What's Up At Christof's

[Dickkooty2]

C,

 

Gerd has it right! The reference is a stroll down Memory Lane ...

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_(film)

 

* in Erinnerungen schwelgen (?)

 

D

[christof]

Thanks to you. Didn't know this.

C.

[mallymal1]

Congratulations on your 10 years, Christof.

 

Many thanks for sharing that time with us.

[christof]

Finally, I am able to show something new here, and something, well... at least uncommon. It's a vintage Montblacn 146 in green celluloid. Due to lucky circumstances, I was able to acquire this beauty. I have to admit, that I didn't had that much fun at the studio since long...

 

C.

[farmdogfan]

That´s a beautiful pen!

[mana]

Those green and grey striated Montblancs are like jewels... IMHO they are among the most beautiful pens ever produced and share a spot in my heart with the Pelikan 101 & 101N.

[Gerd W]

That´s a beautiful pen!

 

+1

[carlos.q]

Wow. That pen looks great!!!

[CS388]

Fantastic. What a wonderful pen.

 

In its box, too! Simple elegance.

 

Congratulations. And thanks for sharing.

[jmccarty3]

I'm fortunate to have one of these, also a 144 whose color is even better. They are real treasures.

[christof]

I'm fortunate to have one of these, also a 144 whose color is even better. They are real treasures.

...would love to see a picture if possible.

c.

[jmccarty3]

When I am in DC for the show, I plan to go by the Leica store to get some ideas about equipment for photographing my pens. The quick-and-dirty iPhone photos I have taken of some of my pens are completely unsatisfactory. I used to be fairly knowledgeable about clinical macrophotography on Kodachrome 25, using a Nikon F2 and a manually calibrated bracket flash, but that was in the '70s, and I fell that I almost need to start over. I should have had the discipline to learn the Leica M system, but instead bought two R bodies that are hardly worth anything. I have a Leica R series macro lens that can be used with some of their digital camera bodies, but don't know how much control I would give up. I drool over fpupulin's Hasselblad setup, but that equipment (or the Leica S system) is unfortunately not realistic for me. I would love to know about your photography equipment.

[christof]

Since I went digital, I use my (almost vintage) Nikon D80 with a (definitely vintage) Micro Nikkor 55mm in manual mode only.

(Before that, I worked with a FM2 for more than 20 years but since digitalisation, I am no longer interested in cameras. Too many changes in too short time....but I kept the Micro Nikkor!)

...and there is a flashlight too, think it is a SB-24. That's all.

 

c.

Edited July 13, 2018 by christof

[DrCodfish]

That pen, ... oof what a beauty!

[cunim]

Since I went digital, I use my (almost vintage) Nikon D80 with a (definitely vintage) Micro Nikkor 55mm in manual mode only.

(Before that, I worked with a FM2 for more than 20 years but since digitalisation, I am no longer interested in cameras. Too many changes in too short time....but I kept the Micro Nikkor!)

...and there is a flashlight too, think it is a SB-24. That's all.

 

c.

 

Pen photography is a form of product photography. The equipment for that is very different from standard cameras. Basically, it uses a discrete camera back (digital or film) and a view camera body (bellows and front and rear "standards"). Phase One and Hasselblad are probably the best known makers of backs. Arca-Swiss is an example of a view camera maker. I use a Phase One IQ180 back and Arca Swiss Monolith view camera.

 

The front standard holds the lens. The rear standard holds the camera back. The key is that each standard can move to tilt or shift the optical axis. The purpose to to vary the geometry of the image projection onto the sensor - which yields useful effects. Yes, product photography needs to be learned and is something of an antique art. However, it does make taking the pictures much more technical and interesting - at least it does for me.

 

The good thing is that this type of professional equipment has a long life span and changes slowly. I have had the same equipment for ten years. Sadly, however, it is expensive. Used bargains can be found.

 

No one needs pro-level photos and cell phones create great memories. For special events (weddings, portraits, commercial advertisements), however, people tend to prefer making an extra effort. That is why pro photographers can still make a living and why some of them still use really dated equipment like 8 x 10 film. It's sort of like playing vinyl records or using a fountain or dip pen to do expressive writing. No one needs to do that but it can be rewarding.

 

While your present equipment is excellent (love that Micro Nikkor), perhaps you could enjoy technical photography as a way to explore the character of your most special pens.

[1nkulus]

The green/gold combo with the two tone nib is fantastic. Was it ever released in a 149?

[christof]

no, only 142, 144 and 146

c.

[1nkulus]

no, only 142, 144 and 146

c.

 

Shame, the 149 would have been a magnificent sight.

[christof]

I was able to catch another two first year CARAN D'ACHE Fixpencils for the Museum of Design. Here's the one which is already part of the permanent exhibition:

https://www.emuseum.ch/objects/80144/fixpencil-nr-77?ctx=f192bb6a-7bf1-41db-bc1a-e5bbe1b00f9b&idx=0

And these are the new ones:

Nice, aren't they? ...but the really interesting thing is that one of the two is a model for 1mm lead! I have never seen that and I think that this find is reallyy extraordinary.

And....I know of a red example! Let's see how long it wil take to find it.

C.

Edited July 16, 2018 by christof

[christof]

...back from holidays with a post card sketch:

 

 

pen (parker 45 XF), ink and crayon on aquarell paper

 

C.