Still-Life Images, 2015

[Ken Lee]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/2014-12-13.jpg
Vase
Sinar P, 200mm Nikkor M
4x5 TMY, D-23

[Pali K]

Love it Ken - nice way to start this for 2015!

[gsinico]

http://gelatina.altervista.org/Singer-stillife/content/images/large/201.jpg

some experiment with T64 expired ...
fujinon SF, tetenal developed by me.

critiques and comments are welcomed.

[Robert Langham]

From my series: Magic and Logic.

127440 127441

[hendrik faure]

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u568/hfa8/brokentime_zpsca56f286.jpg
copperplate photogravure (happy new year)

[Peter Lewin]

Playing with window light and selective focus; HP5+, PMK, straight negative scan. Comments always welcome.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8588/15978098740_e988da3d3c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qkVW63)img164 (https://flic.kr/p/qkVW63) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

[Peter Lewin]

And another negative scan (cocktail shaker) from the same window light set-up, again HP5+, but this time Pyrocat HD. Slight crop from negative, unnecessary space at top of image. And as always, comments welcome.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/16143034466_daea173276_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qAvgJs)img166 (https://flic.kr/p/qAvgJs) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

[mdm]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lXY5-Lju5AA/VKXwUtnuvJI/AAAAAAAACLY/iYJeklUX3b8/s1600/blah060-Edit.jpg
Whole plate Fomapan 100 in D23

[andreios]

What a start of a new year.. All excellent photographs, although I do have a particularly liking to Hendrik's photogravure and David's flowers...

[JoeV]

I also posted this to the paper negative subforum. Pre-flashed grade 2 Arista paper, Fujinon 135-5.6 lens in Speed Graphic, exposure f/11 at 4 seconds.

~Joe

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7470/16021187769_604eec858d_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31285363@N07/16021187769/)
Vase001a (https://www.flickr.com/photos/31285363@N07/16021187769/) by jvcabacus (https://www.flickr.com/people/31285363@N07/), on Flickr

[D-tach]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v5/p644572408-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - Fomapan 200 5x7 - Pyrocat HD

[hendrik faure]

What a start of a new year.. All excellent photographs, although I do have a particularly liking to Hendrik's photogravure and David's flowers...
thank you Andreios,
the negativ was taken with an "Ilex 3 inch (75 mm) f:1.9 Oscillo-Paragon 1:0.85x". This lens is very sharp at near distance but covers 4x5 inch not completely. Depth of sharpness is very small, so I burnt down the clockwork by a gas soldering lamp. The gravure was a bit complicated, low temperature in my working room.
hendrik

[SergeiR]

8x10, Dallmeyer 3D

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/16214946261_de39679021_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qGRQAZ)Cofee & Sushki (https://flic.kr/p/qGRQAZ) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

[Peter Yeti]

thank you Andreios,
the negativ was taken with an "Ilex 3 inch (75 mm) f:1.9 Oscillo-Paragon 1:0.85x". This lens is very sharp at near distance but covers 4x5 inch not completely. Depth of sharpness is very small, so I burnt down the clockwork by a gas soldering lamp. The gravure was a bit complicated, low temperature in my working room.
hendrik

Hendrik, this is the best photo gravure I've seen from you in the still-life thread, yet, very nice indeed. I recently started thinking about trying photo gravure myself, though it seems to be a rather difficult technique. Could you share some details about how you're doing this? If you think it's not appropriate for this thread, you could post somewhere else or by email. But maybe it's not only interesting for myself.

Peter

[seven]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/16209335265_f0bca2de53_o_d.jpg


Pinkham Bi- @F4.5, expired Fuji FP-100C45, b&w in nik analog efex

[D-tach]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p305301265-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ 5x7" - XTOL 1:1

[chassis]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p305301265-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ 5x7" - XTOL 1:1

Really great!

[chassis]

Hendrik, this is the best photo gravure I've seen from you in the still-life thread, yet, very nice indeed. I recently started thinking about trying photo gravure myself, though it seems to be a rather difficult technique. Could you share some details about how you're doing this? If you think it's not appropriate for this thread, you could post somewhere else or by email. But maybe it's not only interesting for myself.

Peter

Hr. Faure, I am also interested in your technique and process. It would be wonderful to read about it, or see some images of your workshop. As Mr. Yeti suggested, it could be nice to read about your work in the processing forum.

[andreios]

Tom, that pencil is absolutely fantastic!

[stradibarrius]

Tom the pencil is great! I love the everyday things that are presented in such a creative way.

[D-tach]

Thanks Chassis, Andreios & Stradibarrius!

[hendrik faure]

If you think it's not appropriate for this thread, you could post somewhere else or by email. But maybe it's not only interesting for myself

Hr. Faure, I am also interested in your technique and process. It would be wonderful to read about it, or see some images of your workshop. As Mr. Yeti suggested, it could be nice to read about your work in the processing forum.

Peter and Chassis, thank you for your interest.
Indeed for a detailled description of workflow this would be the wrong thread. I work alone only, but detail questions (PM) are no problem.
There are different procedures called photogravure; I work the classic way (copperplate and asphalt-aquatinta) such as described here: www.photogravure.com
Personally I learned most from Lothar Osterburg, who is an excellent teacher. He gives courses in brooklyn http://home.earthlink.net/~lotharosterburg/.
There are newer ways of gravure using solarplates or puretch- folie, I have no experience with these http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/photogravure/photopolymers-a-brief-description. But I do the inter-positives via inkjet sometimes.
Anyway you need a strong etching press, a good working place and some time for training. UV-light and contact frame may be low-budget.
hendrik

[Corran]

I'm not much of a still-life guy, but I am always inspired by the images posted here. I just don't know what to shoot or how.
But last night I had a hankering to shoot something and some extra mixed developer, so I gave it a shot.

Here's a coffee set my GF and I bought on vacation at a little antique store in the North Carolina mountains. Looking up the maker's mark, it was made in Bavaria sometime in the late 1800s. It's a special type of firing that makes the pieces look like oil in water, with shimmering rainbow colors inside the green of the ceramic. Along with these coffee items we have 8 demitasse cups and saucers.

Chamonix 4x5, 210mm f/9 Graphic Kowa @f/45, Ilford FP4+, SPUR-HRX:

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/stilllife-0979ss.jpg

[gbogatko]

My latest attempt. 14.5 Verito at F/11 on Arista/Foma 100.
127948

[djdister]

My latest attempt. 14.5 Verito at F/11 on Arista/Foma 100.
127948

Nice use of the Verito - short DoF and a touch of diffusion. Well done.

[gbogatko]

Thank you!!

[Robert Langham]

From my kinetic still life series: Magic and Logic. Fall Running Leaves. 8X10 and HP5 behind a 250mm Ektar Wide-Field.

128068

[Peter Yeti]

My latest attempt. 14.5 Verito at F/11 on Arista/Foma 100.
127948

Nice composition and great tonal values. I like it a lot.

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p305301265-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ 5x7" - XTOL 1:1

This one is phantastic! You got the most mileage out of this pencil and a little light. Bravo

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v5/p644572408-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - Fomapan 200 5x7 - Pyrocat HD

Lovely, I like the subtle lighting in particular.

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

If you think it's not appropriate for this thread, you could post somewhere else or by email. But maybe it's not only interesting for myself


Peter and Chassis, thank you for your interest.
Indeed for a detailled description of workflow this would be the wrong thread. I work alone only, but detail questions (PM) are no problem.
There are different procedures called photogravure; I work the classic way (copperplate and asphalt-aquatinta) such as described here: www.photogravure.com
Personally I learned most from Lothar Osterburg, who is an excellent teacher. He gives courses in brooklyn http://home.earthlink.net/~lotharosterburg/.
There are newer ways of gravure using solarplates or puretch- folie, I have no experience with these http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/photogravure/photopolymers-a-brief-description. But I do the inter-positives via inkjet sometimes.
Anyway you need a strong etching press, a good working place and some time for training. UV-light and contact frame may be low-budget.
hendrik

Hendrik,

Thank you for the very valuable information you gave here as well as in your pm's.

Peter

[D-tach]

Thank you Peter

[chrism]

Tried a very minimalist agitation and got some drag marks for my trouble:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/16101323869_323226ab30_c.jpg


Chris

[chassis]

chrism, drag marks aside, it is a nice image. Try stand development in dilute developer.

[chrism]

It was a stand development—7ml Rodinal in 900ml water for 40 minutes. Usually I invert the first 30 seconds, and three more inversions at the halfway mark. This time I was trying to minimise grain, so I swirled like wine in a glass instead. Live and learn!

Chris

[D-tach]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v64/p250096509-4.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - Acros 100 - Pyrocat HD - cropped

[Peter Yeti]

My first still-lifes of 2015. I love to take the same set up with different lenses:



http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i8a2e6a68b7b9ef85/1421444929/std/muscheln-dosen-darlot-petzval-3-7-210mm.jpg
Darlot Petzval ~3.7/210mm @f/4.8


http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i5e7e2b4d6e290070/1421445027/std/muscheln-dosen-apo-sironar-n-5-6-210mm-f-11-diff.jpg
Apo-Sironar N 5.6/210mm @f/11 & diffusion


http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i81928502290a8f2c/1421445095/std/muscheln-dosen-apo-sironar-n-5-6-210mm-f-22.jpg
Apo-Sironar N 5.6/210mm @f22


Peter

[gbogatko]

Nice composition and great tonal values. I like it a lot.

Peter

I'm trying! Ain't easy.

[gbogatko]

128188
Kodak 305, Arista 4x5, Rodinal 1:100 for an hour

[Miguel Coquis]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/2014-12-13.jpg
Vase
Sinar P, 200mm Nikkor M
4x5 TMY, D-23

This looks more like a close up to me !
Nice reflexions...BTW

[Courtlux]

Ektachrome exp. 2005 Cross in Tetenal C41 Linhof Master Technika Schneider 150 mm Epson V700https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11802756/16126348159_cda3d226ac_b.jpg

[Robert Langham]

128398

Catfish skeleton and feather assemblage. 8X10, 250 Ektar with one softbox continuous light. HP5 in Xtol.

