From the past

Recently, Geoff from down under issued a challenge to post some embarrasing photos from the past. As a result I dusted off my un-used scanner to find that the supplied software did not work. It was outdated and I presume it kept locking up because of my new laptop and Windows 7. I promptly went to the Epson website and downloaded the latest drivers but I didn't like their interface, it was too complicated. My scanner came with a lite version of Silverfast with Digital ICE. It was now 4 versions outdated and I am only allowed to upgrade ONE release forward. I was going to give up but . . .



with Geoff's encouraging words I decided to first try to obtain a scanner program GRATIS to make sure the scanner was working. It took a few days but in the end no one had what I wanted so I had to resort to going to the Silverfast website to download the demo. I did a few scans to make sure all was in order as they state they give no refunds after you order and pay. My first real test was a scan of an E-6 panorama taken with my Horizon 202 rotating lens panorama camera. On the demo version the company plasters their company watermark across the face of the output and it took me a while using photoshop to get rid of them .



This was taken over 10 years ago on a photo expedition outing with my camera club. We took the train to Squamish, had lunch and returned via boat which passed under the Lion's Gate Bridge. Once I registered and purchased the program and entered the serial number, the watermarks disappeared. Now I don't have to use the clone tool anymore

Now it takes time to learn a new skill. I tried to make this machine work before and gave up, so I have a mental block which prevents me from working on this project quickly. Some of you think this is a stall tactic . . .



Now I notice that BlueKat is giving me a few nudges and Geoff is starting to get impatient. I guess that's what happens to you when you are retired and have nothing else to do. He's even accusing me of stalling and inferring that I had no intent of digging out my old photos.



I have thousands of negatives and things scattered everywhere. I'm having trouble locating the really old stuff and it was not where I thought it was, so it's taking more time . . .

In the meantime, in an act of good faith, please accept these (for now).



This was takon on July 7th, 1956 because that is what is written on the back of the photo. It was probably a contact print from our family camera which I remember was a black box with a lever on the side. There was a square window on the top which you looked down and tried to frame your picture, and of course the image was reversed. After you took the photo you wound to the next number looking through the red window on the back.

The following is an older image taken around 1949 with my Grandmother and I was wearing my cowboy outfit.



I really am trying to find more but we have few pictures from this early period