I'm not even sure if anyone is subscribed to or reads this blog over here on Blogger, but I've decided to move it over to a much friendlier and easier-to-follow place, Tumblr.
All posts have been exported to http://35-millimetre.tumblr.com - follow me over there for more posts about my work, as well as inspiration I find over there. If you use an RSS feed reader, you should still be able to follow me using the above link.
Friday, 2 May 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Misty evening, with nettles
Just a quick post - a couple of shots. The earlier downpour was turning to mist over the grass, and condensation was hanging everywhere. Grabbed my 550D and shot these - was glad of the high ISO rating in the evening light.
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Zorki 4K
Finally got the text roll developed from my recently-purchased Zorki 4K (at Costco, for the ridiculously cheap price of £1.50 for dev-only) and most of the photos have come out ok!
Rangefinder works, it seems.
Converted this photo into b/w, as I quite liked the tones but not really the colours. Like the frantic energy of the birds!
Although I've been wanting to have a go at an old-school rangefinder for a while, I'm not that taken with the Zorki. The process of matching up the vague squares in the viewfinder, using the separate meter to take a reading, dialling it in, then finally taking the photo... not to mention you can't change shutter speed if you've not wound it on, these three dots have to be aligned etc etc... it's all a bit of a faff. So I've decided to sell it on - I'm sure someone else will find much more enjoyment from it, and at least I can confirm it's fully-working now.
A friend also gave me a lovely Pentax ME Super recently:
Cor!
Unfortunately without batteries in, it seemed to shoot the whole roll at, I'm guessing, 1000/1 secs, which means my whole test roll came out underexposed. Still, for a total outlay of £2.50 for the Agfa Vista and Costco devving, it's not the end of the world. It has some batteries in now, and will be used on my next outing.
Both lenses are ones I don't already have, too - particularly looking forward to using the 1.7 end of the 50mm lens. All dust and scratch free - they've been looked after!
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Rescanning - Nikon Coolscan IV vs shop scans
Back in 2011 when I was just starting out with film photography properly, I had a roll of Fomapan 400 developed at a local photo shop - just a little one, next to my then-office on Brick Lane, run by an older guy and obviously geared up for holiday snaps. Must have cost around £7 or so for a black and white processing, and scans on a CD. I liked how they came out, but they were rather small, and I'd like to get a couple of them printed up properly someday, so I decided to re-scan on my little Coolscan IV.
Quite a difference, especially on the last photo! I'm not sure if I prefer all the new scans - the old ones (whole set viewable here) are more dramatic, but have a lot less detail in them. Maybe more tweaking needed before they're perfect!
Friday, 7 March 2014
Folk night - testing low-light shooting on Agfa Vista
I've seen a few nice results from push-processing Agfa Vista 200 (the stalwart Poundland film), so when I went along to a folk night, I thought it'd be an idea to give it a shot (harr harr) myself. The results were pushed to 800, and developed by the lovely people at AG Photolab - I've not used them before but they were blindingly quick and the negs came back in great condition.
I chose my trusty Cosina PM-1, a camera that's never let me down, and for which I have a few nice pieces of glass (used the 28mm for these shots) which has turned out to be lovely and sharp. The colour cast was really red, and I couldn't seem to get it to look normal in Lightroom, so I converted most to black and white. It was easier to bring out the details in the shadows, and I prefer the monochrome shots to the one colour shot I ended up with.
Next time though, I'd take a different camera - the Cosina, being a chunky SLR, is not a quiet beast. The mirror slap had to be timed in with the music. Fiddle dee diddle dee SLAP. Maybe the Olympus XA4 would be better? I'm sure another night will come up, so I'll test it out then!
I chose my trusty Cosina PM-1, a camera that's never let me down, and for which I have a few nice pieces of glass (used the 28mm for these shots) which has turned out to be lovely and sharp. The colour cast was really red, and I couldn't seem to get it to look normal in Lightroom, so I converted most to black and white. It was easier to bring out the details in the shadows, and I prefer the monochrome shots to the one colour shot I ended up with.
Next time though, I'd take a different camera - the Cosina, being a chunky SLR, is not a quiet beast. The mirror slap had to be timed in with the music. Fiddle dee diddle dee SLAP. Maybe the Olympus XA4 would be better? I'm sure another night will come up, so I'll test it out then!
Friday, 27 December 2013
2013 wrap-up
What a year for film photography! A load of films have been discontinued (thanks Fuji!) but film photography itself seems to be increasing in popularity, if anything.
This year was the year I started developing my own black and white film, and I like to think I've improved since my first attempt. I couldn't have got much worse! I learned to stay away from the curly-wurly Fomapan, and tried a load of other films. Favourites have been Ilford HP5+, as seen in my Paris photos, and the C-41 process West Yorkshire Cameras film, as nice-looking as it is versatile. I bought more film than I've managed to use, I still have quite a stack of decent film (in the fridge now) and cheap Agfa Poundland film (not in the fridge).
