September 2012 portraits

[alex from holland]

"Hat"hunter

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/145513818.jpg

27x27 cm black glass ambrotype
exposure time 2 seconds
Hermagis 300 mm 4.5 petzval
KCN fixer

[chassis]

Alex, the pose is great as is the creative concept.

[bracan]

Sinar P8x10, Rodenstock 300mm, Ilford HP5+.

79773 79774

[bracan]

Sinar P8x10, Rodenstock 300mm, Ilford HP5+.

79786

[C. D. Keth]

The first and, especially, the third of those are lovely, Bracan. I'm trying to pin down what I don't care for about the middle one where she is crouched down. Perhaps it's that the first and third appear to me to be a portrait of an athlete and the second photo looks like a fashion ad.

[jp]

I like the first and third as well, the third being most engaging; I think the second looks like she's waiting for the six million dollar man steve austin to finish fighting the bad guys and rescue her from the forboding dank scene where she doesn't want to be.

[C. D. Keth]

Bracan, after thinking about it a little bit I think I am drawn to your first and third photo there because she exudes strength in the first and perhaps an inner weakness or desperation in the third. In the second, which I do not care for, she is just there to me. She has no presence, she does look like she's waiting as jp498 says.

[benrains]

Sinar P8x10, Rodenstock 300mm, Ilford HP5+.

79773 79774

I really enjoy these. She looks like a one of James Bond's girls from the 1960s or 70s.

[Luke79]

http://s1.directupload.net/images/120902/7x3c79x6.jpg

[xmishx]

79801

and 3 more here...
http://www.eriomishima.blogspot.com/2012/09/rolling-rolling-rolling.html

[JosephBurke]

Wow! Some great work here already...
Impressive as usual, Alex.
Bracan very nice!
..and Luke, I love this one!

--Joe Burke

[D-tach]

Nice light Luke!

[SamReeves]

http://s1.directupload.net/images/120902/7x3c79x6.jpg

Super nice!!

[jcoldslabs]

I finally managed to borrow an 8x10 back for my Century 10A (I only have a 5x7 reducing back for it myself) and today got my reluctant wife to sit for a couple of test shots by a large window in our dining room. After shooting for over a year with a rickety (but much loved) Kodak 2D, it was a pleasure to have a big camera on a huge and solid stand that didn't budge a millimeter when inserting and removing the film holder. She moved just a bit during the two second exposure, but this helped soften the edges of the otherwise razor sharp process lens.

Century 10A, 19 3/4" Kodak Copying Ektanon focused at 32", 8x10 J&C 400 (expired 2002), two second exposure.


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Fortepan-400-T-01.jpg

Jonathan

[Miguel Coquis]

...days getting short on September,
4x5" neg, diluted dev -3 with intermediary water bath...
...trying to save detail on dark zones (who knows what does this generates !!!),
light was particularly soft/warm !

79820
"at the patio"

[northcarolinajack]

I just obtained a beauty of a large brass lens, a Voighlander 17 ½ F6 Extra Rapid Euryscope. Home alone, I set up on the kitchen table an old styrofoam wig holder (my wife’s from long ago), plus a straw hat from a trip to Grand Canyon several years ago. All necessary as a stand in since I had no model. I had made changes to my Packard Shutter box to mount the Voighlander so I could test the lens, shutter, plus the flash connection to the Packard.

Camera – Kodak Full Plate 6 ½ x 8 ½
Lens – Voighlander – Euryscope 17 ½ inch at F6 79828
Flash – Nikon SB-80 by sync cord to Packard
Film – Ilford HP-4 process in HC110 at 50 to 1

Jack

www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Harris-Photography/109348465760954

[schmidtjas]

Tried using my alien bees for the first time with my 4x5. I think this is the 15th or so image I've shot and developed since taking the plunge into large format. I convinced my son to play dress up with some props I have for a photo booth I run at weddings on condition that I could take a photo of him haha
79833

[Scott --]

A rare LF shot of my giggly, bouncy daughter.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7923480060_3330ba2cff_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7923480060/)
img019 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7923480060/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

May reshoot this when the light's better - awful dark outside for ISO100. 4x5 Arista.EDU in HC-110 dil H. And my favorite little French Petzval.

