Seeing 2 sides of the same photo from the same person.
A funny thing happen to me last night, well actually it started a week ago when I downloaded my latest copy of American Photo from Zinio.
Sirigiya, Sri Lanka
Here we have the obligatory guy trying to play Atlas lifting up the rock....
I finally managed to find the time to scan in the photos using my new Epson V700 and work on these photos! All taken using Fujifilm trebi 100c. While requiring some work to get right but I think I’ve managed to get the work flow just about correct now.
Here are the shots I took during the weekend while I was in Sri Lanka for work and decided to visit the biggest tourist trap there, namely Sirigiya, entry cost about USD30 and then additional Sri Lanka Rupiah 1000 for an English speaking guide.
It was at least a 4 hours drives from Colombo. The taxi ride cost about USD270 from the Hilton hotel in Colombo which includes both ways, so it wasn’t so bad.
Kodak portra 400 new version 2010
I finally had the opportunity to scan them in and work on them. I had a lot of initial problems scanning them in using the default canon scanner software even though Kodak claimed that this film was designed specifically for scanning instead of printing.
Format 135 or 35mm is the ORIGINAL FULL FRAME!
I almost went berserk a few weeks ago while I was with my Nikon F6 and I bump across some other people doing photography as well. I can’t seem to forget the incident in which they were curious as to why I wasn’t chimping (preview the shot right after taking it). They assumed I was some master of photography and asked if they could see some of my shot and offer some pointers to them
I offered some tips on how to control the adjustments and compose for certain effects but when they asked to see some of my shots, I told them I was shooting film so no preview possible. The next few questions consisted of asking why I was shooting with film when the advent availability of so many digital cameras. To which replied that I only use film camera if I plan to shoot at my pace. This advise no doubt was simply ignored by them and chucked up to me being old fashion.
They then looked through my viewfinder and found it incredible wide (I was shooting with 17-35mm at 17mm hence their surprise). Asked what size of sensor I was using, at that point I knew they didn’t understand what I had said about 35mm and so fourth. I said it was 35mm full-frame.
“No kidding?! Film has full frame just like digital cameras?!” one of them exclaimed. I mentally facepalmed, more people who don’t really understand the minimal basics but I’ve been down this road before myself so I wasn’t so critical. At least I wanted to learn about everything I came across, these people on the other hand were another matter.
I said, “35mm is the original full frame that only now digital cameras have successfully managed to replicate on a mass-production scale…” wouldn’t you know it? They didn’t believe me as they insisted that 35mm copied digital technology because they had seen film canisters at APS-C (Yes there are such things but they were not as common as 135 format). I explained that film comes in many shape and sizes but their mindset were affixed to film copying digital and that it was really not that good when compared to the wonders of digital.
I managed to brush off the conversation as I wanted to enjoy my time instead of wasting it with their endless digital worship (I’m not a technical luddite, I actually work with some of today’s most cutting technology and I do also have my own digital Full frame). Had I brought my own full frame, I think the conversation would have gone like this instead.
“OH FULL FRAME! MUST WORSHIP!”
“WEZ CAN TAKE BETER PICTURE IF ONLY WE WE HAVE’TH FULL FRAME!”
“WE POINT AND CLICK AND MASTERPIECE WOULD COME OUT WITH FULL FRAME CAMS!”
Or something to that effect. I use to think like that but I soon broke out of that thinking and really wanted to improve my skills and still am. I realized I needed to slow down and train myself to think before I shoot and not simply hold down the shutter button and hope for the best. But I digress, the light was not favorable anymore and I was on my way, while those people were still trying to shoot flowers and kept complaining that they didn’t look like they were taken on a beautiful clear blue sky spring day, it was dark and about to rain. Go figure with that type of mentality hoping their cameras can work wonders for them instead of them making wonders with their cameras.
Kodak Portra 160VC
I picked this up during a visit to Keat Cameras in Pudu a month ago for a bargain. It came in one of those 5 roll packs, it’s cheaper to buy them like that and it makes storage easier instead of individual boxes.
My test so far puts this film strictly as a portrait film although it can be used for landscape but you need to really know how to use lighting or else your shots are not going to turn out well. Portra is the other end of the spectrum when compared to Ektar it seems. Where shooting people using Ektar is a waste of a good landscape film, shooting landscape with Portra is an experiment like washing a car with a dishcloth, it can work but it sure as hell is not the best way to do it.
Trouble is, I thought with the moniker VC (vivid colors) this was something with higher saturations and hence suitable for landscape and tried to used it for landscape shooting. So my shots turned out weird….
