npwgfm2004

Another adventure to Grandfather Mountain. This time I did not have to drive it alone from Panama City, Florida.

I met Cory Waters outside of Atlanta. My convertible stayed behind - no chance of the troopers taking an interest this year:-)

There was a certain amount of quiet in the passenger compartment when we reached this 'normal' traffic in Atlanta.

What time do they close the gate at Grandfather Mountain?

No worries, we will make it there in time (fingers crossed).

I could do this report chronologically, but who actually remembers what happened when? I could look at the date information on the digital shots, but as much as the cameras were passed around who is to say that someone did not change the time information? :-)

These are the digital shots since I have yet to pick up the film shots.

Let us go into the habitat that is the PDML at Grandfather Mountain - keep your arms, heads, and legs inside the vehicle for your safety... All shots are uncropped and other than converting to greyscale - unretouched.

Though this was a Nature Photography Weekend - and there was a contest that involved shooting slide film, I took only one shot on that roll. I cannot recall what it is at the moment. I did take some non-people shots digitally. These were in checking out some lens or other.

Funny, though Pentax did graciously provide some camera and lenses for us to try I found the PDML members to be so forthcoming with their gear. And they were not all trying to sell the gear in question - Stan!

The weather was not promising that first night with the rain.

The following morning we had to wait for the sun to make its appearance.

This is what we were facing at PDML Central & West.

This is not just my mind trying to clear :-)

This was taken with the Pentax Rep's personal FA* 200mm f 2.8 EF & ID lens.

It just so happens that he was interested in selling it. A lot of my 'portrait' photos were taken with it.

Hey! No one ever said I was conventional :-P

Oh, by the way, this is one of the two lenses I ended up buying on the mountain.

Enablement!

Before we start on the people, which tends to be my view of nature - I admit it, I find people more interesting than plants! Here are a couple of views from the mountain.

I just realized that I never did go to the habitat or the top of the mountain this time. Hmmm, more fun at PDML Central? I'll take that!

You don't need no stinking labels or such on your gear when you have your own personal calling card you can use.

Gee, and people give me grief about reskinning my LX - take a look at that one!

There was no intentional commentary meant with the inclusion of the beer bottle in the shot...

This just shows many of the elements of the weekend event.

As you can see, photography was very much in the center of it all.

How many different types of cameras are there in the shot?

This is some of the gear that Stan was selling.

He was smooth. He was almost subtle.

If there was something you were interested in and he did not have it for sale, he would graciously come up with something that would work for you :-)

I ended up buying an LX screen (SE-20) and an M 20/4 lens from him.

Tanja is a sweetie.

This is the box of goodies that she had so that people would remember that there was an Aussie in our midst.

Not that we could ever forget her...

Ask tv, he has tried :-)

Let the gallery begin! These are solo shots taken on the mountain. My nature in its normal settings. I should have shot some of these on slide film and put it in the contest... nah!!!!!

Frank Theriault - our Canadian representative.

If no one else from Canada shows up, this is what we will have to stereotype Canadians :-)

Jostein Oksne - our man in Oslo, Norway.

Too little time to talk to him.

An interesting man - a great photographer.

He does the auto-PUG form, must stay on his good side...

Stan Halpin drove from Kansas City, Missouri.

Would you buy a used car from this man?

I ended up buying his M 20/4 and an LX screen.

Proof that Frank does exist in the world of color.

There is enough color on him to make a Disney ride seem boring :-)

So here we have another view of Frank with his ears up!

He is handling Norm's 67. A beautiful camera , especially with the brassing.

PDML's very own listmeister, Doug Brewer.

A very somber and quiet Doug - a rare instance on the mountain.

Just kidding Doug - I can see it now, having to resubscribe every three to four days due to 'technical difficulties with your ISP'...

You definitely want to stay on his good side :-)

Doug letting his hair down before the weekend officially begins and the contest starts.

Maybe if I had used this shot I could have entered the contest and gotten honorable mention.

Every man has his price...

"What are you doin' "

"What's it to ya"

Don't try to understand it - it is an inside joke.

You had to be there...

"I took time off from work to be with these people!"

Cory Waters - my pilot from Atlanta to Grandfather Mountain.

Also the patriarch of PDML West.

We even had our own blimp!

Once Annsan was done with the contest I got my 77 Limited back from her.

This shot was taken with it.

It seems so different than the view of the man above.

So, maybe he will be back???

Bruce Dayton from California.

He gave some excellent pointers to not only myself, but also Bob Sullivan on using the 67.

He and Bob helped put the thought of the 67 into my mind...

His friend happened to graduate from my alma mater CCNY and went to high school two blocks from where I attended.

Bruce, say hi to Jeffery for me!

The lovely Debbie Desjardins.

The only time I did not see her smiling on the mountain...

She and Steve came down from Virginia.

Bill Owens - the maintainer of PDML Central.

He and Phyllis exemplify the hospitality that is the PDML.

They live in North Carolina and frequent Grandfather Mountain.

Steve Desjardins - Debbie's official bodyguard.

Considering he is a university professor - he has a lot of 'hands on' experience - even in photography :-)

Mark Roberts. He is the one who actually brought Frank onto the mountain from Pittsburgh. Forever labelled.

An avid hiker - he spent the first night on the camping atop one of the peaks - he got a personal look at the rain that evening.

We did hoist a few in his honor at PDML Central.

See Mark, we kept thinking about you :-)

Adelheid von Kirschten from Munich, Germany.

