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- "hello kitty 2 (same kitty as the prior pic)" - postdated pic taken 3 days ago, Jul-19 Sunday.
2 kittehs were hanging around at the nasi brekky place we were at on the Sunday morning.
Both were "singing" to the morning and after our food, saw them and I casually said something like "hello darlings" to both and this femme cutey came trotting towards us and lay on the floor in front of me like that... She looked manja yet with a "strong" personality imo as she didn't come to rub my legs but keeping herself at a close distance, awaiting for 1 of us to approach and sayang her. Yep she got it from 1 of my male pals around... such a friendly approachable being... hope to see you soon!
#melaka #malacca #kitty #kitteh #hello #newfriend #holiday #travel #neko #cat #猫 #ねこ
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I've been shooting a lot of 35mm film recently. In general, I prefer the EOS 3 and still consider it maybe the best 35mm SLR ever made, but the Elan 7 has been seeing more use again these days. The AF sucks, but it's light and hilariously quiet.
From the same location, I've inadvertantly captured a couple of Stroud's Bristol Omnibus buses on the 421 Chalford - Stonehouse trunk route along the A419. In the centre is a Bristol RELL in standard NBC green, whilst to the left looks to be a National in some sort of yellow all-over advertising livery.
When I was a kid I could pretty much identify any of Stroud's fleet from this distance, by the advertisments and livery variations.
For some strange reason, I'm reminded of the song "Smile a Little Smile for Me" by The Flying Machine.
Joey Harrison has a photo of this place prior to the repaint. I'm not sure what's spookier, this smile, or the old choppers they used to have here.
Same location, different cars.
Previous visit to this site is here www.flickr.com/photos/frontdrive34/4982152575
The same fear that spurred development of the Convair B-36 Peacemaker—that Great Britain would fall to Nazi Germany and leave the United States alone—also led to the development of the XB-35 Flying Wing. With Consolidated at full capacity building B-24 Liberators, Northrop was approached by the US Army Air Force in 1941 to develop a bomber similar to the B-36, that could attack targets in occupied Europe from the United States. The mercurial head of Northrop Aircraft, Jack Northrop, already had a radical idea in mind: a flying wing.
Northrop had been long interested in flying wings, where tails are eliminated and control is maintained through the wing surfaces—flying wings would have more capacity, be lighter and yet structurally stronger than conventional aircraft, and have more range due to a lack of drag. To prove the concept, Northrop had a quarter-scale version of the XB-35 built, the N-9M. Once proven, the USAAF gave Northrop the go ahead to develop his flying wing bomber. The USAAF wanted the first XB-35 ready for service by 1943. The radical design features of the design pushed back the first flight until June 1946, by which time World War II was over. Nonetheless, the USAAF did see potential for the XB-35 and the XB-36 as a replacement for the B-29 Superfortress, even if the war they were designed to fight had ended a year previously.
The XB-35 certainly seemed to be capable. It carried heavy defensive armament and the wing design left plenty of room for the crew, as well as a large ordnance capacity in six internal bays. It was slightly faster and had more range than the B-36: like the B-36, it used pusher propeller engines, but unlike the Peacemaker, it used counter-rotating twin propellers on each engine, making it more fuel efficient.
Having accepted the two XB-35 prototypes, it now seemed—to Northrop, at least—that the USAAF was doing its best to sabotage the aircraft. The engines had not been broken in by the USAAF, who supplied Northrop with the engines, and as a result they were maintenance nightmares, while the counter-rotating propellers set up dangerous vibrations in the engines themselves. Making matters worse was that Northrop had been forced to use automotive alternators for each engine, as the USAAF refused to provide aircraft-rated ones. Finally, Northrop’s proposal to modify the bomb bays to carry atomic bombs was refused by the USAAF, which at the same time insisted it would not buy the XB-35 unless it was proven it could carry atomic bombs.
