5 frames with a Canon EOS IX7 APS camera

I am happy to be able to share these rather timeless colour photos. The subject matter is close to my heart because of family history and early memories from sailing with my family in the West Coast archipelago of Sweden.

I was drawn to the camera because of the small size for an SLR, and the option of using compact EOS mount lenses from the used market (of 30 years of production).

Another reason to use it is the cheaper APS (Advanced Photo System) colour film. Although they are always expired using them works fine for me. The APS system vanished into thin air when digital arrived. There still are some labs scattered over Europe that develop the film type.

Three of these five frames are from a warm but rainy day in July when we visited the Bassholmen ship-building museum and nature reserve. I used the pictured Canon 40 mm auto-focus lens. The small island is public access boat-only with a limited rental hostel and kiosk/café, while also hosting members-only accomodations for paying supporters of the museum and members of the Naturskyddsföreningen Swedish Nature Preservation Society.

Above is one of the replicas of the Common (i e working man’s professional or transport) boats to which the museum is devoted. We see a tar covered deck receiving the first specks of rain. (I was happy at that instant that the camera start-up time is so short, when the thought hit me that the rain drops would reflect the sky from the matte black.)

Taking cover inside an open boat workshop during the fierce downpour.

Inside the museum several gigs and skiffs are on display with hoisted sails. These were everyday vessels until half a century ago. Some of these boats are restored originals and some are replicas built by enthusiasts for the museum.

The one above is the one photo from earlier in the summer where I managed to catch the rain drops with an adapted Nikon 20 mm lens, close to my home.

This last photo is from the larger, adjacent to Bassholmen, Skaftö island. I wanted to include it because it to some degree displays the craftmanship of boat builders, with all the fine detailed woodwork and worked-out designs in all its apparent simplicity. It also displays how a boat falls into disrepair when it is not cared for, for reasons of the user’s neglect or a lack of commission for the vessel. Both a sign of our times it seems.

Find my photography blog getOBPhoto here, my IG ourbooksmalmo here, and FB group on camera modding here.

Share this post: