"Beauty" Exposure no. 4

Beauty Lite III Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 FujiFilm Neopan SS 100 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Another frame from my 1st roll shot with they Beauty Lite III. At its best photography can make us look at common objects in a different way, bestow beauty onto the everyday scenes or items. As a photographer I like to explore for the less obvious subject, the ignored element of a site. The camera. film, light and the photographers decisions all play part is celebrating the subject.

First "Beauty" Shot

Beauty Lite III Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 FujiFilm Neopan SS 100 Adox Adonal 1:50 - The first frame from the first roll with my Christmas gift Beauty Lite III 35mm rangefinder. The Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 lens is crisp and contrasty and there is little to no light fall off at the corners. This was shot against and overcast sky so any fall off would be obvious. More on the Beauty Lite III can be found in my previous post.

The Beauty Lite III 35mm Rangefinder Camera

Introducing the Beauty Lite III 35mm Rangefinder Camera from the Beauty Camera Co. LTD. of Tokyo Japan. Manufactured starting in 1961 this camera was also known as the Lightomatic III or the Lightmatic III. The camera's glass is a fixed Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 fitted with a Copal-SV in lens leaf shutter. Shutter speeds range from 1/500th to 1 Sec with a B setting, aperture range is 1.9 to 16. The camera's other features include a self timer, X and M Flash syncing through a pc flash socket, and a built on coupled Selenium meter. Metering is a single needle centering type, viewable both on the top of the camera and through the viewfinder. Focusing is achieved through a very bright coupled split image rangefinder in the camera's viewfinder.

The Beauty Lite III is extremely well made, with a rugged metal frame and nice fit and feel. Weighing in a just over 1 lbs. 8 oz., the camera is substantial but not bulky. The size and design is similar to the Leicas of the time. Film advance is a very positive single stroke mechanism with the ability to lock the shuttle release by pushing the advance lever flush with the camera body. Shutter Speed, Aperture, focus and ASA(ISO) setting are all controlled via rings on the lens, and though space is tight all controls are easily managed.

Available viewfinder information is limited to framing, focusing and metering needle, but the viewfinder, rangefinder, focusing frame and metering are all bright and easily viewed in all lighting conditions. Film loading is a typical manual slotted take up spool and is very easily achieved. Rewinding is also typical of most cameras of this vintage, with a top mounted rewind knob and a film release button on the bottom of the camera.

One nice cosmetic design feature is the notched rest for the camera's film rewind knob, purely a design flourish, but adds to the overall quality look and feel of this camera. I have an admitted soft spot for rangefinder cameras, as I first learned true photography on my Father's Kodak Retina IIIs, and the Beauty reaffirms that soft spot. The camera handles well and is whisper quiet. The bright rangefinder makes focusing easy and the lens mounted controls puts everything at your finger tips. After shooting my 1st roll, I found the Biokor-S lens to be extremely sharp with nice contrast. Edge to edge sharpness appears to be excellent and exposure is consistent over the entire image area.

Thank You to my Wife for finding this little gem, it made the perfect Christmas gift. I suspect this will become my general "carry" camera, always loaded and ready. The 1st roll through this camera is developed and scanned and samples are to follow.

From the Archive - Robert F. Snow & Son Bicycles & Repair

Unknown Camera and Lens Kodak Tri-X 400 developer possibly HC-110 Dil. B - Technically, this shot is far from perfect, but I like it. Shot sometime in the late 1980's in Phoebus VA., it feels much older, but then again Phoebus has that look and feel. The camera used for this image is unknown, this is just a frame from a roll of miscellaneous images. My first solo apartment was above Robert F. Snow and Son, and as far as I know, the shop and the apartment are still there.

Missed. Variations

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 FujiFilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Kit - I approached the shot from my last post Missed. exposure no. 10, in a number of different ways, both Black and White Film and Color film. Though I chose a black and white as my favorite of the series, the color roll yielded some interesting results....

Exposure no. 3 - No filter tungsten front lighting and daylight back lighting...

Exposure no. 4 - An Ambico Tobacco Gradiant filter, tungsten front lighting and daylight back lighting...

