Black Eyed Susans.

And again, Kodak sings to me in its Siren call, pulling me ever closer to the brink.  Yet Kodak has its claws dug deep into me now, as I cannot put down my Signet 35c, nor can I get enough of Kodak Portra 160/400..  It's just a beautiful, wonderful, clean, sharp, grain free, and amazing film.
Whether it is shot under daylight, clouds, strobes, hotlamps, or street lamps, it's just perfect for all occasions.
Again Kodak has blown me away with their film, and their simple, compact, and yet gorgeously sharp and amazing Rangefinder.  The lens is just incredible!  I can't say I have ever seen such a remarkable lens like this one. Let me rephrase that, I have seen such an amazing lens before, yes, but it's the fact that this is a simple, small, and cheap Rangefinder.  Kodak built a gem of a model with this Signet.  It's just amazing!
I was just staggered when I saw this negative, and realized... Yes, it was the Signet.. 
There is a reason I do not put down this jewel.  It'd be too much of a waste for the beauty in the world to be missed out from getting some amazingly detailed captures, like this.

I really have to get this camera into a Portrait session!  Even if there's no strobe sync, I think I can work out something with hot-lights, or an on-location shoot.

Until next time!  Keep those shutters firing!

Gnomes Are Evil!

Ah, hand tinting photographs is a wonderful, and age old, past time.  Except, I just can't do it in today's world using the old methods, so instead, I do them using my scanner, and Adobe Photoshop CS5.
The last post, Hand Tinting For The First Time, was the infancy my hand-tinting experience.
Today I managed to figure out how to get the tinting to look far more realistic.  Using a Garden Gnome for inspiration when using a Canonet 28 for the first time, I set up a shot that I thought would look quite pleasing.

"Garden Gnomes Are Evil" - Canonet 28
Canon 40mm ƒ/2.8 Lens
Polypan F 50ASA @ 100ASA
Developed in Diafine 4+4
Scanned from Negative on Epson Perfection 4490
Hand-Tinted in Adobe Photoshop CS5

Until Next Time, Keep those shutters firing!

Hand-Tinting For The First Time

Like a new outlook on Photography and prints I tried out a whole new approach to photographic manipulation.  Hand-Tinting.  Now, this isn't exactly Marshall Photographic Tinting Oils, as my wife is the one who is doing that.  This is digitally hand-tinting in Photoshop, but it's a process that can be easily, apparently, done by hand in the physical world, instead of the digital world.

It is a process that I will continue to try and perfect.  I really enjoyed doing this for the first time, and look forward to continuing with the learning process.  

"A Yard To Remember" - Hand Tinted in CS5
Canonet 28 - Canon 40mm ƒ/2.8 Lens
Polypan F 50ASA @ 100ASA
Developed in Diafine
Original B&W Image Scanned on Epson Perfection 4490

The whole process is relatively simple to do and just requires the use of multiple layers, and masking.  It's an easy process, over all, and one everyone should try as it gives a whole different feeling to the image instead of shooting it in colour from the start.

Like this look?  Want to try it yourself?  Go for it!  Get yourself a Film Camera from the Film Photography Project, or take your dad's old SLR, or even get one from a second hand-shop or a Pawn Shop.
 Pick up some B&W film, shoot it and get it developed at your local lab.  Don't have a local Dip & Dunk l ab for real B&W film?  That's okay, you can get some Colour Process B&W film which can be developed anywhere that develops 35mm colour print film.  Either scan it yourself, or have the lab scan it.

Import the image into CS5, or your favorite photo editor, and give it a try!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!  

Nightlife - Through Tungsten Eyes

"Night Spire" - Rolleicord V - Fujichrome T64
75mm Xenar-Schneider ƒ/3.5 @ ƒ/8 - 45s

Becoming more and more rare is Fuji Tungsten T64 transparency film.  Rated at 64ASA, it is a very slow film, but can be exposed for 120 seconds without need to compensate for reciprocity failure.

