Random Photos

[nsaspook]

 

[symbolipoint]

Nice full-rainbow, by @nsaspook.
I took motion pictures of a full-arch rainbow, many decades ago in a tropical place. Neat to see if a person never saw that before.

 

[nsaspook]

Random Portland side street. Nice boat.

Makes you wonder what the story is. I'm told it's been there of months. Looks clean.

 

[Tom.G]

Must have so much of his funds tied up in vehicles that he can't afford paint for the trailer!

 

[nsaspook]

Nice full-rainbow, by @nsaspook.
I took motion pictures of a full-arch rainbow, many decades ago in a tropical place. Neat to see if a person never saw that before.

More rainbows

and something else.

 

[nsaspook]

Safety sticker on electrical equipment from Korea.

 

[DennisN]

Cat eyes - close-ups

I tried photographing the eyes of my cat today and got the best result so far, I think...

Here's the resting test subject, unaware of my coming intrusion:

...but her eyes are not open... she is very sleepy here...

...so I had to alert her by making some meowing sounds myself... please, open your eyes...

The right eye - probably my most successful eye shot so far...
...a lot of details can be seen in the iris, which almost looks like it has shades of gold color...

...and here's the left eye, also with nice details I think...

And here's the gear I used, Sony A7R + 2x teleconverter + Canon nFD 100mm Macro...
...it may look a bit cumbersome, but it's pretty ok to shoot handheld actually...

 

[DennisN]

Haha, it was April Fools' Day yesterday and I happened to read a fun review from the serious photography site DPReview... they reviewed a toy camera like it was a serious camera, pretty fun...
Note that the camera seems to be real; it is a really tiny plastic 1.3MP camera (link: Sanrio character toy Cameras DSC-PIENI Hello Kitty).

Image: behold the mighty Hello Kitty camera. Quote: "Taking photos is best accomplished with a 'spray and pray' approach. You point, shoot and hope. I say 'hope' because the camera doesn't actually take a photo of what's in front of you but something off to one side. It's like having an integrated AI that guesses what you're trying to photograph, then fails spectacularly every time."

Review: The Hello Kitty rangefinder is a camera you'll hate to love (Apr 1 2025 by Dale Baskin)
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/hello-kitty-toy-camera-review

They did a short video review too :

DPReview Hands-On Review with the Hello Kitty Rangefinder Camera: Features, Pros, and Cons

 

[nsaspook]

New seat for the brain while cleaning up the gardens.

We have spring cherry blossom snow on the ground.

 

[phinds]

My grandson, the Brainiac. I think it's just the angle of the camera, but he looks like a comic book villain.

 

[BillTre]

Little babies seem like 1/3 to 11/4 head to me. Their proportions normalize as they grow.

 

[berkeman]

he looks like a comic book villain.

Just wait until he starts to grow fur!

 

[nsaspook]

She's working on Ph 424 Classical Mechanics I this quarter. Finally the fun stuff.
https://www.coursicle.com/pdx/courses/PH/424/

 

[morrobay]

Along Beach Rd, Pattaya

ach

 

[DennisN]

Some spring shots from March last year:

Snowdrops

Red leaves in spring

Winter aconite

Crocuses

(Lens used: I don't remember )

 

[jtbell]

In Valdese, North Carolina today. I didn't stop here because I had just eaten elsewhere, but I'll keep it in mind for my next trip through here.

 

[jtbell]

More pollen generators...

 

[DennisN]

Experimental time again...
...some shots taken today with Helios 44 with a reversed front element...
...which means there will be no "normal" photos...

First three shots of my cat...

Dream cat #1 (this photo looks quite "normal" though, yet very soft)

Dream cat #2 (enjoying the sunlight)

Dream cat #3 (upright)

Afterwards I went for a short walk, though it was very cold outside...


A magic ivy against a brick wall

Dreamy pink flowers on tree (the bokeh is crazy in this one )

Glowing springtime
(crazy bokeh here too; note: I've enhanced the colors in this one since I felt like it)

(Lens used: Helios 44M7 58mm f/2 with reversed front element + CPL filter)

 

[nsaspook]

Smoked my main DC solar panel disconnect in my remote power shed testing some equipment I'm designing. Looks like it just had a bad pole (twisted or bent) as the rest had the same current but look fine.

This is why you don't go cheap with safety equipment, it was all contained but the smoke.

Proper DC and UL rated for the job.

 

[jtbell]

In Spindale, North Carolina yesterday:

I wonder if they offer degrees in HVAC technology... apparently not, but they do offer a Basic HVAC Certificate.

[added] Now I see I've mentioned this place before, and @berkeman noted the origin of the name. I had only seen signs pointing towards it from highway US-221 which bypasses Spindale, but yesterday I actually drove around the campus, and through Spindale. Typical mid 1960s academic architecture.

 

[collinsmark]

Mr. Mittens (my neighbor's cat) popped over a couple days ago for a late morning/early afternoon nap. I took a couple of test shots with Mittens since I wanted to ensure my rangefinder camera was all set and ready anyway.