Exposure no. 9 - An Ambico Sepia Filter, tungsten front lighting and daylight back lighting...

 Exposure no. 12 - Lens Arsat 150mm f2.0 with a 20mm extension tube, tungsten front lighting and daylight back lighting...

                                                 

Missed exposure no. 10

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Adox Art CHS 100 Arista 76 1:1 - We walk razor's edges of endless possibilities. Indiscernible paths, side by side, each with its own destination. As we change paths, the others go from what could have been, to what will never be.....

Household Object #1

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 ISO 100 Arista.EDU Ultra 4x5 Sheet Film Adox Adonal 1:50 - Large Format Photography is about the process. The View Camera is still a very new tool in my camera toolbox. Right now it is about learning the mechanics and forming my work flow, then habituating both. They have to become second nature before they get out of my way and my focus becomes the image. This can be a long process, shoot, access, correct and repeat. Keep what works, rethink what does not. So many steps, some many opportunities for error, patience is not a virtue with large format photography, it is a requirement. Patience is the rule, do not rush, think, work through the process. Enjoy the journey.

Instant Kiev 60

Polaroid Macro 5 SLR Very Expired Polaroid Spectra Image Instant Film - A composite image of my favorite camera at the moment. The Ukrainian Kiev 60 Medium Format SLR. Very similar in concept to the Pentax 6x7, the 6x6 Kiev function almost identically to a standard 35mm SLR camera. Think of it as a K1000 on steroids.

The Unusual Suspects.....

 

Polaroid Macro 5 SLR Very Expired Polaroid Spectra Image Instant Film - Just a playful post, more shots from the Polaroid Macro 5 SLR Close-Up camera and some very old Spectra Image Film acquired at The Lynchburg Camera Shop. I thought these 2 images had a "Mug Shot" feel, so I present "The Unusual Suspects."

Scotch Tape is not Bleach Proof

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100C Instant Pack Film Negative Reclamation - Another attempt at Fujifilm FP-100C Negative reclamation. For those of you that did not know, there is a negative hiding under a black coating on the discarded side of Fujifilm's pull and peel instant films. With a little effort and some chlorine bleach, the negative can be revealed. I really need to break down and buy some good gaffers tape, as Scotch Tape just does not cut it against the bleach. The tape lifts before all of the black backing goo is removed exposing the emulsion to the bleach. The results are both dramatic and appealing, if unpredictable. The image reminds me of a color wet plate process.

There are a number of different approaches to the negative reclamation process. The process found here, does not use tape, instead opting for a wetted negative on glass to protect the emulsion. See the YouTube video, of the process for more detail.

Below are the steps of the Process, Original Instant Print , Reclaimed Negative and Scanned Negative.

Autumn's Last Stand

Pentax Auto 110 50mm f2.8 and 24mm f2.8 Lomography Society Tiger 110 Color Film Arista C-41 - A series from my 1st roll of Lomography Society Tiger 110 color film. Autumn is struggling to keep her mark of color on the advancing dull greys and browns of the coming winter. I love the waning days of Autumn's color. There is less brilliance, but so much more contrast. I never knew 110
film could looks so good. The Epson V500 was my scanner of choice of these scans.

                                               

A "Little" 110 Fun

Pentax Auto 110 24mm f2.8 Lomography Society Tiger 110 Color Film Arista C-41 Kit - From my 1st roll of Lomography Society's new Tiger 110 color film, through my Pentax Auto 110. Definitely both the "little" camera and film that could. Scanning this film is not easy. I am using the Better Scanning Variable Height MF Film Carrier, and taping the film strips to the anti-newton glass using Scotch Tape. Alignment is key to cutting down on post scan adjustment. Dust is also a nightmare when scanning 110 film, as what would be a speck on a 35mm or 120 negative, is a monstrous defect on a 110. The Digital Ice on the Epson V500 helps, but is not perfect. I used an Epson Perfection 500 Photo Color Scanner B11B189011 (Google Affiliate Ad)

Three Lucky Finds

Polaroid Macro 5 SLR Polaroid Spectra Image Film Expired 11/05 - The results of 3 lucky finds.
One: A Polaroid Macro 5 on ebay for next to nothing. I will post on the camera later, but in a nutshell the Macro 5 is a SLR Camera designed specifically for close-up work.
Two: The local camera store, Lynchburg Camera had several packs of expired Spectra Image Film they were willing to part with cheap. After testing one pack to verify the batteries were still good, I could not pass these rare lomo gems up.

