Chilled Steel

[tunalegs]

A series of macro shots of steel pen nibs, taken with a Yashinon 2/50 lens.


Massag box by berangberang, on Flickr


Massag pens by berangberang, on Flickr


Spencerian pens by berangberang, on Flickr


Spencerian Subway Stub by berangberang, on Flickr


Miller Brothers 333 by berangberang, on Flickr


bank by berangberang, on Flickr


bank by berangberang, on Flickr


bank by berangberang, on Flickr


bank by berangberang, on Flickr


penesco by berangberang, on Flickr


spoon nib by berangberang, on Flickr


501 by berangberang, on Flickr


oval point by berangberang, on Flickr

 

[tunalegs]

No. 1 by berangberang, on Flickr


Untitled by berangberang, on Flickr


Untitled by berangberang, on Flickr


tips by berangberang, on Flickr


tips by berangberang, on Flickr


falcon pen by berangberang, on Flickr


chilled steel by berangberang, on Flickr


falcons by berangberang, on Flickr


Subway Stubs by berangberang, on Flickr

 

[Rodchenko]

That looks like a lot of fun.

 

[kshapero]

cool stuff.

 

[Kenj8246]

Nicely done. How did you light them?

Kenny

 

[tunalegs]

Nicely done. How did you light them?

Kenny

A daylight balanced desk lamp and large sheet of paper for a reflector.

 

[Rodchenko]

I'd probably have shot in black & white, but I'm glad you went for colour. It's almost monochrome in some shots (something I have a particular penchant for), and you pick up the colour in others without it's being intrusive.

 

[rwintle]

Very nicely done indeed. Was that Yashinon 50/2 on extension tubes, or reversed?

A very impressive collection of pen nibs as well... interesting subject matter indeed.

 

[tunalegs]

Very nicely done indeed. Was that Yashinon 50/2 on extension tubes, or reversed?

A very impressive collection of pen nibs as well... interesting subject matter indeed.

Thank you, and yes on tubes. I wasn't shooting it quite 1:1 so no need (that I know of?) for reversing the lens.

 

[paulfish4570]

much enjoyed the series ...

 

[daveleo]

You shot those metal surfaces very nicely, and nicely scanned !

Aside: Those are very stiff pen nibs - not fun to write with. The flexible designs are much nicer to use.

 

[tunalegs]

You shot those metal surfaces very nicely, and nicely scanned !

Aside: Those are very stiff pen nibs - not fun to write with. The flexible designs are much nicer to use.

I use them for illustration, where a primary concern is being able to produce consistent line weights repeatedly rather than looking for a pen which produces smooth swells easily. 🙂

I have some very flexible nibs packed away, but my abilities with script are abysmal.

 

[farlymac]

Lovely series, legs.

PF

 

[shadowfox]

Nicely done.
It's a proof that a photo project doesn't need to be elaborate to be interesting.

 

[oftheherd]

Interesting shots. Got to love those Yashinon lenses.

 

[KoNickon]

More background, please! How did you come to be in possession of (or at least have access to) all these pen nibs?

I agree with all the previous comments -- great subject and wonderfully lit.

 

[tunalegs]

Thanks for the comments. I wanted to do some macro shots of something other than flowers, and something about the repetition of form and natural color of steel appealed to me so began to take pictures of these pens in their boxes. It kind of reminds in some ways of that series of photos taken in the VW plant in the 1950s where they have stacks of fenders and other parts.

KoNickon, I've acquired boxes of pens over several years. Since my favorite type has been out of production for a few decades I try to find the big boxes that come with one gross of pens. Despite the appearance, the boxes aren't much larger than a couple matchboxes on top of each other.

Interesting shots. Got to love those Yashinon lenses.

I think the Yashinon 2/50 has become my favorite lens in the M42 mount. It's not the sharpest, but unlike most it is sharp wide open, and actually sharper corner to corner wide open than a lot of more popular/expensive lenses. It has a particular look to its rendering that I like too. Of lenses from the era, it sort of sits between those with a really harsh rendering (basically most double gauss designs from the period) and those with a super smooth rendering like the CZJ 2/50 Pancolar. I think there is something about the very slight glint it gives to highlights and how smooth it is otherwise that just looks right.


rising cone by berangberang, on Flickr

 

[oftheherd]

Thanks for the comments. I wanted to do some macro shots of something other than flowers, and something about the repetition of form and natural color of steel appealed to me so began to take pictures of these pens in their boxes. It kind of reminds in some ways of that series of photos taken in the VW plant in the 1950s where they have stacks of fenders and other parts.

KoNickon, I've acquired boxes of pens over several years. Since my favorite type has been out of production for a few decades I try to find the big boxes that come with one gross of pens. Despite the appearance, the boxes aren't much larger than a couple matchboxes on top of each other.



I think the Yashinon 2/50 has become my favorite lens in the M42 mount. It's not the sharpest, but unlike most it is sharp wide open, and actually sharper corner to corner wide open than a lot of more popular/expensive lenses. It has a particular look to its rendering that I like too. Of lenses from the era, it sort of sits between those with a really harsh rendering (basically most double gauss designs from the period) and those with a super smooth rendering like the CZJ 2/50 Pancolar. I think there is something about the very slight glint it gives to highlights and how smooth it is otherwise that just looks right.


rising cone by berangberang, on Flickr

That's a nice shot! I have several Yashinon lenses in 50mm M42. My first SLR (Yashica TL Super) came with a 50mm f/1.7. I still have that camera and lens. I took a lot of great shots with that.

What camera are you using your lens on?