[SergeiR]

8x10 , Dallmeyer 3D

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15722994164_fa57fe09dc_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pXosoh)Typewriter study #1 (https://flic.kr/p/pXosoh) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

[Jiri Vasina]

8x10 , Dallmeyer 3D

Typewriter study #1 (https://flic.kr/p/pXosoh) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

Wonderful... I only wonder if you reversed the image on purpose... (maybe because of the effect of light and dark parts...) ;) ... but it's wonderful image, no matter...

[SergeiR]

Jiri - you know what.. i didn't notice its reversed :) I guess once you see it reversed on GG and with my dyslexia - it sort of glues itself in my mind like this ;) I will print it reversed to see what it would look like then :) Thank you for your kind words on photo itself :)

[chrism]

Chamonix 045N-2, Apo-Sironar N 210mm/f5.6, FP4+, HC-110 (Dil.G), X1 scan:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/16170919307_6cd15f8a6f_c.jpg

Chris

[Peter Lewin]

Chrism: Darn, first I liked your self-portrait (the arches one), and now I like your still life a lot! A fun idea (that looks like a very heavy leaf!) and good lighting/exposure/development/printing (i.e. all the technical stuff).

[Peter Yeti]

Very nice, indeed. I like the idea.

Peter

[JoeV]

Scan of contact print from 4x5 Arista ortho litho film negative.

~Joe

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/16174086727_f2defa243c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qDfqug)Duck_Print001a (https://flic.kr/p/qDfqug) by jvcabacus (https://www.flickr.com/people/31285363@N07/), on Flickr

[gbogatko]

128451
Kodak 305, Efke 100, Rodinal
"It's Time"

[stradibarrius]

128538128538Here is a shot of my work bench. I'm refining the archings on this violin.
Chamonix 045-F1, Nikon 300mm, f/22,4 sec, FP4, Pyrocat HD. It is overexposed. working on trying to get worked out shots with strong back light.

[Bob Mann]

Negative Scan of expired 8x10 Tri-X developed in diafine - shot with 360mm

128560

[Peter Lewin]

Cold weather and snow = indoor still lifes! Seamless paper on the dining table in front of two windows, negative scans of HP5+ developed in Pyrocat-HD.
First, in honor of the mention of old Kodak developing tanks in another thread:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8578/15759017534_c584fe5007_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q1z5SS)kodaktank (https://flic.kr/p/q1z5SS) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

Second, the large format version of several old prayer books which I originally tried in digital color in the "all other" thread:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/16381478575_41fce590b6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qXzmRM)siddursb&w (https://flic.kr/p/qXzmRM) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

[StoneNYC]

Cold weather and snow = indoor still lifes! Seamless paper on the dining table in front of two windows, negative scans of HP5+ developed in Pyrocat-HD.
First, in honor of the mention of old Kodak developing tanks in another thread:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8578/15759017534_c584fe5007_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q1z5SS)kodaktank (https://flic.kr/p/q1z5SS) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

Second, the large format version of several old prayer books which I originally tried in digital color in the "all other" thread:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/16381478575_41fce590b6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qXzmRM)siddursb&w (https://flic.kr/p/qXzmRM) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

You did those today??

[Peter Lewin]

StoneNYC: Not today (I spent part of the morning shoveling out from thankfully less snow than expected), the pictures are from last week. While I know there are a number of very warm-blooded photographers on this forum who love their large cameras in the snow & cold, I prefer to photograph indoors when the outside temperatures are in the 20s and real-feels in the teens. While I love to exercise outside in the cold, I don't enjoy the slow process (at least for me) of setting up, composing, etc. with a view camera in those conditions.

[appletree]

What beautiful and inspiring work. Seems like I have a lot of threads and material to catch up on around here...in my free time. :)

[StoneNYC]

StoneNYC: Not today (I spent part of the morning shoveling out from thankfully less snow than expected), the pictures are from last week. While I know there are a number of very warm-blooded photographers on this forum who love their large cameras in the snow & cold, I prefer to photograph indoors when the outside temperatures are in the 20s and real-feels in the teens. While I love to exercise outside in the cold, I don't enjoy the slow process (at least for me) of setting up, composing, etc. with a view camera in those conditions.

I'm starting to appreciate speed graphic cameras, I wish Chamonix would make a 4x5 field camera with the addition of a rangefinder that would kick butt. Haha.

[Corran]

[...] 4x5 field camera with the addition of a rangefinder [...]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31444-USA/Linhof_000054_4x5_Master_Technika_Classic.html

A Graphic works but only with one lens, unless you want to fiddle with those obnoxious little cams on a top-RF Graphic in the field. The Linhof is pretty much the only way to go for "everything." You just sacrifice the weight category compared to a Chamonix, but it's not much heavier really.

[Jmarmck]

128538128538Here is a shot of my work bench. I'm refining the archings on this violin.
Chamonix 045-F1, Nikon 300mm, f/22,4 sec, FP4, Pyrocat HD. It is overexposed. working on trying to get worked out shots with strong back light.
I love the arch on that back. You should do some near macro work with that as the grain looks amazing.

[StoneNYC]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/31444-USA/Linhof_000054_4x5_Master_Technika_Classic.html

A Graphic works but only with one lens, unless you want to fiddle with those obnoxious little cams on a top-RF Graphic in the field. The Linhof is pretty much the only way to go for "everything." You just sacrifice the weight category compared to a Chamonix, but it's not much heavier really.

Hah! I would be more likely to spend that money on an Ebony LOL, but thanks.

I understand the 1 lens thing, I don't really need the focal plane shutter, just the couples rangefinder part, seems like a worthy feature for certain kinds of LF field work (I know that's sort of where the travelwide or similar Chamonix RF comes in, but without carrying two cameras I mean).

[Corran]

Hah! I would be more likely to spend that money on an Ebony LOL, but thanks.

I understand the 1 lens thing, I don't really need the focal plane shutter, just the couples rangefinder part, seems like a worthy feature for certain kinds of LF field work (I know that's sort of where the travelwide or similar Chamonix RF comes in, but without carrying two cameras I mean).

Used Linhof MT's are about $2k or less, just FYI, and they are much more versatile than an Ebony...

FP Shutter?? That wasn't what I was posting about. The Linhof has no FP shutter and only the Speed Graphic has a FP shutter.

Implementing an RF mechanism into a camera with interchangeable lenses is very hard, which is why only one company has really done it completely and successfully for for any lens (I mean 4x5) - and each lens has to have a custom-ground cam made for it. It's not like a Leica, or any other RF, with interchangeable lenses. Anyway, it depends on what you want to do, and I would say most here have no interest in an RF mechanism in a field/landscape camera. I use mine for handheld work.

[StoneNYC]

used linhof mt's are about $2k or less, just fyi, and they are much more versatile than an ebony...

Fp shutter?? That wasn't what i was posting about. The linhof has no fp shutter and only the speed graphic has a fp shutter.

Implementing an rf mechanism into a camera with interchangeable lenses is very hard, which is why only one company has really done it completely and successfully for for any lens (i mean 4x5) - and each lens has to have a custom-ground cam made for it. It's not like a leica, or any other rf, with interchangeable lenses. Anyway, it depends on what you want to do, and i would say most here have no interest in an rf mechanism in a field/landscape camera. I use mine for handheld work.

ymmv

[Ari]

My first-ever wet plate, too many mistakes to count; but I got an image. :)

http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r790/Ari4000/WP_zps0299787f.jpg (http://s1367.photobucket.com/user/Ari4000/media/WP_zps0299787f.jpg.html)

Toyo D45, G&C petzval, OWH collodion

[andreios]

My first-ever wet plate, too many mistakes to count; but I got an image. :)


That's way better than my first attempts few years ago :)

[Ari]

Děkuji, Andrej.

[Joe Smigiel]

I kinda like it, warts and all. Usually the artifacts bug me.

[Ari]

Thank you, Joe; I aim to pour very clean plates eventually.

[Ramiro Elena]

You guys started 2015 very strong.
Aero Ektar 178mm @f2.5
Foma100 in Moersch Tanol

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/15770756453_87a4938440_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q2Bfs2)
img336 (https://flic.kr/p/q2Bfs2) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr

[Dean]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7345/16231621880_376ee25d82_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qJkiFE)Aimg194 (https://flic.kr/p/qJkiFE) by 多啦73 (https://www.flickr.com/people/88481600@N05/), on Flickr

[David Schaller]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7345/16231621880_376ee25d82_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qJkiFE)Aimg194 (https://flic.kr/p/qJkiFE) by 多啦73 (https://www.flickr.com/people/88481600@N05/), on Flickr
That's beautiful Dean. I hope you make a lovely print.

[t0aster]

Negative Scan of expired 8x10 Tri-X developed in diafine - shot with 360mm

128560

So painterly in it's composition, I really like this one. The lighting is really gorgeous, too, and it lends to a very beautiful tonality throughout the entirety of the image. Bravo, sir.

[Pali K]

http://photolog.netsoft2k.com/blogImages/0215Light%20Bulb%20Still%20-%2002072015%20-%20001%20Web.jpg

Attempted a high key still today that I would really appreciate critiques/comments on.