Three: Kuroneko, the Kitten of one of the feral cats that rule our neighborhood. Kuroneko wormed her way into the house by managing to hang herself by a rear leg from a fork on a branch in a bush. When my wife found her, Kuroneko had been hanging for several hours and was very weak. The leg from which she was hanging, was injured and appeared to be paralyzed. After a trip to the Vet and several weeks of pampering and rehab, the leg is now fine and and Kuroneko has achieved House resident status.

I am convinced the leg injury was a trick to gain House resident status before winter. Kuroneko has filled the opening left by the passing of our oldest feline resident, Amber, at 14 years old. She has been accepted by our German Shepherds and terrorizes the older cats in the house, like every good kitten should. And as she curls up on a warm bed and licks her once injured leg, I swear I hear her purr, "Mission Accomplished."

Wilted Passions (Instant Love)

Calumet Cambo View Camera Schneinder-Kreuznach Symmar 210mm f5.6 FujiFilm FP-100C Instant Pack Film - I do not believe our strongest passions ever die. They may wilt, dormant, but they are always there. We may never choose to breathe life back into our passions. Ignored they shrivel, simply awaiting the warmth of our attention to be revived. For me, Photography was one of those wilted passions. A love that the became a career, and the career displaced the love. The love is back.

I am finding my way with large format photography. 35mm and Medium Format had always been my weapons of choice. The tedious nature of view cameras did not appeal to me in my unfocused youth. I guess  have calmed, if only a little.

Frames of a Lomkino Movie 10-26-2012

Lomography Society Lomokino FujiFilm Superia 200 Arista -C41 - A scan of some of the framea of the Lomokino movie from my previous post. The format is almost a half frame panoramic and you get around 144 frames from a 135-36 roll of film.

Autumn in Lynchburg VA through the Eye of a Lomokino

Lomography Society Lomokimo Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - Just a quick short from my Lomography Society Lomokino. The leaves are at peak color here and this is the view from my back porch. Hand holding the Lomokino leads to very jumpy images as it has hand cranked. This is only my third roll with this camera so I am still perfecting my scanning work flow. This short film is made up of 144 individual frames and scanner separately, very time consuming.

Instant Fetish

Polaroid JobPro Instant Camera Impossible Project PX 600 Silver Shade Film - We all know that before digital, Polaroid was the capture media of choice for those naughty images we tuck away for private viewing. Doubt me? Tickl Magazine (NSFW) is dedicated to the notion. So who am I to go against such a time honored photographic tradition. Again, like the previous instant image post, it is the details the camera and film leave out that make the image compelling. Well that and the fact that they are breasts. Thank You to Mistress Gwen for indulging my request...

Instant Bliss - Impossible Pipes

Polaroid JobPro Instant Camera Impossible Project PX 600 Silver Shade - From my 1st pack of Impossible Project Px 600 Silver Shade instant film. Shooting integral instant films is always challenging, as you are trying to shoot to the films faults as much as any of its strengths. Silver Shade raises the stakes on that notion with its lowered contrast and unpredictable sepia-like brown tones. But like most "Lomo" type imaging, the camera's or film's faults can make a mundane subject mysterious and interesting. What you see is never quite what you get, and it is the details the camera and film leave out that let you draw your own conclusions from the image, regardless of the Photographers intent.

What America Runs On....

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C-41 - Sugar, Meat and Carb, the America Travel Diet for as long as there have been roads and diners beside them. It is a shame when I travel these days, there seem to be fewer and fewer of these roadside slices of Americana. Who could argue with a nice thick slice of Country Ham and an ice cold Pepsi.

