Graffiti On Rails...

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50

Just random graffiti along the tracks of the lower basin in Lynchburg Virginia. I am still drawing from my first roll of Film Ferrania P30 Alpha, making it an extremely productive roll. The angle of the light was not ideal for these shots, so I am extremely pleased with how well this film performed.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

A View With No Room

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50 - This is my favorite shot from my first roll of Film Ferrania P30 Alpha. This couch was sitting outside by an abandoned building surrounded by tall grass. I shot it from several angles and with several different compositions but settled on this one as the best. 

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

First Roll of Film Ferraria's P30 Alpha

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50- A long time ago, 2014 to be exact, I backed Film Ferrania's Kickstarter to relaunch their color reversal film production. Needless to say, it has taken some time for my investment to bear fruit, but a few weeks ago I received two 35mm rolls of their new monochrome film P30 Alpha. True, it is not the color reversal film I was originally expecting, but they offered this as an alternative and hey... I love trying any new film. I also figured this would be a good time to revive my passion for analog photography and this Blog.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

1984 Michael Stipe of R.E.M. at the Virginia Beach Pavilion

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Ektachrome 800/1600 E6 - Michael Stipe of R.E.M. during their Reckoning tour at the Virginia Beach Pavilion in Virginia. The Album "Reckoning" remains one of my favorites to this day.

Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

1984 R.E.M. at the Virginia Beach Pavilion

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Ektachrome 800/1600 E6 - Grain, grain go away, come again some other day,,, not in this image. R.E.M. during their Reckoning tour at the Virginia Beach Pavilion in Virginia. Shot from about two or three bodies back from the stage, I was basically guessing the focus and holding the camera over my head and shooting. In the days before auto focus everything that was the best you could do. Surprisingly I got a number of good shots with the grain, contrast and stark lighting really playing up the feel of the band at that point.

Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

Burned Out

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - A beautiful old house in a bad situations on Rivermont Ave. in Lynchburg, VA.. It was hit by lightning, setting the roof on fire, burning out most of the upper floor. An owner of an old home myself, I hope someone takes the time and money to save this old Victorian.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverdast SE Plus Software.

Deaf Child Area?

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - I am not making fun on anybody's disability, but is a street really the best place for a Deaf Child Area? Another shot from my first test roll from my newly acquired Retina IIIS.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus.

Leaves

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - An abstract of layered trees. The sun backlighting the translucent leaves makes for an interesting effect.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III Using SilverFast SE Plus Software.

Back to Retina....

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - My first experience with photography was using my Father's Kodak Retina IIIS. A gorgeous German made 35mm rangefinder that kicked off not only my life long love of photographer, but also my undying love for rangefinder cameras. Sadly, the shutter in that Retina broke several years ago, so I have been unable to use my first love. Recently I tracked down a replacement on ebay, and this is fruit from my first test roll. The optics are as good as I remembered, crisp with perfect contrast. More to come from this camera.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus.

From the Archive - School Days

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Tri-X Kodak HC-110 Dil. B - In 1984, Pre-Columbine and other famous school shootings, bullet holes in High School's windows did not seem to cause much concern. This was captured at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton VA.. There were usually multiple windows with bullets holes, shots coming from the outside. All appeared overnight, with malice shown for the school itself, not the occupants within.
Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using SilverFast SE Plus Software.

Come into my parlor....

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista 76 - This American Funnel Spider has occupied a corner of my bedroom window for over a year. This summer she seems to have double in size. Her body is just over and inch long and with her legs she measures just over 3 inches. A thin layer of silk is between the spider and the glass of the window I was shooting through, creating and interesting diffused silhouette effect.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast Software

The Intrepid Explorer...

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. I was lucking to find a willing model. He following around and posed at every opportunity.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Test Shot Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The quality of the Nikon 35mm f2.8 is clearly evident, great sharpness and just the right amount of contrast for the Nikon "snap." The One-Touch will definitely go into my arsenal as a day to day carry camera.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Shy Widow

Nikon 8008s Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 - Spiders have always been one of my favorite subjects, with Black Widows topping the list. I tend to shoot digital when hunting spiders as the ability to fire off a lot of exposures to get the perfect shot is definitely a plus. I spent about an hour trying to lure this shy beauty out with the promise of black beetles before she finally popped out long enough for me to capture this one frame.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Vintage Building Signs - Downtown Lynchburg Virginia

Nikon FE2 Various Nikkor Lenses ORWO UN54 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Various examples of the painted building signs that are very common in downtown Lynchburg. Some are Original, some are restored, others are new painted to advertise new businesses in old buildings.
Scanned using a Minolta Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5.

Stairway to.....

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105mm f3.5/4.5 ORWO UN54 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Just a nice mix of tones and textures.
Scanned using a Minolta Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5.

Craddock Terry Hotel - Lynchburg Virginia

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105mm f3.5/4.5 AIS ORWO UN54 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Located in a renovated shoe factory, The Craddock Terry Hotel is appropriately adorned with two massive red shoes. This image shows the shoe mounted above the front entrance. There is a matching shoe mounted on the rear of the tower.
Scanned using a Minolta Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5.

Vintage Sign - AAA Auto Club of Virginia

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 ORWO UN54 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Found on the corner of Main St. and 13th St. in downtown Lynchburg VA, this sign hangs in the window of the restored Hill Buggy & Wagon Co. Building. Downtown Lynchburg is a great place to just walk and see what images present themselves. ORWO UN54 is an ISO 100 Speed movie film, manufactured in Wolfen Germany. UN54 has similar characteristics to Kodak Plus-X and develops well in Adox Adonal (Rodinal).
Scanned using a Minolta Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5.

From the Archive - The Las Vegas Strip 1985

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Ektachrome 100 - Vegas Baby! A shot of the Vegas Strip in February 1985, taken on my one and only to the city. There for the PMA convention, I was 19 and to young to drink or gamble, so I did the next best thing, shoot film. It was amazing that these signs were bright enough for a hand held exposure with ISO 100 in the dead of night.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using SilverFast SE Plus v. 6.6.2r5

A Pinch of Salt

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Caffenol-C-M +20g Iodized Salt - Probably one of the few good uses for Instant coffee is developing film, my adventures with Caffenol continue. This is a variation of the Caffenol-C-M recipe found here. My normal Caffenol-C-M mix is as follow:

Start with 1 Liter of water
Add 54g of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, Stir until dissolved.
Add 16g of Vitamin C Power, Stir until dissolved.
Add 40g of instant coffee (in this case Original Maxwell House), Stir until dissolved.

I usually let the mix stand for 10 to 15 minutes before use to allow any small are bubbles to escape.
A good starting point for for developing time is 15 minutes at 68℉ for an ISO 100 film, with constant agitation for the 1st minute and then 3 inversions every minute there after.

For this image I added 20g of iodized table salt to the mix to act of a restrainer. This helps reduce base fogging and streaking that can be a problems with the normal Caffenol-C-M mix. The addition of the salt worked well with Orwo UN54 resulting in minimal base fogging and great overall contrast. Shadow detail is also outstanding as you can see.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast 6.6.2r5 Software