[Scott --]

10x12 of the boy, using the City Sale 16" RR on FP4+.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7924656002_982e03a5ef_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7924656002/)
Enough, Dad... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7924656002/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

[mbdiesel]

Very nice.

[Scott Schroeder]

http://www.schroederworks.com/Wetplate/RyleeSadie001.jpg

[jcoldslabs]

Century 10A 8x10, Buhl 13" overhead projector lens, J&C 400 (expired 2002).


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Fortepan-400---T-03.jpg

Jonathan

[ImSoNegative]

here is one is shot yesturday with the c1, 480mm rd artar, packard shutter, 1/8 sec@f11, green sensitive xray film. the negative was still wet when it slipped off the hanger, dog decided he wanted to play with it, at least he didnt eat it : )

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7929570938_c91981533f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/7929570938/)
chloe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/7929570938/) by J. Golden (http://www.flickr.com/people/28713901@N04/), on Flickr

[szadow]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/0/4/8/6/artlimited_img405558.jpg (http://www.artlimited.net/image/en/405558)
Engaged
Globica 13x18 + Zeiss Tessar 210/3.5
15sec f3.5
13x18 Clear Glass Ambrotype

[Corran]

I spent Saturday at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. I went crazy with my converted Polaroid 900 / Xenotar 135mm f/3.5 and got some cool stuff I think. Here's some Fujiroid scans. A lot of them aren't even close to in-focus or have poor framing...but so be it. I was running and gunning and shot 3 packs of Fuji in about an hour.

More will be put on my blog sometime today or tomorrow.

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/dcpola/dcp01.jpg

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/dcpola/dcp02.jpg

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/dcpola/dcp03.jpg

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/dcpola/dcp04.jpg

[mamypoko]

Nice!

Weirdly I have the same setup! 110B with the Xenotar.


I spent Saturday at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. I went crazy with my converted Polaroid 900 / Xenotar 135mm f/3.5 and got some cool stuff I think. Here's some Fujiroid scans. A lot of them aren't even close to in-focus or have poor framing...but so be it. I was running and gunning and shot 3 packs of Fuji in about an hour.

More will be put on my blog sometime today or tomorrow.

[Corran]

Yeah I noticed that when I looked at your Flickr some time ago!

[Serge S]

here is one is shot yesturday with the c1, 480mm rd artar, packard shutter, 1/8 sec@f11, green sensitive xray film. the negative was still wet when it slipped off the hanger, dog decided he wanted to play with it, at least he didnt eat it : )

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7929570938_c91981533f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/7929570938/)
chloe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28713901@N04/7929570938/) by J. Golden (http://www.flickr.com/people/28713901@N04/), on Flickr

Cute expression. That smile is sweet. Also the scratches gives the print that old time vintage look:)

[ImSoNegative]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/0/4/8/6/artlimited_img405558.jpg (http://www.artlimited.net/image/en/405558)
Engaged
Globica 13x18 + Zeiss Tessar 210/3.5
15sec f3.5
13x18 Clear Glass Ambrotype


nice shot, wow 15 sec, very impressive they were still that long.

[SergeiR]

...
Nicely done :) (ok.. may be can use less of cropping on both upper and lower limbs, but hey... :))

[SergeiR]

A lot of them aren't even close to in-focus or have poor framing...but so be it. I was running and gunning and shot 3 packs of Fuji in about an hour.

Not to be stick in mud.. oh well.. what the heck. I still will ask

why?

[mathieu Bauwens]

79985

Nagaoka, 180 S Symar
TXP 320 @ 800iso

[mamypoko]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/7929922448_2cddd66976_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7929922448/)

matthew

Gundlach 1897 8x10
Gundlach Radar 300mm f/4.5 Wide Open
Arista EDU 200 Expired
HC110 1:50 5 minutes

Weird splots on the right as I dropped my Jobo drum while processing and had to compensate with new developer halfway through.

