Film in Italy

[ChrisR]

Just looking for some ideas here... we're going for a week in Italy quite soon, Sorrento, Pompeii and that sort of touristy thing. Definitely not a photographic trip. Having dragged Mrs R on the Cornwall week recently, I can take a camera but it won't take priority, so it's snapshots really. Planning to take a 5-pack of Portra 160, some expired Reala and perhaps a couple of rolls of Provia that ought to get used up. Don't think I've any Ektar left. The camera will be the Pentax LX, and I think the main lens will be the 35-70 Pentax-M, with maybe the little Tokina 80-200 and either a Vivitar 28mm (that I'm very comfortable with) or the Pentax-A 24mm (that I tend to find after the fact has given me some odd-looking results) for walking around town.

That's all background, really. The question is about shooting in harsh, high contrast, middle of the day mediterranean light. What the heck can I do to tame it? I was thinking of shooting the Portra at box speed, and the 2007-expired Reala at 64 (I know it should be 50 based on the 1 stop per decade guideline, but I like the ethereal effect Reala can sometimes give if a little under-exposed). Do I just let the LX get on with it's stuff?

 

[kendo1]

Definitely not a photography trip.

 

[RumpFace]

Embrace the contrast. Stick a polariser on. Lovely.

 

[srichards]

I always wonder about shooting black and white in very sunny conditions if you can't avoid middle of the day. I haven't gone as far as testing the idea though.

I think consumer type film might work the best as it will be designed to really pop in such conditions and won't mind being left in a hot car and mauled about. I'd take colour plus or Agfa vista Instead of portra.

 

[Jao]

Chris, I had a week in Valencia back in March, very bright and wonderful light. I shot Portra 400, 800 and 160VC, all at half box speed. I metered either incident or spot for the shadows. The film was processed at box speed. I was pleased with the results.

This is Potra 800 rated at 400 in very bright Spanish sunshine. I only took the 800 because the weather forecast wasn't great, but turned out to be helpfully well off beam!

 

[ChrisR]

Embrace the contrast. Stick a polariser on. Lovely.

Seems to be glued to the front of the 35-70 these days!

I always wonder about shooting black and white in very sunny conditions if you can't avoid middle of the day. I haven't gone as far as testing the idea though.

I think consumer type film might work the best as it will be designed to really pop in such conditions and won't mind being left in a hot car and mauled about. I'd take colour plus or Agfa vista Instead of portra.

I think for this trip, where I can only take one film camera, I couldn't bear to be without colour. My first Med visit in the late 60s was all black and white, and looking at them you don't miss the colour. Lot of over-exposure... well, I didn't have a meter for the first 4 years! Not B&W this trip, though. I do have plenty of Vista 400 (Superia 400X) which I do quite like, although it can be a bit over-plummy in its colour.

Chris, I had a week in Valencia back in March, very bright and wonderful light. I shot Portra 400, 800 and 160VC, all at half box speed. I metered either incident or spot for the shadows. The film was processed at box speed. I was pleased with the results.

This is Potra 800 rated at 400 in very bright Spanish sunshine. I only took the 800 because the weather forecast wasn't great, but turned out to be helpfully well off beam!

That shot is magic, Adrian. I don't think an incident meter will work in the situations I envisage, and don't have a spotmeter, but I will translate that as, let the LX do its thing! It meters off the film plane in A mode, so that works well. I guess I'll have to use exposure compensation a bit if I want stuff from the less bright areas...

 

[excalibur2]

Embrace the contrast. Stick a polariser on. Lovely.

Well dunno about a polariser, but people expect bright deep colours and contrast..... in shots for warm exotic places, and got plenty using Reala and you can always reduce saturation or whatever in Photoshop if required.

 

[Knikki]

Lens hood and polorising filter is what I used when I went to the same place a few years ago.

In Pompeii it will be the people you will have to deal with, the place is very popular so plenty of opportunity to capture candids.

 

[ChrisR]

Lens hood and polorising filter is what I used when I went to the same place a few years ago.

In Pompeii it will be the people you will have to deal with, the place is very popular so plenty of opportunity to capture candids.

Unfortunately on my 35-70 lens the hood is screw-in but the polariser has no second thread... it would be difficult to adjust the polariser if it was inside the hood I think. I do have a bit of a problem with flare in that lens with the polariser, but usually with the sun almost in the frame which is a bit less likely further south, perhaps.

I might take the little Fuji X10 for Pompeii instead of the film camera. Dangles nicely from my wrist and takes great shots in P mode, even if it's not film!

 

[steveo_mcg]

Unfortunately on my 35-70 lens the hood is screw-in but the polariser has no second thread... it would be difficult to adjust the polariser if it was inside the hood I think. I do have a bit of a problem with flare in that lens with the polariser, but usually with the sun almost in the frame which is a bit less likely further south, perhaps.

I might take the little Fuji X10 for Pompeii instead of the film camera. Dangles nicely from my wrist and takes great shots in P mode, even if it's not film!

Stick it in Velvia mode, no one will know the difference...

 

[srichards]

Having a small camera that dangles nicely sounds like the perfect reason to buy a minox type one. The voigtlander Vito I have is probably the most used camera I've bought recently. Fits in my pocket so it comes out everywhere with me. Ideal for the emergency 'I have to take a film photo now' moments Not that I'd encourage GAS. Oh no

 

[ChrisR]

Stick it in Velvia mode, no one will know the difference...

I usually use the Provia preset, love the results, but folk might notice the EXIF...

Having a small camera that dangles nicely sounds like the perfect reason to buy a minox type one. The voigtlander Vito I have is probably the most used camera I've bought recently. Fits in my pocket so it comes out everywhere with me. Ideal for the emergency 'I have to take a film photo now' moments Not that I'd encourage GAS. Oh no

I've got a mju II which is nice and pocketable but I find it a bit too auto, annoying with the flash and the viewfinder is carp as well.

 

[ChrisR]

Just looking for some ideas here... we're going for a week in Italy quite soon, Sorrento, Pompeii and that sort of touristy thing. Definitely not a photographic trip. Having dragged Mrs R on the Cornwall week recently, I can take a camera but it won't take priority, so it's snapshots really. Planning to take a 5-pack of Portra 160, some expired Reala and perhaps a couple of rolls of Provia that ought to get used up. Don't think I've any Ektar left. The camera will be the Pentax LX, and I think the main lens will be the 35-70 Pentax-M, with maybe the little Tokina 80-200 and either a Vivitar 28mm (that I'm very comfortable with) or the Pentax-A 24mm (that I tend to find after the fact has given me some odd-looking results) for walking around town.

That's all background, really. The question is about shooting in harsh, high contrast, middle of the day mediterranean light. What the heck can I do to tame it? I was thinking of shooting the Portra at box speed, and the 2007-expired Reala at 64 (I know it should be 50 based on the 1 stop per decade guideline, but I like the ethereal effect Reala can sometimes give if a little under-exposed). Do I just let the LX get on with it's stuff?

So, I took the Portra 160, expired Reala and Provia. I finished a roll of Vista 400 that was in the camera, and shot 3 rolls of Portra 160. I regretted not taking the Portra 400. Yes, there was theoretically plenty of light, but there were also deep shadows, and it was all hand held, not even a monopod. I was finding some shutter speeds down to 1/30, which is dodgy territory! Just sent off to Filmdev...

 

[Nod]

I usually use the Provia preset, love the results, but folk might notice the EXIF...

I'm told that "Save for Web" in PS strips the EXIF...