It is extremely rare to find any product that will endure 25+ years of heavy use, let alone one that continued to perform as good as the day it was bought until the day it was retired (when I switched to digital photography). My Canon FTb was purchased brand new in July of 1976 for a whopping $219. In the 25 years since my original purchase I subjected my camera to just about every environmental extreme possible. It spent considerable time in temperatures ranging from a frigid -10 degrees Fahrenheit to a sizzling +115, experienced humidity levels ranging from the murky dampness of a Florida swamp to the extremely arid environment of a pure desert. It has been rained upon, snowed upon, had ice form all over it, and even had dew form on it during hour long exposures in the middle of the night. It has been in sand storms, blizzards, and ice storms, often just tucked under my shirt or jacket. I’ve carried it for thousands of miles in my backpack, day-pack, and fanny-pack, and it has spent countless nights in my tent or by my side while I sleep under the stars. I’ve taken it hiking, backpacking and camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, along the rocky coast of Maine, high up in the Colorado Rockies, and just about everywhere in the Red Rock Country of Southern Utah. It has even photographed a launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. But in spite of all of this...
- My FTb never needed a repair.
- My FTb never let me down.
- My FTb never needed to be pampered.
The FTb is an extremely solid and dependable 35mm single lens reflex camera. Built like a tank, it contains a ton of metal parts… well… nearly 2 pounds worth, and that’s without a lens mounted on it. Most cameras today weigh only a fraction of that. (It nearly knocked me out once during a bumpy flight over Canyonlands.) It’s a 100% manual camera which means that you set both the shutter speed and the aperture. The photographer is the only one to blame for poor exposures, the camera only does exactly what it is told. It also has a mechanical shutter which means that if the battery fails, the shutter will continue to operate. But most importantly, the FTb is a solidly built camera that would probably have continued to work for another 20+ years.
The following collection of photos will give you an idea of what my camera has been through. These photographs will also give you a feel for the visual experiences that I have brought with me into Red Rock Country. I appreciate the beauty of nature wherever I go, but no landscape has ever touched my heart more than the Red Rock Country of southern Utah.
Winter
in Letchworth State Park, New York
It was nearly 10 degrees below zero when I took this photo. Because of the close proximity of the falls, ice was constantly forming on the exposed surfaces of my camera. I occasionally took off my gloves to adjust the camera controls and I found that my skin would freeze to the metal surfaces of the camera! None-the-less my camera performed perfectly.
Another photograph of winter in Letchworth State Park. There are three
major waterfalls in Letchworth, and they all create a wonderland of ice
and frost. Growing up in Western New York I had a lot of exposure to snow,
especially heavy lake effect snow blowing off the Great Lakes. I decided
to make the most of it and did things like winter photography and cross
country skiing. Winter without snow can be a drab time of year, but a
fresh blanket of snow adds a beautiful purity to any scene. The crisp
air, the stark contrast between snow and sky, and the smell of a winter
forest can make winter a very special time of year.
Stull
Observatory, Finger Lakes Region of New York
My involvement with local amateur astronomy groups, and the wonderful people that frequent them, has presented me with some great opportunities to utilize quite a few astronomical observatories. But as much as I enjoy peering through an eyepiece, the sight of a wide open crystal clear night sky always thrills me. As I gaze upward with nothing between my eyes and the cosmos, I almost feel as if I am immersed within it. There is an intimacy in this type of observing that is addicting and it keeps me coming back for more. It’s also an adventure for my camera. I have done exposures as long as 2 hours which can result in the formation of frost on the camera in the winter or dew in the summer. But it’s no problem for the FTb, just wipe it off and try again. My camera has spent many complete nights on a tripod pointed toward the heavens. Note: The graininess of this photo is due to the high speed (ASA 1600) film that I used. The exposure time was only 30 seconds.
Meese Observatory (University of Rochester), New York
- What, no stars, no observatory? Actually, after a long night of observing in November I was treated to some light snow as the sun came up that stuck to all of the surrounding trees. I grabbed my camera, which had been cold soaking at around the zero degree point for most of the night, and started photographing the beautiful trees. As usual, it worked perfectly. This shot was taken through an inexpensive fisheye adapter.
Lake Placid, New York
I love a good thunderstorm. The smell of the rain, the brisk air currents, the dramatic lighting, and the powerful rumble of thunder are just wonderful. However, when I found myself up in the clouds during such a thunderstorm it became rather alarming. None-the-less I knew that even if I wouldn’t survive, my FTb would. Luckily, we both made it down safely.
Alpine
Tundra - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
I love the desert. It is a harsh environment that results in extraordinary landscapes and remarkable forms of life. For very similar reasons, the alpine tundra maintains a similar hold on me. I became fascinated with the alpine tundra while living in Colorado. I lived about 25 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park so access to the tundra was extremely convenient. Once you get above 12,000 feet in elevation you enter the realm of the alpine tundra. I find the ecosystem of the tundra absolutely fascinating, there are so many similarities between this landscape and the landscape of the southwestern deserts. The tundra at first looks rather barren, but closer inspection reveals an entire microcosm of life - from the beautiful multicolored lichen to the exquisite mosses that blanket the surface. Up close, the tiny flowers are exquisite in appearance and design. I am awestruck at their remarkable adaptation to this extremely harsh environment, in exactly the same way I am impressed with the life forms of the desert. Life has to struggle so much harder to survive. The simple act of living is somehow intensified for the plants and animals of these special places. Weather is wildly unpredictable in the alpine tundra. I have been caught in numerous snow and hail storms, even in July. But even with hail bouncing off my FTb, it has never disappointed me up in the tundra. As a matter of fact, shortly after taking this picture my camera and I were bombarded with hail.
Rocky
Mountain National Park, Colorado
Mountains exude power. I’ve explored the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana and I am always humbled by their majestic presence. Walking at elevations that often exceed 14,000 feet leaves me feeling exposed, vulnerable to the forces of nature. Feeling so small and insignificant can really help to put life in its proper perspective. High winds and cold temperatures are the norm at high elevations. Once again, I have the perfect camera for this environment.
Grand
Teton National Park, Wyoming
The jagged peaks of the Grand Tetons are truly awe inspiring. The complete lack of foothills along the shear eastern face of the Teton Range amplifies their splendor. They seem to rise up out of the valley floor forming a seemingly impenetrable barrier. Numerous glacial lakes at their base provide beautiful reflections resulting in a landscape that would give goose bumps to even the most insensitive observer. During a hike around one of these lakes I was completely drenched by an afternoon thunderstorm. Even though my camera was getting wet, I just had to grab this shot.
Niagara
Falls, Western New York
I grew up not too far from Niagara Falls. As a result I’ve taken literally hundreds of photographs of the falls, from just about every conceivable angle. A trip to the Cave of the Winds, at the base of the falls, is quite literally a body and soul drenching experience. During the winter, the entire area surrounding the falls becomes a fantasy land of ice. Although I normally dread human intervention with the beauty of nature, I have to admit that the falls are beautiful when they are illuminated with colored lights at night. Once again I had to fight ice forming on my camera when I took this photo. No problem.
Of course, my camera has spent more time than anywhere else in the Red Rock Country of southern Utah. I have done the majority of my hiking and exploration during the summer months, when temperatures are normally in the 100+ degree range. Take a look at the Gallery section for some of my photos from southern Utah.
