Silver Light Alchemy

No. 1

2017-10-01T12:52:00.000-04:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Reala Arista C-41 Kit

When left alone, nature slowly reclaims all.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

The Overgrown Path

2017-09-30T13:49:00.000-04:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f3.5 Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41 Kit

This is the opposite view from my post The Barred Path, in hindsight the two taken as a single work invoke a sense of having no clear options. One can remain outside the gates, or turn and walk into an uncertain future.

The two present together

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

The Barred Path...

2017-09-24T12:26:00.000-04:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 150mm f2.8 Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41

I have an artistic fascination with old doors that I cannot fully explain. I can say the ones that call to me do so at some sort of emotional level. Maybe it is just a childish curiosity of what may lie beyond, or maybe it is the frustration of not knowing. I do feel they are symbolic barriers to the past, observers of comings and goings that will never tell their secrets.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo, using Epson OEM software.

Love....

2017-09-20T19:00:00.000-04:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f4.5 Fujifim Reala 100 Arista C-41 Kit

The "Love" statue near Riverfront Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. Not much to say on this one other than I like the way the Arsat 45mm accentuates the converging lines of the sculpture from this angle.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo Scanner using Epson's OEM software.

The James Through the Trees

2017-09-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Kit

A peek at the James River passing through Lynchburg, Virginia through the dense foliage on its banks. I returned to my Kiev 60's to shoot my last two rolls of Fujifilm Reala and despite their quirks, I still love them as field shooters.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

In the Weeds No. 2 Fujifilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation

2017-09-17T12:38:00.000-04:00

Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c Negative Reclamation

I have toyed with the Fujifilm FP-100c negative reclamation process many times, usually with disappointing results, but sometimes I get an interesting outcome. This is one of those times. For me, it is the imperfections of the process that make it attractive. The resulting negatives are very thin and low contrast, at least in my experience, and scanning them is a challenge. The results have a pastel quality giving an ethereal feel or maybe my kalopsia is showing.

The original instant print can be found here: In The Weeds.

Scanned using an HP Scanjet G4050 using Vuescan 9 x64 (9.5.85).

Creeper in the Shadows

2017-09-11T19:00:00.000-04:00

Olympus Stylus 35mm f2.8 Out of Data Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit

Another image from my Olympus Infinity Stylus, this one showing off its more than capable exposure system. I did a few different exposures for this image, some with fill flash, some without, but I decided the one without fill flash was the best. If you look closely at the image enlarged, you can see and interesting bokeh effect created but the light passing through the out of focus leaves in the background. The effect is most pronounced in the upper left section of the image.

Scanning with a Pakon F135 Scanner using Pakon's OEM software.

Hint of Autumn

2017-09-10T11:11:00.000-04:00

Olympus Stylus 35mm f2.8 Out of Data Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit

During its heyday, the Olympus Infinity Stylus was known the professional photographer's point and shoot camera of choice. Its sharp Olympus 35mm f2.8 lens, compact size, and elegant clamshell made it the perfect pocket companion for serious photographers looking for a convenience and quality. Add features such as decent close focus capabilities and an excellent fill flash mode and you had a camera that would produce SLA quality images without the bulk. I picked mine up at a resale shop for around $3.00 and have never regretted the investment. As you can see from the image above, it is a capable little camera.

Scanned with a Pakon F135 using Pakon's OEM software.

In The Weeds

2017-09-05T18:50:00.000-04:00

Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c

I love instant film, especially the old pull and peel type which, unfortunately, appears to be a dying format. I will miss being able to load a pack of Fujifilm's FP-100c into my Polaroid 405 back and turning my Speed Graphic into a massive instant camera. There is just something about the soft contrast of this type of instant film that makes it unique.

Scanned using an HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM Software.

A Devilish Grin

2017-09-04T19:00:00.000-04:00

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Kit

This was a creepy find, even in broad daylight. The line "Why So Serious" from the Film "The Dark Night" comes to mind and I expected the Joker to pop out of one of the surrounding dark doorways at any moment.

Shooting with the GA645Zi feeling like cheating as it makes shooting media format so effortless. The autofocus is usually tack sharp and the exposure system is great even in tough lighting situations. The built in flash is excellent for daylight fill, as you can see in this image.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

An Unexplained Madness....

2017-09-03T17:58:00.000-04:00

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Processing Kit

Someone made use of a broken plastic chair to jot down a profound thought. Captured as found the full text is;

"An unexplained madness in a trembling mortal form,

Here to bring a thundering God to his knees."

-Anonymous

It is a shame a cannot properly credit the author, but he or she did not sign their work.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo, using Epson's EOM software.

Desert Boulders

2017-08-30T19:12:00.000-04:00

Fujifilm GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Processing Kit

Another image from the roll of Fujifilm Reala that sat in my GA645Zi for nearly two years. I am sure my fellow analog photographers feel there are two sins in the sentence previous,

I left a perfectly good roll of film in a camera for nearly two years
I did not use my Fujifilm GA645Zi for nearly two years.

