ABOUT

Reflex–NIKKOR 500mm 1:8 Lens:

If there is one particular lens that requires hard work, it is Nikon's 500mm Mirror lens. I like to say shooting with this lens is all about buttery smoothness & doughnut rings. The lens' construction is called catadioptric, meaning it bounces light twice inside the optical barrel utilising mirrors that render "buttery smooth" colours at infinity and "rounded doughnuts" shimmering in the out–of–focus highlights. The lens renders these unique optical effects efficaciously; my choice of subject to showcase the optical qualities was hard work and a real challenge!

My photographic treatment is to shoot an entire exhibition collection solely through the lens of my NIKKOR 500mm. I purposefully chose both the historic Naval Base at Simon's Town and the quaint fishing harbour of Kalk Bay nestled along False Bay's coastline as backdrops. These two locations are historic and share deep cultural traditions so too the aged Mirror lens.
The uniqueness and optical characteristics of the lens is deemed redundant in our fast-paced digital era.
My aim is to revive her optical charm and celebrate the joy of gazing on "butter & doughnuts" with relish.
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Though this fine art exhibition ended up on The Cutting Room Floor, let this not detract from the calibre of the photography. All my exhibitions are shot on B/White Film, where limited edition Silver–Gelatin handprints are displayed.
This 'colour' collection did not feel right; guess deep down inside I prefer to remain true to shooting B/White Film and that nostalgia being cocooned in the warm–amber-glow of a darkroom/...