Thursday 28 June 2012

Tuesday 26 June 2012

The Japanese - Part 1 (26/06/2012)

In this next series entitled "The Japanese", I'll be posting street photography from my recent trip to Japan. Shot on my latest toy, the Olympus OM-D E-M5, accompanied with the 14mm & 25mm primes and 12-50mm kit lenses.

My aim was to capture the diversity of the Japanese, a nation of people with a proud history, yet open to change and at the forefront of technology. When studying the people visually, often I found a huge contrast of culture and style between the old and young. This was also evident in the urban and rural landscapes. An ancient Shintoist shrine or Buddhist temple may look as it did many centuries ago, if it wasn't for the numerous vending machines scattered across the courtyard.

Most places in Japan have changed drastically in a very short period of time and this modernisation has resulted in a feast for the eyes, with many interesting scenes and and individual characters.

I hope you enjoy this window into Japan and it's people: "The Japanese":

Kyoto

Osaka

Osaka

Nara

Osaka

Sunday 24 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 10 (24/06/2012)

This is the last post in the series of black & white film series shot in Japan. 


I've been thinking long and hard about what to name the series, obviously "Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf" isn't a great name, or one which means much to anyone outside the wonderful world of film photography. The title I've come up with is "Japan: beyond the colours"


The one common theme in this series is a vision of Japan, its people and their daily routines, without the the colourful façade which is often a point of reference and source of intrigue for the outside world. In this series I hope to portray a fragment of the feelings and emotions which drives the people of this country during their everyday lives.

Enjoy the last shots in the series. Or to view the complete series click here.






Friday 22 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 9 (22/06/2012)


I still haven't had any suggestions on what I could name this series of photos... Somehow, I don't feel that "Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf" is a good series title!

In case you missed it, whoever can suggest the best title for the series (If I end up using it) will receive a 4" x 6" signed print of their favourite photo from the series, as a way of saying thanks.

Here are some more photos in the series, shot in Gion, Kyoto, the train back to Osaka and Namba, Osaka.

Again, all shot on HP5 Plus, pushed to ISO 3200 and processed in Microphen:







Wednesday 20 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 8 (20/06/2012)

My black & white film series from Japan is slowly drawing to a close, although I might be able to draw it out to 10 parts.


I've been thinking of editing it as a single project but I can't really think of a title for it. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions... Anyone?


Whoever can come up with the name that I go with will have their favourite photo in the series professionally printed on a postcard, signed and posted to them (of course there are no guarantees I will definitely go with a name suggested by someone). I know it's a lousy gift/prize but it's not really a competition and it doesn't take much effort.


Leave your title suggestions in a comment and hopefully I'll make my mind up before I finish posting them.


Anyway these are the last set of the Tokyo photos. Shot on Ilford HP5 Plus at ISO3200 and processed in Microphen:







Monday 18 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 7 (18/06/2012)

It's been a miserable British summer so far and we haven't had much good weather. I guess I've been lucky as I got two good weeks of sun in Japan, before it gets really hot for their summer.


I've go some more shots of Tokyo for you lovely folk. Again shot on HP5 Plus at ISO3200 and processed in Microphen. I hope you enjoy them:



 



Saturday 16 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 6 (16/06/2012)

The weekend is finally here. I'll be developing more film, and scanning this weekend. Exciting stuff(!).


Here are the shots I took in Tokyo, Japan a few weeks ago. The film (Ilford HP5 Plus) was exposed and developed at ISO3200 using Microphen for a time of approximately 16 minutes.


Loving the fine grain on the HP5, especially when I add a little sharpening.
Enjoy.







Thursday 14 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 5 (14/06/2012)

I did something the other night that I've never done before...!
Erm, I don't know what you were thinking but I developed film on a school night (well, work night!). I developed the two rolls of HP5 Plus shot at ISO3200 which I had left over from Japan. I spend most of last night scanning one of the rolls. You'll start seeing them in the next post.


But for now enjoy the last batch of the ones shot at ISO1600. Shot in Sakai City, Osaka, Japan. Oh, and no Ricoh GR1 owner's trip to Japan is complete without a cat photo, Moriyama style.









Tuesday 12 June 2012

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 4 (12/06/2012)

Well, it hasn't been a productive weekend. I didn't develop any film or do much else. So by the end of next week I'll have at least four rolls of B&W to develop plus three rolls of colour (that's if I don't test drive a roll of Portra 400).


Also I haven't been shooting much since I've been back. Ok, I shot a roll through the Ricoh GR1v but I don't expect anything special in there.


I also went to the Burn My Eye exhibition on Saturday, however it was closed, which royally pissed me off. Maybe I'll visit next weekend, if I can muster up the will.


I'm still getting through posting the half decent photos from the couple of rolls of HP5+ which I have developed. Here are a few more, pushed to ISO 1600 and developed in Microphen: