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What makes something an heirloom?

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Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#71

Post by WalterBright »

lacrimacida wrote: post #61
WalterBright wrote: post #10

My dad dug out of his B-17 navigator's desk a chunk of German flak that missed his head by about an inch. The only reason it missed him was because he had just turned to grab his flak jacket. It was his good luck charm for the rest of his life, and is a prized heirloom. It's about an inch and a half long, just right to carry in his pocket for his subsequent combat missions. Maybe an heirloom is an object that is simu…

This should be your hierloom as well, if your dad didn’t turn his head you wouldn’t exist today.

Yup, that thought has definitely occurred to me! When he passed away, we panicked because we couldn't find it. Fortunately, it eventually turned up. He had hidden it for safekeeping.

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#72

Post by water9 »

criddell wrote: post #62
water9 wrote: post #52

Beyond the physical value, an heirloom requires a multi-generational dedication to family because if your a bad parent and all your kids want nothing to do with you it doesn't matter how many valuable objects you posses.

I went through this with my parents (my dad has died my mom is still around). They were nothing but caring and loving with me, giving me everything I needed and most of the the things I wanted. I owe my long career as a programmer to my mom indulging me with a TI-99/4A back in 1982. They both wanted me to go through their homes and make a note of all the things I wanted and I never have. Unlike them, I don't really f…

Enjoyed reading your story. Thank you for sharing. I resonated with the Calculator as sometimes it can be a single present that shapes an entire person’s life.

I think it would take a dedicated person who has a child very young so that they could influence grandchildren and potentially great grandchildren who also has an item that has some value but maybe can’t be sold for equivalent amount and that person has to build this item up like it’s magical. Yeah it would take a lifetime dedication of one person to create an heirloom so they are pretty special actually.

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#73

Post by TecoAndJix »

vintermann wrote: post #42
JKCalhoun wrote: post #8

I might not know what heirloom really means because it's hard for me to think of a purchased watch as an heirloom. (From the post though the Seiko is clearly the one that has the strongest familial connection.) A piece of furniture a grandfather made feels more like what I think of as an heirloom. Something one-off, made by the person you are remembering. But also a letter my mother wrote, her handwriting, is more va…

Totally agree. It just occurs to me that I'm sitting in my grandfather's recliner chair right now, a very early model, from a local factory, of what would eventually become a fairly well-known piece of industrial design worldwide. I should probably have it repaired a little.

Eames Lounge Chair? My father-in-law has one and it’s a joy to sit on. Can’t justify the price myself, though.

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#74

Post by vintermann »

TecoAndJix wrote: post #73
vintermann wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree. It just occurs to me that I'm sitting in my grandfather's recliner chair right now, a very early model, from a local factory, of what would eventually become a fairly well-known piece of industrial design worldwide. I should probably have it repaired a little.

Eames Lounge Chair? My father-in-law has one and it’s a joy to sit on. Can’t justify the price myself, though.

No, a Stressless from 1971.

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#75

Post by pwpw »

Aloha wrote: post #17
pwpw wrote: post #5

I recently inherited the Minolta X-700 and Nikon F4 film cameras from my grandfather who is now quite old and nearing the end of his life. Neither had been used in a long time. I gave them a good cleaning and purchased some film. Besides using disposable cameras when I was younger, I had never shot on film with a proper camera. I have grown up admiring beautiful photos of animals and nature printed on the walls of my…

When you can, or feel up to it, try some Kodak Ektar. You'll like it, its much less grainy than the Portra with better color registration.

Thanks for the recommendation! When I opened the Nikon F4, I discovered that my grandfather had left a Provia 100 roll in it. Probably was in there for about 20 years. I just took it to get developed.

It looks like a 5-pack of Provia 100F is really expensive from BH, and my local film studio charges a bit more to process E6 compared to developing C41. Ektar seems to have a much more reasonable price. I'm not good enough yet to justify spending too much.

For photographing nature, would you generally recommend using 100 ISO film? I'm not planning on using a tripod since I don't want to carry one around while traveling. I'm looking for vivid colors akin to the National Geographic of old.

My lenses for the Nikon F4 are:

- Nikon 28mm f/2.8 Series-E

- Nikon 50mm f/1.4 NIKKOR-S Auto

- Sigma AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro

- Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF NIKKOR ED

- Tamron AF 200-400mm f/5.6 LD IF 75DN

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#76

Post by Aloha »

pwpw wrote: post #75
Aloha wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you can, or feel up to it, try some Kodak Ektar. You'll like it, its much less grainy than the Portra with better color registration.