Deardorff 8x10 - Fujinon 210 F5.6 @ F45 6:42 Mins
HP5+ HC110 DIL B Jobo

[Peter Lewin]

Still working on my cold-weather, window-light, still lifes. My father, coming from the generation where one kept a liquor cabinet to entertain friends, left me a number of nearly empty bottles. I kept the few which I thought were photogenic (either shape, labels, or both), and 20 years later found them useful for a period when I didn't feel like taking the view camera outside. These are are negative scans (Epson 4990) from HP5+ negatives, tray developed in Pyrocat-HD. Both Canham DLC^2 and Rodenstock 150mm.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/15853441493_43198b99ec_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q9V2Qa)bisquit1 (https://flic.kr/p/q9V2Qa) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/15853449353_034121f514_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q9V5aF)cubanrum (https://flic.kr/p/q9V5aF) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

The second, Cuban Rum, was also posted as a color digital image in the "Everything Else" sub-forum. Slight differences due to differences in proportions between 35mm full-frame and 4x5. I've found it useful to use the digital camera "as a Polaroid" for still-life set-ups, to be able to live with the image a little in order to decide whether to move things around or not.

Comments or suggestions for when I head to the darkroom always welcome!

[Ken Lee]

http://photolog.netsoft2k.com/blogImages/0215Light%20Bulb%20Still%20-%2002072015%20-%20001%20Web.jpg

I would really appreciate critiques/comments


Is the black border required because the tones are otherwise too subtle ?

Does it look staged or natural ?

Is there a sense of intimacy or distance, or neither ?

Is there one primary theme or several themes ?

[Ari]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/16473450632_066253d3bf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r6GJWU)Pitcher This... (https://flic.kr/p/r6GJWU) by Ari4000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/44110300@N06/), on Flickr

Toyo 810M, Gundlach-Manhattan no. 5 Series "A" Portrait Lens, Arista 100

[Peter Lewin]

And one for any ancient rock climbers out there! There was a time (notice the climbing "license" for the 'Gunks dated 1963) when leaders hammered in pitons for safety, and seconds took the pins back out and put them on a sling, to return to the leader at the end of the pitch. Technical details same as the two images posted earlier today.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8648/15853493874_a5288d1de3_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/q9Viph)rockhammer (https://flic.kr/p/q9Viph) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

[Ari]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/16450534906_2eb7a28524_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb)Egg Beaters (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb) by Ari4000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/44110300@N06/), on Flickr

Toyo 810M, Gundlach Series "A" Portrait, Arista 100

[StoneNYC]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/16450534906_2eb7a28524_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb)Egg Beaters (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb) by Ari4000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/44110300@N06/), on Flickr

Toyo 810M, Gundlach Series "A" Portrait, Arista 100

Ari, I really like this one, and I'm not a still life's guy. Nice.

[D-tach]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v168/p337073649-5.jpg

Deardorff - Imagon 250 - TMY-2 400 4x5" - XTOL 1:1

[Peter Yeti]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7369/16450534906_2eb7a28524_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb)Egg Beaters (https://flic.kr/p/r4FhUb) by Ari4000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/44110300@N06/), on Flickr

Toyo 810M, Gundlach Series "A" Portrait, Arista 100

Simple and very clear. Very nice, indeed.

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v168/p337073649-5.jpg

Deardorff - Imagon 250 - TMY-2 400 4x5" - XTOL 1:1

That's a nice subject and an interesting use of the imagon.

Peter

[Ari]

Thanks, Stone and Peter.
Tom, nice to see you posting again; or perhaps I've not been seeing your posts?

[Tim Meisburger]

Peter, that brings back memories. I had that Royal Robbins book in the 70s when I started rock climbing. I continued to the late 80s, but after that I was overseas and had no opportunity. In the mid 2000s my kids were old enough to try it and I went out a few times, but it was very frustrating. In my mind I could still pull 5.11, but lack of practice, weaker muscles and more fat made me physically more 5.4. Still, rock climbing was always the sport I loved more than any other.

[Peter Lewin]

Tim: Even in my mind I never achieved your level, I was a 5.7 second (not a leader) and that was it. I spent a couple of summers climbing in the 'Gunks, but my real love was just being out in the hills, a bunch in England and Wales (I lived in the U.K. for 5 years as an expat), a bit in the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, and a little in the Alpes Maritimes in France. I was a good armchair mountaineer, though, and if I could do only a fraction of what the books in the climbing section of my bookshelf contain, I would have been spectacular!

[Pali K]

Is the black border required because the tones are otherwise too subtle ?

Does it look staged or natural ?

Is there a sense of intimacy or distance, or neither ?

Is there one primary theme or several themes ?

Ken,

It's a personal habit to add borders for images that are predominantly white. Your question made me look at the images on my blog and I can clearly see that I have added borders on all similar white background images. It seems to be an unconscious habit.

The image looks and is heavily staged. You spark a good point that image of this sort should feel more natural.

I personally feel that the image has a sense of intimacy. However, I feel that it is a bit chaotic which leads me to your next question about the theme. Looking at it now, I feel the theme is "Look... Light Bulbs" vs. "Look... Art"

Appreciate your comment/questions. Reviewing the photo with your questions in mind has definitely opened up some thoughts that I need to pay more attention to in my future attempts. I'll try again and post the results soon and I'd love to hear what worked and what didn't.

Thanks again.

-Pali

[D-tach]

That's a nice subject and an interesting use of the imagon.

Peter


Thanks, Stone and Peter.
Tom, nice to see you posting again; or perhaps I've not been seeing your posts?

Thanks for the kind remarks Peter and Ari - yes I seem to be in a kind of wintersleep, especially the models/friends I try to work with :) guess at one point I'll have to start working with real models but it seems like a difficult step for me as I'm rather shy :)

[D-tach]

That's a nice subject and an interesting use of the imagon.

Peter


Thanks, Stone and Peter.
Tom, nice to see you posting again; or perhaps I've not been seeing your posts?

Thanks for the kind remarks Peter and Ari - yes I seem to be in a kind of wintersleep, especially the models/friends I try to work with :) guess at one point I'll have to start working with real models but it seems like a difficult step for me as I'm rather shy :)

[andreios]

Fantastic images, Ari & Tom! And inspiring - I really should play more with LF at home..

[Ari]

Thanks for the kind remarks Peter and Ari - yes I seem to be in a kind of wintersleep, especially the models/friends I try to work with :) guess at one point I'll have to start working with real models but it seems like a difficult step for me as I'm rather shy :)

Good to know, Tom; we all have our down time, best to just roll with it.


Fantastic images, Ari & Tom! And inspiring - I really should play more with LF at home..

Thank you, Andrej; it's not by choice. The weather is quite difficult at this time of year, we rarely get above -10˚C, so gotta have more indoor activities. :)

[Ari]

Thank you, Johnathon.

[D-tach]

Fantastic images, Ari & Tom! And inspiring - I really should play more with LF at home..

Thank you Andreios

[chrism]

Chamonix 045N-2, Rodenstock Apo-Sironar N 210mm/f5.6, Ilford Hp5+, Rodinal stand, Hasselblad X1 scan:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/16306409948_d8741cc0b0_c.jpg

Chris

[ckagy]

Seems to be the day for shaving kits

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/16493868901_9037b19444_o.jpg

Arista EDU 200, shot at EI100, for 7 minutes (by the time reciprocity & bellows extension were figured in)
ToyoView
Fujinon 150mm
D76 1:1

[chrism]

Seems to be the day for shaving kits

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/16493868901_9037b19444_o.jpg

Arista EDU 200, shot at EI100, for 7 minutes (by the time reciprocity & bellows extension were figured in)
ToyoView

Fujinon 150mm
D76 1:1

Keep at it—we'll take over the world!

Chris

[Pali K]

Some really amazing work from Tom, Ari, and Chris in the recent posts. Have long ways to go before I can capture anything so appealing - I find myself struggling with creating a soft intimate mood in my stills. I attempted another take on the light bulb image while keeping some of the pointers from Ken in mind and here is what I came up with.

http://photolog.netsoft2k.com/blogImages/0215Deardorff%20Light%20Bulb%20Still%20Take%20II%20-%20Web.jpg

I have this weird feeling that the image looked much more appealing on the ground glass and the only thing I can pin-point is that the filament needles on the bulb are bright red. It's possible that the hint of color adds a bit more character that I am not able to capture in BW.

Anyways, I am really curious to know your thoughts on this retake version of the bulb image. In particular hoping to hear your thoughts on if I made any progress in capturing a more appealing image or did I go backwards.

-Pali

[Corran]

I'm not Ken but I like both images - especially this last one. The balls of OOF light are very appealing and to me emphasize the theme of light/bulbs.

[Ari]

Pali, I don't have a problem with the first image at all, and, like Bryan, I like this second image a lot.
If you're looking to create softer moods, use softer light, diffused, or window light and use fill reflectors sparingly and tastefully.

[Jmarmck]

Pali, I am not so sure that the subject requires a soft appearance. The lightning seems appropriate for the nature of the glass surface. The bokeh of the background works well against the sharpness and clarity of the glass. It is very well done. The symmetry of the image takes away from the image. Also, the esthetics of the socket is in sharp contrast with the that of the bulb. I would have looked for an older socket, something with more nostalgia.....or not at all, like the first image.

Great shot.

[ckagy]

Keep at it—we'll take over the world!

Chris

Yes, indeed, we shall!

-The Other Chris

[Christo.Stankulov]

Heliar 300/4.5
HP5+ 8x10"
Adox Adonal
http://www.cjoint.com/15fe/EBlr0OTZwyv_scan-150211-0017s.jpg

[Miguel Coquis]

[QUOTE=Christo.Stankulov;1216651]Heliar 300/4.5
HP5+ 8x10"
Adox Adonal
Hi Christo, beautiful heliar "dattes" !!!
here is a pic shot with a tele-objektive 750mm WO on 8x10"
dev D76
cheers,
Miguel

[Christo.Stankulov]

Hello Miguel and thank you!
And here some Artichaut
http://www.cjoint.com/15fe/EBluAyCNBwo_scan-150211-0018s.jpg

[Pali K]

I'm not Ken but I like both images - especially this last one. The balls of OOF light are very appealing and to me emphasize the theme of light/bulbs.

