the dailypic 5059 yr14 311 Reykjavik The Hasselblad 18

I used two film cameras while in Reykjavik, today’s photos are the results from my Hasselblad 500c. A camera not known for street photography. It is big, slow, clunky, noticeable, and made for portraits, preferably in the studio with lighting. Challenge accepted.

These were the first color rolls I put through the 1971 body. Two rolls, and twenty exposures, I ended up with 18 frames. A few were double exposed – user error, and two were under-exposed, one of which I was really looking forward to but knew was a risk due to bad lighting (I took a digital photo as a backup). Some are not as sharp as they need to be. One is completely out of focus, and I love it. The camera makes you slow down, think, debate, and second guess yourself, all traits that do not really work in street photography, and I could not have enjoyed shooting these more.

Pardon the longer post. Since I slowed down and gave each shot room to breathe, I figured I would add some info for each frame. The one above and the next two below are of some of the many cats I saw in the city. Cats are popular. There are walking tours you can take to see them. Each gift shop has Cats of Reykjavik shirts. Not easy to get the photos. Lining up the shot with the slow camera was tough. The one above let me take two – I wish I stopped at one. I could have used the extra photo – then took off.

Next, I have Phil Keoghan, the host of The Amazing Race and Tougher than Nails. I met him just down the street from the cat on the post. I told him I was a fan of his shows. Then we got talking about my camera. Again, it is not stealth. People notice it. Phil was so kind, wanting to know more about it, fascinated I was using it for street photography in Iceland. He was touring the city with his Dad. Before he joined up with him down the road, he posed for a portrait for me. I quickly got it all ready, and this is the shot. I am happy with the result. I will be sending it to Phil through Instagram. He said it had been decades since someone took a film portrait of him.

Next was Gilbert of the JS Watch Company—a watchmaker in downtown who has been there for over 50 years. The photo is not the sharpest due to the lighting. I held my breath and took the photo at a shutter speed I would usually use a tripod for. The watches were incredible. I tried on a couple and loved one of them. The attention to the craftsmanship of these analog pieces fits into the whole ‘film mode’ I am going through, but it was a purchase I could not make on this trip. However, meeting and hearing Gilbert’s stories was a great souvenir.

I did stop at my favorite Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand. The line was longer than anytime I had visited before. It was so worth it.

This is Stormur (Icelandic of Storm), and he was a good boy. I met a ton of dogs that day. Stormur was the first. I have a photo of a St Bernard in digital. The owners told me there are 16 or so St. Bernards on the island. Stormur family told me they only know of a few Bernese Mountain Dogs on the Island. They just do not have many – struck me as strange, I think these big dogs would love it there. Mine would.

A favorite of mine, a bookshop that had a chess set in the window. Lined up the reflection with some graffiti from across the street.

More graffiti, more from the cat theme.

Hallgrimskirkja Church is at the top of Skólavörðustígur. Part of the street is painted like a rainbow, a popular tourist spot. I talked to a few people while I waited to get a photo up the street. There were a couple of questions about the camera. The street is lined with shops and restaurants, one of which is Fótógrafí, a photo gallery. A missed opportunity was the photographer/owner was walking out as I was walking in. I noticed his camera first – I believe it was a Hasselblad Digital. I was going to say something but paused too long and he moved on. It was not until I talked to the woman running the gallery about the artist that she told me, “he just left.”

An anarchy sticker outside the Icelandic Punk Museum. The blob on the right is an M&M statue covered in punk stickers. Nice balance.

Another missed opportunity, poor lighting, and user error got me this. I was really looking forward to this photo. I went to a flea market in the morning and there was a spot selling records. I went back later because I really wanted to take the vendor’s photo. He had a great look and this cool London hat that I felt probably had a story. I was right. I asked him about his hat and he was happy to chat. We talked music for a bit, and he agreed to let me take his photo. I did take a second with the digital camera feeling this one was not working, but I was looking forward to the film portrait. Though meeting him was better than any picture. I was hoping to send it to him – they all don’t come out perfect.

What might be my favorite is this one – it mocks me because I knew better. I had just finished the first roll and was changing – rewinding the roll, securing it, then replacing it with fresh film. This is not a quick process, and doing it on a trash can on a side street is not helpful, but I got it done. I said these are the first color rolls I have shot, correction these are the first color rolls that have worked. I did one when I got it, but I loaded it wrong, so it was blank. So I have a bit of anxiety about loading this camera, I am getting better, but if I am going to mess it up, this was my chance. It was loaded and the Viking mural is right across from me. I saw the bicyclist coming and thought it would be a great shot. The second I snapped it, I knew I was not in focus, not even close. I rushed it. I still like it, but it is a reminder this is a portrait camera.

The last two taken were four photos. Not sure what I did, but I double-exposed the last two frames. The horses hid a photo taken of my friend Aron who graciously hosted me on the trip by letting me stay at his house. And the rental car lot was me trying to use the last shot so I could rewind the film before the airport but it was over a cool church I found on my way to return the car.

Eighteen photos from Reykjavik, all shot on Kodak Portra 100 film with the 80 mm lens on the Hasselblad 500C. Tomorrow, the photos from the Widelux Panoramic. If you are still here, thanks for looking.

tr/trp