Infuriated, Jack Northrop himself grounded the only flying XB-35 prototype until the USAAF agreed to change the engines. Northrop privately wondered if the Secretary of the newly independent US Air Force, Stuart Symington, had other reasons for sabotaging the XB-35—Symington was known to have business interests in Convair. There is no actual evidence of this, though Symington did become president of Convair after his term as Secretary ended; the XB-35 had plenty of problems even without USAF interference. An attempt to switch to more conventional single propellers mitigated the vibration problems, but now the XB-35 was underpowered and its range suffered. Without a solution in sight, the USAF ordered Northrop to convert the XB-35 to jet propulsion as the YB-49. The two XB-35 prototypes were grounded in 1948, and scrapped a year later.
This is the prototype XB-35. It is finished in bare metal and is the initial version, with counter-rotating propellers.
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
The ceremony begins, we made sure that we had seats for all of it because standing is a bit of an issue for us health-wise.
Photo by Rob Bird - www.rbportfolio.co.uk/
Following suggestions from the Life Thru a Lens group, here's a b&w treatment of a previous shot.
Before and after - what do you think?
A camera. A keyboard. A point of view.
Same Tree different Tones
Canon 600D 19-55MM Kit Lens with Polarizing Filter
Sepia Image In Camera Color Image Raw ^ Mono Photoshop combined in Picasa
The same chap from the previous photo I'm sure and thanks to my Flickr pal, Ian, I know the following about him at least:
"He is serving with the Royal Artillery (see the cap badge) - but I cannot see his shoulder title to determine if Royal Field Artillery, or Royal Horse Artillery of Royal Garrison Arillery. But he is mounted - maybe a driver. Note the items common to mounted servicemen of that time: the bandolier ammunition pouches, reinforced riding britches and spurs. And his puttees are wound with overlaps opposite to the infantry, so they do not rub undone when riding.
Is he possibly a family member? There seem to have been four Binghams who served in the Royal Artillery, and earned the usual war and victory medals. One was a Major General, one a clerk, which leaves
29863 Sgt Harry Bingham or 701472 Gunner F. Bingham, Royal Artillery Transport.
I've not been able to find a Bingham link but he could be the son of one of the female Binghams whose surname would have changed. Will keep digging.
And here's 228's sister, LCD230F also owned by Sherrins and also at Taunton Bus Station in June 1982.
Magellan Cruise ship Cruise and Maritime Voyages Dirty Hygiene on the ship and we also was finding up to 5 or 6 dirty glasses for juice every morning and also 5 or 6 dirty cups for Maria's tea every day even when they moved us to a window cabin and a special meal to try and sweeten us up also went wrong with black mould under seat in wet room and also the restaurant Manager met us for evening meat again right in front of him i and the couple next to up had dirty cutlery so another three sets he showed them to the restaurant steward and said it was not acceptable and nearly everyone we spoken to was also finding the same
SAME made in Italy.
Traktortreffen in Effingen Schweiz.
Tractormeeting in Effingen Switzerland.
Kamera : Sony 850
Leica M-A Summilux 1.4/35 Classic
My first film with my 2026 brand-new Leica M-A and the Summilux 1.4/35mm lens (see below details about the camera and the lens) was quite an emotion. I am trained to test many sorts of old camera’s of my collection, but doing so with brand-new camera is exceptional. It is an exception because in 2026 there are just a few possibilities of buying new film camera’s. My last one was the Pentax 17 in April 2025. Leica is the very last camera manufacturer still constructing and distributing « professional » grade film camera’s : their Leica M6 (produced again since 2022), the Leica MP (since 2003) and this Leica M-A (since 2014).
The Leica M-A is a Leica M of the same grade as my Leica M3 year 1956, so I had no question about the camera manipulation. The lens was however new to me and I had never used a Summilux 1:1.4 f=35mm with such wide apertu. Most of my unknowns were then about the lens.
I exposed the Kodak Tri-X film included in the delivery kit of my Leica M-A over two consecutive days: February 11 (views 1-20) and Feb. 12 (views 21-35), 2026 in Lyon, France. On the first day the weather was suitable for an outdoor session. I choose to goes to the cemetery of my district (Lyon Croix Rousse) because the funeral arts are full of details and textures that are interesting to test the lens with small-medium) apertures (f/4.5 to f/16). Due to a more degraded weather he day after with rain, I went to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière t expose the rest in subdued light and larger aperture (full aperture f/1.4 to f/3.5).