Although sales dropped off with Tungsten film to the point that Fuji decided to discontinue, it is still fairly attainable on EBAY.

I haven't shot much T64 film, a total of 3 rolls myself, but it has earned a special place in my heart.  The long night-time exposures, or cool toned effects during the day.. Or not needing any filter compensation when photographing under hotlamps.

The above shot was taken in 2011 in December using my Rolleicord V TLR.  It was my first real experience using Fujichrome T64 film for long exposures, and enjoyed the experience.  I used it alongside my Canon EOS ELAN II using it for Exposure times as my hand held meter would not meter in low light.

The image to the right was taken around the same time, but for a much longer exposure time.  In the vacinity of 2 minutes instead and at ƒ/11 instead of ƒ/8.
It is a much better exposure, and gives far more detail in the shadows and retains some great highlight detail.

I honestly don't know what happened to the images that I took with the ELAN II.
I am rather upset to know that Fuji T64 film is no longer in production, and very difficult to get a hold of.  My local supplier might have a roll or two left in stock, but it is a very expensive film locally.

As Digital imaging has become more and more sophisticated, it is causing the demise of many transparency films.  And unfortunately, Tungsten based films is one of them.  Kodak Elitechrome T160 and Fujichrome T64 both fell victim to this, but the Fuji film was the most recent.

Lomography bought up much of the remaining stocks, but sold out quickly.

Hopefully I'll be able to stock up on a few of these wonderful films before they disappear entirely.


Enjoy film?  Want to get into film?  Check out the Film Photography Project as these guys are crazy about film.  Polaroid, 110, 35mm, 120, 4x5/8x10, Instant, Peel-apart, or even Paper Negatives!  Anything and everything to do with film.  Check them out, and pick yourself up a Plastic Filmtastic FPP Debonair!  $19.99 and loaded with film!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

The Apocalpyse - Roll In A Day Project

I missed participating in the Roll In A Day Project in November, as I have been busy house hunting.  But this month, as foretold almost half a year before, was a very special Roll In A Day Project.  It was the coming of the "apocalypse" with the end of the 13th Mayan Baktun. Being what it was, there were 2-days that were going to be shot.  December 21st, 2012, and December 22nd, 2012.  The day of, and the day after. 

For those that believed in the end of the world coming on December 21st, 2012, I must say, that is a very sad sad sad existence you must lead.  For the Mayans, as smart as they were, did not foretell the end of the world with the end of their 13th Baktun, but the end of an Era.  As we have now entered the 14th Baktun, we are entering a new Era in the Mayan Calender.

But, I will not deny, I played up the part of the world ending when I shot my roll on December 21st, 2012.  Finding an empty construction site, and with the rain, I had no problem making it look like a desolated area, devoid of anything living.  Little remaining grass, and not a sign of a living human. 
Sure, there were obvious signs that man had been there, with the big Earth moving machines, and plenty of various construction material, but there were no footsteps anywhere to be found.

With that, I must say that this was the most fun I have had in a while when using a camera to photograph some landscape and industrial images. 
My choice of camera was a vintage 1965 Canon Canonet QL25 Rangefinder camera, with the film being some expired in 1999, Ilford FP4+ 125ASA film exposed at 200ASA.  I developed the roll of film in HC-110 using Dilution B, and scanned the images on my Epson Perfection 4490.
Some images I did some post-work using Photoshop CS5, while others I just cleaned up any dust marks.

Seeing as the End Of The World did not happen, and we're all alive and well, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and all the best in the days, and years to come.
And now for some sample image, my personal favorites, from the set.

 

For more, check out the entire set on Flickr.

