A Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:2.8 lens sat unused in my basement, on a dusty ledge, in a plastic bag. It is the last thing that I have from my grandfather on my father’s side. He liked to take photographs of flowers, rhubarb, and small toys in his backyard, so a small macro lens made sense. I decided to take the lens out for a spin of the docklands.
The photographs are of the Port of Saint John, founded in 1785 by loyalists to the crown fleeing the American revolution of 1776. It is a deep natural harbour abutting the Atlantic Ocean.
I wanted to take beautiful shots of the harbour, but alas, the day I arrived it was blanketed in deep fog.
![Saint John Harbour](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/harbour-1024x647.jpg)
A feature of many port cities of the era is that they can be very hilly, because what is important is a deep water, sheltered harbour, not the land. Saint John is very cramped in it’s port area because when it was built in the late 1700s, you don’t have cars and trucks, only horses and boats, so all the important stuff such as warehouses, banks and markets is crammed into boundaries defined by the distance a person could walk from the docks in about thirty minutes. This leads to many alleyways and tucked away places.
![Graffiti in an alley](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/graff-1024x657.jpg)
![Jardine Alley](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/jardine-653x1024.jpg)
There is a lovely coffee shop hidden down this alleyway, carved into an old brick warehouse, ten minute walk uphill from the docks. The aluminum circle in the middle of the frame is a outdoor seating spot for the coffee shop.
![Rogue Coffee Alley](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/rogue-1024x657.jpg)
Opposite view, showing a large multi-story mural of a squid or kraken on another old warehouse.
![Kraken Alley](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/alley-662x1024.jpg)
I love the oddities of old cities. In the foreground, bottom left, is a tiny patio for precisely one person to stand and have a drink.
![One spot to drink](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1place-1024x672.jpg)
One street up from the harbour, before you get to the warehouses, there is a series of old banks and financial institutions, as well as the customs house. You had to pay your customs and taxes before bringing goods on shore. Abandoned most of my life, this magnificent building currently houses a hipster axe-throwing club.
![Bank of New Brunswick](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bank-1024x658.jpg)
Beautiful (in my eyes) architecture leading down to the harbour. There is a lovely Irish bar in the yellow building, as well as an army surplus store.
![Line of Historical buildings](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/row-1024x661.jpg)
This green door leads to a dockside warehouse. In the 1990s it lead to coffee shop, then later a tavern. I have passed through this door exactly one time in my life.
![Green Door off of Water Street](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/door-657x1024.jpg)
![Warehouse by the docks](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/townsend-1024x665.jpg)
In Memory
One last photo, not taken by me or this camera. This is Donald Montgomery Vye, born 1900, died in 1987. It is with his Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:2.8 lens that I took these photos. He worked as an Engineer at the Port of Saint John for multiple decades. Below he is taking a selfie of himself, with a timer, in his basement. I miss you Pops.
![My Grandfather](https://www.35mmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/dmv.jpg)
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thorsten wulff on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
I wonder what your grandfather was about to shoot there with this elaborate setup…
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Charlie Bierwirth on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Troy Phillips on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
I have a couple fe’s and this lens actually two of them . I was looking for another fe body because my light meter was getting wonky. I found a beautiful fe for a very low price and it came with the 55mm micro in pristine condition. This lens has great 3D rendering I really love using it .
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Adrian Cullen on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Clive Williams on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Jon on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Comment posted: 19/11/2020
Greg L on A Few Frames with Nikon FE, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 & expired Lomo 400 film – By Alex Vye
Comment posted: 26/11/2020
Comment posted: 26/11/2020