The Summilux lens was equipped with a protective Leica UVa II filter E46 13034 and the Leica specific screw-on (E46) shade hood 12486. The camera was hold and secured using the vintage Leica ever-ready leather bag prepared for the M-A with the leather neck strap of the bag.
Expositions were determined for 400 ISO using my trusted Minolta Autometer III (1985) equipped either with a 10° finder for selective metering privileging the shadow area’s. Focus was obtained using the built-in optical range finder of the Leica M-A exceptionaly bright and clear even in subdued light.
Documentary smartphone picture
February 11-12, 2026
69004 Lyon
France
After completion to view Nr. 35 the film was processed using Adox Adonal developer at 1+50 dilution, 20°C, for 14min.
Digitizing was made using a Sony A7 camera (ILCE-7, 24MP) fitted to a Minolta Auto Bellows III with the Minolta slide duplication accessory and Minolta Macro Bellow lens 1:3.5 f=50mm. The diffuse light source was a LED panel CineStill Cine-lite.
The RAW files obtained were inverted within the latest version of Adobe Lightroom 15 (15.1.1, January 2026) and edited to the final jpeg pictures without intermediate file. They are presented either as print files with frame or the full size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.
About the camera :
On February 3, 2026, I took my partly delivered order of January, 2026, at the Leica Boutique, Place Bellecour, Lyon, France. I did this order between two short stays at
Hospital Edouard Herriot to have surgeries. It helped me a lot during these medical sessions to take an external source of distraction, not focused on the surgery moment upsetting necessities.
My project was initially based on the still existing film Leica M camera’s production maintained active today in Wetzlar, Germany. Leica Camera AG offers today for sale 3 film camera’s available in different finishes. These are the Leica M6, Leica M-P and Leica M-A on the margin of a very diverse range of digital Leica camera’s. The M-P and M-A are produced since 2014 and are likely the closest camera’s to the original first Leica M3 in (1954-1966). It is possible that Leica maintained their M film camera’sjust to sustain their iconic heritage in the history of the company.
The Leica M survived a time in the 1970-1980’s due to a modified production (Leica M4-2 then M6) by the Leitz Canada branch that closed in 1990. The Leica M6 was then again produced in Germany followed by the Leica M7. The further versions of Leica M8 to M11 today are digital camera’s.
I own in my camera collection since April 2024, a venerable standing Leica M3 year 1956 that is now, in 2026, 70-year old and in perfect optical and mechanical condition with a single and well matched Summicron 2/5cm. The camera is equipped as shown in the first commercial brochure of the Leica M3 in 1954 (standard lens, bag, shade hood). In general, when practicing photography, it is sometime safe to have a « backup » camera of the same type to be still operant in case of one camera failure. I was then amused to backup my Leica M3 by one of these brand-new produced Leica M.
The Leica M-A is the closest to my M3. It is purely mechanical camera, without any electrical on electronic circuitries. Intentionally, the Leica M-A has resurected some of the Leica M3 and Leica M2 (1958-1967) features as the metal advance lever, frame counter, engraving, rewind button, and of course their exact shape and dimensions. The front top cover is designed like the M2 with flat optical windows.
The complex range-finder combined to a framed viewer, including an automatic parallax compensation existed in different versions. The viewer of the Leica M3 was however never been mounted on other Leica M than the M3’s . The 0.91 magnification and its design made for focales 5, 9 and 13.5cm was modified on the Leica M-2 to enlarge the direct use of the viewer to the wide angle 35mm lenses to prise of a smaller magnification. The Leica M-A has o 0.72 magnification capable to display the 28mm frames. As a consequence the Leica M-A is more oriented to a common use of 28 and 35mm lenses.
I choose finally to order a M-A in the chrome silver finish with engraving resembling to the M3/M2 camera’s with a base lens Summilux 1.4/35mm « Classic » that mimics the original lens of 60’s, It was a formidable gift !. Ordering was however not so simple. At first, I was told that the Leica M-A production would be discontinued in Wetzlar … Arguing that the camera is still offered for sale of the on-line French website, I finally got an available box in stock in Wetzlar that was shipped straight to Lyon in 4-5 days. The lens was more slow to get, and I am still waiting.