Food with local flair has slowly given way to mass produced chain restaurant fair or bag and dash fast food served through a window. No BBQ "Jumbo" Hoagie Burgers, Hot Dogs or Pork Spare Ribs insight. Somehow I just do not trust and international fast food chain when they tell me their biscuits are "Home Made." They are not Grandma's biscuits, the recipe passed down through generations, and lovely made by someone cooking because they want to, not for a paycheck. I still occasional like to find a place with the steak and eggs are fried in bacon grease and with a bottomless cup of strong basic, no name coffee.

Kodak Brownie Jumbo Family Restaurant exposure no. 9

Kodak Brownie Hawkeye FujiFilm Reala Arista C-41 - Who needs instagram, a vintage Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and a vintage sign is all really you need. That and several hours for processing, drying and scanning film, but this is the real McCoy. Dark Corners, motion blur and iffy focus all honestly earned. OK, so maybe I am a little crazy, but sometimes the process is as important as the result.

This sign and restaurant are right on Rt. 460 East just before you leave Lynchburg Va.. A monument to another time in the not so distant past. The perfect subject for a Kodak Brownie.

 See the full roll in this Flickr Set.

I am sure it was fine in 1996

Polaroid JobPro Camera Polaroid 779 Film Expiration Date 05/96 - Some times you roll the dice. A risky ebay purchase of of Polaroid 779 that expired in 1996. 779 was the "Professional" varient of Polaroid 600 film, usual sold in bulk to commercial users. Surprisingly the batteries in the film packs were still good, but that was about all that worked. This was the 1st shot I took and the only one with any real image to speak of. It is almost creepy, but this out of date Polaroid weirdness was worth the price of admission. Look closely, there is an image there, I promise.

Autumn is Here

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm NPH 400H Pro Arista C-41 - Autumn is here, time for cool crisp air and fresh color chemistry. This is the first post from an extremely productive shooting weekend. So many images so little time. Noticed this beautifully colored Virginia Creeper leaf set while shooting something completing unrelated. Thought it would be a great way to start off the posts. Great to be back shooting with my Kiev 60's. Every time I use them, I love these Ukrainian Bricks more and more.

Disappointing Fruit of Misguided Labor

Kodak Brownie Bull's Eye FujiFilm Neopan Across 100 Arista 76 1:1 - Sometimes things just do not work out. I acquired a Kodak Brownie Bull's Eye Camera sometime ago and have been dying to try it out. Two weeks ago I respooled roll of FujiFilm Acros 100 120 film onto a 620 spool and loaded the camera. That seemed to go smoothly enough, but life got in the way and it was not until this weekend that I actually got out to shoot the roll.

The Bull's Eye has a "guestimation" focusing system. Basically you guess the focus and set the distance. The camera also has a "fixed" focus setting, where the lens locks at 10 ft and everything from 6 ft. to Infinity should be in focus. Being my first time out with this camera I decided to use the "fixed" focus setting, so I set the lens and threw the camera into my bag and headed out. I happily roamed downtown Lynchburg VA. snapping the 8 6x9cm frames.

On returning home and removing the camera from my bag I discovered mistake number one. Sometime while sliding the camera in and out of my bag ,I knocked the lens off of the 10 ft. "fixes" focus point. Worse yet, I moved it to the close side, so the lens was focused at somewhere between 4 to 10 feet,,, CRAP! Oh well, at least some of the shots should come out. When I went to unload the camera I ran across mistake number two. The film hand wound very loosely. The film was not fully shielded by the sides of the 620 take up spool. This was probably caused during the respooling process by my failure to keep enough tension on the film. Making matters worse the take up spool fits snuggly inside the Bull's Eye and the loose wind meant I had to pry the roll of of the camera with a screw drive,,,, crap, Crap, CRAP!

Pushing forward I developed the film. Luckily the loose wind caused nothing more than some minor edge fogging. That is where my luck ran out. Apparently, the focus on the camera was knocked out of position prior to the first shot. All the shots would suffer from a severe case of near sightedness. I proceeded to scan the film and confirmed my worst fears. The image above shows the results. Though image has a great retro look, and the poor focus would not be uncommon for the cameras of the time, I cannot help but imagine it would have been great if correctly focused.

