summer is their winter. Winter is nice, it's 20 every day and sunny in Zambia, dry, with fewer venomous snakes. I'd expect it to be slightly hotter in Malawi.

[bruce terry]

All I can say is "SKIN-SO-SOFT" - (you probably won't clue in unless you're from Canadian mosquito country)

Not just for you guys back in the woods, JW.

Cruising sailors from Newfoundland to Tierra del Fuego and everywhere inbetween have sworn by this stuff forever. Even rubbed it on the portlight screens to keep the no-see-ums at bay....when in a bay.

Never seen bigger M-bugs though than those up your way. Carry you away, Eh?

[Jim Rice]

I'm pretty sure an underwater housing for a C-1 is going to be quite a machine.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't know if a swell might add your own plug, but welcome to the forum!