My goal this year is to use as much Fuji Velvia 100 film in 2021 as I possibly can. Fuji discontinued the film earlier this year, citing trace amounts of toxic chemicals in the film emulsions. Labs will still develop the slide film, but only up until a certain time period. So for now, I’m only using the Velvia 100 compound for the remainder of 2021. I can still use Fuji Velvia 50, which does not have the toxic chemicals in its emulsions, but Fuji Velvia 50 is a nightmare to find.
So…
Earlier this year, I stopped by Herrington’s Pumpkins in Buskirk, as they were having their sunflower field event – pay $5 per carload, pick some sunflowers, get some photos, don’t mind the bumblebees, and all is good.
I packed a roll of Fuji Velvia into my Rolleiflex Automat MX camera …
And this was my best shot from the batch.
I hope you enjoy.
Sunflowers. Rolleiflex Automat MX camera, Fuji Velvia 100 film.
I think this year, with all the crazy things going on the world, I’ve found more solace in photography than I have in a very long time. Maybe it’s because I can look at sunflowers and foliage and not think of COVID-19. Or maybe I can photograph a covered bridge in New England, and not think about people going nuts over vaccine mandates.
I truly believe that over the years, through all the craziness and toxicity I’ve survived in these decades, capturing beautiful imagery in an instant has helped me survive.
And you know what? I’ll take that any day of the week.
Chuck The Writer 
Ditto, re: thunderstorms and snow squalls.
I sit 1,100 feet up, with a westward view for miles; and the evolution / ‘eye-level’ approach of the heavenly violence is really something to behold.
In a stroke of sheer luck, my trusty 14 year-old Canon Power Shot once captured a nearby lightning strike, just below me: a once-in-a-lifetimer, IMHO.
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Good point there. If you read Jim Grey’s most recent post on the impermanence of photos you’ll see a similarity of thought: photography has become more of a process; an activity to do rather than means to achieve a result.
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