Happy Holidays. However You Celebrate

Bronica S2A Nikkor 75mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X 400 HC-110 Dil. B - From the 1980's. Still one of my favorites. I wish I'd never let that Bronica go.

Drama

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Efke 100R Adox Adonal 1:50 -  My first time using Efke 100R and my first time using Adox Adonal (Rodinal). I always charted a safe course with Black and White developers, sticking to what I knew worked. In my days working in a camera store in the 1980's Rodinal seemed to be of the "Old Timers", too stubborn to try new, modern developers. Pairing it with Efke 100R guaranteed heavy grain, but I know that going in. I like the look of both the film and developer provide. More experiment is on tap for both this film and developer.

Gargoyle Campfire Color Exposure 11

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFILM NPH Pro 400 Arista C-41 - The warmth of color and tungsten. No corrections, not filters. I think it makes a nice effect. I have loved Fujifilm's NPH since it first came out.

Gargoyle Campfire Exposure 2

Keiv 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Rollei Retro 400s Arista 76 Developer Stock - Another from the same series. I like these, but I think I will revisit the shot.

Gargoyle Campfire Exposure 9

Keiv 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Rollei Retro 400s Arista 76 Developer Stock - An old Aquarium bulb and some fast film and lead to interesting results. I love the luck of the Retro 400s film, but am struggling with it's tendency to curl, making scanning difficult.

From The Archives - Old Boat Grandview 1982

Pentax ME Super 50mm F1.7 Kodak Tri-X D76 Microdol X Stock - Another old favorite. Late fall in the Grandview section of Hampton Virginia in late 1982. My first 35mm SLR was a Pentax ME Super. I learned to shoot on my Father;s Kondak Retina IIIs before getting the ME Super.

From the Archives - Sometimes the ones you like don't make sense.

Nikon F2AS Nikkor 35-105 f3.5-4.5 (assumed) Fuji Neopan 400 Kodak HC-110 - Most likely shot in 1987 or 1988 this is a one off shot I keep coming back too. It seems to ask more questions than it answers. Grainy, missed focus and contrasting , I have to assume this roll was pushed, but the specifics are long lost to time. Most would consider this a cast off, but there is just something about it I like. Scan is pretty much "as is" which seems fitting for this image.

Gargoyle Exposure 12

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFILM Acros 100 Arista 76 1:1 - Single tungsten side light. Please with Shadow and Depth of field. Last of his series. He looks a little more timid in this one.

Gargoyle Exposure 7

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFILM Acros 100 Arista 76 1:1 - Single tungsten side light. Please with Shadow and Depth of field.

Gargoyle Exposure 4

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFILM Acros 100 Arista 76 1:1 - Single tungsten side light. Please with Shadow and Depth of field. I like the dark moody feel this one.

Gargoyle Exposure 1

Kiev 60 Arsat 800mm f2.8 FUJIFILM Acros 100 Arista 76 1:1 - Single tungsten side light. Please with Shadow and Depth of field.

Instant!

Graflex Speed Garphic Optar 135mm f4.7 FUJIFILM FP-100B Instant Film - I have always loved Instant film, especially pull and peel pack films. I recent picked up a Polaroid 405 Back for my Graflex. This my first time using FUJFILM's instant film. The FP-100B seems like a great film. Sharp, good contrast and decent latitude.

From the Archives - New America Theatre

Mamiya Universal 100mm f2.8 Kodak Gold 100 - The Side wall of the new America Theatre Shot sometime in 1987 or 1988. I lived in an Apartment  above the bike shop next store and amazing always likes this view.

29 Market Madison Heights VA

WZFO Start TLR Euktar 75mm f4.0 Rollei Retro 400s Arista 76 1:1 - Just over the John Lynch Memorial Bridges from Lynchburg VA. the 29 Market is closed and for sale, but makes and interesting subject for testing my new WZFO Start TLR. Made in Poland the Start is a rugged basic Fixed lens Twin Lens Reflex.

Alternative Energy no. 2

Mamiya Press 23 100mm f2.8 FUJIFILM Neopan Acros 100 Arista 76 Developer 1:1 - Same idea different camera. The Press lens has a little less contrast than the Kiev lens, giving the shot an overall softer feel. If that is possible with the subject matter.

Alternative Energy no. 1

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f3.5 FUJIFILM Neopan Acros 100 Arista 76 Develop 1:1 - The Skull returns with a Science Fiction flare. 6x6 negative scanned with an Epson V500, using the OEM software.

