So, Covid has definitely affected my photography. We’ve been in lockdown and I can only really have a photo mooch when we walk the dog. Now, this has been interesting as it’s really forced me to focus on what I’m actually walking passed. Thankfully there are plenty of walls with plants growing up and around them where we live. I used to pay more attention to the little things photographically and this has definitely come round again.
That said, I’m very much looking forward to getting to the beach again. I bought a Bronica SQ-A during covid and really want to put it through it’s paces soon. I bought it as more of a walk about camera, despite how heavy it is! Looking forward to getting back into film photography again too. More photos to follow soon, I hope.
And let’s not forget colour images working in square format too.
Nikon Z6, 18mm Extension Tube, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S, Exposure X5, Color Efex Pro 2Nikon Z6, Lensbaby Composer Pro II, Sweet 35 Optic, Exposure X5, Color Efex Pro 4
For a very long time, I’ve been somewhat dissatisfied with my digital black and white photos. They never had the tonality I could expect from a negative scan or a print. I asked someone on flickr, who had a tonality in his digital B&W images that I wished to achieve. He pointed me towards Capture One and DxO’s Silver Efex Plus 2 (in fact the whole DxO package). I’m not sure if Capture One and I agree with each other, more experimenting is needed. The DxO package though, is bloody brilliant. All of a sudden, I’m starting to get tonality I’m happier with.
Nikon Z6, Nikon 24-70mm f/4 S
It’s not just that though. I actually enjoy using the DxO plugin/software. And not just for B&W. There are plenty of ways of playing with colour too!
Nikon Z6, Nikon 24-70mm f/4 S
That said, I think Exposure X5 still has a place in my workflow. It’s fine for initial RAW processing and quick edits.
Nikon Z6, Nikon 24-70mm f/4 S
All of these shots were from this morning’s dog walk.
Anyway, today’s photo editing music is provided by Fatboy. What a find on spotify!
Now I’ve started scanning film, I’m having trouble stopping. The other day I found out a file of old negatives in my darkroom, shot mostly with my old Mamyia C330 on 120 Tri-X. I’d forgotten they existed, so it was a nice surprise. I’m now in the process of scanning and editing them. This should keep me busy for the most of lockdown, at any rate!
Here are a few so far, all of which were shot in 2008:
Old man at the bottom of the steps.
I like this old tree, it has plenty of character. It’s at the bottom of the steps, up to Mnt. Joy. 2008.
Mamiya C330, 80mm lense, Kodak Tri-X 400, Xtol 1+1, 8 minutes with 4 minute pre-soak, Canoscan 8800f and Vuescan x64, Edited in Exposure X5.Steps… lots of bloody steps.
These are the side steps up to Mnt. Joy. 2008.
Mamiya C330, 80mm lense, Kodak Tri-X 400, Xtol 1+1, 8 minutes with 4 minute pre-soak, Canoscan 8800f and Vuescan x64, Edited in Exposure X5.Parkhurst Trees 1
Mamiya C330, 80mm lense, Kodak Tri-X 400, Xtol 1+1, 8 minutes with 4 minute pre-soak, Canoscan 8800f and Vuescan x64, Edited (barely) in Exposure X5.
Also, today’s film scanning music is provided by The Black Keys 🙂
So, last time I said that I didn’t know how to scan film properly. Well, I’m not saying that I now know how to do it properly, but after 2 days of going through old negatives I’m getting a feel for it. Vuescan is now a friend.
I’m surprised by how many scans I like, for negatives I’d forgotten all about. I suppose they got developed, given the once over and then I went on to other shiny things.
Taken with my Diana F+, Ilford Hp5+ @ 400, Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 at 20C for 9 mins. Canoscan 8800f and Vuescan x64, Edited in Exposure X5.
It has however, given me a new taste for film photography again. I love the results I get from my Zeiss Ikon Nettar. A lovely little camera. It doesn’t lend itself to quick photography, but that’s not necessarily bad thing. Also, the Diana F+ is a bit of fun. In some ways, medium format is where it’s at for me, being the middle ground between small negatives and really bloody heavy cameras!
I’d love to do some more street photography, with film. For me, it’s a matter of confidence. I can take photos of people walking away from me, no probs, but if they’re heading in my direction, I chicken out!
Taken with my Diana F+, Ilford Hp5+ @ 400, Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 at 20C for 9 mins. Canoscan 8800f and Vuescan x64, Edited in Exposure X5.
I also can’t forget my old friend, the lensbaby. It adds a new approach to street photography, isolating a subject. I also lament the fact that my Petzval 55 MK II is a Z mount lense. It’s great on my Z6, but I’d love to be able to use it on my f100. That would be fun!
Anyway, I’ll be shooting more film and scanning it now. Once my darkroom is up and running again (I’ve not really been in the mood to sort it out) lith printing will resume too. I’ll finish with one last scan:
Up Close And Personal 