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Tools of my Father

bmike-vt
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Tools of my Father

My dad was a machinist - working with his hands on giant machines that made parts for US automobiles. I can still smell the grease on his blue shirts. He had tools at work and tools at home - a garage full of woodworking and metalworking tools that we would use to fix cars, the travel trailer, renovate the house - you name it, we likely had it. As a kid I learned to work with wood, how to frame walls and hang doors, how to weld, solder copper pipe for plumbing, wire a fuse box - pretty much anything that needed to be done my father would take on in his spare time, and I was often an unwilling (but now thankful) assistant.

My dad passed in 2013. A few years after I visited my mom and brought home a few keepsakes. I have his old watch that doesn't run anymore (no matter how many times I change the battery) and I have some of his tools.

These micrometers made the move to Switzerland with me. I took one of these apart when I was 8, maybe 10 years old. I wanted to know how it worked. Sadly I couldn't get it back together and working before dad got home from work and I got a good lesson in respecting other people's things...

I've been playing in BW and with macro. These images are focus stacks taken on a wood table top with a simple LED light. I need more practice, but these work for me simply because of who they remind me of...

Dad's Starrett Micrometer by Mike, on Flickr

Dad's Starrett Micrometer - Patent Nos. by Mike, on Flickr

Dad's Starrett Micrometer by Mike, on Flickr

C&C welcome on the BW processing and the stacking (there are some glitches that I've noticed). Taken with Sony a7IV and the 90mm 2.8 G Macro using a focusing rail (first time playing with one).

Jan 26, 2023 at 11:48 AM

StephenS_CP
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Tools of my Father

I like this series.

Jan 26, 2023 at 01:50 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Tools of my Father

Just something about "industrial strength" looking tools Mike! Todays tools are hard plastic,aluminum or some concoction of soft metals.
These are heavy duty!
Nice work!
Dan

Jan 26, 2023 at 02:29 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Tools of my Father

Thank you!

StephenS_CP wrote:
I like this series.

Jan 26, 2023 at 02:31 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Tools of my Father

Thanks Dan!

I have all my hand woodworking tools with me - planes, chisels, etc - plan on doing some of those too.

Danpbphoto wrote:
Just something about "industrial strength" looking tools Mike! Todays tools are hard plastic,aluminum or some concoction of soft metals.
These are heavy duty!
Nice work!
Dan

Jan 26, 2023 at 02:45 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Tools of my Father

bmike-vt wrote:
Thanks Dan!

I have all my hand woodworking tools with me - planes, chisels, etc - plan on doing some of those too.

My grandfather and his family, my mother included, escaped fascist Italy in the late 1920's. He was a carpenter in Italy.
He went to work as a shipbuilder in Philadelphia. He then started his own 2 man construction company.
Some of his homes/buildings are now registered landmarks in Kennett Square, Pa.
He had a whole garage full of these ancient tools.
I loved playing with them as a child.
Dan

Jan 26, 2023 at 02:58 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Tools of my Father

Danpbphoto wrote:
My grandfather and his family, my mother included, escaped fascist Italy in the late 1920's. He was a carpenter in Italy.
He went to work as a shipbuilder in Philadelphia. He then started his own 2 man construction company.
Some of his homes/buildings are now registered landmarks in Kennett Square, Pa.
He had a whole garage full of these ancient tools.
I loved playing with them as a child.
Dan

Oh wow. That's cool Dan.
Where from in Italy?
My wife's family was from a commune 1 hour from Salerno. We visited 2 years ago when she got her citizenship. I think I posted some photos here of the village. Her grandfather also came just before the war.

In my formative years I dismantled and repaired barns in the greater Philly area. Lived near Doylestown in a farmhouse set for demolition (landlord agreed to give us 2 weeks notice). Was pretty wild time. Dismantled and repaired 2 barns, raising them again - and dismantled, surveyed another 4 and put them in storage. PA, MD, NJ area.

I have a collection of hand forged chisels that I still have, hand planes, marking tools, and my wooden toolbox (oak and walnut) here with me in Switzerland. I sold or gave away all my rigging and power tools when we moved.

