View allAll Photos Tagged alkalinity
POTA developer was modified:
30 g/liter Sodium Sulfite (original)
0,75 g/liter Phenidone (50% original)
Semistand 15 mts., 1. minute initial agitation (slow)
Important:
POTA is low alkaline, so the AHC layer remains partly on the carrier thus given stripes.
Pre-water at least for 30 to 60 mts. !!!!
Film d'essai (test film) of the Pentacon lens "electric" 2.8/135mm fitted to my Praktica VLC3.
For the test, I chose here a 36-exposure Rollei 400S Retro (i.e. Agfa Aviphot 400) that was exposed for 400 ISO following the readings of the Praktica camera or a Minolta Autometer III fitted with a 10° finder privileging the shadow zones. The Agfa Aviphot is a super-panchromatic film coated on a thin polyester base with a water-soluble black anti-halation coat on the back that should be removed by two or three presoaking bathes before developing. The film sensitivity is extended to the near infrared 780 nm. The film is known to gives excellent results to reduce the atmospheric blur and offer a spectacular resolution and contrasts that could help with a tele lens. The view were made the camera hand held with the eye-level pentaprism finder including the fFresnel micro prisms focusing screen,, at 1/500s at aperture ranging from f/11 to the full aperture at f/2.8.
Rue Pouteau, October 29, 2022
69001 Lyon
France
After exposure the film was developed for 10 min 30s using Adox Adonal (same as the Agfa Rodinal) developer at dilution 1+25 and 20°C. The film was then digitalized using a Sony A7 body and a Minolta Slide Duplicator with a Minolta Auto Bellows III with a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5.
About the lens:
The Pentacon electric 1:2.8 f=135mm is the former German Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestor 2.8/135mm lens, conceived in the sixties on the basis of a Sonnar optical formula. The company and the lenses incorporated the VEB Pentacon Dresden, Germany, in the seventies. This sample was also modified to include the electric transmission of the aperture coupling. The Orestor has also a less common 100mm companion. The 135 mm was massively produced and most of the Praktica enthusiasts had the 2.8/135mm in their kit as a compact telephoto lens not too heavy to be transported anywhere.
About the camera:
The Praktica VLC is of the 3rd generation (VLC3, 1978-1981) and was manufactured by "VEB Pentacon" (formally Zeiss-Ikon) in Dresden, Germany. It came with orignal Pentacon accessories including, a shade hood for its normal lens Pentacon "electric Multi-coated" 1:1,8 f=50mm, a waist finder, a straight magnification finder, and the regular pentaprism. There are also 6 different focusing screens, the Pentacon hot shoe for a flash, lens and body caps, and a Praktica ever-ready case.
The camera has a CdS photometric circuitry powered by an unusual 4.5V battery that I replaced by a set of 3 LR44 alkaline batteries in series. As the ASAHI PENTAX Spomatic SP, the bridge circuit is insensitive to the voltage difference. To be independent of the finders, the cell is functioning behind the mirror as in the Topcon Super D or the Miranda Auto Sensorex EE.
This Praktica operates at full aperture using an electrical transmission of the aperture using 3 contacts on the M42 lens mount. It could however operates any non electric M42 lenses at real aperture too by acting on the rotary switch at the top left. As for the other Praktica of the L series the shutter is made of vertical steel curtains making the X-flash synchro at about 1/125 s.
Overall Pentacon produced 85 000 Praktica VLC between 1974 and 1981 among about 3 millions of Praktica "L" (LLC MTL TL L etc).
American Avocet
American Avocets occupy shallow freshwater habitat in open country. They typically feed in open water 10-20 centimeters deep, but they also swim regularly in water too deep for wading. Highly productive alkaline ponds and lakes are ideal for foraging.
Behavior
American Avocets often forage by sweeping their long bills from side to side with the tip of the bill, which is extremely sensitive to touch, barely submerged in water. They also feed visually by capturing prey from the surface of mud or water, by plunging their heads into water, and by snatching insects from the air. American Avocets are semi-colonial breeders. They remain monogamous within a breeding season. They defend their young vigorously with an array of alarm calls and distraction displays, and will also dive-bomb predators if eggs or young are directly threatened.
Source: birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/american_avocet
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium was a vision that turned into a reality. One day
in 1977, four marine biologists at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station
were once again contemplating a dilapidated building just a few hundred feet
away. Someone said “aquarium,” and the rest is history.
Our building stands on the site of historic Cannery Row’s
largest fish-packing plant, the Hovden Cannery. Built in
1916, the Hovden Cannery operated until 1972, and was
the last of the canneries to close. Demolition of the
abandoned building began in 1980, and construction of
the Aquarium began shortly after, in spring of 1981. We
opened to the public on October 20, 1984
and brought the fish back to Cannery Row.