Thank you Bryan! I spent almost two hours composing the background and getting the lighting and DOF just right to create this effect so I am glad to know that it works and isn't too distracting in the final image.


Pali, I don't have a problem with the first image at all, and, like Bryan, I like this second image a lot. If you're looking to create softer moods, use softer light, diffused, or window light and use fill reflectors sparingly and tastefully.

Thanks Ari - good tip on using fill light with reflectors. I have to look into adding reflectors to my mix to keep myself busy during the winter seasons.


Pali, I am not so sure that the subject requires a soft appearance. The lightning seems appropriate for the nature of the glass surface. The bokeh of the background works well against the sharpness and clarity of the glass. It is very well done. The symmetry of the image takes away from the image. Also, the esthetics of the socket is in sharp contrast with the that of the bulb. I would have looked for an older socket, something with more nostalgia.....or not at all, like the first image.

Great shot.

Thanks Marty and your points on the symmetry and socket are spot on. I agree that an older socket/lamp may have helped but there is very little old stuff in my house other than my cameras :) Hopefully, I'll keep shooting for many years where commercial mass-produced products from today will spark nostalgia in my future images.

Thanks again for everyone's input on this - I appreciate it. The weather is calling for 20 degrees F for the near future so there will likely be more still images coming soon.

- Pali

[Pali K]

Amazing pictures Christo and Miguel! I think Miguel just nailed an image and the feel that I have been trying to create with my recent bulb images. Really really nice!

- Pali

[Peter Lewin]

Since we seem to have a lightbulb theme going, I remembered a still life I made way back in the 1970s, when my Sinar F and 210 Symmar-S were new, and I was learning how to use it. This is an old Tri-X negative developed in D76 1:1, and just scanned on the 4990 with minor cropping of unused space on the negative:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/16317222970_b5047f96e5_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qRU2Uw)lightbulbs (https://flic.kr/p/qRU2Uw) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

In the same box of 1970s negatives, I was intrigued by this early still-life. I still have the corkscrew, but the wine is long gone. The real reason I'm posting it is not the image (which I like, but is a typical set-up by someone learning to use a view camera), but the wine: look at the label! This was when I was a young American expat living in London, and obviously making more money (at least relative to my needs) than at any later point in my career. Now that I have some understanding of wine, I could never afford that bottle again!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/16318411689_d3ae21ab50_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qS18gF)wineandcorkscrew (https://flic.kr/p/qS18gF) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

[Ken Lee]

I am really curious to know your thoughts on this retake version of the bulb image.

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/bulb.jpg


Sometimes it's easier to share thoughts with a photograph.

[Peter Yeti]

Peter, don't get me wrong, the pictures are fine. But I really envy you for that bottle of wine (coming from a wine making region myself). I hope you enjoyed it thoroughly.

Pali, I kind of liked your first version of the light bulbs. Ken's questions are very good ones, which I think are very helpful. But they are based on his personal style and opinions. You may ask yourself what is YOUR personal style and what are YOUR opinions. There is no such thing as the one right way to the perfect picture everyone will like.

Peter

[Pali K]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/bulb.jpg
Sometimes it's easier to share thoughts with a photograph.

Ken, I really like what you did with the processing. Do you mind sharing what you did in addition to the crop? Is it simply a levels adjustment?


Pali, I kind of liked your first version of the light bulbs. Ken's questions are very good ones, which I think are very helpful. But they are based on his personal style and opinions. You may ask yourself what is YOUR personal style and what are YOUR opinions. There is no such thing as the one right way to the perfect picture everyone will like.

Peter

Peter, Thank you for your note. I do appreciate it. I still feel that I am too early to really know my style when it comes to shooting with film. I am someone who has been long spoiled by the digital workflow since 2002 and am in the process to break my over processing habits. I find the natural look of the images that are shared on this site to be really inspiring and am hoping to create simple images myself that spend more time in the camera than in Photoshop. It's because of all of this I look for critical feedback so I can learn from the folks here who produce images that speak to me. However, I do know that my images won't appeal to everyone's style.

Pali

[Pali K]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/16317222970_b5047f96e5_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qRU2Uw)lightbulbs (https://flic.kr/p/qRU2Uw) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

Love it Peter! Best light bulb image in this thread. Maybe we need a dedicated light bulb topic :)

Pali

[Ken Lee]

Ken, I really like what you did with the processing. Do you mind sharing what you did in addition to the crop? Is it simply a levels adjustment?

I used curves, burning, dodging, sharpening.

[Ken Lee]

This looks more like a close up to me !

You are right. Sorry it took me a while to figure out :rolleyes:

I will post my close-ups in a different thread.

[Peter Lewin]

P. Yeti: Thanks for your comment, if not for the distance between us, and the extravagant cost of Laffite-Rothschild, I would love to share a bottle with you while we discuss photography!

Pali: Thanks, although I don't know if I agree with your "ranking" of lightbulb photographs. I liked your first (the high key exercise) a lot, and what I would have done differently in your second is adjust the framing so that you didn't cut off the base, but rather allowed some of your background to show at the bottom of the frame so that the subject "floated" a little in the frame, similar to what you did in the first picture. And personally, I thought Ken cropped too closely in his version, I liked a little more surrounding space (which isn't to say that either of us is right or wrong, merely that just about everyone has a slightly different aesthetic.)

In general, IMHO, most of our still life images are not fine art, they are closer to being exercises in lighting, framing, and the technical use of the view camera. At least that is the way I view my own. And on that basis I think you are doing as well as any of us.

[Christo.Stankulov]

Espelette
Sinar P2
Heliar 300/4.5
Moersch Tanol
http://www.cjoint.com/15fe/EBmtykQRcku_scan-150212-0019s.jpg

[hendrik faure]

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u568/hfa8/mirroir_zpsbc934990.jpg
photogravure (scanned in 2 parts, sorry)

[Peter Yeti]

P. Yeti: Thanks for your comment, if not for the distance between us, and the extravagant cost of Laffite-Rothschild, I would love to share a bottle with you while we discuss photography!

...

In general, IMHO, most of our still life images are not fine art, they are closer to being exercises in lighting, framing, and the technical use of the view camera. At least that is the way I view my own. And on that basis I think you are doing as well as any of us.

Peter, I'd love to share a bottle with you and talk about photography. Actually, a less extraordinary one would do and I'll keep the Chateau Laffite in my dreams.:) But even more I'd love to go out shooting pictures, which I feel not doing enough lately. Btw, I come to NJ about twice a year on average and always have a Hasselblad with me.

I think you have a good point about the still life images, at least where I'm concerned. But I generally call my stuff photography rather than fine art anyway. Taking still lifes is a great way of learning seeing, arranging, lighting, framing, balancing, forming an aesthetic image. This might be the area of photography closest to painting. Most painters made tons of studies before painting a masterpiece. But they didn't post their studies on the internet like we do.:rolleyes: Or, as Thomas Hoepker said: Two good photographs per year is a very good rate.

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

This one is amazing, Hendrik, but also a bit unsettling. That's one of the rare images to brood over.

Peter

[ndg]

http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u568/hfa8/mirroir_zpsbc934990.jpg
photogravure (scanned in 2 parts, sorry)

Hendrik, very well-made photogravure print. It seems to be full of meaning too. To me, it seems to show a man who does not like what he sees in the mirror. Much like looking at one's life and not being happy with how it's been lived. Well done!

[Peter Lewin]

Peter, I'd love to share a bottle with you and talk about photography. Actually, a less extraordinary one would do and I'll keep the Chateau Laffite in my dreams.:) But even more I'd love to go out shooting pictures, which I feel not doing enough lately. Btw, I come to NJ about twice a year on average and always have a Hasselblad with me.

I think you have a good point about the still life images, at least where I'm concerned. But I generally call my stuff photography rather than fine art anyway. Taking still lifes is a great way of learning seeing, arranging, lighting, framing, balancing, forming an aesthetic image. This might be the area of photography closest to painting. Most painters made tons of studies before painting a masterpiece. But they didn't post their studies on the internet like we do.:rolleyes: Or, as Thomas Hoepker said: Two good photographs per year is a very good rate.

Peter
Peter: First, the next time you are coming to NJ, send me a PM. My wife and I would love to have you (and a significant other or whatever) over for dinner (and wine, even if not a Lafitte), and I could even set up some sort of photo outing, I could use my Rollei 2006 if we want to both be using medium format. I lived in the UK for about 6 years, my wife worked for the French government tourist office in NY, so we could even sound "European."

But I really wanted to expand a little on my view that most still life images are closer to technical exercises than they are to art. Even when I typed that the first time, I thought that you were actually one of the exceptions, and Hendrik Faure's image just above is another. Let's step away from the concept of "art," since I also think of my own images as "photographs," I leave "art" to my daughter who majored in Art. I would say still life images fall into two groups: those which are in the tradition of the Dutch still life masters (and I put your work, Tri Tran, Mr. Faure and several others in that group) and those which are essentially studies of a singular object (my images of bottles, or a climbing hammer, some of Ken Lee's images of typewriter keyboards or rotary telephones, for example) as more in the vein of technique practice. I would have trouble articulating clearly what is going on in my own head, but it has something to do with complexity of thought, of ambiguity and meaning. In the more complex compositions, there is more room for the viewer to interpret, or add meaning to, the image. In the more simplistic, such as my image of the Lafitte Rothschild bottle, there is no such layering, just an attempt to make a pleasing image out of an object that has some meaning for me alone. So I didn't mean in any way to denigrate still life photographs. The comment was very much geared towards Pali, who posted several images of light bulbs and was looking for feedback. Since I put those in the "technical study" category, I thought that his images were very competent technical exercises. Without meaning to make you blush, your more complex set-ups come much closer to being "art."

