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Now he needs a lens … anyone want to help him out with that?

Nick Counts and his new (old) Nikon F4.

A collection of photographs made for Brown University. The photos were published by Brown Alumni Magazine, Brown Medicine and on various Brown websites. See the gallery here.

The Liberty Elm is a great little diner on Elmwood Ave. in Providence, Rhode Island. Cool people work there and cool customers eat there. The 1947 Worcester Lunch Car diner is a gem, partially restored and recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

http://ascottkingsley.com/the-liberty-elm-makes-history

“Oggi? How you say? Od-Gee!”

Oggi Wedding Photography in Bristol, Rhode Island has had a bit of an identity crisis, having re-branded from trusty ol’ Bristol Workshops to Oggi Wedding Photography. Owner Julie Brigidi (not Italian!) gives little pronunciation lessons at the Newport Bridal Show, Feb, 20, 2010. Oggi means “Today” — as in “Today, I marry my best friend.”

http://ascottkingsley.com/video-how-you-say-oggi

“The Power and Promise of High Performance Computing”

Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island unveiled its high performance computer in November 2009 at the Center for Computation and Visualization. This video was shown at a reception on the day of the ribbon-cutting.

http://ascottkingsley.com/video-the-power-and-promise-of-high-performance-computing-at-brown

“The Year of India”

From Brown University’s Year of India web page:

“Welcome to this exciting year of major public lectures, cultural events, academic conferences, media, and other explorations of India and its dramatic rise on the world stage. During the academic year 2009-2010, the Year of India aims to advance the understanding of India’s people, culture, economy, and politics – and their growing impact around the world.”

http://ascottkingsley.com/yoi

“Map Talk at The John Carter Brown Library”

Brown University’s John Carter Brown Library has gathered some of the library’s map into a very interesting exhibition — Map Talk: a conversation with maps at the JCB.

http://ascottkingsley.com/jcb

“40 Years of Caring”

This video was created for Thundermist Health Center of Woonsocket, RI as they celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the organization. Thundermist has three health centers in the state: Woonsocket, South County and West Warwick, serving thousands of patients in those communities. The video was shown at an anniversary party at the Woonsocket primary-care center at 450 Clinton Street. David DelPoio and I collaborated on this project.

http://ascottkingsley.com/video-forty-years-of-caring-at-thundermist

In one of the school’s most-loved traditions, Brown University organist Mark Steinbach performs his annual Halloween organ recital on the world’s largest Hutchings-Votey pipe organ in Sayles Hall. At midnight, students jam the old gym floor to listen to Steinbach’s Halloween-appropriate selections.

who came through for you in your time of need.Despite a strong effort by Chris from Canada and a last-minute, but still strong, showing by Erin of Newport, Nick pulled away in the final hours as Chris and Erin ran out of Facebook friends.

The final tally, with all precincts reporting, is 281 votes, total. Nick: 128. Chris: 101. Erin: 51. Julio: 1, and Albert: 0.

A tip of the hat to Chris for a classy concession comment. If you’re ever in Canada, look him up. He’s seems like a decent guy. Erin, it’s time for the workers of the State of Massachusetts to get back to work. Nice effort! And I’m sorry that Julio and Albert missed the party. And if someone doesn’t buy my old gear, maybe I’ll be giving more gear away in the future.

Nick, I’ll be in touch.

While I’ve been quite happy with 20-40 viewers per day to this site, it was exciting to see the page views graph climb hour by hour as the contenders badgered their friends for votes, topping out 1,591 page views. Here’s what the graph looks like:

If any of those friends ever need a photographer or a little video, you know where to find me.

Free Nikon F4 Contest

A sincere thank  you to all of you how entered and thank you to all of you who looked in on this little contest and thank you to the people who bought some of the gear from the closet and thank you all the people who are going to buy the rest of the gear and thank you, of course, to the panel. This is like the Academy Awards without the sequined dresses.

OK, here’s your Final Five. (Last names are included only if they were in the original post.) Time for you to go Get Out The Vote! Shenanigans will be detected, so, play fair, but have fun. The poll will be available in the sidebar on most pages on this site. Look! It’s right over there. Voting will end at midnight next Tuesday, 3/23/10. Good luck and thanks for playing along.

Again, the gear for sale is HERE. And the sound of the F4 burning through a roll of 36 is HERE.

