Before
sending in my film from the Alligator farm, where, as fate would
have it, it was for the most part cloudy and overcast, I
realized that most of the film would probably be ruined as I was
using the same setup as I had in Churchill. I decided to front
clip all 26 rolls and have Chelsea process the balances using
their best judgment. (The first three frames or so are snipped
from the roll and processed. The technician evaluates the
exposure of the clipped section and processes the balance of the
roll using their best judgment.)
I have used Chelsea Lab (212-229-2929—ask for
Sheetal to receive the BIRDS AS ART discount) for more than a
decade now for all of my processing and duplicating needs.
While they generally provide excellent service, they are not,
however, either perfect or infallible. In my recent 120-roll
Churchill order I got one roll back that looked as if someone
had walked on it, and there were several other scratched images
(as well as one mis-mounted slide) among the 4,000+ slides.
This is not at all typical, but you will find that over time all
labs will screw up occasionally (just like you and I). If
you do try Chelsea on my recommendation and have a bit of bad
luck (or a huge processing disaster), please do not call, write,
or e-mail me with the details. Stuff happens, and I
already know that. If it happens to you, please express your
dissatisfaction only to Sheetal, and if you are still unhappy,
find a better lab!
Better Beamer Alert
As the above tale shows, Better Beamer users
should take extreme care that they not inadvertently point their
lens at the sun with the beamer in place, or worse yet, set
their tripods down with the flash facing towards the sun. In
addition, when working with backlit subjects in sunny
conditions, I would strongly advise users to remove the Better
Beamer or point the flash head straight up. Failure to follow
these precautions may result in damage to your electronic flash.
In addition, if you happen to point your long
lens just right when the sun is out, the fresnel screen may
--depending on the angle of the sun's rays, focus them at a
point on the lens barrel or hood (or on the back of your hand if
it is resting on the lens barrel). These concentrated rays may
actually boil the material, be it metal or some sort of
composite; if they strike your hand, you will feel as if your
were stung by a bee. It is, therefore, necessary to take great
care when using the beamer when the sun is shining.
Additional Better Beamer Notes
For maximum output and a properly aimed setup,
photographers need to take care when mounting their Better
Beamers. The side arms should be slipped into the elastic band
far enough so that the slight bend in each arm is even
with the front of the flash head. I like to point the
flash head towards the sky while mounting the beamer so that it
is easy to make sure that the arms have been inserted correctly
and to ensure that the fresnel screen lies flat (rather than
bowed) and is parallel to the face of the flash head. If the
flash head is bowed, you will need to jury rig the side arms
with the two pieces of sticky backed felt that come with the
Better Beamers. Folks with oddly shaped flash heads may need to
purchase additional sticky backed felt and do additional
jury-rigging to ensure that the fresnel screen lies flat.
I love to use flash in rainy conditions to light
up the water droplets on the birds. When working in rainy or
drizzly conditions it is best to occasionally wipe down the
fresnel screen with absorbent cotton or a soft cloth as droplets
on the fresnel cut down severely on the transmission of light.
Recently, I have begun carrying a small Totes umbrella in my
vest when the weather threatens. If it is rainy and still, I
tape the shaft of the umbrella to the upright arm of the
Wimberley head. If it is windy and rainy, I simply rest the
opened umbrella on my left shoulder.
Old fresnel screens that become scratched or
otherwise marred should be replaced because these imperfections
do cut down on light transmission. Replacement fresnel screens
are available from BIRDS AS ART for $12.00 plus $1.00 shipping
and handling = $13.00. (Florida residents please add $.72 sales
tax= $13.72) Please make all checks out to “Arthur Morris” and
mail to BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL
33855, or use credit cards on line only at www.paypal.com
If you have a fresnel screen that came in a
translucent sleeve, you have the original older screen that
increases flash output roughly 2 stops. With these older
screens, the flash head should be set at the longest zoom
setting for maximum flash output. (The auto zoom feature will
do just that when you are using a telephoto lens.) The newer
model fresnel screens come in opaque blue sleeves. They
increase flash output roughly 2 2/3 stops. Extensive tests with
the new screens reveal that the flash head
should be set manually at either the 35 or 50mm zoom setting
for maximum flash output. If you would like to replace your
older screen with the more powerful newer one, see the ordering
INFO in the previous paragraph.