[tangyimail]

Excellent!


http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p305301265-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ 5x7" - XTOL 1:1

[plaubel]

First contactprint of a 30x40cm (12x16") negative, shot with my Reisekamera.
Russian thin layer film at 1,5 Iso, Heliar 360 wide open.
Sorry, less sharp here, but I really want to show...
Critiques are welcome.

http://img3.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/kochbuchhcnsr9p1ti.jpg (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)

[hendrik faure]

First contactprint of a 30x40cm (12x16") negative, shot with my Reisekamera.
Russian thin layer film at 1,5 Iso, Heliar 360 wide open.
Sorry, less sharp here, but I really want to show...

picture has a fine atmosphere, a bit more sharp will make it even better.
did you crop? why?
What kind of film is this? still available?

[hendrik faure]

This one is amazing, Hendrik, but also a bit unsettling. That's one of the rare images to brood over.

Peter
Peter and Nana Dadzie, thank you for kind critic - I wrote ago but seems lost while forum hardware was serviced. Anyway the message of the gravure seems to work, it was made for a psychiatric textbook (probably will not be accepted by publisher for layout & marketing reasons).
It was a winter etching in low temperature and dry room condition, resulting thin gelatine layer, but better tonal values than I feared.

[plaubel]

picture has a fine atmosphere, a bit more sharp will make it even better.
did you crop? why?
What kind of film is this? still available?

Thank you, Henrik ;
I had to crop a bit because of problems with little parts in my water , resulting in spots on the negative.

This russian film came with one of my cameras, and I don't know nothing about it, except his demands of 1,5 to 3 Iso and that he is working fine then .
I gave him new Rodinal 1:60, around 7 minutes with rotation.
Recoprocity seems to be okay, I give one stop more between one and 4 minutes exposure.
This picture, at 30sec, got no plus in exposing time.

Here is the cover, maybe one of our russian members can please translate for us?

129258

I am only able to understand "1990" :-)

Thanks,
Ritchie

[Peter Yeti]

Peter: First, the next time you are coming to NJ, send me a PM. My wife and I would love to have you (and a significant other or whatever) over for dinner (and wine, even if not a Lafitte), and I could even set up some sort of photo outing, I could use my Rollei 2006 if we want to both be using medium format. I lived in the UK for about 6 years, my wife worked for the French government tourist office in NY, so we could even sound "European."
I'd love to and definitely will send a PM. You beat me, I only lived a little less than three years in the US.



But I really wanted to expand a little on my view that most still life images are closer to technical exercises than they are to art. Even when I typed that the first time, I thought that you were actually one of the exceptions, and Hendrik Faure's image just above is another. Let's step away from the concept of "art," since I also think of my own images as "photographs," I leave "art" to my daughter who majored in Art. I would say still life images fall into two groups: those which are in the tradition of the Dutch still life masters (and I put your work, Tri Tran, Mr. Faure and several others in that group) and those which are essentially studies of a singular object (my images of bottles, or a climbing hammer, some of Ken Lee's images of typewriter keyboards or rotary telephones, for example) as more in the vein of technique practice. I would have trouble articulating clearly what is going on in my own head, but it has something to do with complexity of thought, of ambiguity and meaning. In the more complex compositions, there is more room for the viewer to interpret, or add meaning to, the image. In the more simplistic, such as my image of the Lafitte Rothschild bottle, there is no such layering, just an attempt to make a pleasing image out of an object that has some meaning for me alone. So I didn't mean in any way to denigrate still life photographs. The comment was very much geared towards Pali, who posted several images of light bulbs and was looking for feedback. Since I put those in the "technical study" category, I thought that his images were very competent technical exercises. Without meaning to make you blush, your more complex set-ups come much closer to being "art."

I think once in a while it's a good thing to ponder what we're doing here. I hope the others don't mind and rather chime in. There are so many amazing photographers in this forum and their work is a great inspiration, at least to me! Many of them are way beyond the need of exercising regardless of the subject. Ken Lee certainly is (imho) and I regret that he decided to post his beautiful images in a different thread now. Anyway, yes, many stills are certainly made as studies for certain technical aspects like lighting or composition or even camera handling. I don't think these exercises are restricted to simple found objects. In fact, the arranging of a more elaborate set up can be part of the exercise (guess how I know:)). So, there's a wide range of possibilities in this "exercising dimension". And there is this second dimension in stills, which are meant as actual works, the choice of subject. Arranging objects in an elaborate way is only one of several options. Christopher Broadbent is a master in this respect (I miss his amazing posts lately). Taking a single object and finding a specific framing/lighting/etc to make it an outstanding image with a meaning can be considered the other extreme. Ken Lee or jcoldslabs are great examples of this style. So, now we have two dimensions, aim and arrangement. And we finally can add a third dimension: mood. You could take almost any object and change the mood of the image from nostalgic to modernistic, from warm to cool, from subjective to soberly objective. These three dimensions already span an universe of possibilities in still life photography that may be explored - and it's likely that I overlooked further dimensions. This is also geared towards Pali who probably is trying to find his place in this universe.

Btw, it's interesting that you mention the tradition of the Dutch masters in connection with my stuff, Tri Tran's wet plates, and Hendrik's photogravures. I can't deny this influence since I've been interested in art history at least since high-school. But I think my still life attitude, if at all, is closer to Paul Cezanne than Pieter Claesz. But my way of viewing form and composition certainly is influenced strongly by painting traditions and art history. Other influences are directly from photography: Irving Penn, Albert Renger-Patzsch. I think it would be extremely surprising, if Hendrik and Tri Tran would name the same influences.

Peter

[plaubel]

my link ahead doesn't work, I try it again:

129274

[D-tach]

Excellent!

Thanks!

[SoulfulRecover]

The only LF image I am proud of :o

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/9633555770_151d06ebb7_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fFhuv9)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/fFhuv9) by Shutter_Inc. (https://www.flickr.com/people/81136736@N00/), on Flickr

[SergeiR]

4z10, 300mm Symmar ;)



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/16540132066_c8f75c7f79_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rcAv1N)Secret life of potatoes (https://flic.kr/p/rcAv1N) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8662/15945954073_f515cdff01_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qi6bAD)Secret life of potatoes (https://flic.kr/p/qi6bAD) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

[Jiri Vasina]

I really like the second one, Sergei...

Jiri

[Peter Yeti]

A simple one to get back into my still-life mood.


http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i85912f3fd06c4dd2/1424381036/std/teller-topf-goerz-dagor-6-8-210mm-f-32.jpg
Goerz Dagor 6.8/210mm


Peter

[SergeiR]

Thank you, Jiri. They just were shot together, and ended up being only sheet on film that was not ruined, was pretty sad experience to get other 8 sheets to be thrown out :( Had batch of film that got somehow middle line overexposed.. But oh well - life doesn't stop :) New box is opened.

[Pali K]

Sergei did you intend these to tell a story? To me, the first one looks like there is a fight and two on the sides are getting away. The second seems like a couple hugging/kissing with a parent on the left who isn't really fond of what he/she is seeing.

Who knew potatoes could act this well. Really like these.

Pali

[SergeiR]

Sergei did you intend these to tell a story? To me, the first one looks like there is a fight and two on the sides are getting away. The second seems like a couple hugging/kissing with a parent on the left who isn't really fond of what he/she is seeing.

Who knew potatoes could act this well. Really like these.

Pali

Yup. It was planned as set of ten images "secret life of.." , from individual shots to group shots and in between. Alas most of it died with bad film. I got to just let another sack to grow up and repeat ;)

I was bored, wife was napping, kid was watching TV and i felt like doing something fun :)

[Bruce Schultz]

129521

Resting fiddle. Albumen print from half-plate collodion negative.

[Ari]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p305301265-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ 5x7" - XTOL 1:1


A simple one to get back into my still-life mood.


http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i85912f3fd06c4dd2/1424381036/std/teller-topf-goerz-dagor-6-8-210mm-f-32.jpg
Goerz Dagor 6.8/210mm


Peter

Two great images here, simple and understated, that really show off their respective lenses' unique qualities.

[D-tach]

Two great images here, simple and understated, that really show off their respective lenses' unique qualities.

Thanks Ari!

[Peter Yeti]

Thank you, Ari. You are right, Dagors rock!:) They are pretty much my favourite lenses.

And I absolutely love Tom's shot of that pencil.

Peter

[macolive]

A simple one to get back into my still-life mood.


http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i85912f3fd06c4dd2/1424381036/std/teller-topf-goerz-dagor-6-8-210mm-f-32.jpg
Goerz Dagor 6.8/210mm




Peter
Great tones! May I ask how you lit the scene?

[Peter Yeti]

Thank you. Lighting was very simple, just one 3x3' softbox from around 8 o'clock and slightly above (about 2000-3000 Ws).

[JoeV]

Grade 2 paper negative, exposed in 4x5 Anniversary Speed Graphic, 135-5.6 Fujinon lens. Developed in Tetanol Centrobrom S, 1+15, 3:00.

~Joe

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/16000019033_612f649ef2_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qnShe8)Shell001a (https://flic.kr/p/qnShe8) by jvcabacus (https://www.flickr.com/people/31285363@N07/), on Flickr

[Jmarmck]

I love it Joe. Great light control. The textures are great as well.

[Peter Yeti]

Very nice, a paper negative with beautiful tones.

