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.

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:

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:

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:

 

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.

Ricoh GR1v & Neopan 1600 pushed to ISO 3200 (04/06/2012)

Hello world,


I'm finally back from a two week break in Japan, where I stayed in Osaka, visited Tokyo, Kobe, Kyoto and many small towns in the Kansai region.


As a result of my absence, I have was only able to write only two blog posts (although of rather more substantial depth than my usual musings and photos). If you haven't read them yet, I suggest you scroll down and have a look.


I took my Ricoh GR1v and Olympus OM-D E-M5 with my on my trip. I shot a couple of thousand frames on digital, 4 rolls of black & white 35mm film and 2 rolls of colour 35mm film. So I'll be slowly processing and editing my Japan street photography and developing those few rolls of film. This means you can look forward to at least a couple of months worth of content from my Japan.


For now, have a look at some photos from the nifty Ricoh GR1v shot in London to test out the camera.
If enough people are interested I can do a quick review of this camera. Leave a comment below.
Shot on Neopan 1600, pushed to ISO3200 and developed in Ilford Microphen:

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: