This camera came with a Helios 44-2 50mm f2 lens, an M42 lens notorious for being a copy of a Zeiss Biotar 58mm, f2 lens.

The Soviets copied lots of western technology they landed their hands on. Some they did well, like this lens; others, like Intel's 16-bit 8086 microprocessor (introduced to the market in 1978), not so much (I worked at Intel in the early 1980s and got to see some of the copies).

These archaic boxes still exist in San Francisco. I love that there once was (and maybe still is) a Department of Electricity and that somehow THEY controlled the communications infrastructure of the City, or at least the Police Department! Here's a bit more info...if you're really interested...

Me using a pole-lathe to turn wood on an ancient technologies course in July 2006.

Here's the new old 50mm f1.4 in it's (nearly) natural environment, on an old, but perfect condition, Honeywell Pentax H3v body. I dug up my father's Weston Master II "universal exposure meter", loaded the body with a roll of Plus-X pan, and will relive how they (we) did it in The Good Old Days.

Our guide, Angkana, talking with a local guide about the history of the Si Khiu sandstone quarry. The sandstone quarry is adjacent to the highway, but is unmarked and not easy to find. Fortunately we met this guy when we pulled off the highway. He took us to the quarry and explained the features. I wasn't sure if he was working at the site or if he just happened to live in the area. In any case, he was very helpful. The Si Khiu sandstone quarry was in use during the Khmer period. The sandstone blocks were used in nearby construction sites.

M42 mount! Can't wait to take this baby out and test it out with a few old M42 Pentax, Vivitar, and Helios lenses!

The Si Khiu sandstone quarry site in central Thailand was apparently used by the builders of Khmer period architecture. Here Christopher is kneeling at the end of a row prepared blocks. It isn't clear to me why the quarry workers finished chipping out all these channels, but didn't finish removing the stone blocks. It's useful, though, for understanding something of the production process.

Khmer period sandstone quarry in central Thailand. The divots in this photograph mark where stone blocks were removed by the ancient quarry workers. Si Khiu sandstone quarry.

Column Erector

January 24, 2001

This was built for, and won first place in the Engineering Category of a Lugnet sponsored Ancient Theme contest. It was never actually used in Ancient Greece or Rome, but it could have been built then. The basic idea is a rack and pinion system that moves the base of a column to lift it up without breaking it. It's a pretty basic and I'm pretty sure it won because it was the only entry, but I think this could be elaborated upon and make for a really nifty diorama.

Hmm, now that's an idea...

If I try to crop it properly, I lose too much of the view.

We stopped at the Si Khiu quarry on our way from Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) to Bangkok. This ancient sandstone quarry was a place where building stone was obtained for the Khmer period construction of temples and palaces.

Gold-dipped sun dial on the campus of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Using HDR to reduce contrast