I got involved in this relationship a few years ago.  It might have been around a time when I was looking for something more than what I currently had.  And for a while, that relationship was exciting and intriguing.

But then that relationship evolved into a level of undependability.  Serious undependability.  I say, “Let’s do this,” and I was met with a level of “Nah.”  Now how can you build any relationship on that?

We broke up in maybe August of 2014.  And recently, I received a request to resume the relationship.  Even though I’ve moved on and found something better, it was a beg, a plead, down on knees and asking for one more chance.  Don’t give up.  It was fun once.  It could be fun again.

Nah, I replied.  I’m involved in something more substantial, more dependable, more consistent.  The novelty has worn off.  Don’t bother.

Well, a few days ago I received contact.  Totally unsolicited.  Totally unexpected.

And even though it’s against my better judgment, I’m going to give this relationship one more chance.  One more try.  But if this try results in yet another failure… then I’m done.

Besides, if the best thing you can say about a relationship is that the other party was “wonky…”

Yep.  I’m talking about that Soviet Svema B&W film.  Come on, you thought I meant another subject?  Silly you.

So here’s what happened.

I purchase a lot of boutique film from overseas sellers.  It’s really the only way I can get good quality films like my Croatian black-and-white efke film, my German black-and-white Orwo film, and my Austrian boutique Revolog compounds.

At some point in time, I purchased several films from one of my Russian film dealers.  I must have forgotten I did this.  I’m getting old in my old age, it seems.  But the other day, I received a little pink notice in my mailbox that a package from overseas had arrived at the Green Island post office, and that I had to sign for it.

And sure enough… inside the box were some rolls of Svema 100 film.

Great, I thought.  How tired was I when I ordered this stuff?  More wonky Svema film that may or may not work any more… blah blah blah…

Hey, wait a minute.  Maybe if I use the Svema film in my brand new-to-me Krasnogorsk FT-2 panoramic camera… if nothing else, I can use it to test the workings and shutter speeds of my “Raskolnikov” camera.

Ah, what the hell.  I’ll give Svema film one more chance.

And just for a lark, I checked the film’s expiration date.

June of 2009.

2009?  For Svema film?  Hell, that’s practically fresh out of the factory!

Experiment with Krasnogorsk ФT-2 “Raskolnikov” camera
PARAMETERS: To shoot with expired Svema B&W film and get a good picture out of the film. SOFTWARE: Three rolls of Svema 100 film, expiry 2009.
☭ ONWARD, COMRADE! ☭

I haven’t photographed near the Normanskill Creek area in a long time, so I thought that might be a nice place to test out this product.

The formula is thus.  I’m going to shoot three rolls of Svema 100.  If this works, I will continue to use the film.  If not… then… I’ll burn off whatever leftover Svema I still have, and never use this product again.  The novelty has worn off.  Now I need to see production rather than wonkiness.

There’s four shutter settings on this camera, and with Raskolnikov on a tripod, I test-shot the Svema film on each of the settings.  Once I knew what I could expect from this camera on a cloudy, chilly January morning… then I could add that information to my shooting notes.

First roll.  Just some of my usual shooting spots …

Second roll. I went to the Normanskill Creek and took some pictures there.

Third roll. I shot to the heavens, some more “Falling Skyward” images.

Um… whoa… oh my…

This is Svema film?  These are Svema shots?  My wonky film produced THESE images?

Lord in Heaven have mercy on me…

Note to self.  If this camera can handle 100-speed or slower film, then one of the brands it can handle is Svema 100 film.  And if I can get images like this out of Raskolnikov… with this oddball film…

Hokey smokes.  This is better than I expected.

And I can take these images to a whole new level.

Brainstorms.  Ideas.  And one thing for sure.

I ain’t done with this wonky film yet.

Not by a wonky-wonky honky-tonky longshot.