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Aperture Series: Pine Creek Tungsten Mine Aerial
This apertures series represents the very best results obtainable from the 100mm f/2 Makro Planar, using the 36-megapixel Nikon D800E.
While the 100/2 Makro Planar represents as high an imaging performance as is possible on a DSLR in early 2013, the D800E nonetheless shows that the 100/2 has its limitations. An updated and improved lens could improve upon this performance, something perhaps of the quality level of the 55/1.4.
About the mine
The Pine Creek Tungsten Mine (more info) was closed in 2001 after 54 years of operation for the same reason as rare earth mines: China selling metals at prices that made US mines unprofitable.
The mine has been non-operational through 2012 but there are apparently plans to reopen it. This scene is of the processing facility, which is nestled in one of the most spectacular canyons in the Eastern Sierra. It is truly stunning driving up top portion of the canyon, go there and see why. The mine fits in and does not seem at all out of place, and after all to build cameras and all manner of goods, raw materials have to come from somewhere.
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