From the beginning, our founders’ intent was to give
visitors an intimate tour of Monterey Bay's beautiful
natural communities and other fascinating marine
environments, and ultimately inspire them to care
for and protect the world’s oceans.
Thirty years later, we continue to inspire ocean
conservation and set trends for aquariums worldwide.
We’re the only institution to successfully exhibit great
white sharks. We created the first living kelp forest
exhibit, and pioneered jellyfish exhibits that inspired
countless imitations around the globe. We were the first
aquarium to offer changing special exhibitions, and
the first with a dedicated exhibit area for children and
families. We continue to test the limits of what’s possible.
As an ocean conservation leader, we’re deeply involved
in cutting-edge research and advocacy to protect sea
otters, Pacific bluefin tuna, great white sharks and other
threatened ocean animals. Our Seafood Watch program
to advance sustainable seafood practices is transforming
the seafood market in ways that protect ocean wildlife.
Our exhibits helped inspire creation of the largest national
marine sanctuary off the continental United States, and
we are now working to ensure the long-term success of
the largest network of marine protected areas off the
California coast.
More than 55 million visitors have visited the non-profit
Monterey Bay Aquarium since 1984. Many have left
inspired to help create a better future for the oceans.
We’ll continue to make a difference in the years ahead.
Source: www.montereybayaquarium.org/-/m/pdf/groups/monterey-bay-a...
Prisma brush tip , zig multiliners ,Gelly rolls , bad scan some neon colors come up as white ,i will post a photo of later
ZIG Ink pens = Brush side of (Blue Bonnet, Scroll and brush) , Brush side of (Pale Blue art and graphic twin), Brushables, (Dual brush tip Lunar Lavender)
ZIG millennium pens,
and 2 green gel ink pens
On 6 inch square bristol vellum
My Praktica VLC3, September 17, 2022, Lyon, France.
This Praktica VLC of the 3rd generation (1978-1981) was manufactured By VEB Pentacon in Dresden, Germany. It came with orignal Pentacon accessories including, a shade hood for its normal lens Pentacon "electric Multi-coated" 1:1,8 f=50mm, a waist finder, a straight magnification finder, and the regular pentaprism. There are also 6 different finder glasses, the Pentacon hot shoe for a flash, lens and body caps, and a Praktica ever-ready case.
The camera has a CdS photometric circuitry powered by an unusual 4.5V battery that I replaced by a set of 3 LR44 alkaline batteries in series. As the ASAHI PENTAX Spomatic SP, the bridge circuit is insensitive to the voltage difference. To be independent of the finders, the cell is functioning behind the mirror as in the Topcon Super D or the Miranda Auto Sensorex EE.
This Praktica operates at full aperture using an electrical transmission of the diaphragm value using 3 contacts on the M42 lens mount. It could however operates any non electric M42 lenses at real aperture too. The shutter is made a vertical steel curtains making the X-flash synchro at about 1/125 s.
Overall Pentacon produced 85 000 Praktica VLC between 1974 and 1981 among about 3 millions of Praktica "L" (LLC MTL TL L etc).
A popular Dales' beauty spot set amid rolling hills and rugged moorland. Created by glaciers thousands of years ago, this tarn is a popular focal point in Malhamdale's classic limestone countryside. On its western shore is Tarn Moss, a wetland haven for birds and wildlife.
It is 377 metres (1,237 ft) above sea level, making it the highest lake in England. The lake is one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe. Its geology, flora and fauna have led to it being listed under a number of conservation designations. The site is currently owned by the National Trust, who lease part of the site to the Field Studies Council who offer residential and non-residential field courses there. The site was the inspiration for Charles Kingsley's 1863 novel, 'The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby'.
The lake is home to six species of fish, as well as white-clawed crayfish, Great Crested Grebes, Moorhens, Coots, Tufted Ducks and Teal. A number of waders such as Redshanks, Curlews, Lapwings and Oystercatchers breed in the surrounding area. Two rare benthic copepods, Bryocamptus rhaeticus and Motatia mrazeki, are found in the lake, along with 22 species of molluscs—nine of which are found at their highest altitude in Britain. The lake also contains a number of submerged aquatic plants, while the surrounding area is home to a diverse number of plants including wild cranberry, bearberry, crowberry, dark-leaved willow and Purple Moor Grass.
