Macro Rum Balls

Rum Balls · **6 Likes**

Every year I shoot Frosty and The Reindeer Band at Christmas time. This year I shot them playing their gig at the rum ball festival in my kitchen. I used 4 different lenses, and thought I would post a comparison here. Two lenses I shot twice, one wide open and one stopped down, the Jupiter 9, and the Industar 61LZ, once with the curtains open, and once with them closed.

The Industar was my first of these lenses, purchased for the unique bokeh it produces, and enjoyed also for the great colors, sharpness, contrast and rendition of images. It was pointed out to me recently that the Soligor produces a similar bokeh, so I found a copy and gave it a go.

I pursued the Helios and the Jupiter as I have lusted after them for some time, given their notoriety for sharpness, contrast and color, and of course the legendary bokeh. I recently acquired them both, only just prior to the Soligor. The Helios (in K mount!) came from Georgia, USA, the Jupiter from a city near Moscow, both for very good prices.

So here they are;

The Soligor 35mm f2.8 M42:

The Industar 61LZ, 50mm f2.8 M42:

The Helios 44K-2 58mm f2.0, wide open:

The Jupiter 9 85mm f2.0., wide open:

The Jupiter 9 85mm f2.0., stopped way down.

Frosty and the Reindeer, performing yet again for Christmas. Get their latest hit, Rum Balls, on iTunes. Two shows daily until Christmas Eve.

SOLD OUT

Rum Balls

2.5 cups 'Nilla Wafers, chopped.
1 cup chopped pecans.
1 cup chopped walnuts.
1 cup confectioner's sugar.
3 (maybe 4) tablespoons baking cocoa.
4 tablespoons raw honey.
1/4 cup (OK, 1/2 cup! better add another half cup of chopped 'Nilla Wafers) of Meyer's Dark rum.

Mix dry ingredients in a suitable sized bowl. Blend well.

Make a depression in the dry mixture, add honey, followed by rum. Use a potato masher (not the kind the Germans used!) to blend dry and liquid ingredients.

When well mixed, let rest, have a hot buttered rum and prepare for the balling.

When the cup of Christmas cheer is empty, lay out wax paper, and begin rolling mixture into bite sized balls. I prefer to roll them all out first, then go back and roll them in crushed pecans or walnuts, crushed 'Nilla wafers, crushed candy cane, powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

Go wild.

Experiment.

Try bacon bits.

Most of all, enjoy.

From Racer and Mrs. Racer (Brand X), Merry Christmas 2019!

**foxandcrow** · 12-22-2019, 09:19 AM - **1 Like**

Absolutely love the last shot. My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas.

bertwert · 12-22-2019, 09:24 AM - **1 Like**

A Merry Christmas to you as well Racer. Neat variation in bokeh throughout these shots

RoxnDox · 12-22-2019, 09:41 AM - **1 Like**

Looks like the band had a great show! All the variations are great, but yeah I see why you wanted the Industar glass... That bokeh is sweeeeeeeeet!

Mele Humuhumunukunukuapa’a to all!

**DW58** · 12-22-2019, 10:08 AM - **1 Like**

A fun series to look at. Thanks for posing them. Great time of year for those special kitchen treats. We just made one of our Christmas favorites yesterday. Brandied Triple Cheese Ball.

Racer X 69 · 12-22-2019, 10:59 AM

Originally posted by foxandcrow

Absolutely love the last shot. My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas.

Originally posted by bertwert

A Merry Christmas to you as well Racer. Neat variation in bokeh throughout these shots

Originally posted by RoxnDox

Looks like the band had a great show! All the variations are great, but yeah I see why you wanted the Industar glass... That bokeh is sweeeeeeeeet!

Mele Humuhumunukunukuapa’a to all!

Originally posted by DW58

A fun series to look at. Thanks for posing them. Great time of year for those special kitchen treats. We just made one of our Christmas favorites yesterday. Brandied Triple Cheese Ball.

Thank you gentlemen.

Merry Christmas!

**RGlasel** · 12-22-2019, 12:47 PM

Fascinating comparison between the different lenses and different apertures, great creativity and my saliva glands are now working overtime! Have a GRRREAT! holiday season.

