Every once in a while I get reminded that great glass is not only a gift but it's a necessity. It's a necessity in order to separate you from everyone else - it's a necessity to give your images the power of a compelling view. Get great lenses - even if it's just one - get one - and shoot that system like you are going to die tomorrow.
Fuji Acros 100 - Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4 - Stand developed in 5% Rodinal @ 60minutes - developed and scanned in house.
While shopping I took this image of a hanging light - using the 35mm Nikon F100 and the 50mm f1.4 it turned out really well. It’s interesting when it all comes together and the final result surprises you after development and the scan. This is where the choice of premium gear, meaning the lens, will really set the captured scene apart from the normal view.
Shot on Fujifilm Acro 100 in a Rodinal Stand development for 60 minutes. Scanned on the Minolta 5400 series.
Sometimes - it pays to experiment and take the easy shot - maybe it’s the shot right in front of you - maybe you are walking the dog and you can pull up the camera and see what happens after you hit the shutter release.
That’s exactly what I did with this capture. My wife and I were walking the dog - I had a fast f1.4, 50mm - and I set it up and hoped for the best. I couldn’t have expected the result - oh - and this was on film - so I had no idea what would eventually happen.
Fuji Acros - 100 - self developed - self scanned
Kodak Ektar - Nikon F100 50mm f1.4
A friend who I've mention before, Will Wright, sent me a roll of Ilford XP2 to try explore. The option of being able to shoot BW with a C-41 process has some advantages - especially when traveling or being on the road without the traditional chemicals available.
Drop it in the mail - or find a local drugstore to process the roll - done.
This is a shot from my day job - FFKR Architects - where, as I've mentioned in other posts, I have some excellent subject matter and backgrounds, to photograph.
Here is one of the Firm's Principals, Rick Frerichs, head of the Health Care Studio, in his office.
Here's Lola again - with my wife Madeline. When Lola was around 10lbs.
I love this image - combined with the look of film this brings me to a "Madmen" type scene -- with the hat and film base it looks like something from the fabulous 1950's.
No lies here -- I don't know how fabulous the 50's really were as I wasn't born yet -- but I can't get over the nostalgia this image brings. Too bad the cars are in the background - else it would have been timeless.
This is Kodak's Portra 400. For its skin tone rendering - it has no peer.
Self developed with a C-41 Tetenal Kit - no crop.
Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4 - Kodak Portra 400, Tetenal C-41 Kit
The English Bulldog who joined us mid April. She's been a ball of fun - farts a lot and can let out a belch after drinking a bowl of water which would make a Frat House proud.
She's now twice this size of 10lbs.
You go Girl !!!
Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4 - Kodak Portra
Nikon F100 - Ilford HP5+
The last snowstorm of the season - 400 S and 300 W.
Nikon F100 - Ilford HP5+
Small sensored cameras most of time have slow lenses - coming back to full frame, be it film or digital, reminds me of the creative power, the f1.4 depth of field can offer. Sometimes the background is too busy for comfort and the 1.4 allows the blur - or sometimes the attention to the scene is important to get in one area - and this type of lens allows that. Or - it becomes creativity of its own sake. Either way it becomes another creative tool for reference.
Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4 - Ilford HP5+
Three feet away while seated on a ferry with a 50mm and little options for framing present. And in a way conditions force the idea to get out of the comfort zone and you make do - and it's a nice thing when something good literally develops.
Nikon F100, 50mm f1.4 with Yellow 44 filter, HP5+
Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4 D, Yellow 44