Ian's 52 for 2021
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seaodyssey
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I never gave much thought to Mobiles as a culture, but you have it correct.
If it was a pictures of youngsters they would all have phones.
Pete
If it was a pictures of youngsters they would all have phones.
Pete
Simonbrown16
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Great shot, looks like your overpowering flash has blinded the lady in the middle!
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Harlequin565
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Week 48: Living
I always wanted to be a cat in the winter. Just lounge about next to the fire being sleepy and looking cute. Occasionally dragging myself up to eat before collapsing back in front of the fire again.
Our cats are inherently curious sadly, and when I try and get close for a portrait, they come over to see what's going on. Eventually I managed to get Dusty to collapse and after 5 minutes, the warmth of the fire had him soporific. This is living.
This one with the Sigma ART 50mm f/1.4 which is a lens I absolutely love. If only it wasn't so huge! It's actually bigger than the 300v it was attached to. I'm trying to use up my stock of P3200 because I'm not overly keen on the grain & sharpness, but no one wants it on eBay so I might as well use it up. I tend to shoot this at 1600 ISO and for me, pushing HP5 to 1600 gives me much cleaner results.
4 more weeks to go!!!
I always wanted to be a cat in the winter. Just lounge about next to the fire being sleepy and looking cute. Occasionally dragging myself up to eat before collapsing back in front of the fire again.
Our cats are inherently curious sadly, and when I try and get close for a portrait, they come over to see what's going on. Eventually I managed to get Dusty to collapse and after 5 minutes, the warmth of the fire had him soporific. This is living.
This one with the Sigma ART 50mm f/1.4 which is a lens I absolutely love. If only it wasn't so huge! It's actually bigger than the 300v it was attached to. I'm trying to use up my stock of P3200 because I'm not overly keen on the grain & sharpness, but no one wants it on eBay so I might as well use it up. I tend to shoot this at 1600 ISO and for me, pushing HP5 to 1600 gives me much cleaner results.
4 more weeks to go!!!
Bebop
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Lovely cat portrait. My cat is just the same. The minute I point the camera at her, she starts walking towards me. I really like the framing and the grain suits the subject.
I've managed to quell my recent search for a film camera (I do actually have a few, but I'd like a different one I suppose, with more control), but it has made me more interested in the film you use. In the old days I shot whatever was on offer! So this film you used, you should set your camera to ISO/ASA 3200, and you have set yours to 1600, is that correct? And then presumably you have... deliberately underexposed the shot - have I got that right, or is it the other way around? Baby steps here ha ha!! Now I feel like going back on eBay again, oh dear...
I've managed to quell my recent search for a film camera (I do actually have a few, but I'd like a different one I suppose, with more control), but it has made me more interested in the film you use. In the old days I shot whatever was on offer! So this film you used, you should set your camera to ISO/ASA 3200, and you have set yours to 1600, is that correct? And then presumably you have... deliberately underexposed the shot - have I got that right, or is it the other way around? Baby steps here ha ha!! Now I feel like going back on eBay again, oh dear...
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Harlequin565
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[My understanding!]
Film has a box speed (what it says on the box) but mostly you can get around it by messing with the developer and developing times. So for every combination of film (at any given ISO) there is a development time to compensate.
There is a website called the "Massive Dev Chart" (which also has an app) which gives times for almost any combination of film , developer and ISO.
Pushing film is when you under-expose and over-develop, effectively "raising" the ISO. I shoot HP5 Plus (400 box speed) at 800 and 1600 regularly, then just develop for a bit longer. With the developer I use (Ilford DD-X), I can push HP5 to 1600 quite easily.
Pulling film is where you over-expose and under develop - effectively "lowering" the ISO. That's kinda what happened in my entry above but, when you read Kodak's datasheet on P3200, it states "P3200 is effectively an EI 1000 film". So what they are saying is that P3200 is "designed" to be pushed (up to 3200) but it's native ISO is 1000. Putting "3200" on the box was (and still is!) confusing to me.
None of this matters though, as long as you compensate the development for whatever ISO you rated the film at in the camera.
