My Last Rolls

For years, my "real", workhorse camera has been my beloved Nikon N80.



I shot mostly B&W and I processed my own film and made my own prints in my own darkroom. There is something magical about seeing that ghostly image manifest itself for the first time in the developer tray. I've been in love with that process since the 7th grade.

Don't get me wrong, I've embraced digital photography too. I've had various digital cameras of varying mega pixels over the years. But I always treated them like convenient, portable, reconnaissance cameras. I'd scope a shot out with the digital, but the "serious" photography was always done with the Nikon.

Well, that's about to change.

My darkroom equipment has been in storage for several years and I can't imagine ever devoting that much space, time, effort or money to the chemical processing of analog photos again. Which is a little bit tragic.

But continuing to cling to chemical/analog technology when digital photography has become so good is like continuing to eat with a pair of sticks...


...after you've seen the fork.


It just doesn't make any sense.

So within the next 6 months or so, I plan on kissing my beloved N80 goodbye and upgrading to the Nikon D3100.


Sure, they look alike. Almost indistinguishable.

But whereas the N80 can capture and store about the same information as a clay tablet and a stick...,


...the D3100 is the equivalent of a Google server farm.



But I have some unfinished business with my N80 before I say goodbye.

EXPOSED FILM INVENTORY

Exposed but undeveloped roll of color Kodak MAX 400 ISO (24 exp)

I have no idea what is on this roll. Getting it developed and printed will be a complete crap shoot.

UNEXPOSED FILM INVENTORY

A partially exposed roll of color Kodak Max 400 ISO (24 exp) in camera

1 Roll of color Kodak Max 400 ISO (24 exp)
2 Rolls of color Kodak Portra 160NC, 135 ISO (36 exp each = 72 professional quality portrait exp)
5 Rolls of color Fujifilm Superia X-Tra 400 ISO all purpose film (24 exp x 5 = 120 exp)
1 Roll of B&W Ilford 100 ISO Professional film (24 exp)
2 Rolls of B&W Kodak Tmax 100 ISO Professional film (24 exp x 2 = 48 exp)
2 Rolls of B&W Kodak 125PX Professional Film (24 exp x 2 = 48 exp)
2 rolls of B&W Ilford Delta 400 ISO all purpose film (24 exp x 2 = 48 exp)
1 roll of B&W Ilford Delta 3200 ISO film (36 exp).

That comes to about 450 exposures left before the N80 goes to it's maker. I'd like to make the most of them. I want to use them all up and post them here before completely converting to digital.

I won't be processing these myself. I will probably send them through Crick (unless someone has a better idea).

I'm soliciting advice/suggestions from you experienced photogs. Pic a roll of film and suggest a location/event that would maximize the film's potential. I want to send my venerable N80 out in style.

An Open Letter To President Obama

NAH! I'm just fuckin' with ya all!

There ain't no Open Letter.

It's all good! Keep up the good work Dems! The more rabid the Tea Baggers get the more confident I am that we're moving in the right direction.

The sputtering rage of hordes of ignorant, closet rascist, right wing Fox-zombies is a pretty good compass to move us forward. As long as we keep them in our rear view mirror we are making progress.

Yours in Christ,


Xavier Onassis.

Images of Kansas City

An Open Letter To Price Chopper

Dear Price Chopper,

PRO: Tonight I bought $42.00 worth of groceries and only paid $12 because I got a $30.00 DISCOUNT thanks to your Price Chopper Rewards program. That was FUCKING AWESOME! I LOVE the Rewards Program! Keep up the good work!

CON: These chewey, dried out, strips of worn out leather you harvested from the soles of a bunch of used wing-tips and penny-loafers you bought in bulk at the DAV Thrift Store and soaked in the worst BBQ sauce in KC (Zarda's) does not, I repeat, DOES FUCKING NOT, meet the definition of "BBQ Brisket" as displayed on the label in front of said "meat".

In the interest of "truth in advertising", you should re-label your offering thusly:

"This is 165 year old Franklin Artic Expedition 'last choice before resorting to cannabilism' rations infused with slightly molasses flavored diarrhea".