Racer X 69 · 12-22-2019, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by RGlasel

Fascinating comparison between the different lenses and different apertures, great creativity and my saliva glands are now working overtime! Have a GRRREAT! holiday season.

Thanks so much Mr. Glasel!

Happy Holidays!

SSGGeezer · 12-22-2019, 07:21 PM

Nice series Racer! Love the Industar and the Jupiter sopped down. Hope you and Mrs. Racer have a great holiday!

**Larrymc** · 12-22-2019, 07:45 PM

Fabulous series, fascinating Bokeh!!

**pichaser** · 12-22-2019, 09:19 PM - **1 Like**

This is a tasty exercise .

Racer X 69 · 12-23-2019, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

Nice series Racer! Love the Industar and the Jupiter sopped down. Hope you and Mrs. Racer have a great holiday!

Thanks Sarge.

Originally posted by Larrymc

Fabulous series, fascinating Bokeh!!

Thanks Larry.

Originally posted by pichaser

This is a tasty exercise .

Thanks!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Racer X 69 · 12-26-2019, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by foxandcrow

My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas.

Better have her review it.. Another member just pointed out it was missing honey.

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12-22-2019, 09:19 AM - 1 Like	#2
foxandcrow Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,995	Absolutely love the last shot. My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas.

12-22-2019, 09:24 AM - 1 Like	#3
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172	A Merry Christmas to you as well Racer. Neat variation in bokeh throughout these shots

12-22-2019, 09:41 AM - 1 Like	#4
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	Looks like the band had a great show! All the variations are great, but yeah I see why you wanted the Industar glass... That bokeh is sweeeeeeeeet! Mele Humuhumunukunukuapa’a to all!

12-22-2019, 10:08 AM - 1 Like	#5
DW58 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Rural Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,082	A fun series to look at. Thanks for posing them. Great time of year for those special kitchen treats. We just made one of our Christmas favorites yesterday. Brandied Triple Cheese Ball.

12-22-2019, 10:59 AM	#6
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073 Original Poster	Originally posted by foxandcrow Absolutely love the last shot. My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas. Originally posted by bertwert A Merry Christmas to you as well Racer. Neat variation in bokeh throughout these shots Originally posted by RoxnDox Looks like the band had a great show! All the variations are great, but yeah I see why you wanted the Industar glass... That bokeh is sweeeeeeeeet! Mele Humuhumunukunukuapa’a to all! Originally posted by DW58 A fun series to look at. Thanks for posing them. Great time of year for those special kitchen treats. We just made one of our Christmas favorites yesterday. Brandied Triple Cheese Ball. Thank you gentlemen. Merry Christmas!

12-22-2019, 12:47 PM	#7
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,229	Fascinating comparison between the different lenses and different apertures, great creativity and my saliva glands are now working overtime! Have a GRRREAT! holiday season.

12-22-2019, 01:01 PM	#8
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073 Original Poster	Originally posted by RGlasel Fascinating comparison between the different lenses and different apertures, great creativity and my saliva glands are now working overtime! Have a GRRREAT! holiday season. Thanks so much Mr. Glasel! Happy Holidays!

12-22-2019, 07:21 PM	#9
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Nice series Racer! Love the Industar and the Jupiter sopped down. Hope you and Mrs. Racer have a great holiday!

12-22-2019, 07:45 PM	#10
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,252	Fabulous series, fascinating Bokeh!!

12-22-2019, 09:19 PM - 1 Like	#11
pichaser Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,782	This is a tasty exercise .

12-23-2019, 09:29 AM	#12
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073 Original Poster	Originally posted by SSGGeezer Nice series Racer! Love the Industar and the Jupiter sopped down. Hope you and Mrs. Racer have a great holiday! Thanks Sarge. Originally posted by Larrymc Fabulous series, fascinating Bokeh!! Thanks Larry. Originally posted by pichaser This is a tasty exercise . Thanks! Merry Christmas everyone.

12-26-2019, 11:19 AM	#13
Racer X 69 Moderator Man With A Camera Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,073 Original Poster	Originally posted by foxandcrow My wife went nuts over the recipe. Merry Christmas. Better have her review it.. Another member just pointed out it was missing honey.