About to Try Ilford Delta 3200 For My Concert Photography

As you may know, I've been shooting some concerts with black and white film in my Leica M4-2 film camera, as part of a series I'm calling "Dreaming in Monochrom(e)." The idea is that I'm exploring using one of my Leicas in monochrome only, exploring how I'd really work with a digital Leica Monochrom if I had one.

 

Anyway, I've been shooting concerts with Kodak TMax 400 black and white film, pushed two stops to iso 1600.

River Whyless, by Reed A. George

Leica M4-2, 50mm Zeiss C-Sonnar f1.5 Lens

Kodak TMax 400 Film Pushed to iso 1600

 

While I'm really liking this new look to my concert photography, I'm finding the extreme contrast that I get by pushing 400 speed film two stops a little bit limiting. So, I've decided to try some Ilford Delta 3200 black and white film. My experience with Delta 3200 in the past was that the negatives can be a little thin; I've had better luck shooting it at iso 1600 than the labeled 3200. Apparently, the native iso is more like 1000, but it's got extremely wide exposure tolerance.

 

So, I think I'll shoot it at 1600 this time.

 

Here's an example concert shot on Delta 3200by Kontantinos Bezios:

 

Image Source: http://kbesios.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/20120904-105104.jpg

 

Konstantinos shot this on a medium format Plaubel 67 camera. I think the gray tones are very nice, and I hope to get a similar effect in my Leica.

 

(Click Here) to visit Konstantino's blog and see more of his work.

 

My only question now is whether or not I need to inform The Darkroom (my favorite mail-in film developer) that I shot Delta 3200 at 1600 or not. I tend to think not, as I read a lot of posts about shooting it at 1600 and developing normally.

 

By the way, if you want truly excellent film developing, (Click Here) to visit thedarkroom.com.

 

With any luck, I'll have some interesting new concert photos to share in a week or so!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

4X5 Photographer Visits Abandoned Kodak Building in Toronto

Mike B. of the blog "A Year On Film" has posted a nice shot of the entryway and stairs at an abandoned Kodak building in Toronto, Canada.

 

 

Image Source: http://blia-yof.blogspot.com/2014/02/returning-to-kodak.html

 

He shot this image through a classic Kodak Ektar 127mm f4.7 lens ("normal" focal length for 4x5), mounted on a Calumet camera. Ironically, he used Ilford FP4+ film instead of Kodak!

 

I love reading about other people like me who enjoy the process as much as the pictures. While I'm sure this image would look great a 4' X 5' on a wall, it's tough to see the advantage of large format film for blog posting. That said, I do see the fun associated with this slow type of photography. I bet it took ten minutes to set up this shot. I think it's very nicely done. Inspires me to get the 4x5 out again soon!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Most Beautiful SLR Ever? Nikon F, Plain Prism

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nikon_F_SLR_camera_with_NIKKOR-S_Auto_1,4_f%3D5,8cm.JPG

Author: Dnalor 01

I started getting serious about photography in sixth grade, back in about 1977. My camera at that time was a Pentax K1000. I still have that camera, and it's close to my heart.

Lately, I've continued to explore Nikon SLRs, which were simply outside my financial reach back in the day. I've had several Nikon film SLRs, including an N2000, which is a manual focus SLR with built-in motor drive, an FM2N, and a few others. My most recent additions have been a pair of F2s, which a just plain lovely cameras. Both of mine have the DP-1 Photomic finder.

I've always wanted to try a regular Nikon F with plain prism. I recently bought one, an early example, from KEH. The price of the BGN condition F with prism was about $15 more than a BGN prism ONLY! Well, that $15 bought me a lot. The camera body is in excellent condition. The only thing that makes the overall condition BGN (by KEH's rating) is a dent at the apex of the prism, which has absolutely no effect on the function. I fell in love immediately with this beast from 1962. I've read it being described as the SLR equivalent of a Leica M3. I think that's appropriate. The layout of the original F was borrowed from the Nikon S series rangefinders. No electronics whatsoever. 100% viewfinder coverage. It's really very nice to carry and use.

My first roll of film from the new F is on its way to The Darkroom as I write. Hopefully I'll have some results to share with you in a few days.

 

Is the F "better" than the F2? Almost certainly not. But, it sure is a beauty, and quite fun to use. At $144 from KEH, I decided I couldn't really go wrong. This is one of those cameras I always told myself I'd own someday.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Bert Stephani Shares Snowy Tokyo / Yokohama

Bert Stephani, blogger and photographer, has posted some great pictures from a recent trip to Yokohama, Japan, at the invitation of Fujifilm.

 

Image Source: http://bertstephani.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/20140214_cp+_024.jpg

 

It is pretty rare for the Tokyo/Yokohama area to get snow, especially enough to really stick and be around for a while.

 

(Click Here) to read Bert's story about visiting Japan for the CP+ show at Fujifilm's invitation, and equally important, the several images he shares.

 

Seems that Bert got some experience with Fujifilm's new X-T1, which is getting a lot of press at the moment.

 

I have to admit, I'm so far left on the equipment/time balance, I haven't kept up with this new camera (or several others). I think this is okay, as I want my focus to shift toward creative use of my cameras more and more anyway. Of course, that doesn't stop me from looking...

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

NYC in Winter

One of the artistic blogs I follow is "Daily Walks" by Diane Varner. Diane recently posted a little collage of images from a winter trip to New York City. It got me thinking about the City, which I usually envision in either Winter or Spring images in my mind.

 

Personally, I find NYC to be welcoming and wonderful in winter. Here's a shot I made with a Leica IIIC at the Central Park skating rink this winter.

 

Skating in Central Park, by Reed A. George

 

Diane seems to find winter in NYC a little less welcoming (based on her comments).

 

(Click Here) to see Diane's images. I find that for me, the warm yellow tint doesn't match the feel of winter in the City. The exception, to me, is the indoor shot of the bath - I think the yellow tint communicates exactly the right kind of warmth in that case.

 

It's always fun to see how different photographers interpret the same places and feelings.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Come Support My Fellow Blogger - T&T Straps by Tyson Robichaud

I've cross-posted some of Tyson Robichaud's blog posts before. He's a Lumix and Micro 4/3 user, but not exclusively.

 

(Click Here) to go to Tyson's blog.

 

Tyson has begun offering hand made rope (yes, rope) camera straps. Called "Garda Straps," Tyson makes each one by hand. They come in black or green (the black is thicker rope than the green) and regular or large lengths.

 

Image Source: http://tysonrobichaudphotography.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/img_5723.jpg

 

You've got to see the video on Tyson's site, which shows exactly how they're made, and more importantly, just how strong they are.

 

(Click Here) to read the post and be sure to watch the video.

 

At $30, including shipping in the US, it's certainly worth a try. I've ordered mine, a green, large model. I'll post once I've received mine with any impressions.

 

Good luck, Tyson!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Awesome Zeiss Ikon Images and Historic Information Now in Public Domain!

 

 

 

"Before you purchase a miniature...."

Image Source: http://issuu.com/zeisshistoricasociety/docs/1939-09_uk_catalogue__1_#

My friend Bill Barton send me a great link to an enormous amount of Zeiss historical information that has been put into the public domain!

 

(Click Here) to see old Zeiss catalogs, and issues of Zeiss Historica, with articles on many really interesting topics related to Carl Zeiss.

 

I love this kind of stuff. Thanks, Bill!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com