Over the last few years, I have become a landscape photographer. It was not a conscious choice but now I embrace it. I have always been an opportunist when it comes to photography and shot whatever I was doing at the time. My focus on landscapes followed a move to a new state and an increasing amount of time spent outside.
The first film camera I bought was a Yashica Mat LM I found at a thrift store. Six years later a Yashica TLR is still my main camera only now I have upgraded to the 124G version. I love viewing the world through the waist level viewfinder (WLF). I imagine I look odd hiking with it but I find it easier to carry than the other cameras in my collection.
Every year, my husband and I try to schedule at least one long camping trip. For 2018, it was a trip to Rainier and Olympic National Parks. We spent three full days at Mt. Rainier before travelling to Olympic. I wish we had spent the entire week at Mt Rainier instead. There were too many trails we wanted to explore and not enough time to hike them all. I highly recommend visiting if you are in the Pacific Northwest.
Two of our days had perfect weather. It was sunny and beautiful with full views of the mountain. The other day was overcast with rain on and off. We decided to do our planned morning hike anyway. The trail was a short 2.5 miles round trip but the scenery was incredible. The trail passes a small lake in the distance before ending at a second larger lake. I shot two rolls of film, one TMAX 400 and one Kodak Portra 400. I shot the Portra at box speed and metered with an app on my phone. The greens captured on Portra are perfect. The photos I shot on this hike ended up being my favorites from the trip.
~ Gabi
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3 responses to “5 Frames… Of the Pacific Northwest with Kodak Portra 400 (EI 400 / 120 format / Yashica-Mat 124G”
Glad you are enjoying your YashiscaMAT 124G. I used to have one and really liked it. Lighter than my Rolleiflex and took very sharp photos. I bet it is a good hiking camera, as you say! Thanks for sharing your 5 frames.
Beautiful photos Gabi. I particularly enjoy the first one.
Beautiful Gab….Louis.