[bracan]

Sinar P8x10, Rodenstock 300mm, Polaroid 809.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/7942867202_cd9bb342d7_b.jpg

[bracan]

Super nice!!


Superb shot!

[bracan]

I looove this image.



"Hat"hunter

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/145513818.jpg

27x27 cm black glass ambrotype
exposure time 2 seconds
Hermagis 300 mm 4.5 petzval
KCN fixer

[Corran]

Not to be stick in mud.. oh well.. what the heck. I still will ask

why?

Why what?? I was stopping these folks on the way to wherever they were going to snap a quick portrait. It's not like I could setup an 8x10 and accouterments and take 20 minutes to take one photo.

I will say the scans are terribly soft. Some of the ones that are clearly in focus in my hand are soft after scanning. I don't know what other folks are using for scanning but I tried a V700 for these and it still sucked.

[bracan]

I scan on V750Pro on 1200 dpi and scans are fantastic sharp, reflective positive or negatives.

[SergeiR]

8x10 arista, Gundlach Radar 8x10.

Grab shot from meetup of one of photographers and his daughter (model was changing into other look, and i couldn't resist asking them for single shot)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7943645144_1f2da3ea28_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7943645144/)
Father and daughter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7943645144/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[Corran]

I scan on V750Pro on 1200 dpi and scans are fantastic sharp, reflective positive or negatives.

Yes I've seen many scans here from Fujiroids that look great. Mine don't. I don't know why. Either way I only scan for simple online sharing, the original prints are the real reason to shoot Fujiroids!!

[Scott --]

Why what?? I was stopping these folks on the way to wherever they were going to snap a quick portrait. It's not like I could setup an 8x10 and accouterments and take 20 minutes to take one photo.

I will say the scans are terribly soft. Some of the ones that are clearly in focus in my hand are soft after scanning. I don't know what other folks are using for scanning but I tried a V700 for these and it still sucked.

I think Sergei was asking, if I may, why you weren't taking more care in focusing or framing. Not to prolong the issue, but isn't framing and (selectively) focusing a part of shooting? You don't need to sideline folks for 20 minutes to snap a picture.

Anyway, I think that's what he was getting at.

[Corran]

I was shooting via rangefinder focusing/framing with a converted Polaroid 900, handheld. It's not the easiest to focus, especially indoors / dim light (the b&w photos were at 1/25 even wide-open and 3200 ISO film!). Framing is still a challenge for me with that camera, despite parallax-corrected viewfinder. It only moves one corner of the window, which I did not realize till just yesterday actually when I was fooling with it. Anyway, I would hope the photos speak for themselves and the slight softness (more due to scanning imo) and maybe not perfect framing is not what anyone focuses on!! But I know some folks are more interested in technical perfection rather than what the photo is about (that's not aimed at anyone in particular, just an observation).

[SergeiR]

I was shooting via rangefinder focusing/framing with a converted Polaroid 900, handheld. It's not the easiest to focus, especially indoors / dim light (the b&w photos were at 1/25 even wide-open and 3200 ISO film!). Framing is still a challenge for me with that camera, despite parallax-corrected viewfinder. It only moves one corner of the window, which I did not realize till just yesterday actually when I was fooling with it. Anyway, I would hope the photos speak for themselves and the slight softness (more due to scanning imo) and maybe not perfect framing is not what anyone focuses on!! But I know some folks are more interested in technical perfection rather than what the photo is about (that's not aimed at anyone in particular, just an observation).

Scott is right. I was asking why not thinking while shooting, instead of just wasting film and effort. May be its just me, or may be its just leftovers of my education, but i never truly got while people think that photojournalistic shooting includes careless framing, weird tilts and so on. As one of my mentors still says - it takes bullet 4 seconds to completely kill someone. How long it takes you to compose,focus and press shutter?

Its not argument for some quality stuff or anything, nor i am here to critique what you have done. But i just don't get it, i guess, thats why i felt like asking "why?".