Fujichrome Trebi 100c
I don’t know what to make of this film, it doesn’t seem like any of the other film though I have read reviews saying it’s like sensia 2 (I never tried that so I can’t comment on it). The colors so far are soft and not very strong, while the contrast is is above average. Sharpness is very good while grain is really fine! I’m not kidding when I say they are fine! But what I like about is that it’s slide and I always prefer slide over negative film any day!
Here are some of the shots I’ve been meaning to upload for a while now. (more…)
Ilford HP5 plus 400 some of Pudu prison
Here is my next installment for HP5 I recently had developed. I only get all my film developed after a while. Due to the hassle of bringing them to the shop and then picking them up follow by scanning and editing. How many of you do your own b&w film development at home?
I know I can probably do the same thing and it’s not hard but since I’m staying with family for now still I can find a better place, I’ve decided to hold off doing my own development till then.
Though what I really want to do is have my own dark room and hand print my own photos but it’s still too cost prohibitive for me. I could just get a printer but I’ve always wanted to do it the old fashion way since it seems a lot more fun and you appreciate the artwork you produced as well as the work of other people who similar hand printed their own photos.
Fujifilm Superia x-tra revisited
When I last used this film, I swore I would never used negative ever again until I came across Kodak Ektar 100. Which forced me to reevaluate whether or not color negative provide a cheaper and effective film solution aside from the more expensive and difficult to find slide film, I decided to look back again at the many roll I had cursed into the box of despair and see if all of the shots were shit. Most of the shots were actually good but the color and sharpness were completely shit, and I know it was not the gear or skill because at that very same shoot, I used slide and they turned out quite well. Hence my reluctance to use color negative ever since.
So I decided to rescan the same roll of film carefully this time and maximise all the details I could obtained from the film and some unsharp masking, see if I could wring out any usable shots at all. Sadly I could only wring out 2 “passable” shots. Though whether or not this will change my opinion about using Superia ever the jury is still out on that one. But at least I know my scanning skill has improved if I could wring out something this time when compared to my previous efforts.
Some of you may remember this is from my Leng Yein shoot so pardon me if this bores you.
Though I have admit, the colors are much nicer this time around.
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Fujifilm Neopan (Presto) 400
I started shooting b&w with this film since I bought a batch from my first trip to Japan back in 2007. In Japan, it’s called Neopan Presto 400 while it’s just Neopan 400 every where else. I don’t think it’s a different film as there doesn’t seem to be any difference at all. Anyway here are some of the latest shots using it.
Some of the shots I’ve posted previously as part of a composite photo so here are the non-composite version.
Kodak Ektar 100
First up, I finally had the opportunity to get some of this film which many have claimed to be the color negative answer to Fujifilm’s Slide velvia. So far though I not sure if this assertion is true or not as my test of this film have yet to yield nothing coming close to slide level though I’m not saying it’s rubbish at least until I can do some more test with this film. Though I will say one thing, the grain on this film is really good so far and the colors are actually very pleasing and avoids the one main problem I faced when using velvia and that is it’s use under artificial light. Ektar performance is much better so far from what I’ve seen.
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the story so far in Cyprus
- Been shooting film…
I’ve been meaning to do more updates but because of training that hasn’t been possible and because of that, I’ve also had very little chance for any shooting. And any shooting I do is mostly with my minolta CLE which show far has been a gem to use since it doesn’t attract so much attention so taking shots is pretty easy without anyone knowing.
Yesterday (Friday was actually a public holiday hence a long weekend), I had original opt to join a group of the other trainees from India but I pulled out last minute when I wasn’t feeling too well.
Sure it would have been cheaper to go with them yesterday but feeling down and so fourth would not have been a good idea.
Anyway, I figure since I brought so many rolls of film it would be best I try to use them instead of bringing back unused.
So far, I’ve only explored the city of Nicosia and frankly I find it rather simple, nothing really stands out and it’s pretty run down and really old.
Hopefully with the money I’ve saved so far, I can rent the car myself or hire a driver with it and head up to troodoos myself next week.
Will let you know til then.
I think 35mm is dead in Malaysia…….
Last Friday I had a lunch with my co-workers at Mid-valley. I also decided to drop a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 (negative film, not slide). I figured that since it wasn’t slide film the shops wouldn’t have any problems developing….boy was I wrong!!!
Fujifilm/Fujichrome Fortia SP
Yup. Long overdue but I’ve been rather busy lately. Today’s entry will be showcasing shots using Fortia SP
Sadly this will be the last batch I ever shoot as I don’t have any rolls left after my Japan vacation.
