Ben Wilhelmi

vintage cars on Route 66, infrared Aerochrome and Kodachrome

bloody internet in Tanzania…this should have been posted yesterday.

to finish momentarily with the color infrared Kodak Aerochrome (as I have another batch to finish here in Tanzania), here are some pictures. The weather was crap and I didn’t have  bright colors to shoot at. I was just experimenting with a Rolleiflex and this film. For more on that unique special film, see Dean Bennici

anyway if the results are dull or uninteresting, there is always the option to convert in B/W

this was an Oldsmobile.

 

a Buick

 

what a pity to let these cars rot on the spot. Common scenery in the USA though. These ones were located in a fuel station in a nearly ghost town on Route 66, Ash Fork, Arizona. Such a desolate place… Most of the houses were for sale or rent, the windows were locked up with wooden planks, hardly no business, wild grass all over…nobody around. The bad weather didn’t help to improve the sad feeling.

 

 

a Chevrolet pick up.

amongst various films and equipment, I also carried along a Leica M6 loaded with some of the last Kodachrome 64 films, one of the best film ever produced. Bloody Kodak has stopped the Aerochrome a few weeks ago, the Kodachrome 25 and 200 some years ago, the 64 last year, some B/W films too…what next? Because the Kodachrome is a very special film on every level, the particular treatment required to develop it will cease at the end of the year, and till then there is only one lab in the world that still processes it.The Kodachrome was the film that got National Geographic started in color in 1935 or so.

A bit further, the weather improved, here in Seligman with a Ford Edsel.

 

I don’t know what the pick up is. But the pink monster in the back is an Edsel too.

 

and below in Hackberry still in Arizona.

On this little section of Route 66, I recognized a few things but there have been some changes too since ‘97, during my previous trip.

these 2 wrecks were new on the spot for instance. Others had vanished.

 

this splendid Corvette is not a static and is  road worthy. I didn’t see it there in ‘97.

 

 

Grand Canyon in color infrared, Aerochrome film

as mentioned last week in previous posts, these pictures were shot with a Rolleiflex 3,5F (from 1960) and Kodak Aerochrome films (discontinued as well, thanks again Kodak…), more of that film on Dean Bennici.

 

the weather was really crap in April 2010: snow, overcast, but the location is still worth a detour of course. We had glimpse of sun nevertheless.

 

 

a brief sunny clearing.

 

the white spots in the red foliage (well green in our world) is snow.

 

Death Valley on medium format film

Rolleiflex and Velvia 50.

 

the mountain range to the west, Telescope Peak at 11049 feet, the highest in the park.

 

in Stovepipe Wells, a kind of village inside the park there was that old fire truck.

 

 

nearby were the Sand Dunes. Those dunes…I felt in the Libyan desert.

 

the dunes far away are not really blurry but the illusion is due to the strong wind pushing the sand away.

Death Valley, California, on film

Death Valley, Rolleiflex camera and Fujichrome Velvia 50, that is the old fashioned way, in 2010.

 

 

Zabriskie’s point. The colors here under the sun would really explode. But the pastel touch due to the overcast clouds was still worth a few slides.

 

 

 

a place called the Artist’s palette, not difficult to see why…

 

 

at the lowest point near Bad Water, a salt lake.

 

 

 

a walk in the Golden Canyon…

Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon in infrared

 

more of that Aerochrome, color infrared film, done with a medium format Rolleiflex 3.5F and a normal red filter. 

B/W infrared was initially used by the military: aerial surveillance as the IR different wavelength allows to see better through haze for instance. Details were more important to get than the proper tones, and later colors. Scientists used this Aerochrome a lot for various aerial researches. See more for the film on Dean Bennici website.

So here are a few pictures from Bryce Canyon, Utah

 

 

nothing to do with northern lights, just a greenish tone from the IR.

 

snow on the mountains far away and between the “red” trees, which are simple pine trees.

 

here I’d say there is a disadvantage as snow, the smooth white uniform surface, doesn’t contrast that well with the rocks that are rendered whiter than normal.

 

lots of snow here too. We had been lucky as the snow storm had happened just prior to our arrival.

 

below is Grand Canyon, Arizona, under mostly bad weather unfortunately. Grey skies stay dull in IR. I was hoping something weird, as I’m still experimenting, I didn’t know better.

 

 

fabulous Grand Canyon…early in the season, not too many people on the Rim which was great. The sky is here nearly all dull but looked more promising in normal colors. I would have composed the picture differently if I had known the grey result.

near Bryce Canyon, color infrared film.