School is in Session exposure no. 9

Kiev 60 Arsat 250mm f3.5 Kodak Tri-X 400 Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Bob's son Greymon schools the slightly younger Felix in the art of feline combat, while a unnamed Kitten Doe looks on. Felix is the great grand son of Hitler, but despite that relation, Hitler seems to have anointed Greymon dominate male status. The "Kitten Doe" is Bob's from her 2nd litter of the year. The clan's size seems to fluctuate between 6 to 10 cats. Some kittens, once old enough, are run off by the older cats to starts adjacent clans, others, unfortunately, will not survive the winter.

BB spawn of Bob exposure no. 4

Kiev 60 Arsat 250mm f3.5 Kodak Tri-X 400 Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Bob's leap year daughter BB carefully watches me from behind Hitler's great grand daughter Fluffy. BB has the looks of her mother, with her markings in tan, black and grey, while Fluffy has the Black and White "Orca Felinitis" makings of her great grand mother. BB was born and leap year, so not only does she have 9 lives, but she only ages 1 year for every four that pass.

Another example of why Tri-X has been around so long.

Meet Bob exposure no. 2

Kiev 60 Arsat 250mm f3.5 Kodak Tri-x 400 Professional Adonal 1:50 - Meet "Bob," the co-alpha female of the feral cat clan that rules our street. She reigns with the older, larger "Hitler," named for her white Hitler mustache and dominate demeanor. Their clan makes sure the rodent and snake population in our neighborhood stays in check, and in return they feast on left overs. Bob is a particularly good mole hunter, carefully tracking their underground movements and then, with surgical precision, digging them out of the lawn. She often offers them in trade for a meal better suited to her tastes.

It has probably 20 years since I have shot a roll of Tri-X, an old favorite. I loved it for its grain and contrast, especially when pushed. Now it seems like a perfect match for Adox Adonal (Rodinal). The grain is surprising fine and the tonal range is outstanding. Bob is a light grey cat, with subtle darker grey and white markings, all rendered in great detail.

Hampton Hobby House Polaroid 665 Circa 1985

Polaroid Automatic 100 Polaroid 665 Positive/Negative Film - I was rummaging through my photo drawer and ran across this gem. Yes that is me circa 1985, manning the photo counter at the Hampton Hobby House in Hampton VA.. My first real job and the best job a budding photographer could ever have. I would kill to have access to half the photographic artifacts that were hidden in the drawers and boxes of that wonderful store. This was taken by my co-worker and partner in crime Alan Hilliard. We were playing with an outdated pack of Polaroid Type 665 Positive/Negative film. The print of this image was lost long ago, but I tucked away the washed negative in a plain envelope for safe keeping. Ah, the memories, some of the best days of my life. Polaroid recommended fixing the negatives with a sodium sulfite solution if I remember correctly, but we just washed them in water to remove the black backing. The negative held up pretty well over almost 30 years.

Chateau Elan exposure no. 8

Adox Golf  Cassar 75mm f4.5 Fomapan 400 Adonal (Rodinal) 1:50 - Another shot from Chateau Elan, this time the front of the winery and its fountain. Though a modern facility, the Chateau Elan Winery has a great vintage look and Paddy's Irish Pub right next door serves a great Bloody Mary.

Chateau Elan exposure no. 2

Adox Golf  Cassar 75mm f4.5 Fomapan 400 Adonal (Rodinal) 1:50 - Some places are perfect for an analog camera and black and white film, Chateau Elan, north of Atlanta, Georgia is one of the places. Good Food, Good Wine and Great Company. This was shot looking toward the rear of the Winery through the vineyards. Thanks to the overcast sky there were no light leaks from my Golf.

