vrijdag 28 oktober 2011

Preview 2 - Lucy

























Photo shoot: October 16th, 2011

Glasses: Zenni [L: -19.25 / R: -19.75]

Preview 1 - Lucy

























Photo shoot: October 16th, 2011

Rx model: L=R -5.50

Glasses: Zenni [L: -11.00; c-1.25 v / R: -11.50; c-1.25 v]

donderdag 27 oktober 2011

Claudine 186

























This beautiful portrait of Claudine posing great in early 2000's
glasses by Fielmann (Rx around -10) concludes her photo
shoot in the medieval part of Amersfoort.

Claudine, thank you so much for showing me around in these
beautiful surroundings, just as if you were a native in town. Once
again, you were excellent company and I enjoyed our quest through
many decades of eyewear from the past. What struck me again is
your great ability to pose natural and credible in glasses with a Rx
far above your own prescription. I hope that my little "glasses shop"
offered more variety than the real shops - and some inspiration for
a future search for frames that suit you well. We will go through my
collection of new Zennis soon and no doubt, there will be one or two
pairs to your liking. You were fascinated by the face à main and if
you consider acquiring one yourself, I will see if I can be of help.
Hat off for the way you braved the cold during this photo shoot
and, needless to say, for the many fine portraits it yielded. Thanks!

Claudine 185

























During her two photo shoots, Claudine made a journey through
time and diopters. We were looking for frames that matched
well with her face shape, hair colour and complexion. Claudine
told that going to optician's shops is often rather frustrating. In
other words: a challenge. The huge variety in frames that was
offered during the1980's was just a faint recollection to her, so
she kindly fulfilled my request to do a photo shoot in glasses from
my collection. It's amazing that after travelling through over a century
of eyewear of the past, this fairly recent Fielmann frame turned out to
be the perfect fit. Some other frames were hard on its heels, though -
I thought the Rodenstock E 524, the tiny oval brown Zenni (both
from the first photo shoot), the first "Bettina" Rodenstock glasses
and even the face à main were excellent as well. Anyway, it's all a
matter of taste and Claudine said that she will keep an eye out for
cat eye glasses. Excellent taste!

Claudine 184

























The wind playing with the model's hair, a fine distant look
in her eyes, and a frame that provides a splendid match -
what more can her court photographer desire?

Claudine 183

























These Fielmann glasses were acquired some months back
during a day trip to Germany

Claudine 182

























Glasses: Fielmann, early 2000's
[L: -9.25; c-1.50 o / R: -9.50; c-1.25 v]

Claudine 181

























A gold coloured frame, decorated with tiny "diamonds" -
an appropriate choice for the final pair of glasses used at
the foot of the "Lange Jan" tower in medieval Amersfoort.
These bifocals may be either Zeiss or Essilor. They arrived
early this year in a parcel with 15 pairs supplied by Martin
from Köln, Germany.

It's a good habit to save the best pictures for the finale, so the
viewer returns to the second location in this photo shoot with
Claudine: the "Muurhuizen"....

Claudine 180

























Glasses: Z(eiss?), late 1980's
[L: -9.75; c-1.25 o / R: -10.75; c-0.50 o / bif add 3.25]

Claudine 179

























Claudine braving the cold, posing in celluloid glasses from
the 1930's with biconcave lenses, some six diopters above
her own prescription

Claudine 178

























Celluloid glasses were invented in the late 1920's and they
were fashionable for the next 15 years or so. The lenses
are biconcave.

Claudine 177

























Glasses: nameless, 1930's or early 1940's
[L=R: -10.50]

Claudine 176

























These bifocals have been in my collection for over a decade
but I don't remember where they were acquired. Anyway,
they might be of some use because of their fairly narrow
frame, so Claudine gave them a try

Claudine 175

























Glasses: nameless bifocals, probably late 1980's
[L: -3.50; c-1.00 v / R: -3.75; c-0.50 o / bif add 2.50]

woensdag 26 oktober 2011

Claudine 174

























Another fine portrait of Claudine posing in "Formlenti"
myodisc glasses, Rx -13 / -14

Claudine 173

























The pavement on which I laid down during this final part
of the photo shoot with Claudine was really cold but I kept
on snapping.... Mind you, Claudine suffered more from the
cold than yours truly!

Claudine 172

























These Formlenti myodiscs were a welcome find at the
"Waterlooplein" flea market (Amsterdam) in the 1980's

Claudine 171

























This is another favourite from this photo shoot with Claudine.
The posing is superb - the way she is looking straight into the
camera is quite credible, leading the viewer to believe that these
are her own glasses. In reality, the lenses are nine or ten diopters
above her own prescription. Hat off for Claudine!

Claudine 170

























Vintage Formlenti myodiscs are rare. They were the first
attempt to create an alternative for the traditional myodisc
glasses with a circle shaped "bowl".

Claudine 169

























Glasses: nameless "Formlenti" myodiscs, circa 1970
[L: -13.00 / R: -14.00]

Claudine 168

























Glasses: nameless "Kreislenti" myodiscs, circa 1960
[L: -17.00 / R: -14.00]

As a child, I remember seeing many girls and women in
myodiscs like these. Contact lenses were not available
in those days, let alone lasic surgery or implants.