Peter

[Peter Yeti]

Here is another version of the previous set-up, slightly less prosaic:



http://u.jimdo.com/www46/o/sb5e7cfd989e16d4a/img/i48bf85511f697a36/1424381143/std/chichoree-teller-topf-goerz-dagor-6-8-210mm-f-32.jpg
Goerz Dagor 6.8/210mm


Peter

[lbenac]

Sinar F2 CZJ Tessar 135/4.5 Delta 100 D23

http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s12/v187/p672874761-4.jpg

[chrism]

Chamonix 045N-2, Rodenstock Apo-Sironar N 210mm/f5.6, HP5+, Rodinal stand, Hasselblad X1 scan:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/16654069782_c83ed1f298_c.jpg

Chris

[Ari]

Garlic

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/16475731470_d01cc9b9be_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/r6UqXG)Vampire-B-Gon (https://flic.kr/p/r6UqXG) by Ari4000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/44110300@N06/), on Flickr

Toyo 810M, Kodak Anastigmat 7.5", Arista 100

[Peter Lewin]

Time for a bit of a visual pun, started when we drank a bottle of "Fisch" wine (Gary Fisch has a radio show and several liquor stores in NJ, and bottles some wines under his own label). I think I like the idea more than the final image, but still fun to post. (The glare on the top of the LP bothers me, I will have to burn that down in the darkroom.) HP5+, Pyrocat-HD, Rodenstock 150, negative scan on Epson 4990.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8578/16043761564_b8c35d1e9a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qrJtmG)fish2 (https://flic.kr/p/qrJtmG) by Pete Lewin (https://www.flickr.com/people/90970144@N06/), on Flickr

C&C always welcome.

[Robert Langham]

Glass and matchbooks.

130029

Tied Ice and dice.

130030

[lbenac]

Adding to the soup...

130066

130067

130068

Sinar F2 CZJ Tessar 250/4.5 Delta 100 D23

[Ken Lee]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/2015-01-07.jpg
Pitcher, January 2015
Sinar P, 240mm Fujinon A
4x5 TMY, D-23

[Peter Yeti]

Adding to the soup...

130066



It's great to see food stills, a subject I really love. This one may be my favourite on this page. But Peter's connotation of Schubert's trout quinted with sardine cans and other fish memorabilia really cracked me up.:)

Ken, I'm glad you returned to this thread. I really think your beautiful close-up work belongs here, no matter if you call it "Photos Made At Close Distance" or "Still-life".

Peter

[jp]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/2015-01-07.jpg
Pitcher, January 2015
Sinar P, 240mm Fujinon A
4x5 TMY, D-23

That is a very nice composition and tones!

[Peter Lewin]

...But Peter's connotation of Schubert's trout quinted with sardine cans and other fish memorabilia really cracked me up.:)
Peter

Thanks, knowing that the image made someone smile made it worth posting!

[Robert Langham]

Still searching.

130301

130302

[Miguel Coquis]

Lemons, limones secos, dry lemons...
They smell good and have nice skin, light weight...
I like lemons.
Symmar S 360mm, 8x10"
Dev -2
Croped neg

[diablo1990]

Extremely accurate! Great.

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/2014-12-13.jpg
Vase
Sinar P, 200mm Nikkor M
4x5 TMY, D-23

[StoneNYC]

Ken, The lighting style for me isn't really my favorite kind as far as what I prefer for images, however what strikes me really about all of this that blows my mind is that when looking at the image you created tones that are so perfect and so smooth, you can't actually tell that these images are black and white, they look like color images, and to me that is just fantastic and something I have no business commenting on other than to say just wow.

[Ken Lee]

Extremely accurate! Great.

Thank you very much. I'm glad to get such a positive response :)


when looking at the image you created tones that are so perfect and so smooth, you can't actually tell that these images are black and white, they look like color images, and to me that is just fantastic and something I have no business commenting on other than to say just wow.

These JPG images are RGB and have a slightly warm color cast to them, resembling the actual prints which are made with Carbon inks.

For some quick information about toning digital images, see this page entitled Photoshop Fill Layer (www.kenleegallery.com/html/tech/bronze.php).

[Sart_S]

C.E.RIESE Berlin DOPPEL-ANASTIGMAT, 135/6,8, F22, Fomapan 100(9x12).Dev. Rodinal (1:100).

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MybVcXzZ-oOSKLoLVq9DkgAGpEr2L4-yapEpzCxYHIY=w1001-h661-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UaGqH2iFPew/VQhutbtr53I/AAAAAAAADBk/UidBq3IvQi0/w934-h711-no/02_1_Doppel_Ann.jpg

[Rory_5244]

That's gorgeous, Sart!

[Ramiro Elena]

Love it Serge. Did you add vignetting after?

[Sart_S]

Thank you, Ramiro! Yes, vignetting is a little after.)

[Peter Yeti]

Lovely image, indeed. The rendition is very pleasing, nice composition.

Peter

[Sart_S]

Thank you, Peter!

[SergeiR]

8x10 , Vitax #4

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/16670914167_c5e31d8ab8_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rp9MYB)Sounds of silence (https://flic.kr/p/rp9MYB) by Sergei Rodionov (https://www.flickr.com/people/24930737@N05/), on Flickr

[Eliverto]

131295

Portrait of an old broom :)

[guyatou]

If you look at the broom long enough, you can almost see a head wtih spiked hair. Nice concept and execution, Eliverto!

[Eliverto]

Thank you guyatou, glad that you liked it.

[Heespharm]

Firsts

So this image was a lot of firsts for me...

First image coming back to large format
First time using hp5 4x5
First time using pyrocat hd
First time using the taco method (which I will never do again due to scratches)
First time using this camera and lens

Toyo 45a 210mm sironon
4sec f22
Hp5 in pyrocat hd taco method

Was going to go to a state park today but due to recent rain, a lot of the trails were flooded... Still had the itch so I took a pic of some items I have around the house that says a bit about me (I'm a pharmacist)...

Should have used diffused light instead of light directly from my windows

131303

[StoneNYC]

Firsts

So this image was a lot of firsts for me...

First image coming back to large format
First time using hp5 4x5
First time using pyrocat hd
First time using the taco method (which I will never do again due to scratches)
First time using this camera and lens

Toyo 45a 210mm sironon
4sec f22
Hp5 in pyrocat hd taco method

Was going to go to a state park today but due to recent rain, a lot of the trails were flooded... Still had the itch so I took a pic of some items I have around the house that says a bit about me (I'm a pharmacist)...

Should have used diffused light instead of light directly from my windows

131303

Wow the tones are great! Just don't mix up your pill crusher with you herb crusher! ;)

[Heespharm]

Wow the tones are great! Just don't mix up your pill crusher with you herb crusher! ;)

Thanks... Haha the only time I have ever used it was to crush up some Tylenol to make rodinal... It was one of those things they give to everyone who graduates pharmacy school... I also got a torsion balance and a set of weights... Perfect for measuring photo chems

[Jmarmck]

Tylenol? Rodinal?

[Heespharm]

Tylenol? Rodinal?

Acetaminophen can be converted to paracetamol then make rodinal as usual..

http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=218406

[Jmarmck]

Well, I'll be......learned something new! Thanks.

[RSalles]

Lemons, limones secos, dry lemons...
They smell good and have nice skin, light weight...
I like lemons.
Symmar S 360mm, 8x10"
Dev -2
Croped neg


Miguel,

Wonderful image, really,

Cheers,

Renato

[ridax]

This Russian film came with one of my cameras, and I don't know nothing about it, except it demands 1.5 to 3 ISO <...> Here is the cover, maybe one of our Russian members can please translate for us?

129274

Sorry for the delay... I'm an irregular forum visitor.

FTk-20P is a medium (= normal) contrast blue-sensitive graphic arts film used for making positive copies of continuous tone negatives. "FT" is for "phototechnical" (= graphic arts); the first digit (or two digits for lith films like FT-101P) is the recommended gamma (those films were to be processed in fast developers similar to Dectol so the recommended gamma was pretty close to gamma max. Actually, this film is far less contrasty then many normal camera films like PanF+ or TMX); the last digit (0) means it's blue sensitive (ortho films were marked with a "1", and pan films with a "2"), and the last letter "P" means the PET base.

The film was produced in 1988 or 1989 and expired in July, 1990. It was ISO 12 when new. (Naturally, blue-sensitive emulsions are much less fast in tungsten than in daylight.)

No this is not produced any more. Of some 30 films of the "FT" line, only the high contrast orthochromatic FT-41P is still available. See http://www.tasma.ru/en (they also make X-ray and some other special-purpose films).

[Tim Meisburger]

My wife presented this for breakfast last Saturday and I said "hey, looks like a still life!" and wouldn't let anyone eat till I shot it. I did a little arranging but it is basically how it arrived at the table. 4x5 on Arista.edu

http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l496/Tim_Meisburger/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia013_zpsbye3g41s.jpg (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/Tim_Meisburger/media/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia013_zpsbye3g41s.jpg.html)

[Tim Meisburger]

Here is another that didn't quite work. The idea was "Notan Bowls" (someone asked the other day if the artist's intention matters, and in this case it matters if you want to know what I was trying, and failing, to achieve).

http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l496/Tim_Meisburger/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia019_zps8bzjnw1o.jpg (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/Tim_Meisburger/media/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia019_zps8bzjnw1o.jpg.html)

[plaubel]

Ridax,

thanks for this informations.
I never heard before about this special digits!

Cheers,
Ritchie

[Peter Yeti]

Excellent result for so many firsts. Keep going and I look forward to seeing more of your images.:)

Peter


Firsts

So this image was a lot of firsts for me...

First image coming back to large format
First time using hp5 4x5
First time using pyrocat hd
First time using the taco method (which I will never do again due to scratches)
First time using this camera and lens

Toyo 45a 210mm sironon
4sec f22
Hp5 in pyrocat hd taco method

Was going to go to a state park today but due to recent rain, a lot of the trails were flooded... Still had the itch so I took a pic of some items I have around the house that says a bit about me (I'm a pharmacist)...

Should have used diffused light instead of light directly from my windows

131303

[Peter Yeti]

Very nice, indeed. This looks a lot like a typical continental breakfast, not exactly what I would expect in Thailand.