Of Pin Holes, Electrical Tape and the Big Ass Peach

Adox Golf  Cassar 75mm f4.5 Fomapan 400 Adonal (Rodinal) 1:50 - I love my Adox Golf. The Golf is the perfect medium format snap shot camera. It is simple, compact, has a nice lens and an uncoupled rangefinder. I bought mine off eBay in great conditional, the overall appearance is mint and the original leather case is in perfect condition, exactly the day to day shooter i wanted.... or so I thought. On shooting the first roll a discovered a hidden flaw, a pin hole somewhere in the bellows. No big deal, I have dealt with these before, a half an hour in a dark room with a flash light inserted into the back of the camera and the offending leak was found and patched with electrical tape. Problem solved.... I happily headed back out on an overcast day and shot my 2nd roll and it came out fine, but the key word here is "overcast." A few months pass and I had to do some traveling so decided to pack the Golf, again its size makes to the perfect travel companion along side my Nikon P7000. Most of the trip saw overcast skies, but I did manage to shoot most of a roll of Fomapan 400, saving the last few shots for the trip home.

Those of you that have ever driven through Gaffney, South Carolina on I-85 have seen the "Big Ass Peach," apparently also called "The Peachoid," but I prefer Big Ass Peach, it is more accurate, from the right angle it looks like a Big Ass. My plan was to pull off and get a great analog shot of the peach on my way home. I reached Gaffney and merged off the interstate and headed for my target. I pulled into the parking lot of the Fatz Restaurant conveniently located at the foot of the Big Ass Peach and stepped into the glaring Mid Day Sun to take my shot. Well, as you can see above, I missed a pin hole. I got the same result on my shots of the Possum Trot School, located on the same exit. So out comes the flashlight and electrical tape for another round of pin hole finding... Note to self, Test in direct sunlight....

The Post War Dream

Start Twin Lens Reflex Euktar 75mm f4.0 FujiFilm Neopan Acros Arista 76 1:1 - Shot about 3 weeks back on Monument Terrace in Lynchburg Va., this image started the following verse from Pink Floyd's some "The Gunner's Dream" looping in my head.

A place to stay
Enough to eat
Somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street
Where you can speak out loud
About your doubts and fears
And what's more no-one ever disappears
You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door.
You can relax on both sides of the tracks
And maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control
And everyone has recourse to the law
And no-one kills the children anymore.
And no one kills the children anymore.

© Pink Floyd from The Album The Final Cut

As the Politicians, Spin Doctor, PACs and Talking Heads squabble, prattle and lie to accomplish nothing more than the status quo on either side, I cannot help but think we fail to honor the memory of those who gave some much to insure that we, as a society, would not live in tyranny.

Herco Imperial 620 Snap Shot Camera

Herco Imperial 620 Snap Shot Camera FujiFilm Neopan Acros 100 Caffenol-C-M -  A failed experiment of sorts, but with some interesting results. The Herco Imperial is designed to use 620 film. Those of you who have ever done it, know the re-spooling a 120 roll onto a 620 spool can be tricky and time consuming. I always seem to have issues getting the anchor tape to reattach, or worse, tear the paper backing when peeling the tape in the 1st place. The Kodak Brownie Hawkeye will use 120 film without issue as long as you use a 620 take up spool. I was hoping the same would be true for this little box camera.

The 120 feed spool, did fit, it was a little tight but seemed to be ok. I was able to mount the back and advance the film to the 1st frame. The advance knob seemed tight and there were some concerning "crinkling" noise coming from inside the camera, but what the hell, at this point, I am committed. I managed to get 4 shots off and give myself a blister on my thumb trying to turn the tight advance knob, before the film would go no further. I had to unload the film in the dark and roll it the rests of the way onto the take up spool by hand. More cause for concern came while loading the film onto the reel for developing, the edges of the portion of the film that was exposed, felt very similar to the edges of a lasagna noodle. I was able to get the roll loaded, but not without a little more force that I normally like to exert on a roll of film.

I developed the roll and proceeded to scan the negatives. Two samples of which you can see above. The stress on the film causes it to ripple on the film plane causing some interesting distortion. If you look closely you can see the fountain rim around the Dough Boy Monument looks like it caves in on the right side and the stairs on the second image seem to have a wave in them. Not a complete disaster, but next time I will make the effort to re-spool.