 

just to get a break from Las Vegas, here are some pictures shot on good old film that I’m busy scanning, albeit a special film. That is a Kodak Aerochrome EIR, that is discontinued unfortunately. I used a medium format Rolleiflex for these pictures, that is 6x6 cm film size.

for those who are interested, this wonderful film is still on sale by Dean Bennici who works hard to get them available.

so infrared it is and it looks like you’ve been under LSD right? The trees are normally green, the sky was just blue. But this how we’d see the world if our eyes were infrared capable.

shot on our way between Zion and Bryce Canyon, Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

those 4 up were taken in Zion Nat’l park. And the 2 below near Bryce where snow had fallen big time days before.

 

so yes, the white stuff is snow. I was so happy to get my feet and hands in it!

 

 

snow again amongst the pines.

people in Las Vegas

rental or not, Harleys were all over in the USA.

 

happy girls…many girls were hanging together, some just friends, others on shopping mission, others celebrating a soon-to-be-married friend…

 

funny match

 

those who know me know I’ve got a thing with redhead girls…

 

looks like a successful shopping raid.

 

 

 

how did we survive before cell phones…?

 

some don’t get much of the bonanza…funny how a country that reveres its soldiers and veterans can dump some of them…

 

      

cop on bicycle, I loved that. That golden lion is part of the brand new MGM casino, the previous one had burnt badly I heard.

 

for the best and the worst. At least it seems to bode well…. Here at the Bellagio Hotel entrance (yes that’s only the entrance, imagine inside)

 

I was a bit puzzled to see youngsters begging, even if playing music…it seemed to bring a meager bounty at the end of the day whereas for instance being an impersonator of Elvis, Wonder Woman, Freddy, Superman…whatever, looked more rewarding just by posing with tourists for a picture.

Las Vegas, gamblers and a bit of sex

 

 

the Flamingo, one of the old classic casinos…slightly out fashioned nowadays. I had the feeling that the newer hotels-casinos like the Caesars palace, Paris Las Vegas…were a lot more attractive and a league of their own, a world apart. Add all other activities like shopping, getting married in a lavish style, attending conventions, renting a helicopter or Harley Davidson bikes or sport cars like Lamborghini, Dodge Viper… and there is no need to gamble to have fun in Las Vegas. But gambling is still attracting a large crowd nevertheless.

 

 

the Harrah’s, another old classic.

 

 

alcohol sold in various bottles to sip openly was very common, like here in the shape of Eiffel Tower. No paper bag needed to hide the booze as in other states.

 

unlucky desperate girl…she looked Japanese, girls famous for being heavy “shoppoholic”, and maybe she had just gambled and lost her shopping budget.

 

 

Paris Las Vegas casino, notice part of the Eiffel Tower leg on the right side. This lady looked like waiting for something, maybe for the husband to bring some change.

 

waitress in the Caesars Palace.

 

it is not really gambling but sure way to lose your money as well. I never understood the joy to pay and get a piece of paper telling crap from those machines…

 

I thought that could also be a form of gambling: a superb chick to your hotel room providing full service for only 35$!!?? Or just 70$ for 2 girls performing together? I’m not an expert but that sounds dead cheap…I’d be really suspicious. In the streets what looked like illegal Mexican immigrants were handing out little business cards from the same company all over as well. These people were really tatty and that didn’t help to improve my feelings about the scam…

Las Vegas and casinos

 

of course you can’t possibly visit Las Vegas and avoid casinos. They’re all over, straight in your face. Not to mention the slot machine everywhere, even in gas stations or toilets. I was even expecting to see them in hotel rooms. Designers have put the casinos around the main hotel halls so you have to cross them before going out or going to the Forum shops in case of the Caesars Palace. Temptation..

 

most pictures below show the Caesars palace casinos. Notice the decoration: roman columns, frescoes, carpets, gilded statues…the interior designers had a blast and a blank check I guess.

 

some people, women usually, make a serious effort to dress smartly. Whether you like it or not, this lady obviously took some time to get ready.

Other people, both sex, look like they’re on their way to dump the garbage or to the beach…

I’ve been nice here: I’ve waited till she turned her face away

 

 

 

 

Cher was performing in our hotel but we skipped that.

 

 

  

Karine got tempted once or twice, won a bit initially but lost in the end. She had a limited amount to start with and didn’t deviate from it. Shopping spending was more important and required strict behavior

!

    

one waitress.

Las Vegas, not enough with 2 eyes.

Palm trees along Las Vegas boulevard aka the Strip. Palm trees!! This is originally a complete deserted zone! What a waste of water and energy around…environmental concerns are high here…

 

colors colors.

 

 

talking about waste: a regular limo is already an outrageous heresy but a Hummer limo!

 

here is another limo. And yes, that’s a huge Eiffel Tower replica: the Paris Las Vegas hotel. The buildings around the tower are just so perfectly copied in details and built in Haussman style as in Paris, amazing.

 

Las Vegas is ever changing but I remember that bottle in 1997.