[SergeiR]

Yes I've seen many scans here from Fujiroids that look great. Mine don't. I don't know why. Either way I only scan for simple online sharing, the original prints are the real reason to shoot Fujiroids!!

Its odd indeed, considering that it should be optimized for reflective scanning to start from. Have you tried to adjust height? May be something shifted during shipping? Looks seriously off focus to me, and they are pretty much 1:1 scans (size wise - on screen)

[Corran]

I was thinking while shooting. My framing wasn't dead-on because I was not composing on a ground-glass, on a tripod. Focus issues were of course not intentional, and I was shooting at f/3.5 on most of these.

I don't think these are a waste of film or effort, and I find it quite an affront that you would simply assume that. I would love to have seen how you would have approached this kind of shooting, with the same materials. Would you have put the camera on a tripod, focused on the GG, and shot at f/11??

Looking at them again, the most egregious thing I would say was the first should have been a landscape orientation. I like the second one best, the third is mis-focused (or actually motion blur I think) and I cut off her elbow slightly, and the last is just about perfect except I clipped a little off the far right person's head. What's the big deal really?

*I guess maybe you mean just in general? Not those shots particularly?

[Corran]

Anyway, I guess I'm coming off a little defensive. I didn't mean that.

With all of these shots (about 15 came out well), I was of course trying to get the best focus/framing/comp while working within the limitations of what I was using. There's a few things I'd have done differently with a more lengthy image-making process, with tripod and all that (which would've been totally impossible in this case). Either way, I love the way these came out overall, despite their flaws here and there. Since the color Fujiroids take about 1:30 to develop I only got one chance to do them; I took about 15 seconds to focus and frame these up through the viewfinder. The subjects were long-gone before I pulled the print. The b&w ones take less time but still too long for rushing people. I did get to do two a couple of times, and I gave away the first one to the subject.

Thanks for the commentary.

[Randy]

Linda and Katie, our pug, that is suffering from cancer. Don't know how many more pics we will get.

8X10 X-ray film exposed through a new-to-me Bausch & Lomb 11X14 1C - f/8 1/4 sec, HC-110 1:63 68f for 8 min.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52893762/lndakti.jpg

[Scott --]

Linda and Katie, our pug, that is suffering from cancer. Don't know how many more pics we will get.

8X10 X-ray film exposed through a new-to-me Bausch & Lomb 11X14 1C - f/8 1/4 sec, HC-110 1:63 68f for 8 min.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52893762/lndakti.jpg

Randy, sorry to hear about your pug. We lost one of our Bostons this week; I can only wish you the best. And advise you to burn as much film as possible.

BTW, this is lovely.

Scott

[Robert Budding]

. . . As one of my mentors still says - it takes bullet 4 seconds to completely kill someone. How long it takes you to compose,focus and press shutter? . . .

A bullet only has to be close. Framing and focus, on the other hand . . . .

[Zaitz]

2 for 2 today! Backed up a tad compared to last time which I think makes the Aero Ektar a bit less effective in this scenario. Need to take it out into the field with the dogs.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7949098302_4b2cc3d137_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zboumeester/7949098302/in/photostream)

Speed Graphic
4x5 Arista EDU Ultra 400
178mm Aero Ektar @f/2.5
~1/240

Developed in Pyrocat HD @71° 1:1:100 in HP Combiplan tank for 10 minutes with normal agitation. Negative looks better than stand development. The over exposure and reduced development time easily kept the highlights with good shadow detail in her face.

[Frank Petronio]

Scott is right. I was asking why not thinking while shooting, instead of just wasting film and effort. May be its just me, or may be its just leftovers of my education, but i never truly got while people think that photojournalistic shooting includes careless framing, weird tilts and so on. As one of my mentors still says - it takes bullet 4 seconds to completely kill someone. How long it takes you to compose,focus and press shutter?

Its not argument for some quality stuff or anything, nor i am here to critique what you have done. But i just don't get it, i guess, thats why i felt like asking "why?".