It's a shame we didn't have time to investigate the area further but, with a husband driving, a Mother-in-law with folding wheelchair and two German Shepherds in the car, you can't suddenly decide to go off exploring for a couple of hours with camera in hand! LOL! Definitely something for the future!
Better viewed in light box - click on the image or press 'L' on your keyboard.
PLEASE DO NOT FAVE WITHOUT LEAVING A COMMENT. THANK YOU.
Waking up zeroed in on medicine
Am I waking up at all today
Seeing lights, feeling pain
There's my cure on ice
I can walk but I will crawl there
I will crawl there
Test shot from K86.
Karlos 86 view camera with Wollensak 14 inch (356mm) f6 lens.
Ilford FP4+ @ iso 100. Adolux APH09 (Rodinal). Dilution 1:150, (12ml in 1900ml for 8x10 sheet film), 19c, 90 minutes. Agitation - 4 inversions at the start and 2 inversions at 45 minutes. . Two water baths (stop). Alkaline fix for three minutes.
Mono Lake, California.
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean. Because it lacks an outlet, dissolved salts make the lake very alkaline and saline.
Nikon D300; Nikkor AF-S 17-35mm f/2.8D; Singh-Ray 0.6 Grad ND filter.
Strobist:
AB800 boomed high and right
AB800 through beauty dish left
5D + 16-35L
DO NOT USE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION
I was looking for a QL17 GIII and came across this rarer QL17-L (listed as a QL17) on Ebay for $19. I've had it apart, cleaned the viewfinder and lens and have a lot of camera for under 25 bucks.
Pretty much the same as the GIII as far as I can tell. I'm not using the battery check which was different and I can cope with a rewind button without rounded edges!
Update: Just installed an alkaline 625 battery. which seems ok so far.
While Steens Mountain looms to the west, the shimmering salt flats of the Alvord Desert unfold to the east. The Alvord Desert playa, which can be either wet or dry depending on the time of year, is one of the largest playas in Oregon—six miles wide and 11 miles long. Tens of thousands of years ago, a lake almost 200 feet deep covered the Alvord Desert and extended southward into Nevada. The old shoreline forms terraces along the edge of the valley, and deep under the desert floor are the same lava flows that make up the top of Steens Mountain.
Located below the east face of Steens Mountain, Mann Lake attracts anglers as much for its remote, rugged splendor as for its abundant Lahontan cutthroat trout. These trout are supremely adapted to survive alkaline desert waters and without them fisheries like Mann Lake could not exist. The lake was named for an early rancher and has satisfied fishers for over forty years.
Know before You Go
The Alvord Desert is accessible year-round; however, ideal conditions exist July through November, when the playa is usually dry enough for vehicular travel. With no potable water, restroom facilities, cell phone service, or designated camping areas, travelers to the area should bring their own conveniences and plan on a desolate, open-air adventure.
Fishing at Mann Lake. At Mann Lake, anglers converge as early as March and into October. Shallow throughout its 200 acres, the lake features extensive weed-beds and easily wadeable shoreline margins. Aside from two vault restrooms and boat ramps, Mann Lake offers no amenities. Bring your own shade, shelter and water and tie everything down. Swift winds are common, and weather conditions are often unpredictable. The nearest town is Fields, 45 minutes to 1 hour south.
An Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is a designation that highlights areas where special management attention is needed to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural and scenic values; fish, wildlife resources or other natural systems or processes; or to protect human life and safety from natural hazards. BLM establishes special management measures for these areas through land use planning. The designation is a record of significant values that must be accommodated when BLM considers future management actions and land use proposals. Congress mandated the designation of ACECs through the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to manage areas containing truly unique and significant resource values.
In 2000, there were 838 ACECs managed by BLM covering 14,045,540 acres.
ACEC designations are an important management tool because they highlight significant resources or hazards where special management measures are needed to prevent irreparable damage. The ACEC designation enables land managers to specifically address the relevant and important value or hazard and formulate a prescription to manage it. ACEC designation does not automatically prohibit or restrict other uses in the area. Since the management of ACECs is focused on the resource or natural hazard of concern the BLM prescribes special management measures that are specific to the values for which the ACEC is designated.
To learn more about this spectacular area head on over to:
These are my personal notes taken during a geology presentation at the 2009 Midwest Chapter of the Friends of Mineralogy Symposium and Field Conference, held at the Geology Department of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. I give them here because they may be of some interest. Do not expect the notes to always be in complete sentences, etc.
-----------------------------------
Physics and Chemistry of Impact Diamonds: Examples from Popigai
Presented by: Andrew Phelps (Material Physics Laboratory, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, USA)
5 September 2009
----------
Interstellar diamonds are the oldest objects we can have. They have isotopic signatures different from Earth solar system norms. They can’t be dated directly.