Claudine 167

























Another fine portrait of Claudine posing her "pensive mood"
in "Bettina" Rodenstock bifocals from the 1980's

Claudine 166

























Peculiar about these lined bifocals by Rodenstock is the
30 degree angle between the dividing lines in the lenses.
My guess is that the glasses were reglazed. 

Claudine 165

























Claudine posing in bifocals by Rodenstock, called "Bettina"
(not the Bettina from Frankfurt). Lighting conditions in the
narrow street leading to the tower were far from ideal and
this accounts for the drastic colour changes between the
portraits in this section 

Claudine 164

























Glasses: Rodenstock (Bettina), 1980's
[L: -11.00 / R: -10.00 / bif add 3.00]

Claudine 163

























Another fine, albeit slightly over-exposed, portrait of
Claudine in 1980's Louis Jouret glasses

Claudine 162

























These Louis Jouret glasses once belonged to the late mother
of Peter, a colleague at work. When Peter read about my
first exhibition in Enschede, he told me that "there was bundles
of glasses" in the home of his father who is 88. They decided
to present me with several of these glasses for my collection
and photo shoots. Much appreciated! 

Claudine 161

























These Louis Jouret glasses with their high, fairly narrow
frame were an obvious candidate to be tried out during
the photo shoots with Claudine

Claudine 160

























Glasses: Louis Jouret, early 1980's
[L: -8.75 / R: -8.25]

Claudine 159

























Another fine example of Claudine's quiet, serene way of
posing. It did not seem to matter whether the glasses were
near her own prescription or umpteen diopters above it.
These Metzler glasses are seven diopters above her own
prescription.

Claudine 158

























Martin from Köln, Germany supplied these 1980's Metzler
glasses with a high frame

Claudine 157

























Glasses: Metzler, 1980's
[L=R: -11.50]

Claudine 156

























Claudine posing in another striking pair of glasses with
transitions lenses. These Saphira glasses can also be seen
in my photo shoots with Carla, Elena, Gita and Lettie on
my first weblog ("Ladies behind Crystal Veil") and here
Claudine joins their ranks in her own distinguished way.
The Rx of the lenses is close to perfect.

Claudine 155

























Glasses: Saphira, probably late 1970's
[L=R: -3.50]

Claudine 154

























This portrait of Claudine in 1980's Atrio varifocals is another
of my favourites from this photo shoot.
These remarkable Atrio glasses can also be seen in my photo
shoots with Clarine and Tineke (first weblog)

Claudine 153

























These striking Atrio varifocals with transition lenses were among
the first glasses that I selected for the photo shoots with Claudine.
The frame shape is unusual - narrow but quite high, and the olive
colour is a nice blend in this portrait

Claudine 152

























Glasses: Atrio 230, mid / late 1980's
[L: -2.00; c-1.00 v / R: -4.00; c-1.25 o / var add 1.50]

Claudine 151

























These Luxotica glasses have a Rx close to Claudine's own
prescription. They were also featured in my photo shoot
with Gita (first weblog)

Claudine 150

























Glasses: Luxotica, 1980's
[L: -3.50 / R: -4.50]

Claudine 149

























This face à main is a special piece in my collection and it
is used in most of my photo shoots this year. Interesting to
see how the models cope with the navigation when they
don't see well through the lenses. I like this particular pose
by Claudine

Claudine 148

























Glasses: face à main, between 1880 and 1910
[L=R: -7.00]

Claudine 147

























Another fine capture of Claudine in the newly arrived Zenni
glasses for my partner Nel

Claudine 146

























Another of my favourites from this photo shoot with Claudine.
Wonderful posing in Zenni glasses with a warm, deep red frame.
At a Rx of -12 / -13, the standard 1.57 lenses are fairly thick
but this is neatly hidden by the subtle way the frame folds back
at the sides. Only the power rings betray that these are strong
glasses. Beautiful!

Claudine 145

























Claudine posing in a brand new pair of Zenni glasses which
I ordered for my collection, but also with partner Nel in mind.
She recently told me that her long distance vision seemed to
have detoriated so we did an eye test with the trial frame and
trial lenses and I ordered this beautiful pair of Zenni glasses.
The photo shoot with Claudine took place just before I presented
Nel with the glasses.

Claudine 144

























The fourth and final location in the old part of Amersfoort
was situated near the foot of the "Tower of Our Lady". In order
to capture both Claudine and the tower I installed myself under
the tripod - more or less the same position that worked well
in the final part of the memorable "history" photo shoot with
Claudia Allegonda in Haarlem.
Two girls passing us by commented on a sign above the parking
place for invalids that we had chosen. We looked up.... and the
sign read: "Camera surveillance" :)

Claudine 143

























Glasses: Zenni
[L: -11.00; c-1.25 v / R: -11.50; c-1.25 v]

Claudine 142

























The wind in her hair - Claudine posing in a funny pair of
silver glasses that belonged a MUA from Frankfurt called
Bettina. During her first photo shoot, Claudine posed in two
other pairs that I got from Bettina during a pleasant dinner
in Amsterdam.   

Claudine 141

























Glasses: Argenta (Amarena)
[L: -5.00; c-2.25 o / R: -4.75; c-2.25 o]