The Bridge to Nowhere… on Flickr.

Kodak Tri-x iso 400
Developed in Ilford ID-11/ 8 minutes
Kodak Scanner

The bridge itself was constructed in the late ’60s/early ’70s by New Jersey Bell so they could run telephone poles across the swamp. They left it standing after the work was completed. In its day, the bridge was a popular spot for crabbing. At one time you were able to drive to the top of the bridge and park, but you could never actually cross it because you could easily get stuck in the swampy marsh on the other side. The bridge has been vandalized and actually set on fire a couple of times (hence, half a bridge) It is only a matter of time before the township decides to tear it down.

Memorial Spot on Flickr.

Kodak Tri-X 400
Developed in Ilford ID-11, Stock 8 minutes
Minolta Maxxum 5 (poopy lens)
Auto Setting

So… I decided to shoot some black and white film and try developing it myself. The last time I developed film was back in college in….19, well, put it this way…I had a mullet. Yeah…a mullet. I looked like an alien. But I digress.

You know what? I had a blast. It brought me back to a time where there was raw excitement and anticipation in producing a photographic image. I felt like I was doing “photography”. Loved it. I know, I know. A lot of blown out stuff in this negative, but overall I was happy just to get an image appear. So true to form, I’ve ordered a bunch of B&W film, chemicals and other darkroom stuff much to the chagrin of my teenage children who think I’m..well…an alien.

This photo was taken in the Manahawkin Wildlife Preserve near my home. The cross is not a grave. It’s a memorial marker for a young woman who drowned when her car mysteriously overturned one night into the creek far beyond the marker and trees. No one could figure out how the car got so far out there. It remains a mystery to this day. Curiously though, it is only about a half mile away from what we call “The bridge to nowhere”, which has it’s own mystery associated with it and will be the subject of my next upload.

Jersey tomatoes.  Try them with a little balsmic vinegar and virgin olive oil….fresh mozarella and fresh basil.  Yum.

Shot with my recently refurbished Minolta XD5 and newly acquired Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm/2.8 lens.  Yum as well. :)

Fujifilm 400/ f16 @ 1/500

Plenty of decayed boats here on the island!

Lots of empty shacks here on the island.  This one is in Cyanotype.

Winter reeds…via Cyanotypes. 

My first attempt at Cyanotypes, an alternative photography printing process.  I am totally hooked on this.  Check out http://www.alternativephotography.com for more info.

Le Shack…