The SLR Magic 8mm lens is specifically designed for Nikon F mount cameras. It offers a unique wide-angle perspective that is perfect for capturing immersive shots. The lens has a fast maximum aperture of f/4, allowing for excellent low-light performance and increased control over depth of field. It features high-quality optics that deliver sharp images with minimal distortion. The lens is built with a robust metal construction, ensuring durability and longevity. The SLR Magic 8mm lens is a versatile and affordable option for Nikon F mount users who are looking to expand their lens collection and experiment with creative wide-angle photography.
"When I first started, it was rare to find other witches in Alabama, and even rarer to find someone who knew what you were talking about when you said you were a witch," she says. "But in the last seven or eight years, if you say you're Wiccan, people have some familiarity with the word. They may not know exactly what it means, but they have some context."
Rhiannon, 30, a witch in Huntsville who asked that her last name be excluded for privacy reasons, remembers how difficult it was for pagans to find one another when she first became interested in the craft. The group has grown from five to 236 over the last three years, and today members hold rituals, camp-outs and get-togethers, including witch walks and pagan crafting circles.
The SLR Magic 8mm lens is a versatile and affordable option for Nikon F mount users who are looking to expand their lens collection and experiment with creative wide-angle photography..
Witches, pagans and Wiccans in Alabama: A growing culture and a struggle for acceptance
On a warm Saturday afternoon in September, hundreds of cars cruise past an old white house on Richard Arrington Boulevard, perhaps carrying people to the Birmingham Zoo or Vulcan. No one seems to notice the sweet smell of incense lingering in the air, the small wrought iron cauldron just off the edge of the road or the bumper stickers on cars lined up outside: "My other car is a broom."
"You only find it if you're meant to find it. Most people don't even know we're here," says Mitchell Hagood, 45, owner of the 1865 Greek revival-style home which houses Books, Beans and Candles metaphysical shop. The shop carries everything the modern witch might need: magic wands, tarot cards, herbs, runes, jewelry and knives.
Hagood, a Wiccan who worships the feminine deity Morgan, founded Books, Beans and Candles eight years ago. During that time, he says he's watched Birmingham's pagan community grow tenfold. The shop now hosts monthly meetups for witches, astrologers and other groups including the 400-member Magick City Pagans.
On this particular Saturday, an internationally-known witch, Ellen Dugan, author of 17 books on witchcraft, has flown in from Kansas to give a lecture on practical magic. The 45-person crowd at the sold-out event is almost too big for the old house to hold. Wooden floorboards creak and sigh as pagans decked out in everything from magic amulets and black cloaks to Reeboks and Levi's all scurry to seats.
Dugan's message is clear. Magic, she says, is simply positive change.
A GROWING CULTURE IN ALABAMA
The Church of the Spiral Tree, Alabama's first ecumenical pagan church, was founded in Auburn in 1997 with just 14 active members. Today, the church has 68 members who meet six to eight times per year for rituals and fellowship, says founder Linda Kerr. The church also operates a home school cover school, Sacred Grove Academy. (Membership in a cover school, which provides guidance on curriculum and grading, is required by law in order to home school children in Alabama.) Sacred Grove Academy has a 2014 enrollment of 118 students between the ages of 7 and 17 from across the state.
"Most cover schools are Christian, and require membership in church, a statement of faith, or the teaching of religious material," Kerr says. "We found that so many parents in Alabama wanted their children to be part of a school that didn't come with a religious requirement."
Items on display at Birmingham's metaphysical shop, Books, Beans and Candles.
Kerr, who follows the faerie faith path, says the biggest change for pagans in Alabama over the last few decades has been the ability to connect.
"When I first became pagan in the 1980s, the state of the Internet- well, it wasn't much," she says. "Eventually, people started using Yahoo! groups, and now everyone uses Facebook," she says. "Technology has allowed pagans to connect with one another like never before."
Today, Kerr runs a prisoner pen-pal program with volunteers from the church. Inmates can join the church at a reduced rate and receive the monthly newsletter.
"That's really special to pagan inmates, to hear from someone on the outside world who understands what they are about," she says. "It's common for prisons to have a Christian chaplain, but not someone versed in paganism. People who are incarcerated come from all walks of life. People think of them by default as Christian, but they're not.
