It’s not too often I’m able to directly compare the technical results of my photography to someone else’s, but it can make for an interesting academic analysis when I do. By direct comparison I don’t mean a side by side of different images made in different conditions, I mean “the same” image made in the same conditions, with different parameters altered.
My brief time playing with expired colour film was not rewarding. Too much is left to chance, out of my control, making for unpredictable results. Black and white meant I would have a little more ability to tweak things at each stage of use, where with colour I only really control exposure. Expired black and white film is often available for cheaper than colour, which means I can spend less to experiment more, and really refine the results.
Of all the types of camera I have used over the years, my all time favourite by far has to be the twin lens reflex or TLR. If you are not familiar with the type, it is effectively two cameras, placed one above the other in a compact, boxy body. The upper one is the viewing camera and projects an image from its lens via a 45º mirror onto a ground glass screen mounted on top of the camera with a hood and a magnifier to aid focus and composition. Below it is the taking camera with its own lens, linked and matched to the viewing lens containing the film, focus and winding mechanisms. Thus the ground glass shows exactly what will appear on the film with one exception. Because a single mirror is used, the screen image is reversed left to right, something not difficult to adjust to. Some may say it improves your photography, assessing a print in a mirror or upside down always used to be recommended to decide on the best composition objectively. Also because it tends to be held at a lower level, there is less perspective distortion than when held up to the eye which tends to tilt the camera down a little for many shots, especially of people.
An annual Herreshoff vintage yacht regatta is held in Bristol for owners of classic Herreshoff wooden boats. Most were built in our town in the glory days of the storied Herreshoff Mfg. Company. Captain Nat Herreshoff was and is a legendary yacht designer and was light years ahead of his time. The Friday night feeder race from Newport, Rhode Island was followed by a display of boats on the museum waterfront.
As spring turns to summer, and the warm wind caresses your skin, the air fills with smell of fresh flowers and exhaust fumes. The car enthusiasts have awakened and if you only spend a short while by the side of a [any] road, you can see a wide variety of vehicles. Sometimes they gather in …
5 Frames With Nikon FM2 and Ilford FP4+ – By Hans Gustafson Read More
