Develop your OWN Black and White Film.. PLEASE!!

Yeah I shoot film a lot. I love the grain and detail it gives. I know that you can filter and muck around with digital to give the same feel, but why not go to the real thing straight away. 

The sad thing is that so many people have moved away from film, the art is being lost. for like $20-$50 you can get all the chemical and things you need to be able to develop a roll of black and white film yourself!!

I can guarantee it's tons more fun doing this yourself at home. Not only actually taking the photo, but doing the development yourself!! This is where the "art" of photography has fallen down over the years. Please click this pdf by Ilford Photo and do yourself a favor, learn a new technique and have more photographic fun!! 

Not street, but very sweet....

I do love shooting my kids on occasions. They can be wonderful subjects, or nightmares. 

This is my eldest daughter shot on a Nikon F4S using Ilford FP4 100ISO film. I have to say that I buggered the shot a little as her jacket is in focus, but her face is a bit soft and out of focus. But I still really like it and think it works really well. She is quite shy and this image brings that out with her face very soft.

She will be SHATTERED once she sees this on the net.. Teenagers.......

Just a touch of some new work.... Enjoy

I have FINALLY had some time to get a few rolls of film I have been sitting on developed and scanned. 

A lot of the images are from around Abbotsford Convent and the surrounds, but there were also a few out of my Holga as well. 

So feel free to pop over to my flickr.com and take a look.

Film Photography back in Vogue... It NEVER LEFT US!!

ABC Radio National had an interesting little blog/podcast today on Film Photography. 

Film Photography Back In Vogue is an "interesting" look into the world of film photography of today, compared to say 15 years ago. It's all a bit wired coming form the "mouth of babes" as well.

At the grand old age of 41 (yeah I know) I have known film for a long time, and this Digital Thing is still pretty new to me. I still manage a small darkroom in my house developing my own Black and White film and might even hit out a few prints next year if I can get the gear on board.

But to almost claim that film is "New" or in a "Revival" is almost ludicrous.

Kodak started in 1888 (or there about's as that was the first camera from them) and FujiFilm have been on the ground and running for almost 80 years. These are probably two of the most common names in film, and the most recognized. With over 100years of history, why would we think Film to be a new medium?

What we lack now is the Master Printer. The Master Printer would take a negative from you with the changes you wanted made, and print an image that would make you smile. The knowledge and technical skill in printing an image from a negative has been all but lost in most instances. A lot of the chemicals are even quite hard to get and can be quite toxic if used incorrectly. There was talk of photographers and their assistants (in the 60's and 70's) popping amphetamines and drinking some of the chemicals (yes DRINKING). Mind you the prints these men were striking were AMAZING. They could recoil the the White and control the Dark in a wondrous ballet of Alchemy.

In this world of perfection, sanitized images of pure sharpness and clarity can bore us. We need to not go back, but reignite the passion for our "Hands On" technical aspect. We rely to much on Digital Mediums and have lost the tactile aspect that is associated with photography. Yes I agree that there is a resurgence in Film, and younger photographers are finding something more "organic" in the use.

But the reality is that film is soft and lovely. There is a "by gone era" feel the images take on. It takes a little more technical knowledge to shoot, but the image that you see is something to take your breath away. Modern Masters (Joel would giggle at being Modern) of photography like Meyerowitz, Crewdson, and Wall  are all avid film shooters. Regardless of format, people should be looking to shoot and develop there own Black and White film. It's a great feeling to make something, to take the photo and create the negative, then have a way to print the image. This is what art really is.

Yes Digital has its place. I still love my digital camera for a lot of my shooting it works. But there really is something soft and special about film.

I implore you all to go out there and open your minds. Get a film camera and teach yourself to develop the film. It's really satisfying.

More Pictures on flickr...

 

 I have been playing with some more Black and White film as of late and getting some very interesting results.

I have posted up a couple here, but head over to my flickr to keep an eye on what I'm doing.

More over at flickr....

Lots of new Images over at flickr.com

My New Second Hand Nikon....

I popped into my "Real" job on Sunday and found a bunch of stuff had been delivered for me. The most important thing to find, my "NEW" Nikon F4 E 35mm film SLR.

Looks pretty much lie this one.

These were pretty much the BEES KNEES back in the 90's, and were discontinued in 97 (from memory). One of the greatest things is that all the SLR Nikon lenses will work on this camera even the VR lens (but you don't get the VR). So no VR but you get pretty much all the other features.

So why buy one?? Well If your finances don't stretch to the $6K plus for something like a D3 of D4, this is the closest thing us commoners will get to a full frame camera. Film is also making a resurgence! Film has a grain and tonal range, that I think, digital can never achieve. 

So as everything old is new again, try and get your hands on an older 35mm or 120mm film camera and get shooting. The difference is fantastic.

I will post a few pics out of the camera in a week or so.. 

Lomography Fish Eye

I bought a Lomography Fish Eye from the wonderful kids at lofico.com.au a while back and have only just pulled out the first roll of film. Popped into the other wonderful group of kids at Bond Imaging to have the film developed and scanned. 

Here are a few images I think are worthy from the roll. 

Please feel free to leave a comment.. I would love the feedback..

Need to work out how to develop your film easy!!

I have started on the track to developing my own Black and White film. It's always interested me. It always seemed really hard and to much effort.. Until Now..

There are many many many detailed videos on You Tube now days on how to load your film onto the rolls and get them into the tank for developing. But developing times and temp, chemical dilution rates, these are where young and new players to the game can fall down..

The great team over at Digital Truth have a wonderful database that can be searched by anyone. I has a list of arguably every black and white film made, the developer to use, dilution rate, and time it will take at the specified temperature. But if your like me, and you can't be bothered with all that paper mumbo jumbo get the app!! That's right there is an app!!

All you need to do is (using your iPhone on Android Device) is select you film, then your developer, and then you will get all the information you will ever need. Dilution Rates, Times, Temps, and even a section for Notes. There is a built in timer that is stepped for every step of the act with an audible and visual notification to go on to the next step. 

I do love this app, but think the Hypo step should be an option when selecting roll film over sheet film. Not everyone is going to use Hypo or Wetter now days for roll film. 

If you need a hand in the developing stakes, this app is a MUST HAVE!!

The Art of Processing and Printing..

I have been thinking and thinking of not how to add extra feathers in my cap, but thinking it's really about time that we start going back in time and doing a little more for ourselves.

Digital is a wonderful thing. We have instant success or failure, and can assess and re assess our photographs on the spot. But this has taken us away from the old arts, and they are going away. Lomography has given us the ability, and fascination, to shoot film again. Film will always rule (in my opinion). It has a certain tonal quality you can't get anywhere else. Have a look this video from the guys at prophotolife.com and see just how easy it is..

New film from Lofico..

Just ordered a bunch of film from lofico for my 120mm and 35mm cameras.

I love the look you can get on Film and from no where else.  The 120mm gives such nice depth and feel. The 35mm has such a natural grain and tone.

Can't wait to get my new Film!!