Do you enjoy Film Photography?  Do you like the look?  Are you an avid film shooter?  Great!  Check out the Film Photography Project.  You don't have to be a pro shooter, just someone who enjoys to use a film camera. You can buy film, like 110, 35mm, 120, 4x5, Impossible Project and Fuji peel apart instant film for your Polaroid Cameras, all from one place.  Heck, you can even buy a camera, like the Plastic Filmtastic FPP Debonair, or a tested, converted, and film ready Polaroid Land camera!

Hope to see you there!


Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Coffee & Croissants

Breakfast.  The most important meal of the day, and yet it is often overlooked, or sometimes skipped entirely.
The meal you should be eating the most in protein and carbs for the day, while eating lighter meals in the afternoon and evening.
Unfortunately, it's usually too crazy most mornings for those that work to have a sensible breakfast, and end up eating bread, usually toasted, and some form of hot caffeinated beverage, like Tea or Coffee.
Well, my morning wasn't an exception to that, as it was a hectic morning, and I was running late.  So I grabbed a Croissant, and made a hot coffee.

Right after I had it all prepared I realized that it would actually work with my "What's For Dinner" project.

"Coffee, Croissant, and Cameras" - Zenza Bronica ETRs
Zenzanon 75mm ƒ/2.8 PE Lens
Kodak Tri-X 400 @ 400 - HC-110 Dil. B

Like Film Photography?  Want to try it?  Check out the Film Photography Project, as these guys are crazy about film, and everything to do with it!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Sprockets And A Fire Hydrant

One thing I like to do is shoot Sprockets, and what that means is that you take the film and load it into a camera that will shoot the entire strip of film.  In this case it was a Rolleicord V.
This allows you to use the entire film, including the Rebate area, which has the sprocket holes.

The film I usually use to shoot Sprockets is Polypan, because it has no markings in the Rebate area, and so the only thing you get are sprocket holes, and nothing more.
I just love using this film in a 6x6 camera because it is a very fine grain film, and shooting a larger image, it just looks so much finer.

"Sprocket Hydrant" - Rolleicord V TLR
Schneider-Xenar Kreuznach 75mm ƒ/3.5 Lens
Polypan F 50ASA Film
HC-110 Dil. B - Scanned from Negative on Epson Perfection 4490

Looking for more film photography?  Check out my Flickr Stream.

Are you an avid film shooter?  New to film?  Want to get into shooting more film?   Check out the Film Photography Podcast.  They don't just talk about film, they even have a store to buy film! 
You can even buy a camera or two from them.  Instant, 120, 35mm, 110, and more! 

Check out the Film Photography Podcast today, even if you have no interest in shooting film.

Compact And Tri-X

Well, again, my good friend, John Meadows, let me borrow a little camera called a Bolsey B2.  This little camera, a very compact Rangefinder, and similar in size and feel as my Kodak Signet, is actually a breeze to use, and has some rather unique features.

I won't get into the features, but I will get into the ease of use.  Because of the small and compact size it is very easy to hold, and being a rangefinder, is simple to operate with slow shutter speeds without much, if any, in the way of camera shake.
It's actually the lens that surprises me most with this camera.  Very sharp, even wide open it has excellent sharpness.
 

"Dynamics" - Bolsey B2 Rangefinder - Wollensak Anastigmat 44mm ƒ/3.2 @ ƒ/5.6
Kodak Tri-X 400 @1600 - Diafine 5+5 - Twin CFL Hot-Lamps
Scanned from Negative on Epson Perfection 4490

Food For Thought

A simple little exercise I decided to try was an "implied" shape, using cereal, and my Monorail.  Playing a little bit with some Fomapan 400ASA film (which incidentally I thought was FP4+ 125ASA) I got some very interesting tones with my exercise.  The grains of the cereal seem to stand out with the "grains" of the film.

A little bit of post work with Photoshop to give it a platinum tone.

"Food For Thought" - Calumet CC400 Monorail
Kodak Ektar 127mm ƒ/4.7 @ ƒ/8
Fomapan 400ASA 4x5 Sheet
4s Shutter
Developed in Rodinal 1+50 15:00