The reason I'm using P3200 is that I just want to use it up and get it gone. At ISO 1600, HP5 is a much better solution and if I need ISO 3200, I'd shoot Ilford Delta 3200 (which is designed for ISO 3200 and looks far better than P3200 IMO. The grain is just too heavy with the Kodak film - even at ISO 1600)
My "go-to" films will often depend on available light.
ISO 80 : Ilford Ortho Plus. Lovely & clean but needs lots of light
ISO 100 : Ilford Delta 100. As above but deals with reds differently. My main B&W portrait film (with studio lights) or Landscape (with a tripod).
ISO 400 or 800 : HP5+ or Kodak Tri-X (pushed for 800). I think Tri-X has a "grittier" look to it so I will choose depending on subject matter
ISO 1600 : HP5+ or Tri-X (pushed to 1600). Tri-X starts to get quite gritty & contrasty at this level of pushing.
ISO 3200 : HP5+ or Ilford Delta 3200. Ilford Delta 3200 definitely gives better results, but it's more expensive.
For the 52, I've often gone with "what I've got in a camera", or "what's cheap" if I'm shooting a whole roll on one theme.
Apologies for the massively over-informational reply!
Bebop
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Ian thank you so much for such a detailed reply - you have such a wealth of knowledge and that is fascinating. I had no idea about pushing and pulling film, and I really appreciate you taking the time. I am going to copy this into a note for later reference - if I ever do get round to using film again! At one point my family did have everything to develop films, but by the time I was old enough it was all given away, so I missed out.
My daughter shoots film and she recently accidentally left the camera set to the wrong ISO for half a film, but they came out fine, so obviously they worked their magic at the lab.
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Harlequin565
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Week 49: Still Life
A toss up this week between my newly renovated office and simple camera pron.
It's a small room and I was as wide as I could go and as far back as I could go to get everything in. I wanted the keyboard to be central, but I also wanted my neon sign in the shot (early Christmas present from Mrs H who was too excited to save it!). Because of that I had to move the mic boom over the desk which I think was a big mistake. Also didn't pull the chair back far enough to keep it out of shot.
This is the iphone version from when I'd just finished it. I also think this would have been better in colour, but no chance of getting colour film back in the week, or even finishing a roll of colour at the moment.
The better shot was probably this one, but the office was what I wanted, and even though it has quite a few issues, I prefer it.
If I was allowed to keep only one camera and one lens, this would be it.
A toss up this week between my newly renovated office and simple camera pron.
It's a small room and I was as wide as I could go and as far back as I could go to get everything in. I wanted the keyboard to be central, but I also wanted my neon sign in the shot (early Christmas present from Mrs H who was too excited to save it!). Because of that I had to move the mic boom over the desk which I think was a big mistake. Also didn't pull the chair back far enough to keep it out of shot.
This is the iphone version from when I'd just finished it. I also think this would have been better in colour, but no chance of getting colour film back in the week, or even finishing a roll of colour at the moment.
The better shot was probably this one, but the office was what I wanted, and even though it has quite a few issues, I prefer it.
If I was allowed to keep only one camera and one lens, this would be it.
TheBigYin
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the Camera shot's definitely "the one" - perhaps slightly closer IMO to a "product shot" than a still life really, Well composed, good choice of film (I always had a soft spot for Delta, if I'd not got any Acros 100 in stock, it was my permanent "plan b" emulsion.) - it may be my eyes, but is there some sort of "artifacts" from the scanning in a line under the bottom plate of the camera, extending pretty much all the way to frame left...
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Harlequin565
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I agree, closer would have been nice but I was limited with the 150mm on a 645n. By "artifacts" do you mean the depth of field (on a wooden table)? At f/2.8 the dof is razor thin.
(Not sure how well this crop will show it)
(Edit, I was curious so I checked... DoF is 1cm...)