I could however enjoy the pleasure of comparing in hands my 1956 Leica M3 and my 2026 Leica-M-A. The 70-year old Summicron 2/5cm (branded at this time « Ernst Leitz Wetzlar » fits smoothly and exactly to the M-A and the 50mm frame is automatically selected. The range-finder operates accurately. There is something fantastic to see the two camera side to side separated by 70 years. Installed in the vintage ever-ready leather bag I prepared for the Leica M-A, it is quite hard to detect at a first look that the M-A is a new camera.
The viewer is may be more contrasted due to an extensive AR-coating of of elements and the shutter has not the strange little noises that occurs on the M3 for the slow speeds, but essentially the two camera’s are indeed and undoudtly Leica’s M ! The grandfather and the grandson are so ressemblant.
About the lens :
After the delivery of my Leica M-A camera body the week before, I had the second part of my order on February 10, 2026, at the Leica Boutique, Place Bellecour, Lyon, France. I did this order in early January 2026, between two short stays at Hospital Edouard Herriot to have surgeries. It helped me a lot during these medical sessions to take an external source of distraction, not focused on the surgery moment upsetting necessities.
My brand-new 2026 Leica M-A (produced since 2014 by Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar, Germany) has the mixed technical features of the original Leica M3 (1954-1966) and Leica M2 (1958-1967). In particular the viewfinder system of the today M-A is inherited of the Leica M2 with a 0.72 magnification that allows the direct view field of a 35mm focal length. On the M3 , with its specific 0.91 magnification viewer, the use of 35mm lenses requires an external optical viewfinder or external optical correction of the built-in viewfinder. As a consequence the M3 appears optimal for the focal of 5, 9 and 13.5cm while the M2 appears more wide-angle lens oriented. The viewfinder of he M-A allows additionally also the framing of 28mm lens.
My idea was then to equip my M-A of a brand-new companion Leica 35mm lens of the current Leica production. The choice felt on the re-edition of an iconic 35mm Leica lens of the 60’s : a Summilux 1.4/35mm that first introduced to the market in 1961 as the first f/1.4 aperture 35mm lens.. This lens was as a modified double Gauss formula keeping the lens compact and not too heavy. The lens was soon highly reputed, especially in the photojournalism domain.
The « Steel Rim » describes a stainless steel ring mounted on the lens front to hold the shade hood. When looking at the optical scheme the modern version of the lens is not exactly the same but Leica keeper the major characteristic with a special softness at wide aperture 1.4 to 2.8 that miked the success of the lens at the time.
Receiving of a brand-new Leica lens is a not so common moment. The lens was packaged in Wetzlar on January 16, 2026 and delivered to the Leica boutique, Place Bellecour, Lyon, France on February, 10, 2026 where I took the precious package. We opened the boxes in the shop and had a good discussion staring at the jewel. When picking-up the lens I did not had my M-A body with me but we tried the mount on another second-hand M-A.
The lens is delivered by default with two shade hoods and rear/front ens caps. The replica of the original lens hood fits, clip-on , to the famous « »stieel rim » but is not curiously usable with filters. The second modern one was designed to be used with the E46 screwed filters. The seller offered for free a Leica UVa II, E46 filter (sliver decor) and a Leica clip-on lens cap E46 to be used with a filter because the default one is a bit too large with a filter on place on the lens. The package includes also a protective Leica black lens pouch, proof certificate and booklet.
The same dark honeybee feasting for pollen and nectar from the same small dandelion in the field west of my backyard as in the previous two photos
Camera Used: Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Lens Used: Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM prime lens
Same ad that Lindsay Crawford was woking on at Truth in 1949, save for the word "new". See previous post. From Truth 29 May 1948 via the National Library of Australia.