Peter


My wife presented this for breakfast last Saturday and I said "hey, looks like a still life!" and wouldn't let anyone eat till I shot it. I did a little arranging but it is basically how it arrived at the table. 4x5 on Arista.edu

http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l496/Tim_Meisburger/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia013_zpsbye3g41s.jpg (http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/Tim_Meisburger/media/2015%20Nichada%20Ladies/2015%20IFF%20Indonesia013_zpsbye3g41s.jpg.html)

[Miguel Coquis]

Miguel,

Wonderful image, really,

Cheers,

Renato

Thanks for your comment, Renato !
Feed back is important to keep this planet moving !!!
Miguel

[Ben Calwell]

Tim -- that's a great photo, but wasn't the coffee cold by the time you got everything set up and shot?:)

[Tim Meisburger]

Tim -- that's a great photo, but wasn't the coffee cold by the time you got everything set up and shot?:)

Ha. It was set up in the living room for portraits. That coffee, by the way, is from our little farm in Indonesia.

[Miguel Coquis]

...planet: apple
5x7" Ilford
20 min exposure
Dev D76 1/4 16min
enjoy it !

[jcoldslabs]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Glass-and-Shadow-EKTASCAN.jpg

[electricphoto]

My first posting to the group.

I loved the playing with the different reflective surface. I need to spend time with flowers though and get a feel for them...
Linhof 4x5, 150mm Fujinon CM, Tmax 400 in Tmax RS, scanned on an Epson V750, always appreciate comments.

http://marc-sterling.com/images/tea cup vase_2x.jpg

[electricphoto]

My speed graphic and a few animals.

Linhof Technica 4x5, Nikon 210mm, Tmax 400 in Tmax RS, Scanned on a Epson V750, developed in Lightroom

http://marc-sterling.com/images/speed graphic_2x.jpg

[electricphoto]

My Rollei. Just love the quality and style of the engineering of this camera. I used a large scrim with a strobe behind it for a key light and to keep the reflections wide.

Linhof Technica 4x5, 150mm Fujinon CM, Tmax 400 in Tmax RS, Scanned on an Epson V750 and developed in Lightroom.

http://marc-sterling.com/images/rolleflex_2x.jpg

[Tim Meisburger]

...planet: apple
5x7" Ilford
20 min exposure
Dev D76 1/4 16min
enjoy it !

Miguel, I like it a lot. It has the classic directional shadow clearly missing (and missed) from the still life I shot at breakfast last week. But why the 20 minute exposure?

[StoneNYC]

Miguel, I like it a lot. It has the classic directional shadow clearly missing (and missed) from the still life I shot at breakfast last week. But why the 20 minute exposure?

Because that's what the window light called for?

[Miguel Coquis]

Miguel, I like it a lot. It has the classic directional shadow clearly missing (and missed) from the still life I shot at breakfast last week. But why the 20 minute exposure?

Tim, glad you like it. It is an interesting question.
Conditions:
-Dim environment light,
-lots of bellows extension,
-great difference of value between zone V and zone III,
-longer exposures after 1 sec starts to scape control....
-panchromatic sensitity
etc,etc

I would say that the 20 min exposure is only one of vectors on the process and it corresponds to personal way of reading/writing routines.
(what do one sees when one looks ?)
Zone III was about 1 min exposure and zone V, relatively bright because of the "through the window light rays" and measured 1 sec exposure time.
Wanting texture on the apple skin between what could be zone IV and V without blowing zone VI onto the whites..., I decide to dilute dev to 1/4 (one part dev, 4 parts water). Kind of "push and pull" dev.
Diluted developer when pushed will move intermediary values keeping somehow zone V or VI in place.
20 min exposure kept shadows like shadows without dropping onto black,
diluted dev week enough inhibit high values from going further...
...all this "empiric" methods enhances esthetic pleasure !
Doesn't it ?

[Tim Meisburger]

Sounds like Weston. Zone V needs one second, and Zone III needs one minute, so I'll give it twenty minutes...
Actually, expanding all those zones reminds me of Mortensen.

I was confused about your method, but your illustration explains it all!

And I like your aesthetic. Mostly, I just enjoy the image. Bravo!

[StoneNYC]

Tim, glad you like it. It is an interesting question.
Conditions:
-Dim environment light,
-lots of bellows extension,
-great difference of value between zone V and zone III,
-longer exposures after 1 sec starts to scape control....
-panchromatic sensitity
etc,etc

I would say that the 20 min exposure is only one of vectors on the process and it corresponds to personal way of reading/writing routines.
(what do one sees when one looks ?)
Zone III was about 1 min exposure and zone V, relatively bright because of the "through the window light rays" and measured 1 sec exposure time.
Wanting texture on the apple skin between what could be zone IV and V without blowing zone VI onto the whites..., I decide to dilute dev to 1/4 (one part dev, 4 parts water). Kind of "push and pull" dev.
Diluted developer when pushed will move intermediary values keeping somehow zone V or VI in place.
20 min exposure kept shadows like shadows without dropping onto black,
diluted dev week enough inhibit high values from going further...
...all this "empiric" methods enhances esthetic pleasure !
Doesn't it ?

Love that!!!! Hahaha classic!!! :)

[Miguel Coquis]

Sounds like Weston. Zone V needs one second, and Zone III needs one minute, so I'll give it twenty minutes...
Actually, expanding all those zones reminds me of Mortensen.

I was confused about your method, but your illustration explains it all!

And I like your aesthetic. Mostly, I just enjoy the image. Bravo!


Love that!!!! Hahaha classic!!! :)

Hohohoöoöoø,
...yes, apples are classic !!!
the next one is only 7 min exposure,
....hahahahaaaaaaa !

[Donald Qualls]

Should have used diffused light instead of light directly from my windows

131303

To my eye, the window light is just right -- there's plenty of illumination in the important shadowed areas, and still an interesting catch reflection in the glass.

[chrism]

Lladro on FP4+ in Diafine:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7586/16967061351_55ff7e14e2_c.jpg

Chris

[Miguel Coquis]

Apple,
Xpress 250mm, 8x10 TMAX
Window lightment

[baro-nite]

Was inspired to make this still life when a winemaker friend got some good press (http://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/2014-winery-year-smith-madrone-vineyards-winery) lately:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7588/16804050968_bcba3c8198_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rAV9UG)

Arca-Swiss F-line classic 4x5, Caltar 210/5.6, HP5+, DD-X

Not the cleanest development. Decided to move from four to six negs for this batch, and fumbled a lot. I see a Jobo 3010 in my future. :rolleyes:

[Miguel Coquis]

Apple,
Apo Ronar, 8x10 TMAX
Window lightment

[baro-nite]

Apple,
Apo Ronar, 8x10 TMAX
Window lightment

Great series, such variety of tone, texture, and mood.

[jcoldslabs]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-Gravy-Boat.jpg

[jp]

Jonathan, You're Killing It! Looks great.

[jcoldslabs]

Thanks, Jason. I'm having a good time messing around with my wife's collection of dishware and related accessories. She's got a lot for me to choose from so I see no reason to stop anytime soon. This curvy thing is a gravy boat from the 1960s.

J.

[electricphoto]

Lovley... love the focus and the elegant lines

[ndg]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-Gravy-Boat.jpg

He's back! Now that as a carbon transfer print - hmmm! That would be something. Good job!

[StoneNYC]

Was inspired to make this still life when a winemaker friend got some good press (http://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/2014-winery-year-smith-madrone-vineyards-winery) lately:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7588/16804050968_bcba3c8198_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rAV9UG)

Arca-Swiss F-line classic 4x5, Caltar 210/5.6, HP5+, DD-X

Not the cleanest development. Decided to move from four to six negs for this batch, and fumbled a lot. I see a Jobo 3010 in my future. :rolleyes:

Yea that's weird streaking... Never had that... What do you use now? Looks like a MOD54 but in a room where the temp is way different from the chemistry causing streaks of different development. Or something... Really odd... Beautiful shot otherwise.

[jcoldslabs]

...love the focus and the elegant lines.

Thanks. That's what appealed to me, too.


He's back! Now that as a carbon transfer print - hmmm! That would be something. Good job!

Hey, now! I've barely got a handle on this expired film I'm shooting. But I do admit to a fascination with alternative printing methods. I'll get there someday. Carbon would be an amazing process to learn, but I would need negatives of a much higher contrast index than this old film can accommodate, I think.

J.

[ndg]

Actually not - the carbon process allows rather long tonal reproduction. You can print negatives that you thought were rejects. That negative will definitely work. Worst case, it can be scanned and a dig neg created for the print.

[jcoldslabs]

Good to know. That gives me greater hope that carbon printing will become a reality at some point.

J.

[Gary Sommer]

Very nice, Baro-nite, too bad about the dev. Like it anyway.

[Miguel Coquis]

Was inspired to make this still life when a winemaker friend got some good press (http://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/2014-winery-year-smith-madrone-vineyards-winery) lately:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7588/16804050968_bcba3c8198_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rAV9UG)

Arca-Swiss F-line classic 4x5, Caltar 210/5.6, HP5+, DD-X

Not the cleanest development. Decided to move from four to six negs for this batch, and fumbled a lot. I see a Jobo 3010 in my future. :rolleyes:



thanks for your comment about the apples "skin",
I've been trying different lenses to compare texture qualitys, not easy with available light always turning !!!
...candles burning plus red wine bottle and glasses is often inspiring composition while trying to "write" all of it on a negative will become a complicated task.
Nice try even though.
For dev, I prefere to work negatives separately.
It takes more time.
MAC

[baro-nite]

Yea that's weird streaking... Never had that... What do you use now? Looks like a MOD54 but in a room where the temp is way different from the chemistry causing streaks of different development. Or something... Really odd... Beautiful shot otherwise.

This was just ordinary tray development. For this particular batch the chems were at room temp. (Not sure what I'll do come summer, when this room will be about 5ºC warmer.) Having just started, my shuffling technique is probably rather poor. I managed a nice gouge in one of the other negs in this batch.



For dev, I prefere to work negatives separately.
It takes more time.

Yes, but it would certainly be worth the extra time to me if I can get clean development that way. Thinking about it. Still thinking a Jobo drum on a manual roller sounds right for me, except for the room temperature issue.