She met up with Jostein here in the United States and have been exploring and enjoying.

A lovely lady even if she was using a Canon video camera throughout :-)

Here she is using Jostein's Optio S.

Marnie Parker came to us from California.

Yes she was shooting a Canon.

Yes she is part of the PDML.

Enough a part of the family that her absence late at night was noted...

Marnie on the move.

Using manual focus, she made it difficult to stay in focus.

Still, I like the shot.

She seemed like a celebrity with those glasses :-) Tall and elegant.

Tom Rittenhouse aka Graywolf.

He lives in nearby Boone.

We got a kick out of his 'anti-digital' camera that first day.

Norman Baugher. He flew in from Houston, Texas via Sao Paulo, Brazil.

He will forever be remembered for his enthusiastic modelling poses.

I will recall his well brassed 67.

Tanja Mayer showing her skills as a model.

She came to us from Australia.

She was the unfortunate one who had to have me as a model.

Frank was kind enough to share his 'droopy ears' that she gave to him.

The rest of the pics are of snap shots of situations throughout the weekend. I thought I had taken a shot of everyone at the event, so either they are included below, or they are on film.

If you are still with me, let's continue...

Frank was playing with a digital camera. I thought it was worth documenting.

It was not until afterwards that I noticed that Doug had included his commentary.

As for Jostein, he was just being his jovial self.

Frank doing one of many self-portraits.

This time I was the victim :-)

Just happy that no one had a camera when we were standing around before I made my modelling debut...

Those staying on the mountain were asked to display a Camper sign in their vehicle.

Cory made it personal and put it upon his hat.

This is probably where Frank got the idea to display his name tag...

Stan to his right, Frank on his left.

Jostein having a look through Graywolf's 'anti-digital' camera.

Adelheid was definitely getting a kick out of this.

It was definitely a lot larger than the Optio S.

Jefferey and Bruce looking at a photography book.

There were shots a plenty to look at throughout the weekend.

Frank wearing his ears and the Eyeore ears that Tanja had gotten for him. It adds just the right amount of color.

Speaking of color, there is no way that b&w would convey the spectrum that was Tanja.

Adelheid and Cotty looking over some 'freebies' that were handed out.

And as always, plenty of other circles of conversations at PDML Central.

Phyllis Owens and Tom VanVeen.

Interesting that I do not have solitary shots of either of them.

Phyllis is the one that keeps PDML Central going - and keeps Bill out of trouble.

Tom, he is the first PDMLer that I ever met. It seems oh so long ago that we met in Maryland.

Tanja showing off her Aussie goods to Annsan and Frank.

Of course just showing was not enough, they had to all be explained.

Tanja and Steve.

I know that I did not take this shot.

Typical of the weekend.

I recall Bill commenting at one point that he knows that the shot counter on his camera had increased, but he had no idea just what he would find on the card.

This was in the cabin where we had our pizza lunch and where some of us helped out in getting the registration packets in order.

Annsan taking advantage of Nico having his Pentax Optio cleaning cloth handy.

That may be her lens, but it was the second of my LX that was used that weekend.

Note - it was not a snake-skinned LX :-)

Annsan (NY) seemed to be the only one with connectivity on the mountain with her cellular phone.

Bob Sullivan (Illinois) is in the background.

Let her tell you what the conversation was all about :-)

Marnie and Jostein in the background...

That is my 645n and White Cobra skinned LX on the table.

Both my Limited lenses and the now mine FA* 200/2.8.

Also on the table are the SPAM cans that Bill got for Jostein. We could not get Adelheid to say that she would try them :-)

Beneath the 31 Limited lens is Annsan's Winners calendar.

There is nothing Freudian with the fact that there is a bottle of Wicked Ale on the table...

On the final day Frank ventured forth in the daylight :-)

One has to wonder what others were thinking of this Pentax toting photographer...

It just shows the normal people that we all are.

Jostein, not to be outdone, turns his Nikon cap inside out to create an eared effect.

Frank, not to be ignored, skews his cap to ensure that he will be noticed :-P

Marnie in the background, Geoff reaching for his beer.

Wendy at his side, I don't think I took a shot of her at all.

She would make a good star avoiding the papparazzi :-)

Though Doug does not drink - heaven help us if he were ever to take it up :-) - here is being the keeper of the Aussie rum.

Bill's attention has been diverted from the rum somehow ...

By the way, did you guys shop at the same store?

This is another one of those shots without using the viewfinder.

It was interesting to see that many others use this technique quite a bit.

There were numerous names thrown about for the technique, or better yet, a website... -

I've got your viewfinder right here; who needs a stinkin' viewfinder; here's your viewfinder; viewfinder pffffft; shooting from the hip; and many more that I have forgotten.

Yes, we even have our own musicians.

Doug and Tom regaled us for a while and finally Mark joined them.

Those beer bottles are not in place of a tip jar.

See, I told you there was a contest.

Geoff is checking out his shots to see what to contribute.

In the background is a Pentax shooter that met us and still showed interest in joining the PDML.

We are not a bad bunch at all.

Cotty using his digital point and shoot to do a self-portrait with Frank and Jostein.

I think this shot did end up on Cotty's site.

Almost forgot this shot.

This was all the *ist D cameras we could find.

The wine was Stan's idea.

We never did get a picture of all the LX cameras though :-(

Almost as an afterthought, Doug remembered the 1000mm Pentax lens that he brought along for people to see. This was on Sunday after some people had already gone.

The shots below is what I saw of the lens...