 

our room with a view in daylight: 2 of the other towers, center and left, from our hotel. Well, 4000 rooms don’t fit in a regular building… I hated the fact that windows in rooms can’t be opened at all. Not even a slit. So A/C on of course. Suicides amongst broken gamblers must be a concern.

 

the buffet in the Forum shops was perfect to start a shopping day (specially for me as I was the slave carrier)

 

one stylish outlet near the airport. Pretty well designed and conceived too. 

 

 

3 girlfriends shopping and comparing. Another girl seems envious. Early morning so there are not many bags yet. Wish I had done the same shot in the afternoon…

 

car registration plates can be a subject of their own in the USA. So many are legally customized, I could make special posts only about them. In Europe you’re lucky if you can choose the letters and digits only. Forget changing the colors and background.

Las Vegas, show time with Elvis and cowgirls

next day we were back at the Las Vegas welcome sign. Many people come here to get a self picture in front of that old sign. It is quite a small size finally, considering Las Vegas excessiveness. These flashy cowgirls were hanging around, not too sure why, but their look mixed in a funny way with this couple for instance…

 

 

…or this woman.

 

then there was Elvis on the parking lot a bit further. This impersonator claims to be the best one, that he has played in many movies as Elvis, including “3000 miles to Las Vegas”. In between movies, he can be hired for any event with this ‘56 pink Cadillac and special wardrobe. Here seen posing for a photo in exchange of a few dollars. We’ll see other people in Las Vegas disguised in somebody famous selling themselves for a picture.

 

 

those 50’s cars… I know they’re outrageous but let’s admit they were special and artistic in their own way.

 

 

 

lots of people pose here, including of course newly weds. As Karine says, I’ve got cold feet on the matter but I’ve got to admit that there are great ways to be married here. I’m not talking about fast weddings in an unknown chapel without great pomp. But just imagine a planned ceremony in this incredible city, choose a replica location of Rome, Venice, Paris…with friends and family and your (fake) favorite stars or characters acting as priest, for instance Marilyn Monroe and the Jedi…add dancers or any performers. No limit but your wallet. Well I can understand why people fall for that.

 

 

Harley Davidson bikes and US flags on any support, both of them are to be seen by millions in America.

Las Vegas, arrival in April

 

finally back in Tanzania and posting again on the blog. I’ve been away for a few months. I spent March in Belgium at Mom’s place studying for a flying license upgrade, the Airline Transport Pilot. Don’t be lured by the word “airline”, I still have no plan to fly a jumbo but this license is valid for smaller planes that can be found in the bush, like in the humanitarian world. I had some time to spare to get that piece of paper and it will probably be useful one day.

early April saw me in Paris at Karine’s flat for one week. Then we left Paris for Las Vegas for a few days before hitting the road towards the Rockies and the famous parks for 2 weeks and a half.

 

we got our rental car at the airport where we had been quite impressed by the efficiency of the rental system by the way: a free shuttle brings you to the building where all the rental companies are located. Coming from messy Europe…here above is the welcome sign in Las Vegas. We came back to this sign later as the activity there looked interesting. We spotted Elvis for instance.

 

Karine insisted to treat herself and invite me to the Caesars Palace. Here is the view on Las Vegas bld, aka The Strip, from our room in the Augustus Tower, one of the 4 towers. Not bad uh? That kind of luxury hotel would not be my spontaneous choice as I tend to cling on my backpacking habits but I have to admit it was a nice mind blowing experience. Not only a hotel but an array of antique Roman styled shops, restaurants, pool, spa etc exist within the complex.

 

but first things first, we just dropped the suit cases and went for proper food after the aircraft stomach filler. The choice among the restaurants…we were a little picky, we should have felt full of shame coming from Africa but hey, we only live once. So we raided a Chinese place.

 

 

then no choice but to cross the casino area of course, so you might be tempted to spend a bit here too.

 

Caesars…the name announces the style to come in the Forum shops within the palace complex. All is fake and copied from the real antique stuff and the city of Rome but the result is astounding. Here a David statue nearly as big as the real one.

No choice but walk and walk a lot. It must come as a surprise for many Americans…

the floor, the walls, the ceilings, even toilets are all decorated. Not one square inch has been left alone.

 

 

even the blue sky is fake under the Via Appia.

 

I’ve seen worse places to eat in my life…Somebody said Las Vegas is like Disneyland for adults. Quite right.

 

 

 

luxury shops like if you were on Rodeo Drive or Champs-Elysées. Here Dior with a sexy customer.

 

Karine was on a shopping mission to replenish her stocks of various supplies for the year to come. Me too but on a much smaller scale. For those who live in Africa, they’ll understand. Her big priority was the iPad which had been launched a week earlier and already was out of stock. Quite a deception! The Apple store was quite users friendly, everything is available for trial.