I finally got around to developing a roll I shot earlier this year: Ilford HP5 film, using a Pentax Spotmatic and a Pentax Super Takumar 200mm/f4 lens. Hard to beat the balance and feel of the Pentax lenses! Some street photography purists poo-poo using telephoto lenses for street work, calling it cheating, but I was there and this was the lens on the camera . . .
Pentax Spotmatic, 200mm/4 Super Takumar lens, HP5 film at box speed developed for 15 minute in D-23 1:1)
Today’s image is from a roll I was using to test both a camera, and a film/developer combo. I was testing my newly acquired Olympus Pen F (replacing a faulty/not really repairable Pen FT). The Pen F is a 35mm half-frame SLR of the 1960’s and is truly a cult classic.
The second test involved pairing Eastman Double-X 5222 film with Diafine film developer to increase the speed to around EI 400.
I am happy to say that both tests were successful. 🙂
This image was created the day after the first significant snowfall of the season here in Toronto. The snow turned so many otherwise mundane objects into interesting collections of lines and patterns.
Nikon F2, 24mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Tri-X developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
I am working from home today, nursing a bad back (injured while putting on winter boots, how Canadian is that?), and so was here for the delivery of my ANR (Anti-Newtonion Ring) glass inserts for my scanner. These inserts are designed to flatten curled negatives, without creating Newton’s Rings reflections. I’ve been really unhappy with my scans of certain kinds of films recently (mainly Tri-X), and these inserts have solved the problem, plain and simple: I rescanned a roll from last weekend and what a difference! 🙂
Pentax ME, 24mm/2.8 SMC Pentax Lens, Tri-X at EI 400, developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
Today’s image was created near the base of the Don River in Toronto. Â It is a rather desolate part of town in my opinion, but there are still interesting shapes and lines.
Nikon F2, 24mm/2.8 Nikkor lens, Rollei 80s film, developed in D-23 1:1 for 13 minutes
In the image today I used something old, but new to me; I developed the film using a rather old developer formula known as D-23 which I mixed up from scratch using chemicals bought on line. D-23 is a very simple (two ingredient) developer to mix up, and tends to soften contrast, which is useful for films like Rollei 80s which tends to be contrasty.
Nikon F2, 24mm/f2.8 Nikkor lens (non-AI), Rollei 80s, developed in D-23 1;1
I am writing this blog post from the backstage dressing room of The Crucible, as we await the start of our last performance, so I thought another backstage portrait would be an appropriate subject. This is Annie, at fifteen the youngest member of our cast. She is a remarkable, talented young actor who combines wisdom beyond her years with the spirit and enthusiasm of a child; as such she is perfect for the role of Betty Parris.
(Nikon F2, 50mm/f1.4 Nikkor lens, Tri-X film at E.I. 800, developed in Diafine 3+3)
Today’s image was taken in the communal dressing room backstage at the Alexander Showcase Theatre’s production of The Crucible in which I have a role as Willard, the Marshall. (Five more shows to go, there is still time to come see us!) This photograph is an image of the multi-talented Sharon Zehavi, getting into character for her role as Abigail Williams, ringleader of the teenage girls.
The dressing room is small, Â cramped and noisy as people get ready for the show, but Sharon is clearly in her own universe as she seemingly allows herself to be consumed by the character of Abigail. Â The intensity is incredible. The exposure was 1/30th of a second, but she is so still, so focused, that if I had a tripod the exposure could have been a second or two, and there would still be no blur. Amazing.Â
(Yashica Lynx 5000e 35mm rangefinder, 50mm/f1.8 lens, exposure 1/30th of a second @ f1.8 on Tri-X film at E.I. 1000, developed in Diafine 3+3. Post work done using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2,
with additional post done by Sharon.)
Yes, it has been a while since I’ve posted. My role in the Alexander Showcase Theatre’s production of the Crucible has kept me quite busy of late, but I did have time yesterday to get out and do some shooting with my Nikon F2 35mm SLR and 24mm/f2.8 wide-angle lens. It was a reunion with Eastman SO-331 film, a special process film that is designed to be very contrasty, unless developed differently I used Diafine 3+3 and it seems to keep the contrast in check, although I will be testing with other developers. I did a bit of work in post on this image (toning and sharpening) so it is a hybrid image, sorry purists 🙂
Today another image captured on 6×7, but the camera I used was my Mamiya RZ67. Compared to the Pentax 67, this large, bulky beast definitely feels like a tripod camera, but is still a joy to use, at a slow, contemplative pace.
(90mm/f3.8 lens, Ilford Delta 100 film developed in Rodinal 1+25 for 9 minutes at 20C)Â
My Third Eye 