This week I got a flat tyre on the motorway on the way home from work. I drove over a chain that had fallen off a truck. Not seeing it in time, I connected with the hook on the end of it and blew a tyre. It didn’t feel like I had a blow out, but a car levelled up next to mine and the passenger frantically gestured towards the back of my car. So I pulled over and saw it. Bugger.

I’ve only ever changed a tyre once before, years ago. I managed to get three of the nuts undone before my back gave out and the tears started brimming. And then, I was saved! Someone pulled over to help me. My initial reaction was relief, immediately followed by consternation. But this man was very kind and helped put on the spare tyre. No doubt my rising hysteria was a worry for him! So, two new tyres, a wheel alignment and $295 later, I’m back safe on the roads.

The kindness of strangers does exist. You can get so ingrained with the distrust, violence and crime that you read everyday in the paper or watch each night on the news that, without realising it, you have lost faith in people. Because of a flat tyre, mine has been restored. Thanks to the passenger and driver in the gold car and thanks to Eduard.

Have you ever been rescued by a stranger?

I have the opportunity to experiment with this vintage camera, the Voigtlander Vito BL. What a change from digital! And I have only owned a digital camera for two years. The Voigtlander really takes you back to camera basics. No automatic settings, no way to visibly focus a shot; I was initially going on blind faith. The Voigtlander camera is totally manual and it’s so ‘old’ it doesn’t even need a battery.

I have to get film processed!

How old is this camera?

The camera belongs to my father. He bought it second-hand (from his future brother-in-law) way back in 1959 when he was 15 years old.

Not a lot of information is available online about this camera but I found that the Voigtlander Vito BL is camera was first produced around 1956-7.

Camera description

This vintage camera is in good condition, a rust spot or two, but I don’t think it will affect the performance. It still has the original brown leather case with hand strap. The case has a small bolt on the bottom right hand side which screws into the camera itself and holds it firmly inside the case. It means you can flip open the top half of the case and shoot a photo without taking it all the way out of its housing. Quite handy. And it adds to the stylishness of the piece.

Thanks to my father’s interest in history the manual has also survived – a bit of sticky tape here and there, but a very useful introduction all the same. And some great images.

Using the Voigtlander Vito BL

The camera is quite weighty but not too heavy, it feels very solid or secure, somehow, in your hands. It’s fun to use. Every action is manual. The lever to wind on the film to the next frame is fabulous. Even rewinding the film requires a separate button to be pressed, which pops up another button (in the image below) on top of the camera with which you wind off the film.

Being accustomed to a digital camera, and before that a simple point and shoot, means this will be a bit of a learning curve for me. I think it’s going to be quite an experience learning more about photography with the Voigtlander. I’d love to know what your impressions of using ‘old-fashioned’ cameras are and any tips you may have.

This image shows the Light Exposure Meter. Using the graph you set the meter to the film speed (so for instance an ASA reading of 200 indicates you set the meter to “F”). The manual includes a more detailed table to help you set the exposure. As you point the camera towards your subject, the needle moves along the black and white segments of the window and the final reading is what you set the light scale ring to. Sounds complicated, huh?

Let’s see how the pictures turn out…

A search for “Voigtlander” on eBay turns up more than a few results!

Looking for a camera manual for the Vito BL?

I’m more than happy to scan the camera manual for the Voigtlander Vito BL if you need a copy (no doubt the copyright has well and truly expired). Use the contact form to drop me a line.

I was driving home from work the other night, watching the sky transform into a colorful canvas of orange and pink. Before my very eyes the rays of the sun were caught up in the clouds and shooting off into all directions. It was gorgeous! From the cursing about the fact that I was driving until the moment I was finally able to pull over to take a photo the sky must have changed shades of orange at least ten times. The sun was almost about to sink behind the mountains by the time I took this shot.

What’s the best camera setting?

I had to capture this moment so quickly that I didn’t have time to change the settings on my camera. I literally turned it on and did the point and shoot thing. Often I try different settings and see what the best was on downloading the photos to my computer.

It turns out (luckily) my camera was set to automatic, which was probably a whole lot better than macro or a bright light setting. I would love to know what the best setting for a shot like this is, in case another opportunity, like this sunset, comes up again.

What settings do you use for sunset photos?

I’ve mentioned before that I have two gorgeous British Shorthair cats and thought it was time I introduced them properly.

But how do you describe your pet without being overly sentimental and
biased? Impossible! So here goes:

The two best cats in the world

Cordelia

Cordelia is four years old, chocolate-coloured, beautiful, curious with exceptional supervisory skills, likes to hang out (but not a lap-sitter unless it’s winter and a blanket is on a lap), confident, finicky, manipulative (but in a good way), bed-hog, tuna-addict, leaf-chaser and box-lover.

Lilah

Lilah is three years old, black, big, loves cuddles, hates grooming, bullies Cordelia but is otherwise a coward, bonkers, plays rough but loves to kick a toy mouse around with you, vocal, can leap tall lounges in a single bound, a total food-addict and a snorer. Oh and she’s a bit quite pigeon-toed.

Lilah has starred in a previous post.

British Shorthair Breed

British Shorthairs are larger than your average cat. They have a lovely round body with short, thick legs and a large head with beautiful round cheeks and eyes. Their coat is short but very thick. They are very good-natured and, although probably not the smartest breed on the block, they make very for very companionable pets.

» See more of Cordelia and Lilah on Flickr