If you follow this blog, you will notice I allowed the front page to go un-updated this week. Also, as a general trend I have not been updating as much (a trend that will not continue much longer - I'm scheduling myself out for this blog). Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your outlook, this isn't because there hasn't been a lot going on. I have been layed out in bed with some virus, and although I would claim that this is the root problem, in fact it has only had me down for a couple of days.

A number of different things played into the lack of fast updates (between once every 2 and 4 days). I have been very lucky in that my article on first time wedding photography brought in hundreds of new visitors to the site. I appreciate all your input and time. So, given how long the article is, I figured I had best leave it on the front page for a bit.

Now that it is dying off a bit, I'm a bit back-loaded. I have shot film, but I haven't developed or scanned it. So, tomorrow that is part of the goal.

on going notes:

- Contacted Nikon Historical Society Japan - no word back yet
- Contacted Bill Atkinson about color management - no word back yet (not expecting it really, but it would be nice)
- After noticing the B&W reversal kit at Hunts a few weeks ago I remembered that I have a vague interest in making B&W slides. The basic idea is that you shoot TMAX 100 and then convert this image to a positive through the use of the kit. Interesting stuff - but maybe not so practical.
- I may be delving into E6 color slide development. There are 3 major sources of chemicals - Kodak, Tenetal, and Arista. Tenetal and Arista used a modified, simplified, process - but it may not produce "pro" results. Kodak is still kodak. I'm looking into everything from Jobo CPP and CPE-2 processors to the old tried and true water bath with hand agitation methods. Lots of theory about Fuji requiring more development time than Kodak, but who knows. - I'm only going to do it if the results are going to be good and the price will be worth the hassle. It will have to provide a significant per-roll cost savings which may be hard to achieve. *already I have found that the machines, while interesting, are not cost effective for what I'm looking for.
- I put in a vague request with my uncle Bill before he went to Japan to keep an eye out for a good deal on a lens - something good - perhaps a Nikkor 28mm f2.8 or a really cheap Voightlander 15mm - Bill is back from Japan and he brought me back a lens - a 24mm f2.8 factory-refurbished Nikkor Manual focus lens. It looks stunning. First roll shot with it will be developed/scanned and hopefully posted tomorrow. It is said to be one of the best/sharpest wide prime lenses they have made.
- Bill also brought back a very unexpected "omiage" - translation: souvenir - some Fuji Fortia SP slide film. This is a very special short run slide film only available in Japan, and primarily designed for flower photography. I will post about this soon after I have had a chance to use it.

more to come very soon. - with pictures.