Vegas and Red Rocks and Lunch and An Old Truck and An Old Camera

I really, really, REALLY like going to a place about 30 minutes from the Vegas Strip for lunch, and I was just there hanging out on the patio for a while with a caprese panini and iced tea. Cottonwood Station says

Delicious American cuisine with pizzas, paninis, salads, home-baked goods, coffee drinks, craft beers, & wine. Also serving breakfast till 10:30 a.m.

In the historic village of Blue Diamond inside scenic Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. Perfect for the outdoor enthusiast and those who simply want to get away. Your place to unwind and mingle, your “Station” in the desert.

Blue Diamond has a population of less than 300 but probably doubles that on weekends when mountain bikers, hikers, and visitors stop by. It is just down the road from the very popular Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

The deck and shade cloth make for a great hang, and of course, they have indoor seating as well.

The food hits way above what you might think. For the vibe, views, and quality, it might be my favorite lunch in the Vegas area. Check out the menu

There is also an old truck there. I am an old truck fan, so I think it is even cooler. I do not think the truck runs. It would be super duper cool if it did. The wear and tear of all the years and Nevada sun have given it a lot of personality. Since the grill faces the sun, it makes for a great old truck photo opportunity.

Some restaurants have an old truck parked in front that is there to look cool (and they do) but was never part of the restaurant or winery or whatever. There is no info on the truck at the Cottonwood Station webpage, but I think at some point this was used for supplies or something out there.

It kind of reminds me of Tow Mater from the Cars movies.

This is an F-5 1/2 ton medium-duty truck built between 1948 and 1950. I love the look. I love the mismatched mirrors and can only imagine how much they would shake on a bumpy road.

Restored hot rod versions sell for a lot. I don't think this needs to be fully restored, but I'd definitely contribute to a fundraiser to get it running again. I guess more caprese panini sandwiches would help.

See ya soon, F-5

These photos are all from a much-loved and classic film camera from 30 years after the truck was built.

The 35mm Olympus XA (lots of info here with a report on the XA from Modern Photography, November 1979) is about the size of a deck of playing cards and is small wonder of a pocket camera.

Lomography says

Shooting with the XA is a delight. The images are quite sharp – and can have a nearly SLR quality at f/8 or f/11. Images shot on f/2.8 have a nice quality of softness and bokeh to them. Both the built-in rangefinder and aperture priority give you a nice degree of analog control over the camera’s settings. It’s not as easy as an autofocus compact like the Yashica T5, but it offers much more control to the photographer.

An review of the different XA models is at KenRockwell.com

These are a masterpiece of optical and industrial design. They make great photos, too.

Close the clamshell and all optics are protected. Open the clamshell and it's ready to shoot instantly.

Not only are the images wonderful, but the design and styling of these cameras are a joy to behold.

long read and big XA photos Olympus XA – The pocket marvel

Designed by Yoshihisha Maitani – famed creator of the Olympus Pen and OM–1 cameras and later also the Mju line – the Olympus XA was launched in 1979. The little camera was widely regarded as an impressive achievement.

At the time few compacts were truly compact. And the ones that were had clear practical limitations; mainly low accuracy scale focusing or slow lenses and often both.

The XA, in contrast, is an impressive design. It fits in a pocket, is well specced and has a number of practical and thoughtful features – clearly a well considered piece of gear.

Much like Oskar Barnack’s inspiration for creating the first Leica, Maitani wanted to create an as small camera as possible that could still work well and give good image quality. He imagined something truly pocketable – a camera that could always be brought along, even in a small pocket.

He also wanted to make a durable camera that was quick to get ready to shoot. A number of clever features deliver all this elegantly.

FYI I absolutely love mine. The film for the photos from Cottonwood Station here were taken with my 35mm Olympus XA and Kodak Portra 400 color film shot at 100 ISO.