RE: [APML] Tech Pan - a memorial (edited and some new verses)

["Scott Hammonds" <shammonds@creatorsview.com>]

It must really be cloudy at your place Bill!! That's excellent. 


Scott Hammonds
www.creatorsview.com

-----Original Message-----
From: astro-photo-bounces@seds.org [mailto:astro-photo-bounces@seds.org] On
Behalf Of William R. Mattil
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 3:28 PM
To: Discussion of Film Astrophotography
Subject: [APML] Tech Pan - a memorial (edited and some new verses)

                        Astrophotography Pie
                    (huge apologies to Don McLean)


A long long time ago ......
I can still remember
How some images used to make me smile,
And I knew that if I had my chance
that I could make some photons dance
and maybe, I'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
frosted optics, don't deliver
loose screws on the guidescope;
guiding based only on hope

I can't remember if I cried
'cause my light pollution spectrum's wide But something touched me deep
inside the day that Tech Pan Died

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

Did you read from books of Lore
published oh so long ago
Wallis, Provin told us so.
Can hypering save your mortal soul
and is your reciprocity real low ?

Well I know that you're in love with pain 'cause I saw you setting up in the
rain weather forcast ? is for Clearing all of us are cheering.

I was a lonely, middle aged Astro Geek
with an APO and mount too weak
yet another film we're want to seek
the day, that Tech Pan died

I started singing .....

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

Now for ten years we've been on our own
Developing, then scanning all alone.
But that's not how it used to be.
When the Magazine arrived, in back was lurking, the work of Germano, Hallas,
and Perkins with a proud voice that came from you and me

Oh and while our eyes were looking down, manually guiding without a frown
SBIG's guy's were scheming of Autoguiders - they were dreaming Now our
guiders are quietly ticking, while our pockets they are picking, romance is
gone, and wounds we're licking the day, that Tech Pan died.

we were singing ......

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

Mosquitos, Chiggars in a summer swelter
best get out of the sun ! bring a little shelter Night time temps of
eighty-eight!
Racoon, Possums - an occasional Loon
Pitch black nights, calm - and of course no Moon Six, one hour exposures!
It's dawn, way too soon

Now the night time air is sweet perfume
Camera shutters play a lovely tune
Film advance levers dance
Thank God we even got the chance!
'cause when digital tried to take the field like die-hard Bums we refused to
yield Do you recall what was revealed the day that Tech Pan died

We still are singing ......

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

High Vacuum Pump and a Hypering Tank
Forming Gas, some heat, a densitometers rank D19, distilled water and Fixer
you know get the timing just right.. add some Photoflow made for images you
were proud to show before our Tech Pan died

Now No Ones Singing .....

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
with no time left to start again.
So come on: Kodak be nimble, please be quick!
manufacture Tech Pan... don't make us sick!
'cause digital is the devils only friend.

Oh and as I watched him on the stage
Film boxes clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell
Exposure time so long, we couldn't wait
Laptop screens! what a dreadful state
I saw satan typing "Track and Accumulate"
the day, that Tech Pan died

He was singing ......

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

I met a film reportedly good in blue
tried it, hoped for some happy news
but it just failed. I threw it away.
I then went down to the Photo Store
where I'd smelled emulsion years before
But the man there said the new films wouldn't play

And at TSP: the disk drives screamed,
monitors cried, while us film guy's dreamed, but from Kodak: no word was
spoken Cable releases all were broken And the three men I admire most
Newton, Hallas, Middleton don't boast they all bought cameras from the coast
the day, that Tech Pan died

They were singing ......

So why, why did film imaging die ?
Priced some CCD equipment but the cost was too high All them digital boy's
are drinking whiskey and rye singin' this'll be the day film will die.
this'll be the day film will die.

Tech Pan Sileo In Pacis - 2005

-- 

William R. Mattil  :  http://www.celestial-images.com


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