Tales on Film: Bournemouth - (08/02/2013)

My London of Film posts are some of the most popular posts on the blog and I truely enjoy sharing them, but what about film photos that aren't shot in London?
Well, now I'll be posting these in a new set simply entitled "Tales on Film".

For the first episode I'll take you to Bournemouth, September 2013. A close friend's (the baby on the right in the last photo) stag weekend.

All shots taken using my trusty little Ricoh GR1v on Fujifilm Neopan 1600:

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.

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:

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 3 (10/06/2012)

It's been an eventful week catching up with work and friends. Not to mention trying to get used to the cold weather and time zone difference.


I've been shooting street with my Ricoh GR1v on Neopan 1600, but I've still to develop two rolls of Ilford HP5 Plus shot during my trip to Japan as well as two rolls of Kodak Gold 200 (I don't expect anything good from those).


Anyway check out the photos:

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 2 (08/06/2012)

Picking up where I left off.

Osaka, Japan, shot using my Ricoh GR1v on Ilford HP5 Plus pushed to ISO1600. Developed in Ilford Microphen.

Ricoh GR1v on Home Turf - Part 1 (06/06/2012)

I've been busy editing my Japan photos and I've also developed a couple of rolls of film.


This first set is from Osaka and was shot on Ilford HP5 Plus pushed to ISO1600 using my Ricoh GR1v.


The film was developed by myself in Microphen for 11 minutes. It was my first time developing this film, and I have to say, I really like how easy it is to work with. I've yet to try developing Tri-X, but the grain on HP5 is even finer than Neopan 1600 at ISO1600. It's looking likely that I'll switch over to HP5 once my stock of Neopan is depleted, but having said that, it's somewhat pricier than Tri-X.


Anyway, it's not my usual style, I was trying something different. Maybe I've been watching too much Daido Moriyama videos on Youtube.


Enough babbling, enjoy the pics.

Why I Love Using Film (26/05/2012)

I get a lot of funny looks when I change a roll of film, or tell people that my Nikon FM3A is a film camera. Most people associate the term "film" with the movies and cinema, and almost every time I say that I shoot film, I get a response along the lines of: "Oh what kind of films do you make?".

Nikon FM3A + Nikon E-Series 28mm Lens on Neopan 1600 @ ISO1600 Developed in Stock Microphen

To most people film photography is a relic of the past, or an extinct dinosaur. However to many people like me, it's a way of true self expression, the only tangible way of capturing the moment and keeping it carefully stored and archived for decades. Treasuring that moment and reliving it every time you hold the negative up to some light. Those negatives can be touched, held, and even smelled if you wanted to.

Nikon FM3A + Nikon E-Series 35mm Lens on Neopan 1600 @ ISO3200 Developed in Stock Microphen

Okay okay, those who know me, know that I'm not really an obsessed romantic and that's not really how I feel about film.
Yes, there is the side of me that connects with that romantic sentiment, but there is a logic behind me shooting on film.
The main reason is that on the street it allows me to concentrate more on what's around me, and not obsess about getting a good picture. I see something, I compose the shot, focus, shoot, and move one. I can't review the photo to check whether it's in focus, or displays camera shake. I can't see if my composition is spot on. I don't obsess with any of those things when I'm shooting film. And why should I?
You see, I shoot street photography because I enjoy it. For me it's not a competitive sport, or a way to earn a living (quite the contrary). It's just a passion, a simple pleasure, a way to zone out and forget about everything else. There's nothing else quite like that Zen like state.
When I shoot digital though on the other hand, I tend to find myself pixel peeping and making sure that my focus is right, that there's no motion blur, checking that the image is sharp, etc., etc.

Nikon FM3A + Nikon E-Series 35mm Lens on Neopan 1600 @ ISO3200 Developed in Stock Microphen

Even when it comes to my work flow of processing and editing, film is just so much of a pleasure. Yes, it's hard work, but ultimately like everything else which takes time and dedication it is the rewarding feeling of outcome which makes it worthwhile.
Once you develop you roll of film, wait for it to dry, cut it up to strips of 6 frames and scan them, they are done! That's it. Of course you can tweak the images slightly once they are scanned but there's only so much you can do with a grainy  black and white photo. It's already how I want it to look and there was little or no manipulation needed along the way.
Unlike digital, there's no converting your files to black and white, no trying to salvage under/overexposed photos only for them to look like a dogs dinner (if the exposure is wrong just ditch it), no worrying that there's too much noise in the shadows and the highlights are blown. The film does what your brain had wanted it to do automatically. It's magic!


As long as I can find rolls of high speed black & white film (unfortunately my favourite film, Neopan 1600 has been discontinued by Fujifilm) and B&W darkroom chemicals, I will continue shooting film for my street photography.

Nikon FM3A + Nikon E-Series 35mm Lens on Neopan 1600 @ ISO3200 Developed in Stock Microphen

Neopan 1600 @ ISO 3200 (17/05/2012)

I've noticed that I've had either my cheap Nikon E series 28mm or 35mm lenses on my Nikon FM3A way more than the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2. It's mainly down to the fact that with the days getting longer, I don't need the ridiculously fast f/1.2 anymore. That, and the fact I'm pushing my film to ISO 3200. I also think that my shooting style has evolved so that I don't try to isolate one subject with shallow depth of field.


Will I still use my 50mm f/1.2? Hell yes... for night street work without flash, times I need slightly more reach, or portrait work. But for now it'll have to sit tight in my bag while the 28mm and 35mm get all the limelight.


All of these were shot on the Nikon FM3A and 35mm f/2.5:

Neopan 1600 @ ISO 3200 (16/05/2012)

Last weekend was an interesting one for me. I did a fashion shoot, shot some street, and developed and scanned 4 rolls of film. Talk about productive!


I did have a bit of trouble with my developing on Saturday night though. I was tired, and sleepy, but decided to develop some pushed Neopan 1600 which was exposed at ISO 3200.
So I got two films and the tank in the changing bag and started getting the film out on to the reels. Boy, did I find it difficult. The film kept jamming, not winding on to the reel and crumpling up.
So eventually I decided to take a break. I couldn't understand why I was having issues! It worked with no problems the past few times...
After watching a video of someone getting film on to the reels on youtube, I realised that I wasn't trimming enough off the start of the roll, and that it was the bent section which goes into the take up spool on my camera that was causing my film to jam in the reel.
After I trimmed more of the film off past the leader, I bent the tip over and tried again. This obviously worked as I managed to get the film on the reel the first time without a jam.
I finally finished developing the two rolls by around 2am and got them scanned in by 3am.


Sunday morning I processed another 2 rolls, this time shot at ISO 1600. I had no trouble this time and got the film on the reel on the first attempt.


Problem solved then and I guess these are things you learn as you gain more experience.


Wow, I think that was my longest post so far!


Check out the pics... Shot with The Nikon FM3A and the 35mm f/2.5 Nikon E series Lens on a rainy London day:

Neopan 1600 @ 3200 Continued (11/05/2012)

Few... finally it's Friday. that was long for a four day week!


A few that were left over and hadn't posted....


You'll have a fresh couple of rolls to drool at on Sunday!


All shot were taken using my Nikon FM3A + 28mm E series lens:

Neopan 1600 @ 3200 Continued (09/05/2012)

Wow... Midweek already.


Here are some more of the shots from the couple of rolls of Neopan 1600 @ which I shot and processed 3200.


All shot were taken using my Nikon FM3A + 28mm E series lens: