A Lens is a Lens, Right?

Posted on Posted in The Positive

PranksterNotes lens
Just because it mounts, and it covers a sheet of film, doesn’t mean it was designed and optimized for enlarger use. Even though there are many more process lenses available in large focal lengths, they aren’t the optimial version for use in a large film enlarger. Not if you are doing color, or working to maximze sharpness while controlling contrast of the print.

This is another one of those times when direct working experience of best practices from the now dead old days would help. However, if you have money to spend, and time to waste, then get that process lens and use it as an enlarger lens. You could also buy cheap macro camera lenses and use them. Play with reversal rings,,,, extensions tubes and bellows. Hell, you can have a grand old time learning, and playing scientist. In the meantime, your stack of interesting imagery never grows — but at least you can chat nonsense with the fictional boyz club at the virtual watercooler.

Undivided Development

Posted on Posted in grammar of gimme, morning wood

Economics is the controling field of study; it has been for nearly 50 years. Biology has waned since the 19th century, yet it has more to teach, provide us, even economists, than economics has to provide anyone.
economics costs more in lost understanding than any other field, except phrenology.

FORA — Deadwood or Live Growth

Posted on Posted in da net, visual mindTagged

Some questions I will address in a series. The series is a result of several months reviewing, and interviewing participants from several photography forums.

The questions:

  • What do you learn online in the photo forums?
  • what do they provide — to whom
  •  who do they attract
  • who are the founders/ what may their goals be
  • who are the first responders
  • who are the long term members, those frequent posters … what do they gain
  • is there joint ownership//
  • what do the lurkers gain
  • why are there so many quits
  • what do the quits do– where do they go

I will be presenting a draft of the results at the upcoming SPE national convention in New Orleans (SPENOLA) The presentation is by appointment. As written, the posts on this site are based upon vignettes. They are intended to provide the readers background to the several questions. The spark of this series was the prevalence of novice photographers using them as a source of information and guidance.

After viewing several of the forums, for several months, I wondered why the topics remained so narrowly focused, yet were distributed across so many boards. Some responders were present across most of the boards I was surveying. Knowing how much time I was spending on the initial research, I wondered how the responders could use so much time, and, of course, I wondered why they were so active.

Still being decided are whether the forums are named, or blinded. My leaning is to do as I’ve done with the characters portrayed (this, too, is under review). I have determined that, as a matter of providing some evidence, I will use some screen captures. These are part of the planned SPE viewing (12 Mar 15).

 

this will go up as a DRAFT