Hi all! I am a Software Engineer from Mexico, I like to capture things that catch my eye, especially if the capturing part is made with a device that will force me to focus on it, whilst preventing me from looking at yet another screen for the day.
Last Fall, I attended a local Day of the Death theme Park that has taken place for the last couple of years in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Knowing that It’d offer some interesting subjects, within some distance and all whilst on a low light environment, I took out the most reliable metered camera I have, the Minolta Maxxum 7, the brightest lens that I could, the Minolta 85mm f1.4 AF, and a roll of fresh Kodak Portra ISO 400… and set the ISO to 1600. I went for the whole deal knowing in advance that the local lab (Hilitos Lab), would be able to handle the push with a good development and scan job.
The Minolta Maxxum 7 really lends itself to trusting the exposure and focus to be spot on. The center-weighted metering was great for the mood, and the AF didn’t fail once, even in the low light environment and with the AF illuminator disabled. I find it too intrusive so I tend to switch it off when photographing subject matter like this.
I was quite happy with the results. I shot most of them wide open at f/1.4. The 85mm delivered as it usually does – it’s really good, even at f/1.4. If light allowed it or the performers allowed it, (as with the Jaguar shot), I stopped it down even only to f/2 and used the Maxxum’s 7 built in flash. At f/2 it is tremendously sharp!
Portra 400, pushed 2 stops is great. It really unlocks nighttime photography, even in these really low light conditions.
Thank you for taking a moment to read this and see the pictures, you can find more (super-random) shots, including some others from the same event at my Flickr here
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Dan on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 07/03/2020
Comment posted: 07/03/2020
Castelli Daniel on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 07/03/2020
The 85 was always my fav. focal length with my Nikon F2.
Comment posted: 07/03/2020
Dorian on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
I’m not that experienced with film so am surprised it’s even possible to get low light photos so good with film. Great work.
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Matthias Steck on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
And your fotos make me want a Minolta Dynax 7 (= Maxxum 7) even more, as I have a nice set of Minolta AF glass, but they are quite rare in Germany
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Comment posted: 08/03/2020
Oliver Thomas Lison on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 10/03/2020
Nice images too.
Comment posted: 10/03/2020
Armando Morales on 5 Land of the Dead frames with Portra 400 at EI1600 with a Maxxum 7 and a 85mm f/1.4 lens – By Victor Lopez
Comment posted: 15/04/2020
Comment posted: 15/04/2020