Holgamods 612 Pan

Added on by John Sturr.

 

I’ve been off the net for a while.  Last weekend, always an emotional event (see my March 28th post, been there done that), and i picked up a new camera and that had my attention also.  

Since shooting film I’ve been fascinated with going with a bigger negative.  But - with that comes economies of scale and I haven’t wanted to quite approach that subject.  Instead I decided to pursue staying with 120 - and that means going wider.

Enter the Holga Holgamod 612 Pan.  Developed by Randy Smith of www.holgamods.com - he takes a HolgaPan and mounts a large format 90mm f6.8 lens and all you have a stunning capable panoramic camera shooting a 6cm x 12cm negative.  

Here’s a test image - on Ilford HP5+ @f32 - and a video I put together of the camera.


Back to the roots.

Added on by John Sturr.

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

Maui Palms

Added on by John Sturr.

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

The Plastic Architect

Added on by John Sturr.

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+

Maui on a Boat

Added on by John Sturr.

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

the Accidentals

Added on by John Sturr.

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+


Timelessness

Added on by John Sturr.

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.

Watershed

Added on by John Sturr.

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+


Creative Process

Added on by John Sturr.

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

Street Shooting

Added on by John Sturr.

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

Whale watching in Ektar

Added on by John Sturr.

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