No. 1

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Reala Arista C-41 Kit

When left alone, nature slowly reclaims all.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Love....

Kiev 60 Arsat 45mm f4.5 Fujifim Reala 100 Arista C-41 Kit

The "Love" statue near Riverfront Park in Lynchburg, Virginia. Not much to say on this one other than I like the way the Arsat 45mm accentuates the converging lines of the sculpture from this angle.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo Scanner using Epson's OEM software. 

A Devilish Grin

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Kit

This was a creepy find, even in broad daylight. The line "Why So Serious" from the Film "The Dark Night" comes to mind and I expected the Joker to pop out of one of the surrounding dark doorways at any moment.

Shooting with the GA645Zi feeling like cheating as it makes shooting media format so effortless. The autofocus is usually tack sharp and the exposure system is great even in tough lighting situations. The built in flash is excellent for daylight fill, as you can see in this image.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

An Unexplained Madness....

FujiFilm GA645Zi FujiFilm NPH 400 Pro Arista C41 Processing Kit

Someone made use of a broken plastic chair to jot down a profound thought. Captured as found the full text is;

"An unexplained madness in a trembling mortal form,

Here to bring a thundering God to his knees."

-Anonymous

It is a shame a cannot properly credit the author, but he or she did not sign their work.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo, using Epson's EOM software.

Majestic....

Fujifilm GA645Zi Fujifilm Reala 100 Arista C-41 Processing Kit - So many tones and textures. I have always loved Fujifilm's Reala and the is one of my few remaining rolls. The GA645Zi makes shooting medium format a guilty pleasure.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM 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.

Instax Berries

Lomo'Instant with Close-Up Lens Fujifilm Instax Mini Film - Shot after a heavy snow in late afternoon sun, I love the contrast between the red berries and the blue tinted shadows.

Scanned with a HP Scant G4050 using HP's OEM software.

Torture

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Politics aside, this taggers placement of this work is perfect. Stenciled onto a buildings cracking foundation, the positioning only reinforces the message of the work. I chose a slightly over exposed negative for this post as it heightened the already high contrast of the Tri-X and Adonal combination.

Scanned with and Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Bricks, Grass and Tags

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - Another study in texture and tones, a common thread in my current work. There are so many things going on here, the uneven tones of the brick, the contrast of brick and mortar, the pattern of the masonry and the randomness of the grass. These elements appeal to me, even when view the scene in color, my mind translates it to grey.

Scanned with an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Farewell Kurokiba, Farewell....

Death is never more appalling then when it comes to someone who has barely begun to live. Kurokiba came to us after her mother was unable to take care of her at 19 days old. We took her in, bottle fed her and made her part of our family. Unfortunately, the long life that should have been was cut short by an illness the Vet was unable to cure and, at just 18 months, she passed from our lives.

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Kodak Ultramax 400 Arista C-41

Scanned using a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM scanning software.

Pallet

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - The overlapping, smeared appearance of this door reminded me of an Oil Painter's pallet. Layer upon layer of tone and textured blended with care and purpose, but giving no hint of the actual work in progress.

Scanned using an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's EOM Software.

The Suits no. 2

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - The return of the suits... Ever present ever watching...

Scanned using an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's EOM Software.

New55 PN Instant 4X5 - Now Available

New55 FILM: New55 PN Instant 4X5 Film Reviews - Now Available ...: New55 PN film is being made in small quantities and the quality continues to improve. Superb negatives can be seen on flickr, facebook and i...

The Suits no. 1

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Kodak Tri-X Professional Adox Adonal 1:50 - I like the ominous feel of this tag, anonymous headless men is black suits lurking everywhere. The industrial element added by the location chosen just enhances its stark nature.

Scanned using an Epson Perfection V500 Photo using Epson's EOM Software.

Impossible Faces no. 2 (Angry Guy)

Polaroid Macro 5 SLA 1200 Impossible Spectra Black and White Instant Film - Inspired by my Instant Faces post, I decided to do a series of images on artificial faces using Impossible Project's Black and White instant film and my Polaroid Macro 5 1200 instant camera. This is the second in a series of images capturing faces on various toys and objects around the house, "found" beauty so to speak.

Scanned using a HP ScanJet G4050 using HP's OEM Software software

Impossible Faces no. 1

Copyright 2014 D. Matthew Dair All Rights Reserved

Polaroid Macro 5 SLA 1200 Impossible Spectra Black and White Instant Film - Inspired by my Instant Faces post, I decided to do a series of images on artificial faces using Impossible Project's Black and White instant film and my Polaroid Macro 5 1200 instant camera. This and the next few posts to follow are all images of faces on various toys and objects around the house, "found" beauty so to speak.

Scanned using a HP ScanJet G4050 using VueScan v. 9.0.96 software

Vanishing Point

Kiev 60 Arsat 150mm f2.8 Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 Caffenol-C-M plus Salt - An eery trip into light and shadow, this track trails off into oblivion. The late afternoon sun casting shadows made this shot for me.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Around the Bend

Kiev 60 Arsat 150mm f2.8 Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 Caffenol-C-M plus Salt - This is the kind of building I always dreamed of having a studio in, old, urban and big. I love the way the tracks bend around the rear of this structures.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Ivy Guardian

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 Caffenol-C-M plus Salt - Two columns of Ivy stand guard over this door, with crossed arms barring entrance.

Caffenol always seems to bring a vintage looking tonal range, great for subjects like this.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Textures and Tones

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Neopan Acros 100 Adox Adonal 1:50 - An interesting mix of textures and tones combine in this image. Nature and Graffiti Artists seem to be battling to see who can cover this building first.

Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epson OEM Software.