I normally don’t do reruns, but this is a special case. I’m revisiting this image because it was originally published this past November on James’ Weekend Reflections — the week before I discovered The Monochrome Weekend and missed the cut. I put a larger image up this time (I finally figured out how to do that — duh). Just click to enlarge.
Night Reflections (click to enlarge)
Of all the B&W images I’ve shot over the years, this may well be my favorite. It’s in my top 10 in any case. I used an inexpensive point and shoot Olympus Stylus Epic with a 35mm f/2.8 lens loaded with Kodak C-41 process B&W film.
I haven’t used C-41 B&W (for a few years) since I discovered Diafine and began developing all my own film. I bought a couple rolls of Kodak’s newest version last week. Now all I need is a one hour lab that runs a clean line.
Not as sharp as “real” B&W film, but the Kodak C-41 B&W (and Ilford XP2) has great tonality and amazing exposure tolerance. It’s excellent for portraits and the tones in this photo have me wanting more of the same.
Rather than repeat the story behind this photo, I invite you to jump over to the original post, Reflections: The Solitary Hour Before Dawn. I’ll give you a hint. This was the ultimate grab shot. I couldn’t even use the viewfinder. I got lucky again.
I like it, too – the darkness, the rain, the lone figure walking down an empty street. Lovely.
Hello John! I like this … the wet weather has really enhanced this night picture … love the clarity of the image and the reflections and shadows too.
have a super day!
Gena @ Thinking Aloud
a photoblog
South Africa
Loving this shot, just enough light and the rain of course creates those great reflections. I used a lot of Ilford with great results. I just wish I could find more of my old photos and negatives.
I can see why this is one of your favorites. The depth of field is surprising considering the light. This is very nice.
This one definitely works well in black and white. There’s definitely a mood to this photo, good stuff!
As I wrote the first time:
“A picture of the old French “film noir” school. The person with the umbrella is a must to get the full effect. It encroaches on brilliant.”
I’m even more convinced of it now.
PS Ihaven’t developed a film myself since the 70′s. In fact, it is all digital these days – should I feel ashamed?
Thanks. You should feel liberated, not ashamed. LOL
I love it!! I can feel the rain and a little bit cold and I want to come home and warm me up!! Have a nice weekend!!
That’s one for the Wall.
I like it too! Rain can almost be beautiful:-)
Have a nice evening!
Incidentally, I flew to Cyprus on Xmas Eve 1955 in a DC6 – they needed a few extra to fill the seats amongst families going to join husbands. Spent a miserable day amongst the drunks of RAF Nicosia.
Any wonder I loath the Festering Season.
The grays in this image are just marvelous, so soft and muted.
You may say you were lucky, but I suspect that you put a strong degree of innate skill behind that luck
.
This a shot worth posting twice!
I can see why you like, the blacks are good, and the reflections on the wet are what monochrome was made for; very ‘Third Man’.
This is an excellent photograph. I love the way the rain shows up so well and a beautiful setting to shoot it.
John,
This is an awesome shot, proving once again the photogapher’s eye is the most important link in the imaging chain. I also have been using Diafine exclusively lately, but may have to shoot a roll or two of C-41 B&W after seeing this.
Nice capture John
Have a nice weekend
A moody shot. I love the reflections and the light on the bare, wet branches.
I think this came out real nice..great shimmer in silver tones-
A perfect moment in time, there is so much to love about this shot I don’t even know where to begin. Your story of when you took this is a reminder to always have a camera with you. ~ Calico Contemplations
it wasnt just luck. i wouldnt b able to come up with this. there r so many sub levels of skills involved before a shot like this can b captured. i like this shot. it reminds me of Hollywood where the detective trails a subject or a vampire movie jus before the ‘bite’
This is a picture with a lot of feelings – a lonely walk home after the rain … a bit scary walk
I like it a lot!
I can see why this is a favourite shot. I love it! It’s a magical photo full of feeling.
I remember this one, and enjoyed seeing it again. Everything seems placed just right, and between the light and reflections I feel like I’m there.
I love it! It looks like Dick Tracy should be hiding around the corner on a stake out and the reflections are great!
Wow…quite Humphrey Bogart-esque. I feel like hanging arouond to see if Lauren Bacall shows up…
I really like this one john. Well exposed. The lights aren’t blown out and the reflections and shadows give it a great mood. Nice work!
