I fought the law, and the law won...

[PJohnP]

GB :

 

 

If you see appreciable ink on the surface of the nib, instead of simply on the tip, that's "nib-creep". Some inks leave droplets, some coat the entire nib surface, others creep and crystallise on the nib.

 

There's a pretty wide range of response to the issue of nib-creep, extended by the specific type of creep. I can handle a small amount of ink on the nib, but when most or all of the nib is coated with ink, I consider that excessive. Some people don't care at all about nib-creep, large or small.

 

 

 

John P.

[mediocrechris]

John, that is a damn sexy picture of a water moccasin. Where did you find it and what lens did you use?

[lefty928]

The incessant nib-creep of some of the inks has been a significant barrier for me. I've enjoyed the colours, felt more comfortable with the bulletproof/Eternal nature of some of the inks, but the coating of the nibs has been irritating, and detracted greatly from my enjoyment of these inks.

 

I've got to tell you, and I hope it's OK to say this. . . . .

 

I don't get it. Nib creep is something I might possibly notice if somebody actually reminds me to look for it. Upon seeing it, my reaction is to shrug and figure it's a fountain pen nib, it's supposed to be inky. For it to be irritating. . . or worse, for it to detract greatly from enjoying writing. . . is hard for me to fathom.

 

I recall seeing another post from somebody (I don't remember who it was) saying that he couldn't stand having different colors of ink written in his journal. Flipping through a journal and seeing multiple colors drove him up the wall. I've been writing various colors in my journal since I got it, and it never crossed my mind that they should annoy me or anybody else. I flip through the pages and see different colors and think it's cool, if I think about it at all. (Did you ever have a red letter day?)

 

I guess a pet peeve is something that can't be explained by logic.

 

 

Everyone is different.

 

Also, the are degrees of nib creep. Sounds like you haven't encountered the kind that is impossible not to notice. As in entirely coating the pen and dripping out of the pen cap.

Edited March 17, 2010 by lefty928

[LLB]

 

 

Thanks for the kind words. If you had the high-res version of the cottonmouth photo, you could see me reflected in the snake's eye. I have a large giglée print of it on the wall of my office, and it sometimes discomfits visitors...

 

 

 

John P.

 

Now that you mention it, if you look closely at the picture, it looks like there is a standing figure in dark pants and a light shirt on the right hand side (medial/rostral) of the eye.

[esterbex]

Added to my "must have" list...Thanks for this review!

[PJohnP]

John, that is a damn sexy picture of a water moccasin. Where did you find it and what lens did you use?

 

It was shot in the St. Bernard Wildlife Refuge, not terribly far from Lake Jackson/Freeport area in Texas. I'm not sure, but it's possible I was shooting with my Nikkor 80-400mm VR lens with my Nikon D200. I'm sure of the camera, at least, as the D300 wasn't available then.

 

The snake was actually pursuing me as I shot, so I'd land a photo, take a long step back, land a photo, step back...

 

I'm told that this is typical of water moccasins/cottonmouths, that this type of snake is actually aggressive. Rattlesnakes, which I see a fair number of in the Southwest where I live, will generally leave a person alone if that person doesn't bother them. The water moccasin I saw, OTOH, actively pursued me from the time it saw me at a distance. As a photographer, I'll carefully assess a situation and take shots so long as I can stay safe...

 

Here's a non-threatening one from last week working in Corpus Christi, in the "non-work time" at the Hazel Bazemore Park :

 

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100855/103346/EyeingYouNo1_DSC4105969_M.jpg

 

but I doubt that it's a colour for Nathan's new ink palette...

 

 

 

John P.

[PJohnP]

Now that you mention it, if you look closely at the picture, it looks like there is a standing figure in dark pants and a light shirt on the right hand side (medial/rostral) of the eye.

 

 

Yup. That's me !

 

 

 

John P.

[mediocrechris]

Well, I think I would have used an 80-400 lens too, IF I WAS A PANSY!!!! Give me a 14mm, I'm going to lie on the ground, and lets rile the snake up first! I'm kidding of course. I have a D200, but I don't have an 80-400. As for the other snake, it reminds me of an Emerald Tree Boa. Am I correct?

[PJohnP]

Well, I think I would have used an 80-400 lens too, IF I WAS A PANSY!!!! Give me a 14mm, I'm going to lie on the ground, and lets rile the snake up first! I'm kidding of course. I have a D200, but I don't have an 80-400. As for the other snake, it reminds me of an Emerald Tree Boa. Am I correct?

 

Heh. Why not use the (relatively) new 10-24mm zoom to get more wide-angle as it lunges at you ?

 

Bring the anti-venom in an easy opened package... :roflmho:

 

The other shot was of a green python, if I remember correctly. It was certainly coiled up tightly as some pythons will do.

 

I sure wouldn't mind seeing a Warden's series of ink in that shade of green...

 

 

 

John P.

[mediocrechris]

Give me one of the old 55mm micro lenses! I'll get that cottonmouth's eyeball in the left side of the frame and the pit in the right side of the frame. (I'll start the antivenom drip before I even get on location.)

