I was out for a late afternoon stroll down South Congress Ave. I'd brought along an almost forgotten camera and a simple but glorious lens. The camera was the Panasonic S5 (original model) and the lens was the Sigma 90mm f2.8. After months of toying around with various Leicas and one big, chunky medium format camera I decided to see what I was missing while pal-ing around with "Veblen" goods. Turns out that the S5, combined with the Sigma 90mm, is quite a good combination.
There was a crowd in Allen's Boots so, being an extrovert, I had to wade into the crowd and take photographs of the hot products of the day. Would I wear them? Oh hell no! I was snuggly and happy in a well broken in pair of Birkenstock sandals over a warm pair of wool socks. But the boots sure did look fun. And the mostly female crowd of shoppers seem to think they'd found a batch of essential items. Price be damned.
The S5 is smaller and lighter than the Leica SLs. The viewfinder is of lower resolution. But the sensor is right on the money and the ability to use the L mount lenses makes it a fun "extra" for my toy chest of cameras. I have white hair now. No one pays attention to me at all if I walk into the middle of their bustling, busy store and spend half an hour making hundreds of photographs. Always looking for the silver lining....just didn't know it would be under my hat!
off searching for more pecan pie. Hope your weekend is filled with fun photographs...
They are right outside your door.
6 comments:
Nice job on the way a "boot store" looks today! Got any pictures from Tinys? I know I regret I took so few pictures of Austin in the 70's. But I have plenty of wonderful memories! Ah for the days when you could lap the length of Barton Springs endlessly and not bump a single soul! ( as long as you didnt go on a weekend!) And get a huge dollar ninety-nine CFS at the Stallion!
Austin was a pretty magical place back in the 1970s. I got here in 1974 to go to UT. It was incredibly cheap to live here then. And the music was amazing. $5 cover to see Devo and the Talking Heads together at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Amazing local bands everywhere. Allen Ginsberg naked in the fountain at Liberty Lunch while Beto and the Fairlanes played on stage. The Uranium Savages. And, of course, endless shows with Willie.
Thanks for reminding me about the Stallion. And the chicken fried steak. I'll remind you of the Lazy Daisy on Guadalupe.
Idle afternoons lounging at Barton Springs watching the topless girls swim. Who could ask for more?
God those are gorgeous boots! Almost wish I had a reason and a place to wear them to buy a pair. Reminds of the time I was in Santa Fe and almost bought a Montecristi hat.
Good thing you weren’t using a monochrome camera. Wonderful colors.
The next shoot should be at the Birkenstocks store just to even things out? That one could work in B&W! ;-)
Pretty wild, these Austinites.
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