Untrue. It varies hugely from state to state. You can certainly buy beer from ordinary grocers in NY, SC, FL and CO as I have, many times. Not so sure about wine as I rarely buy it but certainly available in grocers in SC. Spirits, on the other hand, I have only seen in special liquor stores.

Wikipedia shows only six states where beer is not available in grocers.

K.

Interesting choice as that was one of my least favourite in the set, but included it as it made a good link in the "story".

This lens is not the macro version but the standard version with extension tubes. I think (John will no doubt know) it was intended as a portrait lens and has a nice softness wide open but sharpens up surprisingly just one stop down. I ought to thank John as it was a comment of his some while back that made me get one to try, and it has rapidly gained a permanent home in my camera bag. One thing I really like is that for an f/2.8 lens it is really very small and light and doesn't really look like a telephoto lens at all.

Best wishes, Kris.

Per mile, yes it is!

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now arriving at the Isle of Wight. Please adjust your watches back fifty years..."

Too true! Most supermarkets carry a good range of bottled beers, most bars just have 10 varieties of the same ghastly rubbish.

Why is American beer like making love in a canoe? Because it is... umm... "rather" close to water.

K.

A surprising amount and yes they can! BW film has a big dynamic range and because the response curve is S shaped rather than linear it is much harder to completely blow out the highlights. Just as in the darkroom, you can dodge and burn a fair amount to bring out the highlights etc.

Slide film, however, has a much narrower dynamic range and is also very fussy about getting the exposure right. Shadows, in particular, block out really quite quickly. They too, can scan well and indeed be improved upon.

I have never really got into colour print film and in the "film only" days was always rather disappointed with it. That was probably more due to using cheap film and cheap processing!

Before digital took over as my main "work" medium, I'd guess 95% of my shots were colour slides, 4% BW and 1% colour print.

I was just thinking yesterday that the 5x4 view camera would suit your current project very well, or perhaps the Pentax 6x7 with a shift lens.

Best wishes, Kris.

Thank you for your kind comments. I may try and reshoot some of them, but I was quite pleased over all. I was particularly pleased with the last one!

K.

Having grovelled on the ground for some time taking the poppy series, I then went on to take more shots around and about Lamer. All shot with a K20D and the SMC-M 100mm f/2.8 lens, some with extension tubes.

1. Back to my favourite doronica. This time lit by the setting sun.



2. Come in No. 22, your time is up. This image is simply me being silly.



3. Ivy (retake). Trying to improve on the focus/DOF from the previous attempt.



4. A tulip. Not much to add really.



5. Speedwell. These things are tiny. I used all three extension tubes and still had to crop away about 50% of the image.



6. I don't know what these are but common at the moment. Thankfully a tall plant so I could get up off the floor.



7. One for Andrew Converted using Silver Efex Pro.



8. Sycamore sunset. A bit experimental this one, and I am not sure about it (which probably means I should abandon it!)



Best wishes, Kris.

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All photos: K20D with SMC 100mm f/2.8 and various extension tubes, available light and a Manfrotto tripod.

Best wishes, Kris.

I have some closer shots on digital I think but I wanted to put this monument in context. The form of the monument is quite a common one over there but then I guess not many people here would know that!

K.

I hope you don't mind, I couldn't resist having a play. I was going for the 6x6 TLR sort of look. If you want me to delete it, just say.

Best wishes, Kris.

I have the K20D, not the K-7. I think the shower incident was with the K10D.

With both the K10 and the K20 the build feels very solid indeed. The K-7 I handled at the SRS open day felt equally solid.

There was another thread comparing the two recently. I picked up my K20D when the K-7 came out and there were some reasonably priced second hand ones around. I shall probably do the same with the K-7. I don't feel the need to be at the forefront of technology!

K.