I've done plenty of wasteful, mediocre photos too, when practically speaking, shooting a DSLR would be more than satisfactory and technically superior. But I learned a little from each of my little misadventures and also used up some film, which helps the maufacturers stay in business ;-)

Amazing how a simple Polaroid SX70 or 600-series camera can do better than these fancy 4x5s with exotic lenses in the same situations. True marvels of engineering and design, those cheap little cameras delivered essentially large-format images without all the prentious fuss and muss we bluster with. Perhaps we should be grafting Graflocks onto them instead?

[Frank Petronio]

Randy, sorry to hear about your pug. We lost one of our Bostons this week; I can only wish you the best. And advise you to burn as much film as possible.

BTW, this is lovely.

Scott

Agreed, sorry about your dog but those photos will be treasures.

[SergeiR]

2 for 2 today! Backed up a tad compared to last time which I think makes the Aero Ektar a bit less effective in this scenario. Need to take it out into the field with the dogs.

Nice.
Dunno about being "less effective".. i actually like it more.. It might be less artistically abstract, but i like dogs for what they are - great creatures with tails, paws, long wet/cold noses who love us for what we are, just because, not because we own them or provide or some other qualities :)

[SergeiR]

I've done plenty of wasteful, mediocre photos too, when practically speaking, shooting a DSLR would be more than satisfactory and technically superior. But I learned a little from each of my little misadventures and also used up some film, which helps the maufacturers stay in business ;-)


See.. end point there - "learned".
Its a bit different. Nothing wrong with experimenting for learning.

[jcoldslabs]

2 for 2 today! Backed up a tad compared to last time which I think makes the Aero Ektar a bit less effective in this scenario. Need to take it out into the field with the dogs.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7949098302_4b2cc3d137_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zboumeester/7949098302/in/photostream)

I've been enjoying these dog portraits. Really soulful, if you know what I mean. In other words, I think I'm getting a sense of what your dog is like through the photos. And I agree with Sergei, the wider shot is just as good even without as much background separation.





Linda and Katie, our pug, that is suffering from cancer. Don't know how many more pics we will get.

8X10 X-ray film exposed through a new-to-me Bausch & Lomb 11X14 1C - f/8 1/4 sec, HC-110 1:63 68f for 8 min.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52893762/lndakti.jpg

Randy, my heart goes out to you. We lost one of our Cairn terriers last summer to cancer. Not much else to say.....it's heartbreaking. The portrait is wonderfully touching.

Jonathan

[lab black]

[QUOTE=Randy;929329]Linda and Katie, our pug, that is suffering from cancer. Don't know how many more pics we will get.

8X10 X-ray film exposed through a new-to-me Bausch & Lomb 11X14 1C - f/8 1/4 sec, HC-110 1:63 68f for 8 min.


You go to the workshops, they step away from your prints, but you can still hear their hushed comments; "They should have placed the shadows on zone 3 1/2 instead of zone 3...They should have used the developer at 1:2000... They should have put 30 ml of Dr. Pepper in, to control the highlights... They should have hired a certified specialist to adjust the magenta on their color head before ever considering making a print like this... They should have had Procol Harem's "A Whiter Shade of Pale," cranked up while dodging the corners 7%... They should have used a Studeburger meter calibrated only by Rick Dinkerson in Pau Pau, New Guinea for cleaner seperation of the midtones,"
and then, once in a while, an image such as this, that is elegantly radiant, graceful, and inordinately touching, where the strength of the subject stands alone, quiets the voices and tells a compelling story, as photography should.

[William Whitaker]

Linda and Katie, our pug, that is suffering from cancer. Don't know how many more pics we will get.


Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of losing my Scottish terrier to cancer. So I'm with you on that one.

Terrific image (and nice lens, btw! ;))

[Randy]

Appreciate everyones thoughts. I hate getting so attached to animals.
I am really enjoying the lens Will. More to come.

[Pfiltz]

Sinar P8x10, Rodenstock 300mm, Polaroid 809.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/7942867202_cd9bb342d7_b.jpg

Kewl.