Rhiannon, 30, a witch in Huntsville who asked that her last name be excluded for privacy reasons, remembers how difficult it was for pagans to find one another when she first became interested in the craft. She joined a group in Anniston when she was 16 after meeting some witches who were handing out flyers in the "occult" section of Walden Books. She recently started her own circle, a group of witches similar to a coven, minus the hierarchy and high priestess.
Rhiannon's circle has seven members and meets twice per month. The members first met at a "Pagans in the Park" event at Big Spring Park, organized by members of the Facebook group "Huntsville Pagans," which has 81 followers.
"When I first started, it was rare to find other witches in Alabama, and even rarer to find someone who knew what you were talking about when you said you were a witch," she says. "But in the last seven or eight years, if you say you're Wiccan, people have some familiarity with the word. They may not know exactly what it means, but they have some context."
Mitchell Hagood, owner of Books Beans and Candles, a metaphysical shop in Birmingham.
In Mobile, Lux Terrea, a pagan whose name means "earth light," founded the group Moonlit Grove Pagans in 2011. The group has grown from five to 236 over the last three years, and today members hold rituals, camp-outs and get-togethers, including "witch walks" and pagan crafting circles. The group also meets regularly to feed the homeless.
"When I started the group, solitaries [solitary pagan practitioners] started coming out of the woodwork. By 2012 we would get as many as 40 people together for rituals," Terrea says. "People would come up and tell me, 'I have been alone for so long, and now I feel like I have a family.' We are just now getting to a place where we can do some really interesting things."
Although pagans are certainly in the minority in Alabama, it shouldn't come as a shock to anyone in the heart of Dixie that the pagans here are devout, explains Arsh Darksbane, a witch based in Jasper, who worships the goddess Eris. Darksbane is the founder of Stardust Haven Grove, a 30-member ecumenical pagan church that's a branch of the Church of the Spiral Tree.
"This is the South. People here have deep spiritual roots, and we are active because most of us were raised in communities that value a spiritual connection," she says. "It's only natural that we would want to continue that connection and fellowship with friends and family."
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PAGAN/ A WITCH?
All witches are pagans, but not all pagans are witches. While witchcraft falls under the pagan umbrella, pagans can worship a variety of gods and goddesses, and frequently worship more than one deity at a time.
Pagans choose their own "path." Some are drawn to worship the Norse and Egyptian deities, while others gravitate towards Greek, Native American, Celtic or Hindu gods and goddesses. Many pagans have altars in their homes where they offer treats to their deities, or light candles or incense to honor them. Also, many pagans prefer to worship the goddess, known as the "divine feminine" over the male god, the "divine masculine." This is why paganism is sometimes referred to as the "feminist's religion."
Paula Wahn, owner of the Raven's Nook, a metaphysical shop in Mobile.
"It feels really comforting and really is just kind of warm, welcoming feeling," said a group member named Alex.
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Reviews for "Expanding Your Vision: An Overview of the SLR Magic 8mm Lens for Nikon F Mount"
1. John Doe - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Slr magic 8mm lens for my Nikon F mount. The image quality was extremely poor, with noticeable distortion and softness at the edges. The lens also had a hard time focusing properly, resulting in many blurry shots. I was expecting much better performance given the price of the lens. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Jane Smith - 1 star - The Slr magic 8mm lens was a complete waste of my money. From the moment I attached it to my Nikon camera, I could tell something was off. The autofocus was slow and unreliable, leading to missed shots and frustrating experiences. Additionally, the image quality was abysmal with significant vignetting and distortion. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this lens, but it simply did not deliver. Steer clear!
3. Mark Johnson - 2 stars - I had high expectations for the Slr magic 8mm lens, but it fell short in almost every aspect. The build quality was subpar, with a flimsy feel and loose controls. The image quality also left a lot to be desired, with noticeable chromatic aberration and lack of sharpness. The lens struggled to capture fine details and often produced disappointing results. I ended up returning it and investing in a different lens that offered better performance. I wouldn't recommend this lens to anyone serious about photography.