Category: Available Light

Theme and Variations

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In my last couple of shoots, I have made a point of using different cameras and technologies at the same shoot, and I am glad I did so — I love the different kind of results I get. As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, here is another image of Shreeti, but instead of a high resolution digital image, today’s image is a scan of an instant print (using Fuji FP3000B film in a Polaroid Model 455 Land Camera). Shreet’s look is timeless, and I think the vintage appearance of this print technique captures this, while still retaining her thoroughly modern sensibility.

Shreeti - Polaroid Negative Scan

Losing My Religion, Part 2

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This is another image with a theme about being conflicted about religion. It didn’t pop out when I was shooting, but when I looked at the image later, I couldn’t help but see baleful eyes, angry eyebrows, and a gaping maw, ready to devour. It reminds me of how fear has been an essential part of almost all religions since the dawn of humanity, with the message being worship me or die.

The Monster in the Sanctuary

Strength

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Today’s image is from an amazing photo shoot from earlier today, of model Sarah D. In additional to being a very talented model, horseback rider and dressage instructor (and roller derby player!), Sarah has Cystic Fibrosis and recently received a double lung transplant. She is a very strong and powerful woman, and has incorporated what she has been through (and continues to deal with) into what she is, rather than being dominated or defined by it. I can’t help but ve very impressed by that kind of strength.

This image is a Fuji FP3000B instant film negative scan. I also shot some medium format film, so there will be at least one more post on this topic and remarkable model.

Sarah Polaroid032

Polaroid Week 2012

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I’m focusing a lot on Polaroids right now, as August 13th-17th is Polaroid Week, 2012. This event is run by a group on Flickr; members are allowed to upload two previously unseen instant images per day. I am amazed at the quality of the work I am seeing, and how the particular characteristics of the various instant film and camera combinations work so well for selected subject matter. I recommend visiting the page to see some great imagery!!

I’ve uploaded a couple more images today; the second one is another image of Rebecca, taken using Fuji FP3000B black and white instant film:

Rebecca Polaroid 11

Rough Around the Edges

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Today’s image is of model Emily Decoteau, wearing an amazing costume she made herself, “reverse-engineered” from an illustration she found. The title “Rough Around the Edges” does not apply to her amazing costume work! I am referring to the process used for this image; the original was taken using a Polaroid Land camera model 455, and the negative was allowed to dry, then scanned. (I also added some toning, along with brightness and contrast in post).  I like the fact the the edges are messy, and that bits and pieces of the paper film pack are still visible; to me, that says this image is real and tangible, you can hold it in your hands, knowing it was a witness to the moment.

Emily - Instant Negative Scan

Journey vs. Destination

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Today’s photograph is from a shoot last evening with model/actor Sarah. It was getting dark quickly, but thanks to the 3000 speed instant film (Fuji FP-3000) in my Polaroid Land Camera 455 I was able to get a number of good instant images. If the photo is the destination, then using the Polaroid makes for an interesting journey; Sarah and I were able to review the images as we shot, not as LCD images on the back of a camera, but as a print in our hands, and we both felt that was a crucial difference. Sarah is a perfectionist when it comes to getting her poses and expressions just right, and she certainly did an amazing job!

Sarah Polaroid

The Eyes Still Have It

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When I take portraits, it’s all about the eyes and expression, and I love the expression worn in this image (taken on the way to PAB 2012)  by Adam Gratrix,  an extremely bright and creative podcaster from Surrey, BC. His energy really come through here I think!

Caught in Mid Gulp

(Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR, 50mm f1.4 lens, Tri-X @ E.I. 1000, developed in Diafine 3+3)

Old Friends: Susan and Cheryl

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Today’s image is the latest in my ongoing “Old Friends” project, shot while I was at PAB 2o12 in Ottawa earlier this month. It features my friend Susan Murphy (who was also attending PAB 2012), and her long time friend Cheryl. It had been a while since they had met up in person, but the bond of friendship between the two was quite clear, and both delightful and touching.

Old Friends Ottawa: Susan and Cheryl

(Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR, 50mm 1.4 lens, Tri-X at E.I. 1000, developed in Diafine 3 + 3)

Vintage 35mm Portrait #2

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Today’s image is the second in my project of portraiture taken using vintage 35mm equipment. This specific image was taken using an early 1950’s Contax IIIa rangefinder, coupled with a Soviet Jupiter-8 normal lens. The inherent sharpness of this lens was just what I wanted for this look, while still keeping a vintage feel.

Old VInes

It’s Not Always About Sharpness

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This image is of a fellow cast member from Man of La Mancha, taken at a recent fund-raising event. It was shot using my Leica IIIb rangefinder, and an postwar 50mm/f2 Summitar lens. It was not a very bright room, and I was shooting available light, so even though I was using Tri-X (a reasonably fast film) I had to shoot wide open, at either 1/20th or 1/40th of a second.  I knew that not much would be in focus, but the face and eyes were, and I was able to capture a lovely expression. The Summitar lens has a reputation for fairly swirly out of focus areas when wide open; some people don’t like the effect, others enjoy this characteristic of the lens, and I am in the latter camp — I like what it adds to the image.

Texting at the Table