[jcoldslabs]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-TMAX400-2001-EI320-BOMBE.jpg

[StoneNYC]

This was just ordinary tray development. For this particular batch the chems were at room temp. (Not sure what I'll do come summer, when this room will be about 5ºC warmer.) Having just started, my shuffling technique is probably rather poor. I managed a nice gouge in one of the other negs in this batch.



Yes, but it would certainly be worth the extra time to me if I can get clean development that way. Thinking about it. Still thinking a Jobo drum on a manual roller sounds right for me, except for the room temperature issue.

Hmm maybe the chems weren't fully mixed yet? I've never done tray so I can't comment but it does seem like a very distinct up and down pattern.

Odd.

[Gary Sommer]

[QUOTE=baro-nite;1231688] my shuffling technique is probably rather poor. [quote]

Join the crowd, I haven't mastered shuffling an stack of neg either. I put two 4x5s in an 8x10 tray and rock the tray for agitation. When these go in the stop, two more go into the soup. I also have the BTZS film tube set that works very well. You can do 6 at a time. The water bath that the tubes roll in might help with hot chems, also.

Gary

[baro-nite]

I may get a chance to try out the BTZS tubes; just met up with another forum member (mooncreek) who uses these.

[baro-nite]

Hmm maybe the chems weren't fully mixed yet? I've never done tray so I can't comment but it does seem like a very distinct up and down pattern.

Odd.

Thinking about it more, I suspect it is because I never rotated the negs in the tray. I was always pulling the negs from the bottom of the stack in the same direction.

[Ramiro Elena]

Just as I anticipated, I like the digital color version shot through the ground glass much more. I don't know what is going on with my contrast, it always seems too much.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16401859123_d2a48aa7d6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx)
img384 (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr

[baro-nite]

Just as I anticipated, I like the digital color version shot through the ground glass much more. I don't know what is going on with my contrast, it always seems too much.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16401859123_d2a48aa7d6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx)
img384 (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr

The color version does have a lovely chiaroscuro quality to it. But I prefer this version, even though I agree the contrasts are quite stark.

[jcoldslabs]

Still a lovely image, Ramiro, although there is something a bit magical about the ground glass version.

J.

[jcoldslabs]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-Agfapan400-ATLAS-Mason-Jar.jpg

[Heespharm]

I like the contrast! Lovely

[Ken Lee]

I don't know what is going on with my contrast, it always seems too much.

Are you using a yellow/orange/red filter ? If not, is there warm-colored light in the room due to warm-colored walls or time of day ?

Otherwise, are you under exposing + over developing ? Or clipping the values while scanning ?

[Ramiro Elena]

I used the modeling light of a Bowens strobe (tungsten).
I wanted to keep the highlights under control so it is a bit under-exposed. The constant rotary processor I use, might be adding some unwanted contrast. The negative looks well balanced though and the highlights are in fact within the values I expected.
The scanning is Ken Lee proof, no fault there :)

[Robert Langham]

Shot this morning, processed film in the AM, ran proofs after lunch and liked this one enough to go ahead and print a couple on real paper.

131787
Easter Fish Wood.

[Robert Langham]

Several items still being frozen and unfrozen. I was washing this one away and stopped...

131788

[electricphoto]

It's a painting. Lovely. Love the space and the tones.


Just as I anticipated, I like the digital color version shot through the ground glass much more. I don't know what is going on with my contrast, it always seems too much.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16401859123_d2a48aa7d6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx)
img384 (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr

[lbenac]

Sinar P CZJ 250/4.5 Delta 100 DD23

http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s7/v158/p1093358345-4.jpg

[TPanico]

Is this considered still life?

131812

Busch Pressman, Wollensak 162mm f/5.6, pre-flashed photo negative.

[D-tach]

Jcoldslabs is totally back again! Nice!

[TPanico]

131840

Busch Pressman, pre-flashed paper negative

The lens is part of a 190mm telephoto lens for 35mm. It was a lens I got at a yard sale in a box of other photography stuff. The aperture didn't work and it was for a camera body I didn't have. I disassembled it and this is the front elements from it. I also taped a yellow filter to it.

[jcoldslabs]

Jcoldslabs is totally back again! Nice!

Totally! :)

J.

[jcoldslabs]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-ONION.jpg

[lbenac]

Sinar P CZJ 180/4.5 f5.6 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s5/v129/p1094301787-4.jpg




ShenHao XPO45 Fujinon-NW 125/5.6 f11 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s6/v138/p1094352900-3.jpg

[Heespharm]

Sinar P CZJ 180/4.5 f5.6 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s5/v129/p1094301787-4.jpg




ShenHao XPO45 Fujinon-NW 125/5.6 f11 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s6/v138/p1094352900-3.jpg

Great pic.. Love the laguiole knife

[lbenac]

Great pic.. Love the laguiole knife

Thank you very much.

That one was designed by a French architect :
http://www.forge-de-laguiole.com/fr/17-laguioles-eric-raffy

The moment I saw it, I had to have it (I am from this region of France...).
I take it out when we my wife and I have a cheese platter.

[RSalles]

Sinar P CZJ 180/4.5 f5.6 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s5/v129/p1094301787-4.jpg


ShenHao XPO45 Fujinon-NW 125/5.6 f11 Delta 100 DD23
http://www.lucbenacphoto.com/img/s6/v138/p1094352900-3.jpg


Sharp!

[D-tach]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v64/p1094791713-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ - XTOL1:1

[Ramiro Elena]

I wish I could have been there to listen to the conversation prior to the photo. Thread crossover!

[jcoldslabs]

http://Tomkeymeulen.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v64/p1094791713-5.jpg

Deardorff - Cooke PS945 - HP5+ - XTOL1:1

Excellent, Tom. A well-executed concept.

Jonathan

[Old-N-Feeble]

Admit it, Ramiro. It's not conversation you would have been interested. It's the pretty girl.;)


I wish I could have been there to listen to the conversation prior to the photo. Thread crossover!

[Ramiro Elena]

Seriously, what he said to get her to pose in front of that fennel bulb sounds much more entertaining. Although Tom is a resourceful man. I bet he just snapped his fingers and pointed to the spot he wanted her to be :D :D

[D-tach]

Excellent, Tom. A well-executed concept.

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan!


Seriously, what he said to get her to pose in front of that fennel bulb sounds much more entertaining. Although Tom is a resourceful man. I bet he just snapped his fingers and pointed to the spot he wanted her to be :D :D

I'm afraid it's not very entertaining - she's a friend and I just explained her in advance I had some idea's with still-lifes in combination with a nude body part out of focus in the background to translate the duality of daily routine and boringness versus the uniqueness of every single moment. The only entertaining part was she nearly fell of the Pelicase at one moment :cool:

[appletree]

It somehow took my mind a few seconds to register that there is a female's backside in the background.



Are you using a yellow/orange/red filter ? If not, is there warm-colored light in the room due to warm-colored walls or time of day ?

Otherwise, are you under exposing + over developing ? Or clipping the values while scanning ?
Oh, and wow. I need to get some photography schooling. Or pay more attention to the books I read.

[Dan Quan]

Just as I anticipated, I like the digital color version shot through the ground glass much more. I don't know what is going on with my contrast, it always seems too much.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7655/16401859123_d2a48aa7d6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx)
img384 (https://flic.kr/p/qZnPhx) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr

The ground glass version was literally shot through diffusion. The GG acting to diffuse the contrast. It does look lovely and can likely be replicated by shooting the LF lens through some type of diffusion. Maybe a black net like Tulle or some black silk stockings, or even white material for a different look. In a Dean Collins video I saw him describe using a "variable diffusion" filter he made with an 8x10ish piece of plate glass and hairspray. He holds the plate glass from underneath and fairly flat while spraying the hairspray in the air and letting it fall onto the glass. He gets the "variable" part by allowing it to accumulate more densely in one corner or on one side. Then, after it dries, he can move the filter by hand to a more or less dense diffusion section even while shooting quickly.

Of course color attracts ones eye more than gray tones. Thats why B&W is often more challenging but using only B&W roids will help. I am trying to solve a similar color / B&W issue in a shot myself, though it's not as lovely as yours.

[Dan Quan]

Not shiny tulle or stockings but matte tulle or matte stockings are preferable.

[Ramiro Elena]

That's an interesting observation Dan. I didn't think of it that way and you're quite right. I was more concerned about tonal scale than replicating the same look as in the gg version. Your method would be an interesting test to make. In fact I did try it for a moment but realized you need to stop down your lens in order to control the diffusion. I am using a Petzval lens with no waterhouse stops so...

Interestingly enough and going back to Ken Lee's comment on a previous photograph, it hit me the problem with my still life is not in the exposure/processing but in the way I lit the scene. The dark background makes the whole scene render a shallow tonal gradation.
I went back and made the background lighter to see if that is actually the problem. I will also cut the developing time.

[Dan Quan]

That's an interesting observation Dan. I didn't think of it that way and you're quite right. I was more concerned about tonal scale than replicating the same look as in the gg version. Your method would be an interesting test to make. In fact I did try it for a moment but realized you need to stop down your lens in order to control the diffusion. I am using a Petzval lens with no waterhouse stops so...

Interestingly enough and going back to Ken Lee's comment on a previous photograph, it hit me the problem with my still life is not in the exposure/processing but in the way I lit the scene. The dark background makes the whole scene render a shallow tonal gradation.
I went back and made the background lighter to see if that is actually the problem. I will also cut the developing time.

A tightly pulled black net should only effect contrast. It was a popular method used for controlling contrast, particularly blacks, when shooting transparency film for reproduction.

[Ramiro Elena]

Foma 100 in Moersch Tanol
10'' Petzval f4,2

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/17029991506_a7174404fd_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/rWTaad)
Pines in a bowl (https://flic.kr/p/rWTaad) by rabato (https://www.flickr.com/people/71073452@N00/), on Flickr