B&W Photography: Twin Candids

What, no trees John? Not this week folks. Available light photography with high speed B&W film has been one of my passions from the beginning (1960s and 70s). Combine this love of available light with great subjects and you get twin candids (or candid twins).

Click to enlarge

Here’s a shot of Maddy, one of my twin granddaughters. I took this photograph a few months ago. No flash (yuck!) to grab a nice candid of Maddy caught in the act of playing with one of the lamps in our family room. Her expression speaks volumes.

Click to enlarge

And here is Livvy, Maddy’s younger sister (by less than an hour). She was sitting on someone’s lap — obviously enjoying herself.

Both of these images were made with my Bessaflex, my 50/1.4 screw mount Takumar and Tri-X flim rated at ISO 1250 (for development in Diafine) — a killer combination that I use quite frequently.

Drop on by The Weekend in Black and White, especially if you are a monochrome maniac. There’s lots links to some great monochrome photography. And some of the monochrome maniacs still use film like I do.

Read Full Post »

Reflections: Puddle Perspectives

One of my cameras is always within reach. I happened to have my Bessaflex loaded with Tri-X one day a few weeks ago when I drove my mother to the public library.

Click to enlarge

After I helped mom get situated for the ride home, I saw this puddle and grabbed a quick shot. I cropped the right end of the image to get rid of a few distractions. Maybe I’m strange, but I like the square format. One of these days I’m going to spring for a medium format 6×6 film camera.

As often happens with my reflection photos, I discovered things I didn’t see (consciously) when I took the photo. This image turned out better than I expected.

Read Full Post »

Monday Musings: River Birch

I was looking for a few new macros when I came across a folder containing a bunch of shots I took in my yard last summer using my wife’s $150 digicam. I didn’t use a tripod. Most of the shots are — yawn! But I decided to fool around with a few of the more promising images in PWP.

Click to enlarge

I like all the green shades and the young leaves in this one.

Click to enlarge

More young leaves and a wanna be leaf. Some of the leaves are a rich bronze with purple when they first appear. Then, as they mature, they turn all green.

These shots were taken on July 1, 2009. I cheated and looked at the EXIF data. I’m so accustomed to film that I forget to look for the EXIF digital info.

Read Full Post »

B&W Photography: Evening Light Revisited

This series of photos was taken about a week after last week’s Evening Light image. In fact, these images are from the same roll of Freestyle Legacy Pro 400 (made by Fuji) as the Barn & Silo photo I posted two weeks ago. I used my Nikon N8008s and 35mm AF lens for all the shots on this roll.

Click to enlarge

As I rode along a section of road wooded on one side, the character of the light grabbed me and told me to stop. I was riding slower than usual so I could ‘see.’ I parked the bike and grabbed this shot.

Click to enlarge

Then I moved (zoomed with my feets) to try a different angle and framing. Which is the better image? I like both and I haven’t made up my mind yet.

Click to enlarge

I took this one at the top of a hill about a half mile farther along the road where I always stop to rest and have a sip or two from my water bottle. I parked my bike next to the cornfield and walked across the road for a better shot. The light that evening was lovely and this image jumped out at me, begging to be remembered. I enjoy the contrast between this image and the two above, yet they all share the magic of the evening light.

Drop on by The Weekend in Black and White, especially if you are a monochrome maniac. There’s lots links to some great monochrome photography. And some of the monochrome maniacs still use film like I do.

Read Full Post »

Reflections: Meet My Trusted Nikon F3HP

I thought it might be fun to show the camera I use for much of my photography reflecting back at us.

Nikon F3HP w/ 50mm Nikkor-H lens

Not a bad shot considering I used my wife’s $150 Canon digicam. The lighting came from a north facing window on the left and the little camera was firmly attached to my tripod. I used this image once before to illustrate one of my “Why I Still Use Film” posts but I’m bringing it back for a reflection encore.

The lens is an old Nikkor-H from the late 1960s. I picked it up on eBay about 6 or 7 years ago for around $35 or so. I don’t remember the exact amount. I tested all of my Nikon 50mm lenses (I have 3) and this old beauty came out on top. I use it quite a lot these days.

If you’ve never tried a prime lens, it’s a treat. You ‘zoom’ with your feets. Most of the time, when I go out to take pictures, I travel light with a single lens. Sure I might miss a shot or two but when I have one lens, I eliminate the temptation to be switching lenses constantly and learn to use the one on the camera.

The F3HP is a great camera that was in production for 20 years. Mine just keeps on ticking. The ergonomics are great and you have to feel the film advance lever to appreciate the level of quality. It doesn’t come much better than this.

Read Full Post »

Monday Musings: Remembering Spring

I was going through my color negatives a few weeks ago and came across this image.

Click to enlarge

I have no idea what this is but the young leaves and colors of spring attracted me so I thought I’d share this one.

Read Full Post »

B&W Photography: Evening Light

I love the light of evening. It’s such a wonderful time for B&W photography. I was out on my bicycle again and stopped at the small bridge over one of the creeks to have a look at the light.

Click to enlarge

I found this image waiting for me. It’s from the same roll of film (Ilford FP4+) as the old barn and silo photos from two weeks ago. I don’t remember if it was the same evening though. I should take better notes.

Drop on by The Weekend in Black and White, especially if you are a monochrome maniac. There’s lots links to some great monochrome photography. And some of the monochrome maniacs still use film like I do.

Read Full Post »

Reflections: Mud Puddle

One evening a few weeks ago I was out riding my bicycle and taking pictures. I had one shot left on the roll of film when I stopped at the intersection and noticed the puddle on the opposite side of the road. Why not shoot the reflection?

Click to enlarge

Mud puddle? Well not exactly, but I did have to straddle a bit of mud to get this shot. The stop sign post is reflected in the center of the image. I couldn’t get an angle that would exclude the post so there it is.

Click to enlarge

I turned the image upside down on a whim. It almost looks like a section through the ground with the leaves growing out of and rooted into the earth. Now I can’t make up my mind which image I prefer.

Read Full Post »