Diamond origins:
1) mantle origin
2) metamorphic origin in exhumed terranes (Example: Dabei Shan) - organic carbon metamorphosed into diamond. These have been found in Norway and China.
3) plasma vapor formation in interstellar medium (presolar)
4) plasma vapor formation from meteorite impact (Ex: Popigai)
5) high-pressure impact formation in space - these are in meteorites themselves (Ex: Canyon Diablo). They are not necessarily formed in-situ, but they got in there.
Sloan Ranch, Colorado - can find high-pressure diamonds there. Blackstone at Sloan was quarried out. It was found to sometimes chew up rock saws - diamonds occur in the rocks there.
Crater of Diamonds in Arkansas is a lamprophyre, not a kimberlite.
(www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/14636691590)
(www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/15251063133)
Kimberley, South Africa - the kimberlite pipe there had an alkaline lake/seep above it - it killed wildlife.
The Crater of Diamonds site was originally a swamp.
Can synthesize diamonds using a variety of techniques. Can even synthesize them with an ordinary welding torch.
Lonsdaleite is a hexagonal “diamond” - a carbon polymorph.
(webmineral.com/data/Lonsdaleite.shtml#.XM3_4S-ZMWo)
There are 2 kinds of diamonds. Diamond types:
1) natural cubic diamond (www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/17798244940) - often with graphite inclusions. Trigons are structures along the 111 plane of a diamond (www.flickr.com/photos/126249105@N04/15294982123). When diamond is heated, it will break along the 111 plane, and graphite will form on that plane. Graphite is never found cross-cutting the 111 plane. The cubic character comes from trigonal structure when viewed at a certain angle.
2) hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) - discovered in some meteorites (Example: Canyon Diablo Meteorite samples were destroying rock saws - www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/5868072416) & also discovered in some craters after its existence was predicted by Ergun & Alexander (1962). The Allende Meteorite has diamonds, but you can’t readily tell that because carbonaceous chondrites fall apart easily when cut with rock saws. (www.flickr.com/photos/jsjgeology/sets/72157645997754616)
Polytypes - a special type of 1-dimensional polymorphism. Crystal structure is built from stacking identical layers, in repeating sequences. Unit cell dimension changes in only one direction.
Diamond polytypes - there are other kinds of carbon polymorphs. 6H diamonds were identified based on C.E. Holcomb’s 1973 report. There are also 4H and 8H diamonds.
You can have diamonds that don’t x-ray as cubic.
Moissanite (SiC) - all gem moissanite is manufactured in North Carolina. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moissanite)
Arkansas diamonds are not harder than other diamonds.
Like SiC, diamond occurs in many polytypes.
Space diamonds - diamond formation in space is not well understood. Some diamonds in meteorites and chondritic porous aggregate micrometeorites are believed to have survived since before the formation of the Solar System. Diamond appears to be a very common component of interstellar dust.
Allamandola et al. (1993) found a 2880/cm band in 4 protostellar clouds, demonstrating diamonds appear to be abundant and ubiquitous in interstellar space.
Diamond may be the most common solid material in the universe. Diamond forms around carbon stars.
Diamonds hang out a long time.
Extrasolar diamonds are enriched in xenon-HL - both the heaviest & lightest isotopes. Trapped inside extrasolar diamond grains are anomalous exotic noble gas isotope mixtures.
Primitive meteorites have up to 400 ppm of a very fine-grained type of carbon (C∂) - comes from outside the Solar System. Primitive meteorites have 2 classes of diamond found in them, including C∂. C∂ is diamond, but is a class down.
Diamonds in meteorites have >1 source.
Diamonds on the ground that are associated with craters may or may not be meteoritic material.
Looked at the Popigai Impact Crater in Siberia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popigai_crater). Impact craters tend to be large round swamps, like kimberlites. Popigai is a big, circular muckhole.
The Russians found a 60 mile-across mantle uplift at Popigai.
Can still find a suevite layer at Popigai. When dissolved down, get microdiamonds. Can buy Popigai suevite.
Popigai hexagonal diamonds have internal slip planes (crystallographically controlled). These diamonds formed and then were deformed. Popigai hexagonal diamonds have graphite on internal faces/planes. Some are well formed, crystal-wise. Others are beaten up and fractured. Popigai diamonds formed instantaneously.
Popigai diamond abundance is related to the abundance of coal beds in the Popigai impact target area.
See:
Vishnevsky et al. (1999) - Impact Diamonds, Their Features, Origin and Significance.