Camera-wise, I've bought and sold a few different ones, and have settled on the Olympus XA4 as my favourite compact camera (followed closely by the Fujifilm Tiara for its pin-sharp lens and "panoramic" function) as it's quiet, small and hardy. One of the first film SLRs I bought for myself, the Cosina PM-1, has kept its place at the top of my SLR list, with the Olympus OM-10 my dad gave to me following closely behind.
Paris was my favourite opportunity to shoot, this year. Not difficult to get some impressive shots though, with so many lovely landmarks, even in winter. I also enjoyed using the DIY Recesky TLR camera out and about, it gave some lovely dreamy shots, even if it was a bit hit and miss. Digital-wise, I shot my first wedding, and realised that it is so much harder to get nice shots than I thought. Spent more than I'd have liked on the whole affair, as my DSLR was stolen two weeks before the wedding, and the flash I'd bought couldn't be replaced for the same price. Still, now I have an upgraded DSLR, the Canon 550D, and a really nice Metz flash, so I should be set for most situations requiring digital.
Looking back at the photos I shot at the beginning of the year, and the ones now, I think my skills are improving, there are more keepers, fewer "meh" shots. Onwards and upwards for 2014!
This year was the year I started developing my own black and white film, and I like to think I've improved since my first attempt. I couldn't have got much worse! I learned to stay away from the curly-wurly Fomapan, and tried a load of other films. Favourites have been Ilford HP5+, as seen in my Paris photos, and the C-41 process West Yorkshire Cameras film, as nice-looking as it is versatile. I bought more film than I've managed to use, I still have quite a stack of decent film (in the fridge now) and cheap Agfa Poundland film (not in the fridge).
Camera-wise, I've bought and sold a few different ones, and have settled on the Olympus XA4 as my favourite compact camera (followed closely by the Fujifilm Tiara for its pin-sharp lens and "panoramic" function) as it's quiet, small and hardy. One of the first film SLRs I bought for myself, the Cosina PM-1, has kept its place at the top of my SLR list, with the Olympus OM-10 my dad gave to me following closely behind.
Paris was my favourite opportunity to shoot, this year. Not difficult to get some impressive shots though, with so many lovely landmarks, even in winter. I also enjoyed using the DIY Recesky TLR camera out and about, it gave some lovely dreamy shots, even if it was a bit hit and miss. Digital-wise, I shot my first wedding, and realised that it is so much harder to get nice shots than I thought. Spent more than I'd have liked on the whole affair, as my DSLR was stolen two weeks before the wedding, and the flash I'd bought couldn't be replaced for the same price. Still, now I have an upgraded DSLR, the Canon 550D, and a really nice Metz flash, so I should be set for most situations requiring digital.
Looking back at the photos I shot at the beginning of the year, and the ones now, I think my skills are improving, there are more keepers, fewer "meh" shots. Onwards and upwards for 2014!
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Paris + camera reviews
Went to Paris, took lots of photos. Posted them all on Flickr, and a small selection on Exposure.so, a new gallery/photo curation site that has a lovely layout and is so easy to use. Have a look here: http://portfolio.35millimetre.co.uk.
Took the Olympux XA4 (for b/w) and the Fuji Tiara (for colour). The percentage of shots shows which one I enjoyed using the most - the XA4 is just so quiet. So easy to use, the shots come out so nicely. I can't fault it, it's the perfect snapper's film camera. It needs a clean though, on the outside anyway - it's covered in drawer crud from living in my parents' kitchen drawer for years and receiving no love. I'll get some isopropyl alcohol and cotton buds and have at it over the holidays, I think. Re-discovered how much I like Ilford HP5+ too - such contrast and deep blacks, I forgot how nice it was, and how it fits my ideal of what a black and white photo should look like.
Just before the holiday I also splashed out on a Zorki 4K, a Russian "Leica copy" with a nice Jupiter screw-mount lens.
It's in absolutely gorgeous condition, the camera and lens. The case is a little battered but looks like it's been kept on for most of the camera's life. I'm looking forward to learning all its little quirks - like not setting the shutter speed until you've advanced the film wind lever. And using a proper rangefinder, which I've not done before. The lens would also work on any of the early Leicas, should I win the lottery and choose to go down that mad path. Hints and tips for the Zorki very gratefully received!
Took the Olympux XA4 (for b/w) and the Fuji Tiara (for colour). The percentage of shots shows which one I enjoyed using the most - the XA4 is just so quiet. So easy to use, the shots come out so nicely. I can't fault it, it's the perfect snapper's film camera. It needs a clean though, on the outside anyway - it's covered in drawer crud from living in my parents' kitchen drawer for years and receiving no love. I'll get some isopropyl alcohol and cotton buds and have at it over the holidays, I think. Re-discovered how much I like Ilford HP5+ too - such contrast and deep blacks, I forgot how nice it was, and how it fits my ideal of what a black and white photo should look like.