So, mothers day this years just so happens to fall on the same day as my fathers 57th birthday. The double holiday was pretty normal in that we all did our own things and only got together for dinner. We had yet another cake from my mother and Shawn’s cake decorating class on Saturday. They had decorated three cakes from a new place in Vero Beach, FL. One was for my father’s Birthday, the other was for Mother’s Day & The Birthday and the third was a peace offering or sacrifice to my X-sister-in-law or as we say “his mother”. She had lost a whole lot of weight upon being single again so what better gift then 4000 calories of cakey goodness! Hey, I thought it was a good idea. Plus, her son did the decorating. Which would explain the massive amount of frosting flowers on the cake, meant only to cover the 1001 finger holes. In little mans defense, he was only testing the frosting for quality... 200 times! On the plus side, its kid approved and mother devoured. I wonder if she shared any with him?
Anyways, I figured today instead of doing the living dead Part III, I’d dedicate is to the woman who made it possible for me to be so damn creative (translation: near broke!). My mother being my number 1 fan dedicates a good amount of her life affirming her 3 sons that they are in fact amazing. Now, some would say that would eventually lead to a large head and problems driving a car without an open sunroof. Luckily for me I had what you’d call a proverbial ego helmet on, protecting me from what I like to call J.Cory syndrome or better known as just “Cory Herb”. My brother Cory, a Marine stationed in desert of California is a cocky, quick tempered hard head that isn’t afraid to tell you just what your problem is. He’s me but with no reservations. After numerous violent scuffles, a few phones to the head and a fist fight or two, he has earned the name Violent J. I sure do love my brother, just wish I could see him more! Well, I digress once again!
My track record with photographing my mother is less than stellar as most times I end up making her look twice her age or worse. What can I say, I’ve used her for a number of photoshop experiments. Well, her and her “sister” Susan! However, despite the past, today was going to be different. I decided early on that I was going to dedicate day 128 to my Mother. At first, she naturally assumed that I was going for another digital plastic surgery type photo. I informed her that I was planning on doing her justice this once. She agreed, but between you and everyone reading this (including her) she just did it because she has the unwritten motherly contractual obligation. I’m pretty sure, spitting me out was her form of a signature... So not my fault!
I decided to continue with the style of portraits I started with myself on day 125. I’d like to get the whole family like this and get a portrait wall in my house. I setup one AB800 Approx at 3:02 on the clock figuring that straight back from the camera is noon. The power setting were very low at 1/16 and the camera was set at 1/60 @ f/14 iso 100. this would again under expose the shot my about 1.5 to 2 stops. Post production would bring back the exposure.
I setup and had her sit down. A little apprehensive due to past events, I eased her mind with a little humor and we were off. I tend to make people laugh a lot while shooting. This works great for that candid portrait like today. But... try having the model be serious during a dramatic shoot like Day 46 while I’m acting like an idiot. I try to retain myself and am usually successful. Now, Shawn on the other hand, that’s a lost cause! I’d rather gag him or have him turn away during dramatic themed shoots. If he’s not cracking jokes, he’s dancing to a beat that can only be heard in his head or making smart ass remarks like how he absolutely loves to be the human light stand on sexy shoots. Ah... Shawn!
I was however, able to retain myself a bit and get some serious shots from my mother. We loaded the images and decided to go back out for round 2. She felt she looked too teethy and too old. She said that under exposing a whole lot more would take care of the problem. Yes, mom... even the late Bea Arthur would look young underexposed by 5 or more stops!
Round 2 was more successful and I settled on a shot. I now have the equipment still setup on by the pool. I should really go get it in before FL decides to be a smart ass and dump a random rain storm on it. Oh, Florida... how I hate thee so!
Anyways, tomorrow is the shoot with State of Grace Activewear, so if your all looking for a shot with some crazy scenario, I’m sorry all your getting is a woman in active wear standing like a mannequin. Well, I hope to make it better than that but we will have to wait and see.
Lighting:
AB800 Med. Softbox at 3:02 power at 1/16 triggered by Cyber sync
Side note: Paul C. Buff, if your reading this, I’d really appreciate a replacement CSRB+ because 2 of mine are not shutting off and the 1/8 inch jack is well... Jacked! Thanks!
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