Lonsdaleite = 2H diamond (these are interchangeable labels)
Definition of diamond - SP3 bonded carbon or cubic diamond only.
----------------
The wind was howling so you may want to turn down your volume - The view from Soda Lake Overlook at Carrizo Plain National Monument in California. Normally, Soda Lake is dry with white alkaline powder but with recent heavy rainfall the lake is completely full of water.
[Sony DSC-RX100]
Singapore Botanical Garden in January 2007.
We spent several hours in the Botanical Garden on our first day in Singapore. It is a beautiful garden. The National Orchid Garden really is something special.
From Wikipedia -
Strongylodon macrobotrys, commonly known as Jade Vine, Emerald Vine or Turquoise Jade Vine, is a species of leguminous perennial woody vine, a native of the tropical forests of the Philippines, with stems that can reach up to 18 m in length. Its local name is "tayabak". A member of the Fabaceae (the pea and bean family), it is closely related to beans such as kidney bean and runner bean.
The pale green foliage consists of three leaflets. The claw-shaped flowers are carried in pendent trusses or pseudoracemes of 75 or more flowers and can reach as much as 3 m long. The turquoise flower color is similar to some forms of the minerals turquoise and jade, varying from blue-green to mint green. The short, oblong, fleshy seedpods are up to 15 cm long and contain up to 12 seeds.
The plant grows beside streams in damp forests, or in ravines. The inflorescences are only produced by mature vines. Each individual bloom resembles a stout-bodied butterfly with folded wings; they have evolved certain modifications to allow them to be pollinated by a species of bat that hangs upside down on the inflorescence to drink its nectar. The flowers are also visited by a species of wasp, and are home to a species of butterfly.
There are several other species of Strongylodon, but the superficially similar Red Jade Vine, Mucuna bennetti, is a species belonging to a different genus, Mucuna. It seems to be endemic to the Philippines and is usually found in forests. Propagation has always been difficult. It is considered an endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat and the decrease of its natural pollinators. There seems to be a method of marcotting through mature woody stems. It is best planted in ground near a water source, but not inundated. The vine entwines itself through the trunk and branches of trees and the leaves spread over the canopy. The flowers hang like clusters of grapes.
The characteristic flower coloration has been shown to be an example of copigmentation, a result of the presence of malvin (an anthocyanin) and saponarin (a flavone) in the ratio 1:9. Under the alkaline conditions (pH 7.9) found in the sap of the epidermal cells, this combination produced a blue-green pigmentation; the pH of the colorless inner floral tissue was found to be lower, at pH 5.6. Experiments showed that saponarin produced a strong yellow colouring in slightly alkaline conditions, resulting in the greenish tone of the flower.
Strongylodon macrobotrys is not frost-tolerant; it needs a minimum temperature of 15°C (59°F). It is prized in tropical and subtropical gardens for its showy flowers which are a highly unusual colour, unlike that of almost any other plant. It is usually grown over a pergola or other tall support to display the spectacular cascading flower trusses which are produced generously once the vine is mature (after 2 years or more, depending on pruning regime). Curiously, on a large plant, the pale-coloured blooms can be difficult to see in strong sunlight and could be overlooked if not for the fallen blooms below the vine. Fallen blooms change color as they dry out, from mint green to blue-green to purple.
In South Africa the jade vine is mainly restricted to the warm humid strip of coastal Natal but grows in a few frost-free spots inland.
In colder latitudes the plant must be grown in a large glasshouse or conservatory, such as the famous examples grown at Kew Gardens, Cambridge University Botanic Garden and the Eden Project in the UK. In cultivation the plant flowers in early spring.
This is a view of the eroded remains of the Late Eocene-aged Guffey Volcanic Center, which consisted of coalesced stratovolcanoes. The volcanic rocks are mostly alkaline, including the scarce lava type shoshonite. The rocks date to about 36 million years ago.
The forest-covered hill at left and center-left is Witcher Mountain. The hills and mountains in this immediate area have lava flows and lahars (volcanic mudflows) that were originally on the flanks of the Guffey Volcanic Center's stratovolcano complex.
Locality: Thirtynine Mile Volcanic Field overlook at Cripple Creek Granite outcrop, northern side of Guffey Road (= Rt. 102), about 2.7 road-miles west of the Guffey Road-Rt. 11 intersection, southeastern Park County, central Colorado, USA (looking from ~38º 46’ 09.64” North latitude, ~105º 20’ 12.31” West longitude)
------------------
Most info. from:
Meyer et al. (2004) - Field guide to the paleontology and volcanic setting of the Florissant fossil beds, Colorado. Geological Society of America Field Guide 5: 151-166.