Jocul numerelor (I)

Aplicator magic dublu. Gene de pana la cincisprezece ori mai voluminoase.

Steve McCurry: a retrospective

Holy Grail

"...In the mid-1930s, a legendary soft-focus lens, the Thambar 90mm f2.2 was designed, and made in small numbers between 1935 and 1949, no more than 3000 units. It is a rare collector's item today."

Why should you use film

Damn good news

Ricoh's GXR, one of the most versatile systems out there just got better. The company just announced a M-Mount module ($649) that houses a 12 megapixel APS-C size sensor and of course, a Leica M-Mount to attach your favorite Leica glass. To complement the manual nature of Leica-style shooting, they've added various new features including a focus-assist function for increased manual shooting accuracy. Available this September. 

What does it mean, in the long run? That Fuji, along with other competitors, will do the same and most probably will have to do it quite quickly. We should get prepared for a Fuji X200 / X300 for Christmas, I reckon.

Holy Grail (The cut throat edition)

"...Wilkinson-Latham contacted Charles Rose, head of the experimental workshop at Wilkinson Sword Company's factory in Southfield Road, Acton, London W3. He charged Rose, and the firm's foreman   grinder, Mr. Martin, with the task of producing three prototype Fairbairn-Sykes knives.

Of these three prototypes, one is known to survive. Fairbairn kept it with him until the day of his death. From 1942 to 1960, he carried it in an OSS All-Ways scabbard. This scabbard, known among OSS trainees as the "pancake flapper," was designed by Fairbairn for the OSS and manufactured in the United States.

Wishing to spare the collector the nuisance of counterfeits, we will omit giving a detailed description of this prototype, save to say that it has distinctive features in common with the other two prototypes.

Of the two remaining specimens, one was presented to Sykes and is presumed lost. The other was retained by the factory. It was, in time, given to Wilkinson-Latham's grandson, Robert, when the latter was eleven years old. A year later, Robert traded it to a school chum for a bayonet. We may set our fancy to work, and imagine this unique specimen resting in the collection of some fortunate, although unknowing, knife collector."

Camera porn

A curious accident (involving a certain cat)

Beautiful Swear Words

via Laur.

O mina perfecta in muntele de sila.

Iarasi atingem peretii cu mana.

Andre Kertesz la MNAC

Despre placerea intima a lecturii. Merita vazut.

Nice and short

Hometown, de Gheorghe Andrei. Filmat cu o lentila tilt-shift.

Daca

... as fi avut timp, as fi mers aici.

Quite a busy week-end

I've seen a good movie on Friday, bought a Dahon Mu Uno bike on Saturday, been Editor's Choice on badorgood.com for the second time with "Hunted" and smoked my first Arturo Fuente Opus X on Sunday.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Just a good movie you should see

Good Music

Must listen: Youn Sun Nah live at the Jazz sous Les Pommiers Festival. Next year, it's gonna be Normandy all over again. Caen, just one hour away of Port en Bessin Huppain.

Holy Grail (The too late edition)

Lot #821: James Dean's Rolleiflex Camera, Tripod and Case Circa 1954

"This was James Dean's Rolleiflex camera, tripod and case that was given to him by his close friend and photography instructor Roy Schatt while he was learning photography. The famed photographer, responsible for the iconic photographs he took of Dean in 1954, including the "Torn Sweater" series, was Dean's friend and teacher in the last year and a half of Dean's life. At that time Schatt loaned this camera equipment to Dean and he can be seen with the camera here in one of Schatt's famous shots of Dean at the Dakota in New York City. Walking with Schatt and actor/friend Martin Landau, Dean jumped over a rail in front of the Dakota and Roy took this photograph of Dean photographing them. These images and details of the close friendship between Schatt and Dean can be found in Schatt's famed book "James Dean, A Portrait" which accompanies this lot. The camera and accessories come from Roy Schatt's family and a letter from the family accompanies this lot."

Estimate:                                                              $6,000-$8,000
Minimum Bid:                                                    $1,000
Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):     $5,026.80
Number of bids:                                                 5
Ended:                                                                  10.16.2010

Well, too late.

Sunt cei sapte pitici in drumul lor spre mina.