Large Format no. 1

Grafex Speed Graphic Optar 1.5 f4.7 Kodak T-Max 400 (expired) Arista 76 Developer 1:1 - Sometime around 1995 I bought a 25 Sheet box of 4x5 Kodak T-Max 400, with the intention of using it with the Speed Graphic I bought in the same year. 16 years later I am finally shooting it. Sometimes life gets in the way.  The film held up surprisingly well. The expiration date is 01/1996, but there is minimal base fogging and the sensitivity does not seem to be that fair off. Scanned using a HP ScanJet 5370c.

FUJIFILM Neopan Acros 100 no. 2 (Untitled)

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFIM Neopan Acros 100 D-76 Stock - Another shot from the same set.

FUJIFILM Neopan Acros 100 no. 1 (Untitled)

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFIM Neopan Acros 100 D-76 Stock - My first roll of Neopan Acros 100. I think I am in love. Perfect for studio work. Initial scans seemed a little flat, but tweaking the levels seems to clear that up. Grain and sharpness are great.

The World through a Plastic Eye no. 2

Bell+Howell BF35 35mm f7.7 FUJIFILM Superia 200 CA135 - Obviously infinity focus was not the goal on this "focus free" camera. It seems to be best between 5 to 12 feet, but even that varies. This is the wrecked bridge to The Treasure Island Camp on the James River in Lynchburg VA.

The World through a Plastic Eye no. 1

Bell+Howell BF35 35mm f7.7 FUJIFILM Superia 200 CA135 - The vague focus of a plastic lens. I am at a loss to find the plain of focus. It seems to be closer on the left than it is on the right.

Plastic Fantastic Bell+Howell BF35

This was a Goodwill find, my $2.00 Bell+Howell BF35. All plastic construction, including the Focus Free 35mm f7.7 (yes 7.7) lens. The BF35 has a single shutter speed of 1/100 and manual advance and rewind. It does have a built in hot shoe for an electronic flash, so what more could you ask for. The built in lens cover also locks the shuttle. By the way the BF stand for "Big Finder." The camera does have a big bright viewfinder.

Canon Canonet QL17 G-III

My Canonet. One on my favorite fixed lens rangefinders. The 40mm f 1.7 lens is both fast and sharp. The build of the camera is excellent, almost all metal. It has shutter priority automatic and a top shutter speed of 1/500 with a low shutter speed of 1/4 and B (bulb). The size is perfect for a take everywhere camera. More on the Canonet here Camerapedia.

Autumn in Lynchburg

Canon Canonet QL17 G-III 40mm f1.7 FUJIFILM Superia 200 CA135- Autumn is hitting is stride in Lynchburg, Virginia.  A walk in Riverside part overlooking looking the James River yielded this shot. I love shooting with rangefinders like the Canonet.

Film Noir #2

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Rollei Retro 400s 120 D-76 Stock - One from the same series. Every picture should tell a story, what that story is, that is up to you.

Film Noir #1

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Rollei Retro 400s 120 D-76 Stock -  A bit of my Helmet Newton influence showing, or is it Film Noir. I am tired of seeing the world through the filtered, clean, sterile eyes of some ad  executive. Reality is beautiful, plan and simple

Graflex Speed Graphic Image no. 2

Same set up, slightly different angle.

Graflex Speed Graphic Image no. 1

Graflex Speed Graphic Graflex Optar 135mm f4.7 using a 6x6 120 Roll Back.  Kodak T-Max 400 D-76 Stock. Using the 120 back mean I am shooting through the best part of the glass and it shows. This lens is tack sharp, The Graflex Roll back requires you to remove the ground glass back to install it so it is important to get things nailed down.

Breaking Out the Big Gun

The Weapon of Choice today. My Graflex Speed Graphic with it's Graflex Optar 135mm f4.7 lens. Shooting with a Graflex 6x6 120 roll film back. Images to follow.

Object of Desire no. 1

All I want for Christmas..... Check it out here. Voightlander Bessa III

Feeling the Season II

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FUJIFILM NPH 400 Arista C-41 Processing - Back to color, and the standard Kiev 80mm lens. May retry this when the leaves have changed a bit more. The shelf life of the Arista C-41 procession kit is still impressive. Well over 2 months since I mixed it and still producing acceptable results.

