Hurricanes and Other Delights

bmattock · 09-27-2004

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 · 09-27-2004

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

bmattock · 09-27-2004

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 · 09-27-2004

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 · 09-27-2004

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 · 09-27-2004

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

rover · 09-27-2004

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 · 09-28-2004

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 · 09-28-2004

rover: and the third thing...?

Bubba · 09-28-2004

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 · 09-28-2004

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 · 09-28-2004

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?