Figure 1. Mittens relaxing in a late morning sunbeam.

'Missed critical focus on that one by a bit (see Fig. 1). That's on me. But Mr. Mittens posed so well I had to post it. (In my defense, it's difficult to manually focus when crouched near to the ground. And the lighting was difficult. But I aught to have done better. I'll keep practicing.)

Figure 2. Mr. Mittens being slightly curious as to why I was prone on my belly pointing a rangefinder camera at him from underneath a guitar stand.

While somewhat curious, he was more sleepy than curious (see Fig. 2).

 

[pinball1970]

Stockport North West England shares a boarder with Manchester. Buddy Rich used to play there regularly, the Davenport Theatre. This building, the Plaza, went up in 1932.

 

[pinball1970]

No idea about this one. 1885, it is most likely listed but that does not mean it gets used or looked after.

 

[nsaspook]

Forgot the arc shield pictures.

Passed the heat test, highly recommended for field duty.

Anyone know what type of plastic they use? I'd like to get some (clear if possible) for some DIY spark shields over interconnect rails.
I found this but it's only in black.
https://www.ensingerplastics.com/en/shapes/pa66-tecamid-66-gf30-black
Natural would be better as I would like to see status LEDS behind the shield.

 

[BillTre]

The info sheet you linked to says its polyamide (polys (???) linked with amides).
It can be obtained in several forms.
The product sheet also mentions glass fibers and black nylon 66. Black makes for UV protection.

Asking the manufacturer would probably the most informative approach.

 

[nsaspook]

The info sheet you linked to says its polyamide (polys (???) linked with amides).
It can be obtained in several forms.
The product sheet also mentions glass fibers and black nylon 66. Black makes for UV protection.

Asking the manufacturer would probably the most informative approach.

Thanks. Google shopping just gets me a blank screen. I must have all of their tracking crap blocked.

Edit: I found something cheap to try with your polyamide reference.
https://www.amazon.com/Gizmo-Dorks-Polyimide-Printers-Printing/dp/B01G2HIF9W/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Amber and translucent 1mm thick.

 

[Averagesupernova]

Im pretty sure the enamel used in electric motor winding is a polyamide. I would think you would be on the right track choosing that material.

 

[nsaspook]

 

[nsaspook]

 

[Tom.G]

Anyone know what type of plastic they use? I'd like to get some (clear if possible) for some DIY spark shields over interconnect rails.

Edit: I found something cheap to try with your polyamide reference.
https://www.amazon.com/Gizmo-Dorks-Polyimide-Printers-Printing/dp/B01G2HIF9W/?tag=pfamazon01-20

That one, Kapton, is close to magic; I've used it in the distant past because it is resistant to corona discharge. It also has a wide temperature tolerance of -450F to +750F and reportedly available in Clear or translucent Tan, with Tan being more common.

Here is the manufacturers data sheet:
EI-10142_Kapton-Summary-of-Properties.pdf

Cheers,
Tom

 

[jtbell]

On Saturday in Shelby, North Carolina, I visited the Earl Scruggs Center, in the former Cleveland County courthouse.

On the floor, a relic of the Covid era.

 

[nsaspook]

A little recharge at McD.

 

[DennisN]

Two fun bird sequences...

I discovered that I've managed to capture two common redstarts when they were taking off (I probably shot sequentially). Far from great quality, but I share them just for fun. Both were shot in a graveyard which is known here for quite good bird presence.

The first one, a male, was looking to the left and obviously suddenly decided to take off to the right (from the bird's perspective). The second photo I both smile at and find fascinating; it looks like the bird takes off by just jumping up while hardly stretching the wings. And the wings don't look fully stretched until photo #4:

(shot with 1/500s exposure time, and that is a little long for flying birds, as far as I know)


The second redstart taking off (a female I think, and just three shots):

(shot with 1/2500s exposure time, so the wings are more easily seen here, but regretfully still not as sharp as they could be, I think. Practice, practice, practice... )

 

[DennisN]

I was looking at auction sites recently and found a couple of unusual items: really old wooden cameras. Here's a fun one, which I think is a large format camera (though I don't know much about such old systems). Interestingly the photos are developed inside the camera, which contains a small lab (!).
It's listed as an "antique street box camera", and this is really old school...

I looked around on the net to get an approximation of how old it is, and if I understood correctly the Protar lens was manufactured in the 1910s–1920s, perhaps extending into the early 1930s.

And this thing is heavy :

Lens: Carl Zeiss approx. 160 mm in Compur shutter consists of front lens Protar lens 35 cm and rear lens Protar lens 22 cm. ... Weight approx. 5.5 kg ... Inside the box there is space for a lab where the photo paper is developed and fixed in a container. Rinsing is done in a bucket of water.

(translated from Swedish to English)

Source: Ad

I saw another unusual large wooden camera yesterday, but regretfully I can't find the ad again.