[Bill Burk]

As one of my mentors still says - it takes bullet 4 seconds to completely kill someone. How long it takes you to compose,focus and press shutter?

Its not argument for some quality stuff or anything, nor i am here to critique what you have done...

SergieR, Thanks for the tip from your mentor. I'm starting to appreciate your versatility and I see Corran, you have some of that versatility going for you. So you should appreciate that SergieR is checking your work.

A friend of mine once gave me some advice, he's a recording artist who (in the '80s) had written hundreds of songs but only had released a few albums. I was listening to some of his bad stuff (which really is some of my favorite now) that was never released. I asked him why his albums sounded so good. He told me "Never release anything that you aren't 100% happy with."

Taken literally, of course, nothing would ever be shown.

Of the bunch of fans on instant film, I get what happens. I brought a converted Polaroid to a similar convention and shot under that horrible, dim light. I had to check the meter because the overhead lights, when you look at them, are dazzling. But the illumination is very low. Many times I admit I took terrible shots. I was sucked in by the fast pace and the drama of the amazing costumes. I know these guys and gals are constantly hounded for pictures and I wanted to respect their space. It's a definite constraint. I'd be tempted to enlist a couple friends next time and get a Pocketwizard and a couple inconspicuous flash units. Great if you could disguise the units and have your friends act casually like they were just random people walking up to your impromptu shoot to grab shots of their own. But they would position themselves skillfully above and behind you, and off to the right and closer.

Another thing. Take advantage of the "phone-cam" phenomenon. Everyone posing for shots these days has learned that it takes about 45 seconds to take a picture with a cell phone camera. Go to Disneyland, for example. Pluto knows to hold the pose. Relax. Digital has given us something we never had before... time to take that shot. If they have "granted you permission" to take their shot, they're used to it and will give you more time than you need.

[Scott --]

Another. Feeling static. Need a change. Not sure what, though.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7958258260_c6b48f8f12.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7958258260/)
img027 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7958258260/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

10x12 TXP320 in HC-110 dil H

[Zaitz]

Nice.
Dunno about being "less effective".. i actually like it more.. It might be less artistically abstract, but i like dogs for what they are - great creatures with tails, paws, long wet/cold noses who love us for what we are, just because, not because we own them or provide or some other qualities :)
Thanks and that sums it up well. Still quite boring though :p. I'll need to load more Arista and have a go at the dog park or in the woods.



I've been enjoying these dog portraits. Really soulful, if you know what I mean. In other words, I think I'm getting a sense of what your dog is like through the photos. And I agree with Sergei, the wider shot is just as good even without as much background separation.


Randy, my heart goes out to you. We lost one of our Cairn terriers last summer to cancer. Not much else to say.....it's heartbreaking. The portrait is wonderfully touching.

Jonathan
Thank you. Losing a dog, or any pet, is tough. I feel bad for both of you.

This is the 2nd from that day:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/7960739642_fa4d0e71a1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zboumeester/7960739642/in/photostream)

Speed Graphic
4x5 Arista EDU Ultra 400
178mm Aero Ektar @f/2.5
~1/240

Developed in Pyrocat HD @71° 1:1:100 in HP Combiplan tank for 10 minutes with normal agitation

[SergeiR]

8x10 Ilford , Deardorff V8, Wollensak Velostigmat 12"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7964660212_18d0f69e18_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7964660212/)
Violin player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7964660212/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[Zaitz]

More really great stuff Sergei. Loving all of the portraits. Maybe I missed it but what is your general lighting setup?

[SergeiR]

More really great stuff Sergei. Loving all of the portraits. Maybe I missed it but what is your general lighting setup?

Thanks. I dont really have just single setup - i always set up lights for particular person/pose/setting/idea.. So it jumps between one to 4-5 lights + ambient (when there is detectable one). This one is two Elinchrom (my choice in lights) Quadra heads, one bare, and one with that wee umbrella-softbox by Elinchrom (i used it b/c it fits directly into Quadra's, which is 7mm shafts - only two manufacturers, including Elinca, do that size, to me knowledge).

