Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI

Nikon D700 + Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens.

Nikon D2Xs + Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens.

Some years ago an antique corkscrew came my way. From one end of the handle erupted a dirty old brush. This was a feature of corkscrews from around 1780 to 1850. The purpose was to dust away debris from wax used to seal the bottle or fungus that might have accumulated on the cork. A neighbour with practical skills sawed the brush part off and reconstructed the corkscrew handle, making it the kind of tool you'd prefer to use rather than avoid. The photograph was made with a Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 lens on a Nikon D700. The background is a Penguin paperback book from circa 1971 entitled 'Cooking in a Bedsitter' by Katharine Whitehorn.

Photographed with a Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens.

Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens on a Nikon D700.

Oh, this must have been done a million times before. Nikon D2Xs and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens.

Craneflies have a lifespan of 10 to 15 days. The female usually contains mature eggs as she emerges from her pupa. Copulation happens immediately if a male is available. It can take hours. They do it again and again.

The parish church of which this is a part known as 'The Lady Chapel' has stood on this site for 800 years. Why would it not endure for a few centuries more? First, it is a question of general maintenance and upkeep. That needs funding, and funds come from the weekly collection plate. The problem is that church congregations have progressively dwindled. Thus essential work will be postponed. Secondly, this church is built on weak foundations. The original builders thought they were dealing only with clay. They did not know that beneath the clay lay gravel which of course drains the clay. So the ground is wet, and then it is dry, and then it is wet again. One corner of the church has already slumped by several inches. Thirdly, global warming and climate change. There is a river close to this church. Flooding is prevalent in this area. Repeated floods cause much damage. Fourthly, several nations now possess weaponry of the most destructive force. There is tension between nations. Sooner or later one of them will resort to atomic bombs. Even a bomb some way distant from this church could destroy it beyond repair. All or some of this could happen within the next 50 years. Nikon D700 and Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 AI lens.