Yes folks, I’ve totally exhausted my remaining supply of this wonderful film. I wish Fujifilm would had continued making this film even on a limited basis.
It was fun while it lasted but then again, it had to be used sooner or later and I’m glad it went out with a bang!
The only other film that comes close to this would be Velvia 50. Although I prefer the insane saturation this one gives.
Fujifilm Velvia 100
Its been a while now since I posted any Velvia 100 shots. So here they are in no particular order.
All of these shots were taken during my Japan vacation so you’ll have to excuse the fact that all of them are just autumn photos.
Also all the photos have been sharpen post scanning. Though its rather strange, I’ve noticed that photos taken by trebi 100c require little to no sharpening at all when compared to Velvia or Fortia.
Initially I thought the blurry look of the photos was due to my scanner as the photos on the roll of film were tack sharp.
I did have the roll of film developed and were all good and sharp. This enforced my initial theory but now I suspect it may be something entirely.
Fujifilm Trebi 100c
Fujifilm Trebi 100c. Available only in Japan.
This film can only be found in Japan though you can order through a few online stores such as Japan Exposure . I’m a sucker for unknown color positive films, pity though I couldn’t find any Fortia SP.
Brief Description:
From what I gather this film is actually considered the Fisher Price of color reversal films. If you plan on chosing color reversal film instead of color negative films as your first type then this is the film you should get first.
Its surprisingly very easy to control and incredibly very sharp even after scanning from the film directly.
Operation Chiaki : Day 4 (Nikko) Photos
Finally have the scans back from Yodobashi though it did cost quite an amount but their workmanship is worth the money.
But being a cheapskate, I’ll scan the rest of them when I’m back in Malaysia. Here are the shots from Nikko, it was raining pretty bad that day so I took a rather unorthodox method to getting my shots.
Day 11, 12: The return to Tokyo and the journey home!
20th, 21th October 2007:
The morning was clear and sunny….where the hell were you yesterday? So with everything packed up, I checked out and made my way to the Kyoto central train station. My quest was on it’s last leg.
The train ride would take about 3~4 hours. It was rather enchanting to see daylight piercing through the clouds. I felt a sense of great sadness knowing that my vacation was coming to an end.
Day 10: Kanazawa also known as the marsh of gold
19th October 2007:
Well yesterday had been a very enlightening day. Today I would finally achieve my final goal in Japan, to visit the city of Kanazawa as well as the last of 3 famous landscape gardens in Japan namely Kenroku-en.
I’m sucker for beautiful landscapes. Anyway had before I set out early to increase my chance of meeting as few people as possible as well as to spend as much time as I can at today’s location.
Tragic struck when I stepped of the Ryokan I was staying at,
It was raining.
Day 9: Takayama
18th October 2007:
My original intention then was to actually take a trip to Himeji and check out the castle and stuff but reports indicate that there were a lot of people there and so my plans were amended to go to Takayama instead.
Anyway, having a grueling day before in Nara I woke in the morning with the most intense pain on my left hip. Upon inspection I discovered a rather large bruise on the area where I had been knocked down by the deer the day before. I had to rest a little longer after taking some pain killer to ease it. So I didn’t go out as early as I had hoped for but then its a good thing a lot of my plans are flexible.
Soon I departed and headed straight for the Kyoto station where I then place an order for a ticket to Takayama it would take me about 3~4 hours
Leng Yein and the encounter with 35mm film
Welcome ladies and gents ( I expect only Gents though, rarely have any ladies here). I just uploaded some new shots from a model shoot I participated last weekend thank again to Cruizer176!
Once again the model is the ever so sexy Leng Yein which some of you may rememeber from my previous model session with her.
Though this time I decide I should try and give myself a challange for this model shoot in order to improve my skill and force me to think before I take a shot. I would only shoot film and only used digital if I couldn’t get the bloody correct exposure due to limited high ISO film or if I had ran out of film (only brought 5 folls that weekend).
Ilford FP4 Plus 125
Here is an odd ball roll of film, this is the first time I am trying out a film rated at 125 ISO, heck I never even tried this ISO on digital body but surprisingly it performs rather well as you can see.
Ilford Pan F plus 50
Here are some shots from the roll of Ilford Pan F 50 I tried out a month ago.
Ilford HP5 plus
Here we’re once again having another installment of “Film I’ve freaking tried out”.
Fujifilm Acros 100
I really should start cataloging all my film work…..I found another developed roll of film today between the pages of my many big books on the shelf.
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