Great shot John, as always. Aside from the reflections, I saw some shadows too..nice combination.
it is beautiful, i never thought i will say that on an empty street with lamp post on and a lone person walking about…but it is simply beautiful. it takes me back to memories of black and white films…amazing!
eng
this is a beautiful shot John. the wet road, lamp posts, trees, building, shadows all are perfectly composed. thanks for sharing it to us..
I remember that shot and it even looks better this time. Great reflections.
Very nice, a real bad weather !
Another fabulous capture. Nicely done.
SAw your comment re. OM series etc. Great cameras for travelling because of their smaller size than other SLRs, their OM lenses are also about 2/3 the size of Canon, Nikon etc. I have a T90 I bought some months back and last weekend bought a used, but pristine, 85mm 1.2 (!) FD lens for it. Hell of a piece of glass thatI can’t wait to put across a roll of FP4.
Beautiful picture! Love the feeling in it!
Amazing photo. I wish it`s mine.
Great photo! I had not thought it was so old if you had not written it..
Just my sort of photo, it really does look like it was cold. I love the lone figure and the reflections.
I can see why you decided on a rerun. This is a very beautiful shot in monochrome. I feel a certain tranquility which relaxes the mind. Have a blessed week.
That’s really beautiful, so moody and mysterious. I’m inspired now to try B&W next time it rains.
I’m loving the rain and the way it reflects the light in this shot. Stunning! And it’s true…sometimes it’s the photos that aren’t planned that turn out to be the best!
I thought this looked familiar. This really is a wonderful shot. I was right about your birthday candles picture. It looked even better when I saw it on my normal pc. Remember that long glass I told you about? 1200mm that the car guy supposedly used. I read that a used one sold in New York for $120,000
Look at the size of this 36 pound monster.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-1200mm-f-5.6-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
Thanks James. That canon is a cannon. Incredible. I wonder if Nikon ever did anything like that?
They did make the mother of all zooms:
Your wonderful photograph has the ambience of an Edward Hopper painting, the lonesome figure being you out of sight shooting! Thanks for visiting.
Thank you Margaret. I’m pretty sure I didn’t crop this image. This may be the negative I send out for a high res drum scan. This may be the image I want at 12 x 18 on fine art paper. I must think about it.
this is indeed gorgeous!
This is one of my favourites. It highlights once again what we have been saying about simple point and shoots!
Yes. The “sensor” on my point and shoot is 24mm x 36mm — the same size as the sensor on the Nikon D700. The D700 is $2,400 street price. Mine cost $90 and came with a free 35mm f/2.8 lens.
BTW, the shot of infant Emily from last week’s sepia scenes comes from the same roll of sensors (oops — I mean film).
I like this too. The greyscale is very good and the light also.
I’ve gotten respectable results with Kodak’s T-Max CN, but I’ve always kind of felt that the C-41 process B&W films (which aren’t “true” B&W anyway) sort of robbed you of the advantages of B&W film and took away the reason for using it to begin with. The only advantage I can see in them is that the process is more carefully controlled, so maybe you get more consistent results (which I assume is the reason they exist in the first place). But like all C-41 films, they can’t be “pushed” (though if I understand your explanation correctly, Diafine pretty well obviates the need for push processing — yay!)
But on to the image! I’d say what a stroke of luck, but luck is seldom a factor. Even in “drive-by” or “from the hip” shots, all of the same elements are present.
I can see very easily why this shot is among your favorites. It’s one I look at and wish I’d taken. I think the fella with the umbrella in background really makes it sing, but even without him, it’s a strong composition and the contrast and tonal range are perfect!
Thanks for the kudos. I began using the C-41 stuff out of necessity because I wanted B&W and had neither the time nor the inclination to develop my own B&W. I was shooting more color transparency film because I was friends with the guys who ran medical media at TJU. They did a fantastic job on E-6 films and it only cost me $8 a pop. Ready the same day too.
I tried doing my own developing with a conventional developer about 6 years ago and it was a mess. I hadn’t discovered the salad spinner trick yet. When I tried Diafine and used my salad spinner I was hooked. My negatives are always perfect for scanning and who can argue Tri-X at 1600.
The Kodak and Ilford C-41 B&W films do have a long tonal range and they forgive a lot of exposure errors. They are not as sharp as “real” B&W but that can be an advantage. I think the C-41 has a creamier look.
I bet if I told a Leicaphile that I shot this pic with a Leica they’d believe me. There’s a “look” about the shot that’s probably a combination of wide open and Kodak TCN. The lens on that little camera is a good one. Who knows? I’m just glad I was able to capture this moment. The guy with the umbrella was serendipity.