Hurricanes and Other Delights

[bmattock]

Hurricane Jeanne is now a tropical storm, and is moving up into the Carolinas tonight. After I got off work today, I took my trusty Agfa Karat IV w/50mm f2 Solagon lens and a nice Voigtlander lens hood (thanks to the kind generosity of RFF'er denishr) with a roll of Kodak 400 B&W C-41 out for a spin. I had it out this last weekend and the shutter (which I had previously given a Zippo lighter-fluid bath) got all sticky on me - so I cleaned it up last night really well, and today after work was the field test. Tell me what you think - just a couple of test images...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

This was taken at 1/300 and f2.0 (wide open). I seriously overexposed - indicated light was about 1/125 @ f8. Still, I kind of like the way it came out.

[bmattock]

Hard to get a 50mm lens to show OOF effects - but here is f4.0...

[bmattock]

Stopped down to f16. I get the feeling that this Solagon lens is not as sharp as the Xenon (I have the same camera with the 50mm f2 Xenon lens as well). But I think I like the 'old-time' feel of the slightly soft images it seems to be giving me.

[bmattock]

I would not want to use it for everything, of course. But the rangefinder seems dead on accurate, and the lens effect is interesting. I have to test some more, but this is kind of fun. Here's the last one, thanks for looking!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[back alley]

i like all but #2, it makes me dizzy for some reason.
3 & 4, i want to be there, some nice serene relaxing place.

joe

[Doug]

First one shows that strong swirl pattern in the bokeh, doesn't it, oriented around the centerpoint of the image. Interesting test!

[rover]

I get to spend the day with Jeanne tomorrow. There are two things that are great to do after a big storm (well, really three). One is play golf, I got out one afternoon at about 3 right on the tail of a storm and played 2 and 3 balls per hole for a full 18 in less than 3 hours. The other is to head out with a camera. The rain cleans the atmosphere and the water gives a different texture and feeling to the camera's eye.

[Pherdinand]

i really like the first one. It's something...different:) Not only because of the large out-of-focus area; also the subject, the one pillar that is tilted, the pattern on the in-focus pillar...it's cool.

[Pherdinand]

rover: and the third thing...?:D

[Bubba]

Bill, I really like the fourth pic. I've always been a sucker for good pictures of reflections in natural bodies of water.

As far as Hurricane Jeanne is concerned, we took a direct hit on Saturday/Sunday. 115mph gusts with 95mph sustained. Needless to say, it was a bumpy ride. We came through in fine fashion. The roof on our house is still on. We took some water damage and I spent yesterday ripping out the carpet in the living room and dining room. It looks like I will probably have to do the same in one of our bedrooms also. Exterior damage shouldn't be too much trouble to patch up. A lot of my neighbors didn't fair as well. There are quite a few people who completely lost their homes. That is two direct hurricane hits in three weeks. Everyone here is tired.

The worst part is I had to come in to the office today. I used up all of my vacation time cleaning up after Hurricane Frances hit us. Right now, I'm in a windowless office with no air conditioning.

I received my new Bessa R on the day they evacuated us for Frances. Then, when life seemed to start to get back to normal, Jeanne hits us. I've only been able to run 3 rolls of film through this great little camera. Oh, well, it gives me something to look forward to once life gets back to normal (again).

Bubba

[bmattock]

Bubba,

Hang in there - glad to hear you came through it alright - sorry to hear about your neighbors. Only three rolls of film on the Bessa R after having your lives disrupted this way? I'd say you're doing pretty darn good! And my favorite camera is my Bessa R, too. Get your hands on a couple of older (and cheaper) Canon screw-mount lenses for it - of course, when your priorities change from things like getting your life back in order!

So far, we've just got a little rain here. Lucky for us, I guess.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[denishr]

Bill, I'm glad the hood is being put to good use :)

Bubba, sorry to hear about your predicament, and the mess the forces of nature left behind :(
Perhaps you could take some shots of the aftermath?