Months ago - testing the nature of film and how it works against architecture. Film is so foreign - its like putting on blinders and walking out side. Digital allows you to confirm the capture - film says, "screw you" -- I'll give it up when I want too. And that's the truth.
For a paying gig - well - that's a bit unnerving.
This is at the University of Utah. When the light is right - there are some striking areas to shoot.
YashicaMat124G - Fuji 400H
Nikon F100 - Ilford HP5+
The last snowstorm of the season - 400 S and 300 W.
Nikon F100 - Ilford HP5+
More Maui - not too bore, but I just can't look away; fair warning as more will be coming.
The Yashica is a joy to use and learn from. This is Ilford's Pan f - 50 ASA. It's hard for me to compare but I would like to compare Delta 100 or a TMax and see the results.
YashicaMat 124G - Ilford 50 Pan f
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+
This was a part of a walk to a remote beach, and I couldn't resist capturing the jungle like feel.
YashicaMat 124G - Kodak Ektar 100
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
I had a chance to see this up and coming band — “the Accidentals” here in SLC last month. I also offered to photograph them as I just happen to have the gear to possibly get some good images. My brother Mark who introduced me to them also put me in touch with their Manager.
In my off time - there are two genres I just love shooting - Bands and Sports.
I had to bring the digi - D3s - but on a whim I also brought my F100 loaded with 400 HP5+ mounted to a 85mm f1.4. The 1.4 was a given considering I only had 400 asa in the F100.
This is Savanna Buist accompanying the opening act - total improv on the spot fill. So I took the opportunity of chance to burn some frames — and this is the best of the two.
It’s interesting how the BW takes the “Band” out of the band — and turns it into some kind of “Classical” looking image. It doesn’t hurt that she is playing a classical looking instrument either.
This was taken cradel to grave - Shot, developed, and scanned in house.
It turned out well — and the band will be Grammy winning in about 5 years — you heard it hear first. They are really something. I can’t wait to hear their next album.
Nikon F100 - 85mm f1.4 - Ilford HP5+
This image took me a bit by surprise -- as too how well it turned out. Exposure, composition, and focus is perfect. And not having the vision of being able to predict it, caught me also. That's one of the aspects of film - a week after you get the roll developed, there are surpirses - mostly good.
I also didn't mention - this is a timeless image - it could have been shot in 1954 for that matter.
This is Stanley Kane - of FFKR Architects reviewing a set of documents.
Riding the Trax - anything goes -- especially at 7am - ish.
Nikon F100, Ilford HP5+
This is a watershed moment - as this image is from a roll of film I've taken from cradle to grave. Shot on the Nikon F100 on Ilford HP5+ with the 85mm f1.4, developed with Kodak D-76 at 70 Degrees for 13 minutes, and scanned on a legacy Minolta Dimage 5400 series I at 5400 dpi. I say legacy as these necessary consumer scanners are no longer produced - but I'm saving that for another post.
So now everything is in house - and the fixed costs are only film and chemicals. No more $20 per roll for processing. - per roll.
And I have my friend Will Wright to thank for getting me this far and helping me realize what film has too offer.
Nikon F100 on Ilford HP5+
Yashica Mat 124G - Ilford Pan F 50
I dragged the Hula Girl to the beach for a photo shoot -- I take what I can get.
Maui.
Ektar in 100 - Nikon F100 - 50mm f1.4
I have the unique access to the inner workings of an Architectural office - as it's my day job. And there are times when I take advantage to capture those workings, and this is one of them.
A collegue prepares a wall with creative ques to start the creatvie process.
400 speed film is great for indoors - it's perfect, combined with a f1.4 lens. I hardly use 100 ASA as I really like the flexibility 400 provides.
Nikon F100 - Ilford Delta 400 DevScan by theFINDLab
This is Ilford Delta 3200 ie @ 1600 ASA and a bit of a stretch / reasonsing for shooting this fast at 4pm daylight. It was a part of the film exploration process - so I went for it. Another roll is in the fridge on reserve for lower light / night.
I'm finding that HP5+ 400 ASA is a great performer in most light conditions and even low light with a f1.4 lens.
I love the tension of this image.
Nikon F100, 24-120mm D - DevScan by theFINDlab
This is Ektar 100 again -- but with great light of the morning sunrise. You have to move quickly and sort of guess at everything and hope you get something of it. And when it all comes together - you wonder if it really was a guess.
This is shot on the Yashica Mat 124G - 120 format.
DevScan by theFINDlab
Yashica Mat 124G - Ektar 100
I don't have much experience with Kodak's Ektar. I've seen all the advertisements and I've heard all the hype. Everything is true -- great for landscapes on desert islands - and you can't get away from the reds in the skintones. The grain is really tight - be sure to nail your focus with great light and you may just have a winner.
This is 120 -- on the Yashica Mat 124G. 120 Format is gripping.
DevScan by theFindLab
Kodak Ektar - Yashica Mat 124G
I've said it before - develop photographic muscle memory and technique with what ever is available. And - sometimes that means going to extremes - i.e. - Here Kitty, Kitty !!
Nikon F100 - Ilford HP5+
The best thing about film, and the worst thing about film: not seeing the image after capture.
It forces the creation of the discipline to wait. Some times that is very lengthly. My nephew of 7 years, after I took a picture, asked me, “Can I see it ?”.
Ilford HP5 - SLC County Building
I started the film quest with a lot of grain - Delta 3200. It was an aesthetic to pursue which called me to explore for some reason.
Shot at 1600 and developed at 3200. Everyone says this is the way to shoot it - which is what I did - but I haven't shot enough to know the difference. 3200 is their most expensive stock.
This DevScan is by "theFindLab" in Orem, UT. Although expensive they are quickly becoming a premier lab - from my own experiences. I don't know if they think the same thing but it seems I'm seeing more and more Instagram's of their work.
Shot on the Nikon F100 with the kit 24-120D. I haven't quite figured out this lens for performance - but it sure is convenient to have the focal length.