Thanks for the recommendation! When I opened the Nikon F4, I discovered that my grandfather had left a Provia 100 roll in it. Probably was in there for about 20 years. I just took it to get developed. It looks like a 5-pack of Provia 100F is really expensive from BH, and my local film studio charges a bit more to process E6 compared to developing C41. Ektar seems to have a much more reasonable price. I'm not good eno…

The best thing you can do is learn how to shoot mostly on the Nikon 50mm. Learning to move the camera instead of just use more glass makes for better photos. (its also your fastest (meaning lets in the most light) lens)

Ektar is really forgiving, and you an over or under expose it by a couple stops and still get decent pictures.

And yes, for nature in good light, 100 is more than enough, consider that most of the classic Nat Geo stuff was shot on Kodachrome ISO 64 (or slower) film.

I'd also tell you that one of the things that looks really really cool on film and is much harder to do without a much more expensive digital camera is long exposure low light stuff (IE, stop the lens all the way down to its smallest setting, and expose for 30 seconds or longer) - but it requires a Tripod. https://leho.blastpuppy.com/~aloha/photos/carls.jpg is an example of this technique.

You can get a better idea of the look, breadth and capability of film by taking a peek at my Gallery - https://leho.blastpuppy.com/~aloha/photos/

Film to me is much easier to make good pictures with - because other than light exposure correction, what you get is what you get, and the color profile and many other details are decided by just what film you pick to expose.

Its a matter of opinion, but I dont think any (currently produced) slide film looks better than negative films do, Kodachrome is the exception, and if it was available again, I'd be looking for another EOS-1 to go shoot it with.

Also yes I'm a Canon guy, but like, its personal preference really - and the first SLR I shot with was a Cannon AE-1, and I really like the Cannon EOS series cameras. I'd also strongly suggest shooting in Program mode - the Zone System was great for the B&W file when introduced, but it doesnt really make for great color photos - and frankly the engineers at Nikon or Canon are smarter than you or I, and you'll get fantastic looking pictures on Program Mode, allowing you, the photographer to focus on the thing that takes real artistry - image composition.

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#77

Post by pwpw »

Aloha wrote: post #76
pwpw wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the recommendation! When I opened the Nikon F4, I discovered that my grandfather had left a Provia 100 roll in it. Probably was in there for about 20 years. I just took it to get developed. It looks like a 5-pack of Provia 100F is really expensive from BH, and my local film studio charges a bit more to process E6 compared to developing C41. Ektar seems to have a much more reasonable price. I'm not good eno…

The best thing you can do is learn how to shoot mostly on the Nikon 50mm. Learning to move the camera instead of just use more glass makes for better photos. (its also your fastest (meaning lets in the most light) lens) Ektar is really forgiving, and you an over or under expose it by a couple stops and still get decent pictures. And yes, for nature in good light, 100 is more than enough, consider that most of the cla…

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Cheers!

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#78

Post by mikewarot »

HideousKojima wrote: post #31
WalterBright wrote: post #10

My dad dug out of his B-17 navigator's desk a chunk of German flak that missed his head by about an inch. The only reason it missed him was because he had just turned to grab his flak jacket. It was his good luck charm for the rest of his life, and is a prized heirloom. It's about an inch and a half long, just right to carry in his pocket for his subsequent combat missions. Maybe an heirloom is an object that is simu…

I've got a slide rule that belonged to my great grandfather, who was an architect. Been thinking of actually learning how to use one, I'll probably order a new one to keep the heirloom one in good condition.

I have a giant teaching slide-ruler I got from my father in-law's estate. It's missing the slider, and needs a good cleaning. Oddly enough, if you look closely, 2 *3 6, the scale is slightly off. ;-)

Slide rulers are pretty easy to use, and make.

This Illustrated Self-Guided Course On How To Use The Slide Rule [1] seems reasonable.

[1] https://sliderulemuseum.com/SR_Course.htm

Re: What makes something an heirloom?

#79

Post by jkrubin »

vintermann wrote: post #37
jkrubin wrote: post #16

I cast a tomato in table top epoxy. It is in my will and will go to possible kids or my brother. It will then be an heirloom tomato.

They will look at it, and they will go, "Ah, old grandpa jkrubin. He always loved terrible puns".

I was just promoted from staff pun engineer to CPO (chief pun officer) at my company!
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