In alphabetical order: (I know the last names …)

Nick Counts

Hi There,

My name is Nick. I found your listing about giving away a Nikon F4 via craigslist and was quite intrigued. I suppose I should tell you my story. Photography is sort of an obsession of mine (along with good coffee). I have various toy cameras and I had a DSLR (Canon 350D) but lately I’ve realized that film is where it’s at and I sold the DSLR looking to “upgrade” to a nice film outfit. I however I ended up having to use the money to pay rent and here I am without a decent camera. I do have a Fujica STX-1 that I picked up, but it just doesn’t have the capability to offer me the creative control that I need.
That brings me to why I need/want the camera in the first place. Currently I am a student studying film at the University of Rhode Island. While I study film as in motion pictures, photography has always been a close second. Now, I am enrolled in my first ever film class: Black and White photography, and I’m amazed by all the awesome things you can do in the darkroom. Much cooler than shipping them off to CVS, that’s for sure. Cooler even than clicking around in photoshop (which I’ve done my fair share of). The problem is that I constantly find myself running into stumbling blocks due to the limitations of my equipment. There are too few shutter settings and I’m having trouble finding any decent lenses for my camera.
Sadly, my current job involves sitting in a computer lab doing nothing, or when I’m so inclined, browsing Flickr.com for different awesome photo ideas. I have to admit, I think toy cameras are awesome and the Fujica STX is a decent start, but I’m now at the point where I need to move forward in my film experience. What better way than with a sweet old pro Nikon F4 at my side and the school’s darkroom at my disposal?
Thank you for your time.

-Nick Counts

Chris from Canada … no hard feelings over the Olympic hockey, OK?

Looking to buy the 85 and 180 but Ill submit for the free F4.

Wow where do I start. I am from Ontario, Canada. Im not a student.
I have taken literally tens of thousands of pictures. Minolta, Fuji, Nikon.

From my early years on dads Minolta SR101 (tank) used all over Europe. To a newer Minolta AF series camera, I have never stopped for an moment taking pictures. (dads fault)

Currently I own a Fuji S2 digital SLR (Nikon mount) and both of dads aging Minolta setups. Unfortunately time has gotten the best of the Minolta film setup and I have been on the lookout for a used F4 or F5 to replace them with.

My current collection of Nikon gear is growing all but slowly. It very hard to keep up now that the price of MF lenses have screeched up in price. Wow, I remember this stuff was affordable fun at one point.

There are probably people much more deserving than me for the Nikon F4, its a hell of a camera. It set a new benchmark for cameras back in the late 80’s. Even today it holds its own against the newer digital format. Its so hard to beat a great shot through a great film camera when scanned against digital. Digital just cannot keep up when it gets thrust against something like the F4 and a quality scanner.

I will own a F4 or F5 eventually, but I could not pass up this opportunity to convey my utter love and admiration to photography and all who embrace it. WoW what a way to capture priceless moments in time.
I have been very lucky to get some amazing shots over the years. Its something I do every day and will enjoy into my ages.

My currently Nikon lens collection all be it small will mount and meter perfectly on the F4. Its not the newer digital plastic stuff.
The F4 would never go to waste in this home, it would be cared for and respected for the camera that it is.

All that being said I hope you were looking for someone to USE the F4 and not put it on the shelf. My intentions were to USE it and not store it or sell it.
You would be encouraged to visit my web page at any time and check on its work, it would be posted for all to see. I have had a subscription to the .mac site for over 8 years.

Best wishes and good luck to all.

Cheers from Northern Ontario CANADA.

Chris

Julio Gutierrez

You must be twice the person you really think you are. An oppurtunity like this is so rare in todays world. My name is Julio Gutierrez,today i find myself sane from all bad, because my artistic thirst. Really im an artist in work and photography for me is one of those better things in life.

I set myself aside from others with my Canon Film Camera G11. Theres nothing like the feeling of impatiently waiting to see my work developed. Most of the time money is an issue trying to develop so many films, but i still gather enough out that piggy bank to develop my film. I was the type after the newest trendiest point and shoot digital camera because thats what society wanted me to have. But it was not long ago i found my self in love with vintage film cameras.
Exploring all the buttons and all there is to know about them. Manualy setting the aperture is my favorite feature, messing with the macro and in-depth shots, black and white. Its a connection between me and film cameras turned me a picture-taking addict. Im a student,husband,brother,artist in a world of my own trying to make it to see another day theough a set of lens. I have knowledge and research of the camera you have offered to pass on, even though it is worth a alot in value theres somthing else i want from it. I want to give it its life back , Let it see the world again, through my eyes as i continue to explore this unblanced thing we call life in the making. Photography is a canvas filled with my everyday brushstrokes.Help me visualize and interpret my life with your camera, Nikon f4.
Best,
Julio
http://www.crowdofkaos.com

Albert Huerta

I just checked out the Diner video up top. I never knew when that place was ever open. Always walked by it on my way to school. Awesome to say the least maybe I should stop in.

Originally, being 5 am I didnt totally read the CL description and I just saw Nikon F4. When I saw that you wanted to give it away I thought to myself, HEY its 5 am and Im the first to know possibly! Unfortunately as I read on, the words “some nice kid” came up. I am a good 5 years far from being a “kid” and although I’d like to stay an adolescent, im definitely a 23 year old adult.

I’ve always been the families photographer. Shot an olympus om10 (current photography 1 cam of choice, currently under repairs at Zacks on hope st) and an old minolta (long gone). The feel of shooting film is awesome. Every shot is personal and packs a nice treat of excitement when you develop them. I do shoot digitally tho, Nikon D80.

