The Limbo Connection's photos with the keyword: conkers

La danse des graines de marronnier d'Inde. Do not be misled by the shooting information. I bought the Canon EOS 40D on eBay from a bloke who had put the name 'Paul Smith' into the memory of the camera. Every picture taken with that camera would therefore be tagged 'Paul Smith'. Either the seller forgot to delete 'Paul Smith' or did not know how to delete it. I did not notice for a while that I had become 'Paul Smith'. When eventually I did notice, it did not much bother me. It is a decent sort of name, after all. Owning a new name might, I thought, confuse the tax collection authorities and result in new found wealth. (It did not). Later, much later, I researched and discovered how to get rid of 'Paul Smith' (no, not murder, I am not a gangster). So a blank field replaced Paul, who had made some pretty mediocre photographs for a good while, and then I sold the camera because I hated the structure of the menu and it wasn't much better, if at all, than the EOS 30D which it had superseded and which I still keep to this day. Another thing not to be misled over is the lens I used to take this photograph. The software takes a mad guess based on the electronics in the adapter I use for mounting M42 lenses. In actual fact, this photograph was taken with a Soligor C/D 28mm Wide-Auto f/2.8. Finally do not be misled into believing I speak French. It is Google translator which has that skill, amongst others with whom sadly I am not acquainted.

I revisited Lacock Abbey unwontedly. The trust ribbon was still in the same place. I salvaged it. A ribbon bearing the word 'trust' ought not lie neglected in a distant orchard. I collected some conkers and a lime tree seed to keep trust company. Nikon D700 and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens and PK-13 extension tube.

I used a Canon EOS 30D with a Pentacon 50mm f/1.8 lens mounted via an EOS - M42 adapter. The lens came with a Praktica MTL5 camera and the two cost me £12.50. The Pentacon f/1.8 50mm is the last version of the Meyer-Optik "Oreston" f/1.8 50mm. It performs better than I had remembered, notwithstanding that using it on the EOS D30 was hopeless for metering the light and I fell back on the 'Sunny 16' rule. I was also glad to have Lightroom in which to edit the original RAW image.

Nikon D700 with Nikkor O-C. 35mm f/2 lens. This is a very capable lens, and trying to track one down can be compared to the Quest for the Golden Fleece. Thomas Pindelski reckons this lens is fully the equal of any Leitz or Leica 35mm Summicron. The lens was made for many years and later versions are in the AI line. (NB the AF version is not to the same high optical standard). It is curious how infrequently they appear in secondhand dealers' lists. I like the old pattern, with its metal scalloped focus ring, because it might lead observers to suppose I must have covered the Crimean War as a young photojournalist and therefore be a photographer of great experience and ability.

Fujifilm Finepix S3 Pro + AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G DX lens.

Canon EOS 40D and M42 lens: Soligor C/D Wide-Auto f/2.8 28mm.