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TheBigYin
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good god - that IS the actual line of focus - the things that looked like a line of blurred runes on my screen, now you've pointed it out are the lines in the grain of the wood...
could probably have got away with a couple of stops closed up from f2.8 on that one and still had the background sufficiently out of focus...
could probably have got away with a couple of stops closed up from f2.8 on that one and still had the background sufficiently out of focus...
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Harlequin565
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Well being an idiot I wanted Delta 100 for lack of grain and in December, I needed all the light I could get because I was too lazy to get a tripod. Not sure how many times I need to learn the same lesson...
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Harlequin565
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Week 50: Miniature
I had an idea for this and the photos are still in the camera with no real expectation that they'll be developed by Wednesday, especially with Christmas rush on its way. I bought a new camera this week. I figure that's ok, as I have sold 4 cameras this year so it balances out. Just one more to source and a couple of point & shoots to go and I think I'll finally be happy.... Just the digital kit to sort out with what money I have left....
The miniature Monkeh came with some tea bags I think. Far fewer than giant Monkeh! I really like the framing of this. It's tight to go with how Monkeh sr is crammed in with boxes of paper and books on a shelf. So despite this being a "if I don't get the other roll out", I'm quite pleased with it.
The grain is too much, I know, and I'll be glad when the rest of the P3200 is gone. Give me HP5 any day.
I think it'll make it into the Week 50 thread too.
I had an idea for this and the photos are still in the camera with no real expectation that they'll be developed by Wednesday, especially with Christmas rush on its way. I bought a new camera this week. I figure that's ok, as I have sold 4 cameras this year so it balances out. Just one more to source and a couple of point & shoots to go and I think I'll finally be happy.... Just the digital kit to sort out with what money I have left....
The miniature Monkeh came with some tea bags I think. Far fewer than giant Monkeh! I really like the framing of this. It's tight to go with how Monkeh sr is crammed in with boxes of paper and books on a shelf. So despite this being a "if I don't get the other roll out", I'm quite pleased with it.
The grain is too much, I know, and I'll be glad when the rest of the P3200 is gone. Give me HP5 any day.
I think it'll make it into the Week 50 thread too.
seaodyssey
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Still Life, I prefer the colour version apart from the coat, But the camera is also a nice image.
The little monkey shot is good for me.
Pete
The little monkey shot is good for me.
Pete
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Harlequin565
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Week 51: Seasonal
As these images are all going in a book, I wanted a Christmas Tree to be part of it as a nice way to finish things off. I've been experimenting recently with out of focus images, paying attention to the "blobs" (not using that other word!), how they look, and what patterns they form. Christmas tree lights obviously make interesting blobs, but I took a second image to see which I preferred.
The limitations of an (effective) 50mm fixed lens and lack of distance to get back from the tree meant I couldn't get the whole thing. My blobs haven't really worked - mainly because the composition is a bit rubbish. The usual issue of concentrating on exposure and (lack of) focus and not thinking about the subject. Better luck next time.
So that's why I went with the more traditional shot. It's Christmas day tomorrow and I think this is a great way to finish off week 51.
All shot, developed and scanned in an evening. Evidence also, that HP5 (with 400 box speed) will happily run to ISO 3200 without turning into a blocky contrasty mess, although developing for 25 minutes was a bit soul destroying...
1 week to go!
As these images are all going in a book, I wanted a Christmas Tree to be part of it as a nice way to finish things off. I've been experimenting recently with out of focus images, paying attention to the "blobs" (not using that other word!), how they look, and what patterns they form. Christmas tree lights obviously make interesting blobs, but I took a second image to see which I preferred.
The limitations of an (effective) 50mm fixed lens and lack of distance to get back from the tree meant I couldn't get the whole thing. My blobs haven't really worked - mainly because the composition is a bit rubbish. The usual issue of concentrating on exposure and (lack of) focus and not thinking about the subject. Better luck next time.
So that's why I went with the more traditional shot. It's Christmas day tomorrow and I think this is a great way to finish off week 51.
All shot, developed and scanned in an evening. Evidence also, that HP5 (with 400 box speed) will happily run to ISO 3200 without turning into a blocky contrasty mess, although developing for 25 minutes was a bit soul destroying...
