This is the pond at Choate Park in Medway, photographed today, May 31, 2026, around 2 pm.

I have far better shots at this very spot — more than I can count — but none can compare to this one and the 7 others that follow below.

The camera is a Kodak Vest Pocket (KVP), also known as the Soldier’s Camera, because it was wildly popular during the war — The Great War — WW1. Mine is from 1915, one of the first cameras to use 127 film. It has a trapdoor on the back that lets the user etch notes into the film with a stylus after each frame is taken. Mine is still attached. I even have the original advert for it hanging in my studio – ‘Put a Kodak in Your Pocket’ pharmacy promo.

I had not used this camera before today. I spent some time with it this morning getting it into working order. It came to me in decent condition, but being 111 years old, it needed some attention. I took it into the darkroom and checked for light leaks by shining a flashlight through the seals and bellows. I got the shutter loosened up. The viewfinder needs a cleaning, but it served its purpose. Gaffer’s tape over anything suspicious, and I was ready for film.

The film is a story in its own right — one I’m not entirely clear on. I have no memory of where it came from. I believe it was tossed in with a bunch of stuff I picked up at Brimfield, maybe 10 years ago. A never-opened roll of Kodak Verichrome Pan 127, still in the box, expired June 1974.

The original plan was to unroll it, use the backing paper to re-spool modern film onto the old spool, and shoot the camera with something that might actually work. Then it occurred to me — I had nothing to lose. Load the old film. It works, it works. It doesn’t, I still have the spool and backing paper and I try again.

It worked.

My 111-year-old camera, loaded with film that expired 52 years ago. Eight exposures. I had no expectations. I went to my testing ground and tried different settings. This camera doesn’t have settings like most cameras — its apertures are labeled: 1 Near View Portrait, 2 Average View, 3 Distant View, 4 Clouds Marine. Shutter speeds: 25, 50, T, B. I modified my development time to give the old emulsion its best chance, and processed the roll by hand in my darkroom.

I was genuinely shocked when I unrolled the strip and saw real negatives.

The oldest camera and film I’ve ever shot. My first time working with 127. A pain to spool for development. And one of the best projects I’ve ever done. I might pick up more 127 film, or use that backing paper to roll my own — but no matter what I shoot in the future, nothing will match today. Something was created from what I fully expected would be nothing.

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Kodak has many logos and many different fonts. I love finding them. This tag is on the kickstand of a beat-up No. 2-C Autographic Kodak Jr. made between 1914 and 1924. It is missing its lens, a gift from a friend for my camera collection.

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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.

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Sylvania P25 Blue Dot Bulbs from the ’50s have crazy filaments that are magnesium. Sometimes when I am bored, I stare into them and get lost in thought.

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The 25th edition of the How to Make Good Pictures by Kodak. I have a few editions of this book from over the years. Fun to see the differences with each edition. My most recent is from the 70s the oldest from the 20s.

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