I am currently a student (sophomore) at CCRI Warwick. I started out at URI as a nursing major, later became an elem. ed major and all that ended very fast. After a couple of years not being in school I went back to New England Inst. of Technology for a certificate in Graphic Design where I took my first photo class (2008). Things did not work out well due to issues I was having with my roommates and I didnt end up completing my entire program. So here I am, general courses at CCRI with a focus on film/digital art/photography.

Dedication. I spent 4 days and 3 nights in front of a walmart on post rd camped by a vending machine in 40 degree weather waiting for the playstation 3 release back in 2007…(I actually just documented it with some friends.) I pulled a lot of all nighters tho trying to learn what I know now. Constantly going on adventures. Downtown, Bootleggers, Pawtucket Downtown, Central Falls abandonment, public transportation, New York, school, church, the bathroom even and the list goes on. Ive taken my camera everywhere!

I wouldnt say I prefer film over digital. Simply because Digital allows room for error I suppose. When my Olympus still worked I was always scared I would overexpose everything! Happy to be in a Black and white film course, know my origins. I got serious in to the art using my Nikon D80 but I do love the feeling of shooting film with the idea of every shot counting.

ahhh work! Idk about my work :/… I been shooting seriously for about a year now so definitely Im very self conscious of my work. Everything I link was done in the last 7 months or so. I built a backdrop stand out of pvc pipes and used fabric/clamps I found at joblot for my backdrop in most of these pictures.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahuertaproject
http://www.facebook.com – Albert Huerta
http://www.AlbertxHuerta.com (just opened 2 days ago not fully updated but has some photos)

well thats all for now and I think im going back to sleep after snooping around CL a littler more. NIGHT!

Erin from Newport … Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Hi Scott,

I found your ad on craigslist and thought your contest was a creative way to ensure that your once prized possession went to a worthy home (even though you might not be, I’m a bit of the sentimental sort for old camera gear). I’ll make my case for why I can give the Nikon F4 a good home.

I first started taking photography classes as a sophomore in high school at the Newport Art Museum in Rhode Island. I quickly fell in love with the subject, and went on to minor in photography at Boston College (economics major: we all have to make a living somehow) . I graduated in 2008 but still live like a broke student in Boston. Recently, the very darkroom where I learned to develop was dismantled to free up studio space in the museum. As luck would have it, I managed to obtain a good amount of the darkroom equipment from the museum. I’ve coerced my parents into making a darkroom in their basement in little Rhodey so that I can develop my passion for photography (pun intended). Now that I have a darkroom in the making, I need to build my camera arsenal so that the creative juices can really start flowing.

I currently shoot on a Nikon N75 35mm SLR, which would make a lovely companion for the Nikon F4. I admit that I do have a digital, pocket-sized Canon, but that’s only used for recording everyday moments. Only with a film camera can you turn a moment into art, and only the classic, pre-digital cameras do it best. There’s nothing like developing your own prints: seeing that silver come to life while the smell of chemicals rise over the slow gurgle of running water is just incomparable.

I’ve always loved photography, and feel the dying art of black and white development represents a classic period in modern art that should be kept alive, despite the ease of digital shooting and printing. I would like the Nikon F4 so that I may do my part to preserve photography as the art form it truly is, which expands far beyond simply pressing a shutter button. I ensure you that I will take excellent care of the F4. However, if you should decide that another photographer is more worthy, than I wish it the best of luck in its new home.

Thank you for this fun opportunity,
Erin

PS – if that’s not convincing enough, here’s my shameless begging: please please please please please please can I have it?? pretty please? cherry on top? please?

]]> http://ascottkingsley.com/contest/free-old-nikon-film-f4-camera-the-final-five/feed 10 http://ascottkingsley.com/contest/free-old-nikon-film-f4-camera-giveaway-contest-is-closed http://ascottkingsley.com/contest/free-old-nikon-film-f4-camera-giveaway-contest-is-closed#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:55:55 +0000 scott http://ascottkingsley.com/?p=755 My little contest to giveaway my old film camera is closed to new entries. The selection of the Final Five is in the hands of the panel of experts. I will post a poll in few days and you all can decide who should be awarded the camera. As I have said before, I know polls are easy to hack, if someone decides to spoil the fun, the only vote that will count will be mine. Thank you to everyone who has been checking in on the giveaway and thank you to those of you who put a little of your heart and soul in to your entry. Photography is fun. Thanks for playing along. And of course, some of that old gear from the closet is still for sale … make an offer.

First, let me  just say that I am not making fun of anyone, but according to Google Analytics, the number one search to find this site is “Nikon F4 Cleaning.” From March 3rd to the 8th someone — it has to be one person, right? — has visited this site 38 times by searching “Nikon F4 Cleaning.” I guess maybe it could be a bookmark? … a saved search? … I don’t know? There is a simple explanation, I’m sure, but if you are “Nikon F4 Cleaning” I would love to hear from you. This fascinates me. I’m sure there is some weird geeky reason and I’m just being stupid, but really, “Nikon F4 Cleaning?” over six days? 38 times? Let’s talk.

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Applause at the Latin Carol Celebration at Brown University in Providence.