1 week to go!
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Harlequin565
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And to you Allan.I really like the out of focus tree I do think it works though they both work given the theme
Almost thereHappy Christmas
Bebop
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I really like the point of view on the ’in focus’ tree. It feels intimate, like I’m there, and for me works better than the blobs.…. A much better B word - we all know how to say blobs
Congratulations on getting it shot, developed and scanned so quickly.
I missed your Still Life before. Your office looks a cosy spot, but I do like the simplicity of the camera. Really nicely captured. Amazingly thin depth of field!
Congratulations on getting it shot, developed and scanned so quickly.
I missed your Still Life before. Your office looks a cosy spot, but I do like the simplicity of the camera. Really nicely captured. Amazingly thin depth of field!
SimonH
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Great effort to turn this round so quickly. I can see what you’e tried to do in the first shot although for me, my preference is the 2nd shot. I think the low angle gives it a unique perspective that works and doesn’t ned the whole tree in the shot. Hope getting this out of the way allowed you to have a good Christmas Day!
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Harlequin565
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Week 52: Showcase
This was a tricky one, although it was nice to finish off without having to take a photo. I had three to choose from, but this one keeps the overall theme of "home documentary" that's been running on and off throughout the year.
An example of when a failed photo becomes a treasure I think. I was using an RB67 which is hella difficult to focus close up, and I've completely missed both subjects instead getting some pin sharp hair. I have better technical photos, but this is my favourite.
Lavendar came to us in quite a state. She was the first chicken we had to actually bathe in the sink to get all the crusty oomscah off her, she was woefully thin, and very dejected. After her bath, she went in a box by the fire to dry off, then outside with the other girls. Her feathers obscure her eyes quite a bit, but she bumbles around happily now and will always come to Mrs H for a cuddle. This is a picture about love, and how important and emotive it can be. And it's my favourite picture of 2021.
Thanks to @Cobra for organising, as well as @LC2 for that spreadsheet...
And thankyou so much to all who have commented and engaged with my thread over the year. I haven't replied to everything, settling to just add a like to say thanks. But reading your comments has kept me going throughout the process.
The book is now in draft and I ended up adding my own commentary to the images (just a copy paste from my thread). Looking back through it has provided invaluable thoughts and whilst there will only ever be one copy of it, I imagine it'll be something I go back to quite a bit.
Have a happy new year all. Best wishes for 2022.
This was a tricky one, although it was nice to finish off without having to take a photo. I had three to choose from, but this one keeps the overall theme of "home documentary" that's been running on and off throughout the year.
An example of when a failed photo becomes a treasure I think. I was using an RB67 which is hella difficult to focus close up, and I've completely missed both subjects instead getting some pin sharp hair. I have better technical photos, but this is my favourite.
Lavendar came to us in quite a state. She was the first chicken we had to actually bathe in the sink to get all the crusty oomscah off her, she was woefully thin, and very dejected. After her bath, she went in a box by the fire to dry off, then outside with the other girls. Her feathers obscure her eyes quite a bit, but she bumbles around happily now and will always come to Mrs H for a cuddle. This is a picture about love, and how important and emotive it can be. And it's my favourite picture of 2021.
Thanks to @Cobra for organising, as well as @LC2 for that spreadsheet...
And thankyou so much to all who have commented and engaged with my thread over the year. I haven't replied to everything, settling to just add a like to say thanks. But reading your comments has kept me going throughout the process.
The book is now in draft and I ended up adding my own commentary to the images (just a copy paste from my thread). Looking back through it has provided invaluable thoughts and whilst there will only ever be one copy of it, I imagine it'll be something I go back to quite a bit.
Have a happy new year all. Best wishes for 2022.
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No worries IanThanks to @Cobra for organising, as well as @LC2 for that spreadsheet...
I've been trying to work out what bird that is but I failed ?
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Harlequin565
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'Tis a chicken! A type of Aracuana, and Mrs H would shoot me for forgettingNo worries Ian
I've been trying to work out what bird that is but I failed ?