http://www.nicktonkin.com/index.htmlMy BlogenNick TonkinCopyright 2011 Nick Tonkin2012-04-24T15:25:04+01:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:54:26 +0000Nick TonkinBlog2012-04-24T15:25:04+01:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/415f0b868b728614bc9393e3badeda6f-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/415f0b868b728614bc9393e3badeda6f-11.html#unique-entry-id-11
First light using IP’s PX70 (12/11 batch) has, I think, been rather promising. Not realising that the brightness wheel resets to default every time the body is closed, means all these were over exposed by a few notches. But I like that ‘glary’ startled look these have. I have a large box load of IP’s new Px100 and PX70 Cool film on the way and look forward to playing around with these new emulsions. One one hope is that IP don’t make their film too good. Part of the fascination and excitement comes with not really knowing what you are going to get when the print spews out the front of the camera.








]]>Nick TonkinBlog2012-03-29T20:28:52+01:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/8a66b923d26d6c60b160184777fbe762-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/8a66b923d26d6c60b160184777fbe762-10.html#unique-entry-id-10Meredith Wilson



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The New Observatory which was almost completed at the end of last year suffered in the storms we had in December and the roof ended up 400 metres downwind. While fairly damaged , a lot of the materials were salvageable and construction was started on a new and improved design last weekend.



The photography has also kicked off. The weather has been super these last few weeks, so it’s been good to get out with the the cameras and have a little play. I have quite a bit of the older PX100 film stock from Impossible Project lying around, but have never been really happy with with it, so with a present of a x4 ND filter, I’ve been loading the SX70 with PX600 Black Frame. The results are quite different and a lot colder - which is how I like it.

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Looking back at my Flickr, I see the last time I got creative with a camera was way, way back in April. My newly restored interest in Astronomy and the construction of a new Observatory has been taking up most of my time - to the detriment of anything terrestrial. I’m hoping that a trip up to Manchester this weekend for a Flickr trundle, will kick start things and I’m able to get back into taking piccys on a regular basis. Like most blokes, it’s difficult to run two major interests at the same time, without my enthusiasm taking control and only being able to concentrate on just one at a time - women and multitasking will no doubt be pointed out to me :-)

This will be my fourth trip to Manchester and my first during the Summer season. I’m really looking forward to being able to concentrate on the detail rather than being overwhelmed by the ‘Wow’ factor from all that Concrete, Steel and Shiny glass. For a change I’ll be taking the Nikon digital, but the Polaroid Button and a shedload of IP film packs will keep me fed for that ‘filmy fix’.



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Unlike deep sky imaging where exposures tend to run into hours, the Moon can normally be captured in a matter of seconds. While this composite of seven webcam video files took a total of about 30 minutes to capture, it was possible to do each section in between banks of cloud rolling in the from the West. Unfortunately full cloud cover took hold before the last three sections could be captured. Nevertheless it was worthwhile processing the mosaic without being complete and I’m quite happy wit the degree of detail the processing software has able to capture. Further details on the equipment used and the method of processing can be found here.]]>Nick TonkinBlog2011-05-03T19:56:05+01:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/094ff98f0bb9d94c9d40305d79f817e6-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/094ff98f0bb9d94c9d40305d79f817e6-6.html#unique-entry-id-6

I got hooked on Astronomy in 2001, which four years later resulted in the building of my own permanent observatory - the DBO - in 2005. After an initial burst of activity resulting in a couple of dozen images, there seemed to be a period of a couple of years where the observatory was permanently covered in cloud. So much in fact that, I lost all interest in taking astronomical images, for something more terrestrial and creative.

A trip to the annual Winchester weekend organised by the British Astronomical Association, has reignited my enthusiasm again. I also have opportunity to rebuild the observatory at a new dark field site, well away from the light pollution from the ‘Big Smoke’ of Truro. While lousy cloud cover could still thwart deep sky photography, I hope there are enough breaks in the cloud to do some Lunar Observing and webcam imaging of its features.

To kick off the imaging side, the image above is Sunspot 1193 taken through my TMB 80mm Refractor. I took four x 2000 frame webcam video files, which were processed in Registax 6 and combined in Photoshop CS5. Further image details can be found in the Solar section of my website.]]>Nick TonkinBlog2011-03-29T17:16:36+01:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/dbf5c5689647972ea733c00490a7a677-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/dbf5c5689647972ea733c00490a7a677-5.html#unique-entry-id-5




Spring has arrived in Cornwall with a vengeance. The Daffodils are all out and the Primroses are emerging from the hedgerows. The last few weeks have been spent with the iphone - far too long for my liking, so it was good to get out to Five lanes this weekend with the Pentax 6x7. Five Lanes has been my favourite ‘Big Space’ location for years and I love to see how the landscape changes with the seasons. A selection of images can be found here.

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Woke up this morning to some pretty thick fog. Why don’t we ever get these conditions when I would have the time to take the Bronica out, so as work got in the way, I had to live with the iphone and my fave new Claunch Film and John S lens combo.]]>Nick TonkinBlog2011-03-01T19:28:14+00:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/183eb6ea24e3c40254da517b80c080ec-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/183eb6ea24e3c40254da517b80c080ec-3.html#unique-entry-id-3



It’s always the way! You go to somewhere like Port Issac for a trundle, and end up getting the best piccys from someones landing in Wadebridge. Oh well, if having a plan and completing it was easy, everyone would be doing it!!

I recently upgraded to the latest version of Hipstamatic ( 2.0.1) on the iPhone. Apart from the John S lens and Blanco film, I just can’t get on with some of the more wackier films and lens combos Hipstamatic offer. Having said that, the Claunch 72 film pack I just added, is lovely and crisp and gives a wonderful glow to certain subjects. One to experiment with further with I think.

(image by Hilary)

I also had a chance to play with a friends Rolleicord Va - Model K3E Type 1. Built between April 1957 - February 1958, this little puppy was from a manufactured batch of 23,000 units. Apart from a few scratches, it shows minimal sign of use. The focusing screen has degraded and gives you a feeling that the picture you are about to take is going to be heavily vignetted. But the images that result are sharp and free from any decernable defect. I loved using this camera, and need to become an owner of either a flex or cord as soon as possible!

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iWeb was easy to use, but lacks a few features, so I’ve upgraded to Rapidweaver. Not quite as freeform as iWeb, but download the Stacks and Block plugins, and you're well away. Anyway, I’m up with this design for a bit, while I continue to add more content.]]>Nick TonkinBlog2011-02-14T22:56:18+00:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/3516eac1246b8171696604b0687dcade-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/3516eac1246b8171696604b0687dcade-1.html#unique-entry-id-1
A super trundle down to Marazion with Mrs D this evening. Zippo on the Sunset front, and the light was crap to do the Mount justice, but this got in the way of the lens.

If you have ever read Greg Bear's Eon, this will make the hair on the back of your neck, stand up.]]>Nick TonkinBlog2011-02-12T22:56:14+00:00http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/0d89b4acc464e659fe909ca9de7f5aca-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.nicktonkin.com/blog/files/0d89b4acc464e659fe909ca9de7f5aca-0.html#unique-entry-id-0
I’ve had the domain name for a while, but it’s only until now that I’ve got round to adding some content to it.

The ‘Blog’ ....yes, well here it is for what it’s worth.]]>