Yours In Christ,


Xavier Onassis

Poles apart

I'm getting more and more concern about the politicising of issues in Barbados. I know we're in the hurricane season, but there're way too many storms in a teacup around here.

Between the housing debacle with the Minister and the former Chairperson of the NHC; the "was he or was he not put out of CBC" confusion with former Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch and a bunch of other squabbles that I can't even bother to recount, you would swear the elections were next year and not 2013.

Seriously, politicos, all yuh need to cease and desist. Opposition, do your job, but remember when you all were in power you did the same or worse.

Government, learn when to put up and when to shut up. I can't speak for everyone else, but I don't give a mongoose's *ss who has the insurance coverage for CBC, the NHC or BCSL, once they're covered.

What I want to know is when I'm gonna get some relief from high cost of food and other commodities. I want to know where de hell my $450 road tax goes, cause potholes opening up like gateways to another dimension on the streets. I want to know what you all plan to do about crime in this country.

Deal with the bread and butter issues, then you all could argue as wunnna like.

Top 10 Fave TV Shows - The 2010 edition

A few years back I did a post on my favourite 80's television shows and I had a fun time reliving the memories.

You all know I'm an 80's baby, but let's face it - that decade is gone and it ain't coming back. So, with the fall tv season fast approaching, I thought I'd post up a list of the television shows I love to watch these days. Let's go....


10. The Gates - Although The Gates started off slowly, I'm still hanging in there because this show's premise of humans, vampires, werewolves and witches living side-by-side is bound to create some serious drama. Did I mention there's a succubus as well? Gives new meaning to the term suburbian hell....


9. Warehouse 13 - One of the most popular shows on the Syfy channel, Warehouse 13 has all the elements to make an enjoyable show. Check it out.


8. The Mentalist - I've had a crush on Simon Baker since I saw him loving up on Sanaa Lathan in the movie Something New. And his show isn't half bad either....


7. Modern Family - I love this cast. You've got the gay couple with the adopted Asian baby; the May-December marriage and the wannabe-cool dad who fails miserably. And Sofia Vergara? She makes it all worthwhile to watch.


6. V - I was a huge fan of the original V tv show, so I had to check this one out. So far, so good. And this version has Morris Chestnut!


5. Glee - I haven't enjoyed watching school kids dancing and singing this much since Fame. And the music will stay with you for days. But, kids and music aside, it's all about Sue Sylvester for me.


4. The Good Wife - Julianna Margulies of ER fame has made a comeback with this intense drama of a good wife gone bad - or at the very least back to work. It's riveting stuff, and investigator Kalinda Sharma is one serious character.


3. The Vampire Diaries - Can you tell I love vamp shows? I was ready to write off Vampire Diaries as Gossip Girl with fangs, but it surprised me. The acting is way better than I imagined, and the plots move at lightning speed. I can't wait till the show returns On September 9.


2. Cougar Tow - Cougar Town is one of the funniest shows on television, bar none. It's witty - love that Ellie - and just plain laugh out loud. And that Courteney Cox has obviously discovered the fountain of youth....


1. True Blood. Forget Twilight. This is how you serve up drama about vampires. With a stellar ensemble of characters - Lafayette! Eric! Pam! -True Blood is delectable till the last drop. (NB - This show is not kid's stuff, strictly R rated)

The ones to watch - literally:


The Event. As soon as I heard that one of my fave hotties Blair Underwood was cast in a show, as the President no less, I knew I had to add this show to my viewing list. It premieres on September 20 on NBC.


Nikita - The CW network is seriously stepping up its game with a new installment of the Nikita franchise. A remake of the 1997 tv series La Femme Nikita, this 2010 version features Maggie Q as an assasin gone rogue. The trailer looks tight. I'll be watching for sure. Check it on September 9 on the CW.

Love the Way You Lie

Check out the video for Eminem's very disturbing yet evocative song "Love the Way You Lie" featuring Rihanna.

In the video are actors Megan Fox and the hardly recognisable Dominic Monaghan. He's sure come a long way from his Lord of the Rings hobbit days....