Feeling the Season

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f3.5 Kodak T-Max 400 TMY D-76 1:1 - Test out my "new to me" Arsat 45mm f3.5 for the Kiev 60, freshly deliver from Russia. A Beautiful lens. More to come from this lens.

A little Out of Date

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f3.5 FUJIFILM NPH 400 Expired 1995-6 Arista C41 - Found some expired film hiding in a box and could not resist the urge to shoot it. Shot at rated 400 ISO and developed normally, film has a some base fogging and appear to be about 2 stops under exposed. I have 2 more rolls, so further experimentation to come.

Voightlander Bessa 66 Another Example

Voightlander Bessa 66 FUJIFILM NPH400 Arista C-41 - Another shot from the Bessa. Late afternoon so I was starting to get some warm Sweet Light. Nice colors and textures here, again showing off the Bessa's Lens.

Voightlander Bessa 66 Shot

Voightlander Bessa 66 FUJIFILM NPH 400 Arista C-41 - Just a quick snap to show the Bessa's Sharpness and Color rendition.

Voightlander Bessa 66

My Voightlander Bessa 66. Another Medium Format folder with guestimation focus. The Vaskar 75mm f4.5 is tack shard, if not fast. The Bessa 66 does have a top shutter speed of 1/500th of a second so is definitely a usable snapshot camera.

Chess Pieces

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak T-Max TMY 400 D-76 Stock. A few hours spent with my Grandfather's chest set. My Father taught me to play chess with these.

Skull Flowers

Nikon F2AS 55mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor FUJIFILM Neopan SS 100 D-76 Stock - Fox Skull and cucumber blossoms. The tree in the background is an old Black Walnut.

Scanning Film

Nikon 8008 55mm Micro Nikkor f2.8 AIS FUJI Superia 200 Arista C-41 Kit - Scanning film is an art I am still working to master. This is scanned in a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE plus software. Dust us still the enemy as it is with printing, but even more so for scanning. The Dual Scan III does not have Digital ICE like my Epson V500 does but the dust and scratch removal software in Silverfast seems to be excellent.

Flying Flower

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Hoya +1 close up lens D-76 Stock - Nothing special, just and attractive shot of a flower. The leaves seem like wings, it almost appears to be flying

In Memory of Our Vets

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak T-Max TMY 400 D-76 1:1. Seemed fitting for the day.

Pokeweed

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Hoya +2 Close Up Lens FUJIILM NPH 400 Arista -C-41 Developing kit. Pretty but poison, more on pokeweed here. These are the ripe berries with their fall steams visible. They Arista C-41 kit seems to be holding up well. Mixes over a month ago. it has processed 2 rolls of 135-36 and 3 rolls of 120 with good results. I have been bumping the developing time by 15 seconds each run to compensate for loss of developer activity. Initial developing time of 3 mins 15 secs. at 100 degree f.

Plastic Glory

My Diana F+ in here her plastic Glory. The second shot shows the FUJIFILM Instax Back.

Instant Diana F+ Lomography

Diana F+ with a FUJIFILM Instax Back. Instant film, a cheap plastic camera with a plastic lens, 2 German Shepherds and a Blonde. What more could an Analog photographer ask for.
More on the Diana here Diana F+.

Teacup Roses

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Hoya +1 Close-Up lens Kodak T-Max TMY 400 D-76 Stock. I love the isolation close up photography provides a subject. Things seem to emerge from the blur.

Pilar of Strength

Keiv 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak T-Max TMY 400 Developer D-76 1:1 - This pilar is located in the Lynchburg City Cemetery, one of my favorite places to shoot. Dating back to before the Civil War the Head Stones and monuments provide ample subjects. Scanned with an Epson V500 with almost no correction to the original scan.

Stone and Bone

Nikon F2AS Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Micro FUJIFILM Neopan SS 100 Developer D-76 Stock - I found an old fox skull some time ago and finally found a good use for it.

Jzette Snapshot

One of the neighborhood cats was nice enough to pose for me. Shot on Kodak T-Max TMY 400 120. Developer D-76 1:1, Scanner Epson V500. Mild tone Levels adjustment using Lightzone by Light Crafts. LightZone

JZETTE

JZETTE I love old folding cameras. These were the pocket cameras of their day. This is the Jzette. Made in Germany with a Xenostar 7.5cm f3.5, the Jzette sports guesstimation focus and a screaming top shutter speed of 1/150th of a second. An image from this camera will be in the next post.