 

[RicoGerogi]

His Scaring hissing..

 

[nsaspook]

Working on a trash can enclosure and solar panel deck.

The second 'roof' element is being installed today.

It's how you get the wife to approve spending on your engineering projects. It's got to have a roof to keep the trash cans from getting wet, right?

 

[DennisN]

Four spring shots taken today...


Late afternoon springtime sun...

European aspen (I think)

Flowering almond (I think)

Springtime sun

(Lens used: Pentacon 135mm f/2.8 (15 bladed))

 

[morrobay]

Westerly onshore winds and Thai Bouillabaisse + small fishing boats , Jomtien beach

 

[nsaspook]

The simple pleasures.

Lets go fishing.

 

[DennisN]

Another "dream cat" photo...

Lens: Helios 44M7 with front element reversed
Edits: Some color adjustments and added vignette in Photoshop

 

[jtbell]

Today I passed through Salisbury, North Carolina, following in the footsteps of George Washington.

I saw a cat cafe there, but didn’t go inside because I had just eaten lunch elsewhere. They did have some stuff in the windows, though.

 

[DennisN]

Haha, I just read one of the funniest posts I've ever read about photography .

It's about wildlife photography and a guy who has obviously been struggling a lot to get decent bird photos (and tried numerous lenses and probably spent a lot of money )...

I notify @Andy Resnick , @collinsmark and @Rive , but others may be interested too (it is hilariously written ). Here's the post:

I regret to inform you it costs a lot of money to take good pictures of birds (Olympus 150-600mm review)
(Reddit)

Some memorable quotes from the post:

"You've just got to get closer!" , "Zoom with your feet!", "You just need to work on your technique!". This is all a pack of lies.

On the OM-1 it [the lens Sigma/Olympus 150-600mm, my note] looks like a Honda Civic with a Tomahawk missile glued to the hood. Gawdy. Absurd. Malformed.

I'm still young enough I will be dumb about this and mostly handhold while taking ibuprofen and gritting my teeth, but do not let your pride and vanity cause shoulder strain.

The poster has obviously finally managed to take photos he is satified with .
And they are awesome:

 

[pinball1970]

Denton Manchester. The clouds looked so symmetrical and solid they looked like distant mountains, even some snow on the top.

I tried my best to touch it up and the light was not kind but it looked amazing.

 

[pinball1970]

Meet at Uni yet 30 odd years later you still make an effort to see each other and pretend like we are 20 again. If you cannot spot the physics UG then shame on you!
2019.

 

[pinball1970]

Westerly onshore winds and Thai Bouillabaisse + small fishing boats , Jomtien beachView attachment 359737View attachment 359739View attachment 359740View attachment 359741

That soup dish looks amazing! Chilli, Paprika??

 

[morrobay]

That soup dish looks amazing! Chilli, Paprika??

Indeed. And basil,lemon grass + many spices. I get it with coconut milk added.The seafood soup is about all I ever order . About $5. Includes mackerel shrimp and squid

 

[nsaspook]

Clearing out old junk in the shed. One of the kids got this with a jar of Ovaltine long ago.

This is a rare bird. Adaptec ACB-5580A SCSI-SMD adapter just in case I need to read data off an old CDC 8' or 14' disc pack.
https://ftpmirror.your.org/pub/misc/bitsavers/pdf/adaptec/500519-00_ACB5580_SCSI_SMD_Ctlr_Oct85.pdf

My old Atari ST used this SCSI to SMD adapter so I could run these after writing a formatting/configuration program to make the adapter board SCSI output from the SMD drive compatible with the Atari SCSI interface. That was a lot of fun to create and complete joy when it all worked.

80MB+ of pure 8' hard drive computer fun.

 

[DennisN]

Ok, I catched a bit of the antique bug and bought two old cameras on auction because I couldn't resist them; they were small, cool looking and I got them dirt cheap.

I won't say which they are just yet (the brands are Voigtländer and Wirgin, two German brands), but I will put up photos of them here later, of course .

In the meantime I read a bit about Wirgin and stumbled on a curiosity, the Wirgin Gewirette (ca 1932-1937) which was an amazingly small camera, and here's an ad from 1940 about the camera:

(source, scanned by Voxphoto (Creative Commons))

I just find it fascinating that they could make such small cameras in the 1930s.
Early Leicas were also quite small:

(Leica I (1927), © Kameraprojekt Graz 2015 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, source)

 

[phinds]

I just find it fascinating that they could make such small cameras in the 1930s.

Check out the Minox from the '30's

 

[DennisN]

Check out the Minox from the '30's

You mean this one? (or these ones, as there are various models)
Wow, that is just amazing. I had never heard about those cameras.

The dimensions of the Minox subminiature camera are: 80 mm × 27 mm x 16 mm; weight: 130 g.

Minox Riga (ca 1937 - 1943, if I understand correctly). Photo by Dnalor_01 (Creative Commons).