You hear it all the time: "cute dogs are chick magnets" - "people are curious about my Leica".
Well I have just found out that there is nothing like a naked Rolleiflex TLR.
Dumbfounded at how well the 6x6 negatives scanned on the new (to me) V700, I hauled the Rolleiflex 2.8D out of the cupboard where it had been lurking for about 15 years. The slow speeds sounded a bit suspect. But I cleaned up the body and the lenses and then sat chatting to the family in the kitchen for a whole evening while winding the advance lever, spinning it back to cock the shutter, and firing. Over and over again at each of the slow speeds. But mostly at 1 sec. With assistance from my sister-in-law and a watch we checked it on and off as I wound and fired, wound and fired. It's lucky the thing is so quiet; they were mostly able to ignore me as the hours went by. And by the time we went to bed the 1sec. speed was almost respectable. How many blokes feel excited about that when they go to bed? eh?
New Year's Day dawned bright and sunny after the storms. Anne suggested we drive to the charming village of Bangalow - a haunt of alternative crafts, antiques, coffee shops etc. I loaded the Rollei with FP4 Plus. On arrival the gang went off browsing, and I went hunting. Within minutes I returned to the car, discarded the Rolleiflex leather case with its strap and strolled off again cradling the naked camera in my arms with its lens hood fitted and ready for anything.
It was the start of something big. The first couple I met were setting up the local hall for movies that evening. They wanted to know about the camera. Took two portrait shots. Then an antique and bric a brac store with a sweet woman who seemed genuinely interested in things such as how the amount of light on the film was determined by the aperture and the (in this case) suspect shutter. She posed and I shot. Then her customers started to discuss the Rollei and I waxed lyrical. When one of them asked if I worked in media I knew it was time to cut the crap.
A second shot of the lady tending the shop. And she then suggested I should photograph the guy sitting on the seat at the corner of the main street outside. He was in a cowboy outfit. She said he was always there and meditated for a couple of hours every day.
I wandered up and said 'gidday'. He wanted to know about the camera. Asked if I could take a shot. No problem. Took a full length. Discovered his name was Shanti Ananda and that he was a Life Technician - a devotee of Yogananda - author of the wonderful "The Autobiography of a Yogi" which I had long admired. One thing led to another. I asked him to remove the reflecting sunglasses so the camera could see into his eyes; and we got one of the most satisfying photos I have taken in years.
And so it went on. I was in a ladies dress shop. I did not realise that at first because it was a very photogenic Bank building from the 19th century, and as I stared at windows, ceilings, stairways, balustrades and archways I was oblivious to the fact that I was wandering through displays of frocks (well, I call them 'frocks'). Until a bloke pulled me up and said "I never thought I would see a Rolleiflex again". He was a retired professional photographer. We chatted about 'flexes and Hassys and beamed with pleasure. Sure beats being bored while the little woman tries on the frocks. The place had on display a tin pig with wings - so, feeling a bit eclectic, I took a shot of that. I have no idea why a frock shop had a tin flying pig.
I felt as if just about any door in town was open to me so long as I held this machine. It was truly amazing. Could not wait to get home. Hooked into Youtube for a refresher course on loading plastic reels with 120 film. Down into the laundry with the Ilfotec L29. Then they were hanging glistening in the shower recess as I lovingly stroked them with my fingers saturated in Photoflo.
The shutter seems to be ok. Used a VCII meter and shot the FP4 at 100 ISO. I am not springing for a CLA just yet.
