Day 4 - Still Life

This time around I wanted to try something very different with the IKONTA.. Close-up Still Life. I've never really done too much with Still Life photography, so this was a big step for me. I've always wanted to, but know how hard it is and never did do it. Well that's not true, I have done some still life, but it never worked out properly... Okay, one or two images have, but I always thought it was more luck than anything..

This time around I had help.. Using my phone as a framing guide from the distance I had chosen (making corrections to match frame size between the phone and the Ikonta (wider angle lens on the phone)..

Playing with lighting, positioning and just outright moving the whole frame closer...

I got this...

Still Life - A New Approach - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2 Ilford XP2+ Super

I felt it was too far.. I couldn't get the look I was after.. I wanted tighter and closer... less ... noise.. clutter..

Well, I moved the camera closer.. The problem, however, is that my camera cannot focus closer than 1.5m (1.5 meters, learn the metric system, it's based off of parts of ten. Ten fingers ten toes)

So I had to think how I can change that.. Well sure enough I remembered... I have a close up filter!

Grabbed my Kodak Portra +2 closeup filter.. only to realize I'm going to have to hold it over the lens because I didn't have a filter holder.. Dammit!
On top of that, I didn't know the distances... So onto the internets I go.. Then I find it.. a scan of the quick guide... Set lens to INF and measure to 19 7/8".. good thing I also know the Imperial USA system as well as Metric, right? Guess what, lens is in Metric... hahah! So I have to convert.. okay, INF!

Well, a cable release in hand, filter in the other.... and ... CLICK...

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 530/2 - Novar Anastigmat 105mm 3.5 w/Kodak Portra +2 Filter - Ilford XP2 @ EI800

I think I nailed it...

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!