Either one is bad enough on its own, but combine the two and I really need to do some penance to the Analog Gods.

Anyway, it is a nice image of the boulders in the Sonoran Desert outside of Phoenix Arizona.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Sonoran Desert no. 1

2017-08-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

Fujifim GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C41 Processing Kit

Not bad for a roll of film that sat in the camera for nearly two years. This image was taken in the Sonoran Desert outside of Phoenix in September of 2015, but due to my hiatus from analog photography, is sat lonely and undeveloped until now. The roll held up well. I wish I could say the same for the other roll from this trip, which got two unprotected x-ray baths during the trip. I am sure they will be the subject of a future post.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Majestic....

2017-08-28T20:06:00.000-04:00

Fujifilm GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Processing Kit - So many tones and textures. I have always loved Fujifilm's Reala and the is one of my few remaining rolls. The GA645Zi makes shooting medium format a guilty pleasure.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Graffiti On Rails...

2017-08-20T14:20:00.000-04:00

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50

Just random graffiti along the tracks of the lower basin in Lynchburg Virginia. I am still drawing from my first roll of Film Ferrania P30 Alpha, making it an extremely productive roll. The angle of the light was not ideal for these shots, so I am extremely pleased with how well this film performed.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

A View With No Room

2017-08-19T16:13:00.000-04:00

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50 - This is my favorite shot from my first roll of Film Ferrania P30 Alpha. This couch was sitting outside by an abandoned building surrounded by tall grass. I shot it from several angles and with several different compositions but settled on this one as the best.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

Talk About Old Werld (sic)

2017-08-16T18:20:00.000-04:00

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50 - Keeping the Ferrania P30 Alpha shots coming, this was an interesting piece of graffiti on the lower half of an old door. I liked the detail of the leaves in the foreground and the varied tones of the door.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

Hydrant no. 1

2017-08-15T20:00:00.000-04:00

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50 Another image from my first roll of Ferrania P30 Alpha. The grain structure and sharpness are great and it worked will with one of my favorite developers, Adox Adonol, a Rodinal equivalent. I used the R09 development time provided by Ferrari as a starting point and it seemed to be right on the mark.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

First Roll of Film Ferraria's P30 Alpha

2017-08-14T19:00:00.000-04:00

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50- A long time ago, 2014 to be exact, I backed Film Ferrania's Kickstarter to relaunch their color reversal film production. Needless to say, it has taken some time for my investment to bear fruit, but a few weeks ago I received two 35mm rolls of their new monochrome film P30 Alpha. True, it is not the color reversal film I was originally expecting, but they offered this as an alternative and hey... I love trying any new film. I also figured this would be a good time to revive my passion for analog photography and this Blog.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

Instax Evil Dead

2016-03-13T16:51:00.001-04:00

Lomo-Instant Camera with Close-Up lens Fujifilm Instax Mini Film - Inspired by last night's viewing of the original version of "The Evil Dead" and a general lack of any in my other project coming to fruition any time soon, I thought I would play with some Instax close-ups. When Instax film is extremely over exposed it actual begins to product a negative effect as you can see on the top of the skull. This adds and eery touch to this image.

Scanned with a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Instax Berries

2016-03-01T14:29:00.000-05:00

Lomo'Instant with Close-Up Lens Fujifilm Instax Mini Film - Shot after a heavy snow in late afternoon sun, I love the contrast between the red berries and the blue tinted shadows.

Scanned with a HP Scant G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Torture

2016-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Politics aside, this taggers placement of this work is perfect. Stenciled onto a buildings cracking foundation, the positioning only reinforces the message of the work. I chose a slightly over exposed negative for this post as it heightened the already high contrast of the Tri-X and Adonal combination.

Scanned with and Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Bricks, Grass and Tags

2016-02-20T12:35:00.002-05:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Another study in texture and tones, a common thread in my current work. There are so many things going on here, the uneven tones of the brick, the contrast of brick and mortar, the pattern of the masonry and the randomness of the grass. These elements appeal to me, even when view the scene in color, my mind translates it to grey.

Scanned with an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Farewell Kurokiba, Farewell....

2016-02-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

Death is never more appalling then when it comes to someone who has barely begun to live. Kurokiba came to us after her mother was unable to take care of her at 19 days old. We took her in, bottle fed her and made her part of our family. Unfortunately, the long life that should have been was cut short by an illness the Vet was unable to cure and, at just 18 months, she passed from our lives.

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Kodak Ultramax 400 Arista C-41

Scanned using a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM scanning software.

Pallet

2016-02-17T19:16:00.001-05:00

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - The overlapping, smeared appearance of this door reminded me of an Oil Painter's pallet. Layer upon layer of tone and textured blended with care and purpose, but giving no hint of the actual work in progress.

Scanned using an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's EOM Software.