Minolta XD11 First Shot

This is the very first picture I ever took with my Minolta XD11, just after I purchased it in August 1978. I had studied up on all the features it possessed and one that intrigued me was the fact that, with the power winder and matching flash unit, it could take 36 flash photographs in a mere 18 seconds. That meant I could go through a whole 36 exposure roll of film in under 20 seconds! Another feature it had was the ability to take multiple exposures, i.e. double exposures and more. I envisioned combining both features to take several flash shots while re-exposing it over and over. But how many times should I expose it?

I asked my sister to be my model and instructed her to walk across the driveway at night at a particular pace - not too fast or too slow. Everything turned out but I forgot to allow for any traffic that might drive down the road on just the other side of her from where I was set up. If you'll notice about 3/5ths of the way to the right, you can see a semi truck got exposed during one flash. It's big, boxy shape is quite distinct. Also, I didn't take into consideration that a gravel driveway would over-expose with too much light from the multiple flashes. That's why her legs are non-existent. They have washed out in the glow of the light-colored gravel.

If you'll look at her facial expression real close, you can see that as she started out walking on the left toward the right, she was smiling real big at first. The smile quickly, and noticeably, fades as she moves along.

All in all, I felt it to be quite an interesting first shot with my new Minolta. I had worked and saved up the $700 the kit cost (quite a sum back in the 1970's for a 17 year old!), and it was well worth it. I still have and use this camera. The kit came with a leather case big enough to cover the camera with the winder attached; it had a matching flash and a 50mm f/1.2 normal lens. I also waited until the all black version came out a little after the regular version. It cost a little extra, but black was my favorite color, so I had to have it.

Camera: Minolta XD11
Lens: Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm, f/1.2
Film: Kodak Kodacolor 100 ASA 35mm film
Shooting program: Manual
Date: September 1978
Location: Norris City, Illinois, U.S.A.

Minolta KSF 5035 First Roll 01ff