Category: Color

Hacking the Process, Part 2

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In a recent post, I showed an example of what could be done with the negative from Fuji’s instant black and white film (FP-3000C), once allowed to dry and then scanned. Today, another example of hacking the process: it is possible to take the negative from Fuji’s colour instant film (FPC-100) and carefully wash the black backing off with bleach, and then wash the developer off with plain water. You are left with a transparent negative that can be scanned as a colour negative (albeit requiring a lot of colour correct in the post work). I love the results, and the messy borders add to the character of the image, in my opinion. I am also struck by the sharpness of this approach, compared to the scan of the original print, which seems soft to me. Expect to see more bleached negatives in the very near future!

My first attempt at bleaching/cleaning a Fuji FP-100c negative

(Classic car in Kensington Market, taken with Polaroid Land Camera model 100)

Making Connections

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I was out with my Polaroid camera today, and on three different occasions I was stopped by a smiling passerby, asking questions about the camera: how old it was, where do I get film, etc. It was like being out walking one’s dog, as a means for initiating conversations with strangers (and as an introvert, I often find this very difficult to do!). I have also gotten the same reaction when out with a Rolleicord Twins Lens Reflex.

If a goal of photography is connecting with people, then these vintage cameras help me fulfill that goal!

Busker
(Street busker shot in Kensington Market 22 July, 2012, Polaroid 100 Land camera, Fuji FP-100C instant colour film)

Kensington Market, Toronto

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Kensington Market in Toronto is one of my favourite places in Toronto: colourful, eclectic, but a bit gritty and rough around the edges. It is certainly not a pretentious or snooty part of town! This past Saturday I went down with three cameras, including a Nikon SLR with a 17mm super wide-angle lens, loaded with slide film (Fuji Velvia 100). The slide film was cross processed (developed as a color negative), resulting in interesting colour shifts and high contrast. I was quite happy with how the set turned out.

Kensington Market, Toronto

Artificial Hipster

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I took this picture of a fellow film enthusiast named Joe at the recent Analog’s Pulse event in Cleveland. When I saw this ridiculous ad I knew I had to comment somehow.

Cleveland - Analog Pulse

Film shooters are often derided as self-important hipsters, more concerned with projecting an image, rather than creating images, and ads like this just add to the misconception. For me, film shooters are more like the guy in front of the ad, who quietly does what he loves.

The ad is artificial. The shooter is real!

More Reflections

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I believe I’ve mentioned before that I love reflection shots (mirrors, glass walls on buildings etc.) I saw this mirror ball in Cleveland a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t resist. If you look closely you’ll see me in the reflection, so it does qualify as a self-portrait 🙂

Cleveland Cross-Processed Photo Walk

(Shot on Fuji slide film, cross-processed as a C-41 colour negative)

The Familiar

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My day job is located in North Etobicoke in Toronto, and frankly it is not the most picturesque part of town. However, in the morning light there are things of interest I pass by every day, as I walk from the bus station to the office.

Rexdale Transmission Lines

Times Two

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Models Emily DeCoteau and Jennifer Bettencourt have both graced my blog multiple times, so it was only fitting that a shoot involving two models would feature them. The idea was a faerie theme, shot in Guild Park, the perfect location. Shooting two models instead of one takes twice the energy, and increases the variables involved, but happily this shoot went very well. Emily and Jennifer worked together very well, and both displayed great characters, with interesting contrasts. I am quite happy with the results.

Emily and Jennifer film

(Nikon FE, 105/2.5 Nikkor lens, 35mm Kodak Portra Colour negative film, developed in home C-41 kit)

Cleveland

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“Cleveland??” The U.S. border guard looked at me with a mixture of suspicion and surprise, as if there were no good reason to go to Cleveland. Thankfully that is not the case, and last weekend I had a lot of fun attending Analog Pulse, a film photography event in Cleveland, Ohio, put on by the Aperture Photo and Variety store. (The photo today is Fuji slide film, cross-processed as C-41, taken during the “Cross Process Walk” part of the event.) It was a really fun day, and it was great meeting a number of people in person that I only had met online up until then. As for Cleveland, the downtown is lovely and very photogenic!

Cleveland Cross-Processed Photo Walk

Favourites

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Today’s image of model Julia Lewis was taken in what is becoming a favourite location of mine: Guild Park in Scarborough, Ontario. It was shot using Kodak Portra 400, which is rapidly becoming a favourite colour film

Julia Lewis - Guild Park 021