Latest Comments

In response to: Kodak High Speed Infrared Film

Comment from: Michael Elliott Visitor

Michael Elliott

Truly a wonderful film and one that I still shoot (from - admittedly dwindling - stock in the freezer). Just wrote an [article about b&w infrared photography](https://www.michael-elliott.photography/post/black-and-white-infrared-photography) that includes a discussion of HIE. I wish they’d bring it back.

In response to: Pictures of Trees - Mount Carmel Cemetery

Comment from: Maureen Nelson Visitor

Maureen Nelson

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I love that photo.  I am trying to get my history project for St Mary’s and I just let you and your wife earlier today at our genealogy office in Big Rapids. Didn’t know you were a photographer. Nice meeting you two and will hunt up what I can for her ancestors. 9-13-23 

In response to: More Pentax Q Macro Experiments

Comment from: Member

I never engaged with the original Q for macro work after a brief period of experimentation. I still think that the idea of a small sensor camera with modest magnification is the way to go for in the field macro work, but the challenges with flash and the limitations of the original Q’s image quality were hard to overcome.

Some years down the road my original Q was rendered inoperative due to a swollen battery that could not be removed. I replaced it with a Q7, which I had assumed would be more or less the same image quality as the original. I was quite wrong - the Q7 is significantly better than the Q. Even though it is still a very tiny sensor, the Q7 has almost 50% more surface area, and I guess that makes the difference. But by then I had moved onto focus stacking with APS-C or full frame sensors, and was not much interested in the Q mount for macro.

I do take the Q7 with me when traveling and still love the system.

In response to: More Pentax Q Macro Experiments

Comment from: Weevil Visitor

Weevil

Hi, Did you finally give up of using the Q for Macro ? If not, what was your best setup ?
I’m actually trying to find an appropriate combo with the OEM Q to K mount adapter and some macro lenses I have… But so far it’s a bit disapointing, most images are too soft..

In response to: Three New England Churches

Comment from: William Kingsley Visitor

William Kingsley

Thank you for showcasing The Brick Church (Clarendon Congregational Church) on your blog. I am delighted that you stopped by and took some pictures. I only wish I was here that day to greet you. Here is a link to our history page with more information about the structure as well as the people who have worshiped here over the years (and still do).

http://brickchurchvt.com/history/

I am curios as to why they chose 10:46 as well. I haven’t found any information in our archives but I like to think it has something to do with sending the message that it is almost time for Gathered Worship, which may have began at 11:00 am. We have motor vehicles nowadays but when the building was erected people walked to church so 11:00 am would have been an appropriate time to meet. We meet for Sunday School at 8:45 am and for Gathered Worship at 10:00 am.

Pertaining to the Queen Anne church located near the Kingsley Bridge and Kingsley Grist Mill. I am aware of a gentleman who has cared for and helped preserve that church building in the past. Other than that I am not aware of the history of it.

Blessings,
Bill

In response to: Autumn in Allegan

Comment from: Lynn Visitor

Lynn

Love the pictures! I can’t wait until autumn.

I have done a tremendous amount of foot trail work in the Allegan State Game Area and it is a great place to hike. Equestrian trails and bike trails also.

Just for an update so that incorrect information doesn’t get passed around.

Hunting takes place all year round, and according to the Allegan State Game Area staff, there is no reason to stay away from the Allegan State Game Area just because of hunting season. It is a safe place to enjoy the forest activities year round.

In response to: Rollei IR 400 First Impressions

Comment from: Member

Hi Wilson -

That Combat Graphic camera looks really cool - I had never heard of them before.

I don’t know how sensitive selenium cells would be to IR light, but it would be best to find some way to meter through the filter. Maybe your Leica M8 with the B+W 092 could be used as meter? Might be worth looking into.

The problem with using visible light and applying a filter factor with an infrared filter is that there is not a consistent relationship between visible light and IR light. From Hoya’s website on their R72 filter: “Due to the nature of infrared light, filter factor and exposure compensation vary widely from visible light and depends largely on lighting conditions. ” (http://www.hoyafilter.com/hoya/products/specialeffectsfilters/r72infrared/) So, when it comes to infrared it’s better to directly meter the IR light.

When I first posted this I was trying to use a filter factor with a Hoya R72 and it did not work out well. The solution, pointed out in an early comment, was to directly meter through the IR filter. That worked well, though I was initially skeptical that the camera’s meters, intended to be used with visible light, would be accurate with an IR filter.

FWIW - I have never used Rollei 400s and do not know how pronounced the IR effect is. I’d be interested in seeing the results you get with it and the Graflex.
Good luck.

In response to: Rollei IR 400 First Impressions

Comment from: Wilson Laidlaw Visitor

Wilson Laidlaw

I am about to try Rollei 400S in my Graflex Combat Graphic 70mm film camera (or at least I will when it comes back from rebuild, where we are having to remake one part of the shutter mechanism by 3D printing it in titanium), mainly because it is the only 70mm double perforated film available at anything approaching a reasonable price. Ilford HP5+ is over double the price for a 50 foot roll. I was wondering if I could use my Weston Master V meter (rebuilt to as new by Ian Partridge) with an IR filter, say a B+W 092 (650nm) in place of the normal flip up light reducer. I am not sure that the selenium cell would be sensitive enough to give a reading with this but once I get down to my house in France, where my various IR filters are. I don’t know how sensitive selenium cells are to infra red. All my recent IR photography has been with a digital Leica M8, which I have kept just for that purpose. It is one of the few digital cameras that as standard, does not have an IR filter in front of the sensor and for normal use, you have to use an IR high pass filter in front of the lens.

In response to: The Northern Black Widow Spider

Comment from: P.C. s.e. Alabama Visitor

P.C.    s.e. Alabama

I have a Note 4 Samsung phone. It has a light, a flash, and a zoom lens. I have some unbelievable pictures. My son-in-law is a photographer for the Army, and he just couldn’t believe the photos this camera would take. I have pics of the moon at mid-night. And the clouds are very defined. It would have been great to have had this camera when I was in Thailand. But of course, as all G.I.’s did. I bought a 35mm which took a lot to set up. This phone does all that for you. ” AND YOUR NOT SPENDING A FORTUNE ON FILM!!! ” Just take that little chip to wally-world, or plug right into your printer and download. Oh Yeah! We have Brown Widows here in SE Alabama. Sort of a milk chocolate color with the red hour glass, and the same size.