Down the Rangefinder Rabbit Hole with LTM Lenses
If you are considering buying a classic interchangeable lens rangefinder, be warned: things can quickly get out of hand. Leica led the way with interchangeable lens rangefinders, and current market prices reflect that influence. The Leica thread mount (LTM) was adopted by many camera manufacturers, creating a vastContinue Reading
Flowers on Portra 400: Pentax 645 and Macro 120mm and 13mm Extension Tube
This summer I’ve shot a lot of flower images, more (probably) than any previous year. I’m aiming for portrait images, but not macro-photo views. Capturing colors with good fidelity has been a challenge, especially for the “Pink Flirt” daylilies. They have colors that are not replicated well byContinue Reading
Old Fourth Ward Park Lagniappe
June 1st was a beautiful spring day, with low humidity and high, fluffy clouds, accompanied by a gentle breeze. I loaded two cameras and went for a stroll that eventually took me through Old Fourth Ward Park. As odd as it may seem, I have only visited the parkContinue Reading
Learning to Use Extension Tubes With the Pentax 645
After trying macro lenses for the last five years, I decided it was time to try extension tubes. Typically, one uses extension tubes for higher magnification than is possible with a dedicated macro lens. However, at present, I’m more interested in experimentation with decreased minimum focus distance for regularContinue Reading
A Taste of Art Deco
The Art Deco movement had a profound impact on American public art. From 1934 to 1943, the Federal Art Project (FAP) employed many artists, with over 10,000 participating in the program. The FAP helped to bring Art Deco sensibilities to public art. New styles emerged over the years, butContinue Reading
Big Canvas
Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionism and Picasso’s cubism never appealed to me. I suppose they were too austere or seemed lacking in meaning, except that which the viewer supplies. Piet Mondrian’s works, on the other hand, while abstract, offered patterns and colors that make sense to my brain—no idea why. Continue Reading
My Semi IIIa Is Back From Repair!
Last summer, I shot a roll in my Semi IIIa while strolling through Midtown. On developing the film, I discovered that the focus was off, and the film advance/double exposure mechanism was faulty. As a result, every frame was blurry, and there were many double exposures. After goingContinue Reading
My First Wildflowers!!!
For years, I have been battling the elements in two small patches of land between the front sidewalk and the street. At one point, variegated liriope lived there, but it allowed too many weeds to grow. Since 2020, various combinations of angelonia, verbena, ice plant, and other plants haveContinue Reading
The Tribulations of a Wonky Thermometer (I Learned My Lesson, and Now I Have Three)
Last winter, I shot six or seven rolls of film — color and black and white. I was pleased with the results—the B&W showed a pleasing, but not overwhelming, amount of grain, even at 400 ISO. The color was the same. Then, in March and April, I began testingContinue Reading
Harman Phoenix 200 Survived a Light Leak and Being Developed at 120F! (Yes, 120F)
Like everyone else, I was thrilled to learn of Harman’s new color film. I bought two rolls last year, but I did not get to them until a few weeks ago. Going in, I had no particular expectations for this film being a great emulsion. Many reviews cited itsContinue Reading