Just before the holiday I also splashed out on a Zorki 4K, a Russian "Leica copy" with a nice Jupiter screw-mount lens.
Phwoar, look at the knobs on that.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
I have terrible GAS
...no not like that.
I've spent the last week researching Voigtlander Bessa cameras. With news of some incoming cash (holy balls!) my mind has of course turned to "what to spend it on", and I've been thinking a Bessa was ideal. Takes the much-lauded Leica mount glass, is small, unobtrusive, good build quality... But then, thinking about it more, what would I use it for?
1) Shooting out and about.
I've got the little Fujifilm Tiara for this. The lens is very sharp, and it's a very small camera. Point-and-shoot, yes, but do I want to be fiddling when I could be missing a shot?
2) Wide-angle shots.
Olympus XA4, the free wonder I found in my parents' drawer. No dice here either.
3) Errrrr.
Herein lies my problem - I think I am trying to fix my lack of inspiration with more gear, which doesn't really work.
Maybe I'll just get a nice Gordy strap for my Olympus or Cosina instead.
I've spent the last week researching Voigtlander Bessa cameras. With news of some incoming cash (holy balls!) my mind has of course turned to "what to spend it on", and I've been thinking a Bessa was ideal. Takes the much-lauded Leica mount glass, is small, unobtrusive, good build quality... But then, thinking about it more, what would I use it for?
1) Shooting out and about.
I've got the little Fujifilm Tiara for this. The lens is very sharp, and it's a very small camera. Point-and-shoot, yes, but do I want to be fiddling when I could be missing a shot?
2) Wide-angle shots.
Olympus XA4, the free wonder I found in my parents' drawer. No dice here either.
3) Errrrr.
Herein lies my problem - I think I am trying to fix my lack of inspiration with more gear, which doesn't really work.
Maybe I'll just get a nice Gordy strap for my Olympus or Cosina instead.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Fujifilm TL Super Mini (Tiara) - tiny and sharp
Fujifilm TL Super Mini (Tiara) + Jessops cheapy film, a set on Flickr.
I picked up a Fujifilm TL Super Mini (also called the Tiara in Japan) from a boot fair for £3 a while ago. It's got a cute lens action when you open the cover - I'm a fan of clamshell designs, as my Olympux XA4 is one too - and a really easy to use drop-in loading action. It's also got a nifty "panoramic" function, which isn't truly panoramic, like an XPan or similar, it just masks a 35mm frame. The lens is pin-sharp though, and the colours it produces are just gorgeous. I'd love to try it with some really contrasty black and white film. Watch this space, more to come from this little camera.
Canon 630, Fuji Acros 100
Canon 630, Fuji Acros 100, a set on Flickr.
More playing with Fuji Acros. This time at Lewes Castle, and in the snow we had earlier this year. One snow shot came out nicely but otherwise, I'm finding this film a bit meh. I think it's not contrasty enough for me. Might go back to Ilford's b/w films - any suggestions very welcome!
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Cub & Co - handmade leather straps, and a film holder!
Cub and Company are another handmade leather strap seller, but they also make these cute-as-hell film holders. Would love one, or a strap.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Hever Castle
...or, "In which I underexpose almost a whole roll".
We took a trip to Hever Castle in the recent blistering heat, and I thought it might be nice to take a camera along. I took my trusty Cosina PM-1, a 28mm lens and a circ-pol, loaded with Kodak 200, one of the rolls of film that came in my recent grab bag from 4 Corner Store.
The results were mixed, but I almost universally under-exposed the whole roll. I was trying to compensate for the bright conditions, but I guess having the polariser on there too, mucked it all up. I managed to salvage a couple of photos, but they've come out very grainy. Not sure if I'll bother with Kodak 200 in future, seems a bit of a cheapy film. Which is shame, as I've got 2 rolls of Kodak 400 Max in the bag too.
Let me know what you think - the wolf is my favourite.
We took a trip to Hever Castle in the recent blistering heat, and I thought it might be nice to take a camera along. I took my trusty Cosina PM-1, a 28mm lens and a circ-pol, loaded with Kodak 200, one of the rolls of film that came in my recent grab bag from 4 Corner Store.
The results were mixed, but I almost universally under-exposed the whole roll. I was trying to compensate for the bright conditions, but I guess having the polariser on there too, mucked it all up. I managed to salvage a couple of photos, but they've come out very grainy. Not sure if I'll bother with Kodak 200 in future, seems a bit of a cheapy film. Which is shame, as I've got 2 rolls of Kodak 400 Max in the bag too.
Let me know what you think - the wolf is my favourite.
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