Wednesday 20 February 2013

Just as well I've still got a scanner... Errr or have I?


So I get a request in a text message from a guy I used to collaborate with for articles in Dirt Mountain Bike magazine, could I supply some images from way back when, 1999-2002, of him downhill racing. He's doing an article for online mountain bike magazine WideOpen Mag and needs a few images to fill it out with.



I had that Roy Scheider moment from Jaws, when the camera does the "Dolly Zoom" effect where the camera moves forwards whilst zooming out (or the camera moves backwards whilst zooming in), which leaves the person the same size and increases the amount you see surrounding them. If you have no idea what I'm talking about it's about 2 minutes in on this clip from Jaws . That's what it felt like anyway.




I suddenly realised that far back all the images would be on 120 and 35mm transparency film, luckily I've got everything boxed up and in date order, still it meant going through several boxes filled with sheets and sheets of transparencies. It also meant a trip up into the loft to find my old light-box, luckily the tubes were still working, found my linen tester (suspended magnifying glass) too. Now I don't know if you are familiar with Downhill Mountain Bike Racing, but every rider wears a full-face helmet, goggles, body armour covered with race shirts, picking one specific rider out from the 300+ competitors that I used to photography at the race events was a bit of a tall order. Still I found 12 images. Only one problem, no scanner! At least no scanner that would work with the newer OSX software on either of my Macs, to the rescue my Dad, he's got an Epson Perfection V500 scanner with a transparency hood, saved.




So I hope you like them Jim.

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