"My dear guest, I am your host, Mr. Roarke. Welcome to Fantasy Aisle!"

I drove to Phoenix around noon today, having no definite agenda other than to visit the Photomark store, where I go once every three months or so and mentally spend thousands of dollars. Today, as is usually the case when I go there, I didn't actually spend a cent because we are quite strapped at the moment. But I did look at some equipment I want to get as soon as I can afford it, and I also tried out the Nikkor 35mm f/2 AF lens, which I used to take this test image. It is priced at something over $400.00 and can be used with both APS-C sensors and the full-frame variety. The lens I wanted to check out, and which will probably be the next one I purchase, is the 35mm f/1.8D. That one sells for around $200.00 and only works with the smaller sensors. (The clerk told me that is the main difference between the two lenses.) I did not expect Photomark to have one in stock, as it is in such high demand at the moment, and that proved to be the case.

During this visit, I also saw and hefted a Nikon D700 camera, along with the 14-24mm f/2.8 lens that was attached to it, and I snapped a picture or two with this ensemble. I was momentarily tempted to commit a felony, and for hours afterward, I did not want to wash my hands.

Later in the day, I dropped by to visit Flickr member cobalt123, who processed this one for me, along with a few others that will be posted shortly. Although this was only a test photo, I wanted something that would be good enough to put on Flickr, and in this I was not disappointed. I took two pictures using that lens, but never even considered using the other one. Here I focused on my reflection, which is surrounded by various brands of camera merchandise, especially Nikon, which is appropriate enough because my camera is a Nikon and will eventually be upgraded with another Nikon. It will be noted that some Leica equipment is also on display here. Several months ago I told my friend Marietta about an evening I had recently spent at a Barnes & Noble bookstore, browsing through a fascinating and lavishly-illustrated history of Leica cameras, and I told her that was something I fantasized about owning someday. The Leica is a rangefinder camera, however, and the least expensive digital version costs around $1500, if I remember correctly, with the better ones running more than three times as much and the new M9 priced at about $7000. So I think I will be sticking with Nikon, even though Marietta, who believes in the Law of Attraction, assured me that if I think long enough and positively enough about it, I will one day have a Leica, too.

The title of this image, like the photograph itself, was a sort of collaboration between cobalt and me. During its run in the late 1970s and early 1980s, my favorite television program was "Fantasy Island," and since everything on this shelf is pretty much beyond my reach at the moment, I thought that might make a good title. But she changed the wording slightly and came up with what you see here, and deciding to use it was a no-brainer. Later I decided to add the line about Mr. Roarke. Slightly paraphrased, the title is how he greeted the guests who arrived on his mysterious island week after week.

After visiting Photomark for perhaps 30 or 40 minutes and wishing I had a few thousand discretionary dollars at hand, I decided to go have lunch at MacAlpine's, my favorite restaurant and hangout in Phoenix. Once I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Miss Amanda Lee was working there today, which is unusual for her on a Saturday. I had a long and leisurely chat with Amanda and her mother, who were taking a lunch break at the time. Amanda, who then waited on me, mistakenly served me the wrong order, for which she apologized, but I told her not to worry about it and that I would accept what she gave me. Some mistakes are fortunate, and this turned out to be one of them. She had served me a tuna melt sandwich, which really hit the spot and was probably better than what I had asked for anyway. Although I had my camera with me today, I did not take any pictures of Amanda, but we have been discussing a photoshoot and might try to do one together sometime between now and the end of the year. I am WAY overdue for another shoot with her, and Amanda is always good for my morale, as well as for my development as a photographer.

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Taken on: December 12, 2009

Tags:

B50

AF Nikkor 35mm f/2

Photomark

self-portrait

of me

reflection

reflections of

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Sets appears in: • Pictures with stories • Humor

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Camera: Nikon D50, f/2.0, 1/60 sec, 35mm (=52mm), ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D50
Lens:	35.0 mm f/2.0
Aperture:	f/2.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	35mm (35mm equivalent: 52mm)
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Cool White Fluorescent
Contrast:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Unknown (-1)
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS2 Macintosh
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