The Bugs are Back!
/Greetings everyone! It is Monday, April 7th and the beginning of another busy week. But before I let you know all we have coming up in the next few day I would like to clean up a few details from last week. There were several links that I mentioned but did get to add to the program notes for last Thursday’s livestream and I am going to give you these now.
The first is the link for Steve Young’s “Mixes and Musings” - a beautiful book with some of Steves slime mold photography accompanied by his original poetry. It is a very unique and lovely book that any macro photographer would love tp have in their library! The link is - https://www.youngphotography.com.au
Next up is the link to the Stackshot 3X controller - if ypu are looking to upgrade to a multi-axis controller, here is the link - https://cognisys-inc.com/focus-stacking/stackshot-pkgs/stackshot3x-rail-pkg.html
I talked about doing a limited number of microscope focus block conversions for high precision, high magnification focus stacking. The cost for one of these conversions is $350 ($200 for Patreon Supporters) and does not include the price of the microscope. You will have to source the microscope and send it to me. The best place to find”Parts Only” Olympus BH2 microscopes in eBay and here is a link to show you an example of what you should be looking for - https://www.ebay.com/itm/167374050963?_skw=BH2+microscope+for+parts&itmmeta=01JR8FVJDWC1WZ5WTY5QA8F3X8&hash=item26f8455693:g:lnwAAOSwVqBn0sDX&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1f4QFuDz4Wt5%2B5JxClPBsSS1NH7vbazNPqmPTU6ovVQ5YpdOP3oAotf8FG1DiJS%2BNHG8a8y8HseQPw83Pfe1hBxNFggmGDJT09R2fZ%2BeALecAqyvURUzIC2pnSYvV%2Fj1z1TA2mF9vhup%2BAirlCB3%2BBPmCM5tWTkwNIa%2FYFB9k8Bgc0m6iO2e0lSvDC28uavHWpB20MESesvrCnef%2B7rn9VfEidinKyDHeBRgHmp%2FCEjIMAnm4pbdmxm45IojPI9TW0szv1Y1PHYgFgtRHX5M7SVxyoAGWSUPUTVK3imNayStA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMpKfuj8Jl
It is very important that you confirm that the fine focus on the focus block is working. If it is NOT working when I receive the microscope, I will evaluate for possible repair, which may increase the total cost of the conversion but will let you know before starting the conversion. If it is broken and cannot be repaired I will return the scope to you and you will need to cover the shipping cost. If you would like to get on the list for this service, please message me through the Walls-app (www.walls-app.com). This is the only way in which I will be taking orders.
I am also going to make a limited series of the new Crystal Cross Polarizing Photography Platform. To get on this list you also must message me through the walls-app. The cost for each unit is $220 ($110 for Patreon Supporters). These devices are made on a first-come-first-served basis and will only be available through the rest of this month (April 2025). The link to the app is https://www.walls-app.com.
Next up is the Platypod device - this can be purchased by following this link too the Platypod site - https://www.platypod.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADFaxwjPJTkBedgUEpxhRZFkT9xvI&gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JCY90l_UL6jhUgNbZ1QnGxtm0bNr9O8sufu6jOJyyNkz8-MHxzesOoaAg7IEALw_wcB
I talked bout several books that I am currently reading - here are the links -
Kirsten Hines - Wild Florida - a wonderful book and available through Amazon - https://amzn.to/3GbRLP1
Matt Doogue - Close-up Photography - a very thorough and easy to read text - https://amzn.to/4j0tqKR
The Wildlife Photography Workshop by Ben Hall and Ross Hoddinott - https://amzn.to/3EmJMOB
OK - so what is coming up this week? On Tuesday’s Macro Talk I will be announcing the results of last month’s competition and showing the images. Always a lot of fun and this should be no exception, given the theme for March, which was “What Is It?”. The link is right here - https://youtube.com/live/T1lgG2LjCUY?feature=share
By the way, our competition theme for April is an old favorite - “Food & Drink”, though “Food and/or Drink” might be a little more accurate. Your image(s) should be close-up but I will relax the magnification requirement to only 4:1 - one quarter life-size. Former winners only get to submit one entry but everyone else can submit two images. I am current starting negotiations with Rik Littlefield and hope to have everything set up for a second annual stereo photography competition for the month of June, 2025 - stay tuned!
On Thursday, Macro Talk Too will focus on my strategy for springtime insect photography and your link is right here - https://youtube.com/live/RjBtMhzrT2I?feature=share
Saturday we get back to our regular schedule for Pzoom get-togethers. The link is over on the Patreon site - https://www.patreon.com/allanwallsphotography
As this is not technically our second regular Pzoom of the month, we DO NOT have a Tangent scheduled for this Saturday - the next Tangent episode is scheduled for 4/26/25.
That is all I have for you this week but I also wanted to mention some of the video projects I am currently working on. Some of the video content you will be seeing in the coming weeks include:
How to Convert an Olympus Microscope for High Precision Focus Stacking
Build Your Own Cross Polarization Platform
Unusual Enlarger Lenses - Reviews
Using Eli-Illumination with High-NA Microscope Objectives
Making Your Own Camera
There are more ideas in development but this list will probably be the next video content released on the channel.
Finally, a picture…