Jan 26, 2023 at 03:09 PM

Quicksetter1
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Tools of my Father

Although you have "been playing with BW and macro", your series of your dad's tools in excellent. You have managed to amplify a few simple shots of tools from "objects", to become almost animate. The tribute to your dad adds that animation. Well done.

Tom

Jan 26, 2023 at 03:10 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Tools of my Father

bmike-vt wrote:
Oh wow. That's cool Dan.
Where from in Italy?
My wife's family was from a commune 1 hour from Salerno. We visited 2 years ago when she got her citizenship. I think I posted some photos here of the village. Her grandfather also came just before the war.

In my formative years I dismantled and repaired barns in the greater Philly area. Lived near Doylestown in a farmhouse set for demolition (landlord agreed to give us 2 weeks notice). Was pretty wild time. Dismantled and repaired 2 barns, raising them again - and dismantled, surveyed another 4 and put them in storage. PA,...Show more →

Serrastretta.....Mike.

Repairing barns?....Would love it!
I conspired with an author from SE Pennsylvania on a book he did on the barns of SE PA and other areas!
Dan

Jan 26, 2023 at 03:11 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Tools of my Father

Tom, thanks for the kind words. I’m not shy about sharing photos, but I never quite feel like I ‘get it right’. I’m glad that you see something in these, it makes the struggle to learn worth it.

Quicksetter1 wrote:
Although you have "been playing with BW and macro", your series of your dad's tools in excellent. You have managed to amplify a few simple shots of tools from "objects", to become almost animate. The tribute to your dad adds that animation. Well done.

Tom

Jan 26, 2023 at 03:59 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Tools of my Father

Oh I think we talked about this before Dan. Yes, it was a great learning experience - but it’s a young man’s work, and I quickly tired of having all my clothes torn up from
rusted nails, and I can still smell the cow and pigeon crap - it seemed to permeate everything.

There are some wonderful barns in that area. Was a treat to love there when I did. Even when I moved into my tent for a month.

Danpbphoto wrote:
Serrastretta.....Mike.

Repairing barns?....Would love it!
I conspired with an author from SE Pennsylvania on a book he did on the barns of SE PA and other areas!
Dan

Jan 26, 2023 at 04:02 PM

bnfotografie
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Tools of my Father

Excellent tones, composition and detail in all three images. Even better, perhaps, is the story behind them and the "picture" you paint of your relationship with your dad.
Cheers,
Brent

Edited on Jan 26, 2023 at 11:34 PM · View previous versions

Jan 26, 2023 at 04:03 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Tools of my Father

Here is one that doesn’t work as well for me, and I’m going to re-shoot it. All the tools my father had in his toolbox at work at his initials etched into them. He probably got this one when he finished his apprenticeship.

Dad's Micrometer Initials by Mike, on Flickr

Jan 26, 2023 at 04:06 PM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Tools of my Father

Thanks Brent.

bnfotografie wrote:
Excellent tones, composition and detail in all three images.
Cheers,
Brent

Jan 26, 2023 at 04:20 PM

tomandmarj
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Tools of my Father

yes yes, I agree with all that like this super series. I still have my mic and will keep for ever.
stay well, tom

Jan 26, 2023 at 07:25 PM

OMDnext
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Tools of my Father

Well done

Jan 26, 2023 at 07:27 PM

LordV
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Tools of my Father

Wonderful series of shots- love the textures and the feeling or work/wear and tear they evoke.

Brian V.

Jan 27, 2023 at 12:47 AM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Tools of my Father

Thank you Brian.

LordV wrote:
Wonderful series of shots- love the textures and the feeling or work/wear and tear they evoke.

Brian V.

Jan 27, 2023 at 02:32 AM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Tools of my Father

Thank you!
OMDnext wrote:
Well done

Jan 27, 2023 at 02:33 AM

bmike-vt
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Tools of my Father

Thank you.

tomandmarj wrote:
yes yes, I agree with all that like this super series. I still have my mic and will keep for ever.
stay well, tom

Jan 27, 2023 at 02:33 AM

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