The History of Photography: 1986

by Matthew Cole
1985 The 1980s 1987
Clean Your Equipment
Clean Your Equipment: They held a nice airshow in Cedar Rapids and I shot about 3 rolls of slides. Unfortunately, on one roll a hair was sticking down in front of the film inside the camera. Look above this helicopter, just left of the rotor hub, and you can see a black hair outlined against the sky.
Win a trip to Britain on British Airways in wake of terrorism scares, bombing of Libya. Take Karla. Carry 20, 28, 35PC, 55 Micro and 300 with one FE body, 283. For the first time in years, do not take Rolleicord with black and white film. Buy a used Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AIS lens for the additional speed over the 55 and because it's cheap. Shoot way too many pictures at Cedair Air Show in Cedar Rapids, discover afterwards that there was a piece of fuzz in the camera body and many of my otherwise lovely slides have a black hairy growth on them. Oh well. Now I have seven lenses and two bodies and it will stay this way for a long time. Nikkor 55 aperture gets sticky and is sent out for repair.

More Photo Hints from 1986

Place Your Subject Off-Center
Place Your Subject Off Center: One day Karla and I did a day trip to Calais from London. While there, we asked a passing Frenchmen to prendre notre photo s'il vous plait. Luckily, I had the 20mm on or he would have missed completely.Nikon FE, 20mm f/2.8, Kodachrome 64, photographer unknown
Watch Your Step
Watch Your Feet: My buddy Holmes took this photo. We're at Bruneau Canyon in Southern Idaho in December 1986. I like the 50 f/1.8's limited depth of field wide open at this distance; I seem to pop out against a flat background. Unfortunately, Holmes chopped off my toes. Ouch.Nikon FE, 50mm f/1.8, Kodachrome 64
Seek Cheap Alternatives
Seek Cheap Alternatives: Can't afford a fisheye lens? No problem. Just find a handy chrome propellor spinner at your local airshow. Also works with hubcaps.Nikon FE, lens unknown, Kodachrome 64
Three Famous Photographers
Three Famous Photographers: Here I am with Dave Dahms and Steve O'Brien. Steve's the guy who had the S.O'B. Nikon FM. In this photo he's on a Leica kick. Even the Nikon lenses will exhibit flare sometimes, as you can see here. I should have mooched that cool rectangular Leica lens hood off O'Brien.Nikon FE, 28mm, Kodachrome 64
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