[PJohnP]

Give me one of the old 55mm micro lenses! I'll get that cottonmouth's eyeball in the left side of the frame and the pit in the right side of the frame. (I'll start the antivenom drip before I even get on location.)

 

Chuckle. I have one of those lenses, along with the correct extension tube to fit it. Tell you what - you shoot the snake, and I'll shoot you along with the snake !!! :hmm1:

 

 

 

John P.

[mediocrechris]

Sounds like fun. Um...will you cover the $15,000 hospital bill for me?

 

Bah, to heck with it. I'm grabbing my D200. Let me just charge the batteries and I'll be on my way. ;-)

Edited March 29, 2010 by mediocrechris

[Hohn]

Love my D200-- need better glass.

 

We now return to your previously-scheduled BBK love-fest.

[rbadger332]

I almost bought this ink yesterday, but stopped myself because I am drowning in dark blue ink already. Not to mention that I already have Bad Blue Heron which also does not creep.

 

:bunny01:

Heron is my Go-To ink for buisiness use because it photocopies fairly well, and I agree with you. No creep at all on my TWSBI or my Preppy. My Parker creeps with any ink I feed it (and it's for that reason it's in transit to a pen repair shop) so I don't count it in anything. Shame, it's a good writer. Anyhow, Bad Blue Heron to the rescue! Kingfisher might be my next ink when I run out of Heron. Nice Review, John!

[agchristie]

I love the colour of BBK but I just wish it was waterproof and thereby smearproof. I know its a Warden ink but that unfortunately simply means that when treated some part of the ink will remain behind so that one could detect a forgery but I need smearproof

[PJohnP]

Heron is my Go-To ink for buisiness use because it photocopies fairly well, and I agree with you. No creep at all on my TWSBI or my Preppy. My Parker creeps with any ink I feed it (and it's for that reason it's in transit to a pen repair shop) so I don't count it in anything. Shame, it's a good writer. Anyhow, Bad Blue Heron to the rescue! Kingfisher might be my next ink when I run out of Heron. Nice Review, John!

 

Thanks for the kind comment. Interestingly enough, the last few months have found me working more with Kung Te-cheng (25% diluted) in my M405 blue pen rather than BBK. It might be time to start up a period with BBK again.

 

And here's another snake photo, perhaps to provide Nathan with some further inspiration on inks...

 

 

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100855/103346/Coiled_DSC8835_1300810140_M.jpg

 

 

A nice warm brown colour could be an adjunct to the entire Warden's series, or perhaps he'll begin a "Snakes in the Southwest" series !

 

 

 

John P.

[spiv]

And here's another snake photo, perhaps to provide Nathan with some further inspiration on inks...

 

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100855/103346/Coiled_DSC8835_1300810140_S.jpg

 

 

wonderful shot... really

[Bill Broome]

I use a 10-yr. old Parker Duofold daily in my office practice. This ink seemed like a great idea, but it clogged repeatedly, so I drained it and flushed and haven't used it since. Would that were not so.

 

Bill in Fla.

[PJohnP]

I use a 10-yr. old Parker Duofold daily in my office practice. This ink seemed like a great idea, but it clogged repeatedly, so I drained it and flushed and haven't used it since. Would that were not so.

 

More and more, I've found that a minor dilution of some inks with distilled water has made an immense difference, most recently with Kung Te-cheng, which was a hard starter, but became a "go-to" ink in recent months for me. If you have an empty bottle or small container handy, it's worth a try with a small quantity, in my considered opinion. That said, I tried to address (for me) unacceptable feathering with BSB using dilution without success. I actually went around that one in multiple tests with two different bottles as I so liked the colour !

 

As you so perceptively say, "Would that were not so." I'd really prefer to have inks work beautifully for me than have to find otherwise...

 

 

 

John P.

[kestrel]

 

The snake was actually pursuing me as I shot, so I'd land a photo, take a long step back, land a photo, step back...

 

I'm told that this is typical of water moccasins/cottonmouths, that this type of snake is actually aggressive. Rattlesnakes, which I see a fair number of in the Southwest where I live, will generally leave a person alone if that person doesn't bother them. The water moccasin I saw, OTOH, actively pursued me from the time it saw me at a distance. As a photographer, I'll carefully assess a situation and take shots so long as I can stay safe...

 

John P.

 

Beautiful photos, John. The red eye of the night heron ought to inspire Nathan for the next Warden ink. Your comments on the behavior surprised me. I assume you were photographing the western subspecies, leucostoma. Our northeast Florida cottonmouths are usually pretty laid back unless you corner or threaten them. Whit Gibbons has said the same thing about the eastern cottonmouths he works with in south Georgia. I wonder if we are seeing a regional variation in aggressive behavior. I generally use the 200 mm micro for my cottonmouth photos (including venomous) but now I'll have to think twice before using it on a western.

 

On topic, I second your comments on BBK. It has been in my rotation since I bought my first bottle. At the moment it is being applied to paper by an Estie 9314-B and the results are gorgeous. Beautiful color and very well behaved.