A Little Spice for My Birthday

And A bit of Inner Monet, for My Birthday.........

#WednesdayWindows .....Arcosanti

From the Arcosanti Gallery, Arizona

And, oh yes.....Have a Happy Tax Day in the USA!

#WednesdayWindows....No Foolin'

It's April 1st, but No Foolin's around here.......We continue with the series, but post a Sky Light as a change-up.

From the Cosanti Gallery in Phoenix, AZ.

After this posting we will be going on a bi-weekly schedule.  I do have other photographic experiences to share here.......

New Film Test: Yodica Polaris 400

This came to me as an @EmulsiveSanta gift this year and as a Question about weird films on #filmfeb.  No one seems to have tried it.  So Here We Go:

I will report back the results as soon as I get them........

Zoomed In with a Flag: Happy 4th of July!!

I used to post Flags on all National Patriotic Holidays.  I've fallen away a bit.  But heading back with some subtlety:

Zoomed In Here Too!

I've posted a lot of Zoomed In features on my other Blog Here.  But Now one for this blog too!

Like a Crest......

Like a Crest.......

Color or B&W?

Kodak ColorPlus 200:

I'm starting to experiment again with B&W Flowers.......Ilford HP5:

And Also a Kodak E100 white Flower (a bit cold fro my taste):

Yellow Flowers.......

We will try to wrap up the Mayo Clinic Cactus Garden through the rest of June.......Today some Yellow:

Pink Cactus on Film.......

Today, Pink Flowers

Kodak Portra 400 with 50 mm Macro Lens

Biosphere2: Structures

It's really a Giant Terrarium!

Biosphere2: Experiments in Progress

Above: They are rebuilding the Ocean Laboratory; starting with Algae and 

building the new environment from the ground up.

Above: a new Climate Lab (this shows one of three isolated labs).  They are starting with crushed rock of volcanic origin and varying the climate conditions to see how it affects soil development and

eventually the growth of crop plants.  These areas were originally used to grow food for the Biosphere inhabitants.

Above: An ongoing experiment testing techniques for growing food on

another Planet.

Biosphere2: Living Quarters

Original Biosphere Living Quarters for the original 1991 Project.

Biosphere2: Passages

Pathway leading to the Rainforest.

Biosphere2: Rainforest

The Biosphere started as an experiment in living in 1991, aimed at testing 

system for living on other Planets.  The original project failed in the end, but the University of Arizona has turned it into an Environmental Experimentation Lab and Conference Center.  Here we see two scenes from the Rainforest Section of the Lab.

Biosphere2

This week we will start exploring the Biosphere2 as I wrap up my time in Arizona......I made this Photomerge of two images to capture the entire structure.  Still working on a good color balance as I was shooting Tungsten Film (CineStill 800):

I didn't have a Tungsten filter so I used my 81C Warming Filter which worked well in full sunlight, but not as well in this overcast shot.......

Yep, Another Film Test

Just when you thought it was safe and this film testing process was done.  I've joined the Frugal Film Project, which requires that I use a cheap camera and find the cheapest film.  This is not the camera for the Project, but I will be testing one of my choices, Kodak ColorPlus 200, on my drive home using one of my trusty X-700's.

I'm using a 1960's vintage Canonet QL that I bought online from Goodwill:

Ilford HP5 Personal Review

We pick up with HP5 where we ended with FP4, at the Natural Bridge:

I had lost track of my FP4 roll being only 24 exposures.  I had this one last shot that I wanted to take and was out of FP4.  But I had my trusty extra roll in the camera bag: HP5.  So I got the shot that I wanted.  I'll be making more trips back to the natural bridge, so I'll be re-shooting with the Mamiya-7 and T-MAX 400.

Then I made a few more images at the Mayo Clinic Phoenix Cactus Garden:

Above, a barrel cactus, but barely in view.  

Below, zooming through the 'cactus window' for a closer look.

A final image of a statue honoring the Spirit of the Native Inhabitants, given to the Clinic by a grateful patient:

I'll remake tis image with the M7 also.

Silberra PAN 100 Part III

Trails Around Phoenix:

Silberra PAN 100 Part II

Taking a Drive in and around the Superstition Mountains: