A few weeks ago I was wandering about the woods on a foggy morning. The snow had been melting and turning into vapor during the day. In the cold mornings after there would be heavy fog which would coat everything with fluffy hoar frost. My favorite conditions! I picked up my bag containing my trusty Chamonix 4x5 field camera, a few lenses vintage 1912-1928, and some holders containing glass plates (dry plates, contemporary to the 1880s.) Out the door I went.
No one else was about; I had the place to myself. It was very peaceful. I felt I never wanted it to change and never wanted to leave. I came upon a small pool with a skim of ice over it. One corner had been broken by a thirsty deer sometime before I had arrived. I unfolded my tripod, leveled my camera, and attached a c.1922 Dagor 100mm lens. Carefully focused, made some adjusting movements, took a meter reading, and inserted the film holder containing my last plate. I removed the dark slide and took the shot. There was a nearly silent click as the 96 year old Compur performed once again for its latest owner. All of this took about half an hour but time had not seemed to exist up until the "click." Processed the plate myself in my bath tub two nights ago.
Kent in SD