[BrianShaw]

Another. Feeling static. Need a change. Not sure what, though.

Ask him to smile, Scott... or "relax". If he is like my teen he will willingly comply (sort of). Great pics, by teh way... I strive for sometime less static myself with my boys!

[Scott --]

Thanks, Brian.

Wife and #2 child tonight. 4x5 Arista in HC-110 dil H. Asanuma, Sironar-N 210/5.6 at f/11.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7966372092_46883d9f2f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7966372092/)
Mother/daughter... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7966372092/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

[r.e.]

Another. Feeling static. Need a change. Not sure what, though.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7958258260_c6b48f8f12.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7958258260/)
img027 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7958258260/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

10x12 TXP320 in HC-110 dil H

If I can venture an opinion...

Your son is very photogenic. In other words, he is good looking. But in too many of the photographs, this is compensating for the fact that he isn't "there". That really comes home in this photograph. He looks bored stiff, going through the paces, his mind elsewhere. Co-operating but not engaged.

Assuming that he wants to be a part of this process, maybe you should give him more control over the image.

Just a thought.

[BrianShaw]

... Assuming that he wants to be a part of this process, maybe you should give him more control over the image.

Just a thought.

So I'd like to comment on that: Great thought, and it works. I too often try to control the portrait session and one day was doing that to my 9 year-old, when he said, "No, I'd really rather pose like this." So I went along with it and I think it is one of the best portraits I have ever taken.

[SergeiR]

Shooting portraits involves many styles.. Some people like to be directed, some - think they know better and acting up if you trying to tell them what to do. However final judgement call is always, no matter what style of shooting you do , is on the shooter. Only you can see groundglass/viewfinder and thus only you can make a call what looks good or not. It takes some beating sometime, or film burning to relax people so they start trusting you to make that call. But - its always up to shooter. Imho.

---

Anyway..

Another one from same shoot. That was actual concept.. Other one was taken while kids were going nuts during intermission around the opera house :)

Velvia, 8x10, Wollensak as well.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/7966727448_9f277843e3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7966727448/)
Violin player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7966727448/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

(i personally dislike squished chin, but nobody plays violin without pushing it.. so oh well.. :())

[Scott --]

If I can venture an opinion...

Your son is very photogenic. In other words, he is good looking. But in too many of the photographs, this is compensating for the fact that he isn't "there". That really comes home in this photograph. He looks bored stiff, going through the paces, his mind elsewhere. Co-operating but not engaged.

Assuming that he wants to be a part of this process, maybe you should give him more control over the image.

Just a thought.


So I'd like to comment on that: Great thought, and it works. I too often try to control the portrait session and one day was doing that to my 9 year-old, when he said, "No, I'd really rather pose like this." So I went along with it and I think it is one of the best portraits I have ever taken.

I explained our photo sessions to the boy once as being "organic": I usually have a very slight idea of what to do, and he'll set up, move, arrange himself, and the whole thing breathes on its own. But lately I've been more excited about it, and more eager, and he has been just cooperating. Told him today we're done for a while. When there's a time that more spontaneity is involved, we'll pick it up again.

Now, I have a new Petzval on its way here, so I may have to try with him one more time... ;)

[r.e.]

I explained our photo sessions to the boy once as being "organic": I usually have a very slight idea of what to do, and he'll set up, move, arrange himself, and the whole thing breathes on its own. But lately I've been more excited about it, and more eager, and he has been just cooperating. Told him today we're done for a while. When there's a time that more spontaneity is involved, we'll pick it up again.

Now, I have a new Petzval on its way here, so I may have to try with him one more time... ;)

From a viewer's perspective, there is a huge difference between the photograph of your wife and daughter and the one of your son.

Don't know what he's into. Say it's skateboarding. Maybe you and your camera have to adjust to that. Or if necessary, to get a true portrait of him, maybe choose a different camera. I don't know his age, but it's a pretty good bet that there is a gulf between his self-image/interests and that photograph.

Not sure that it's a good idea to tell him that you're done for a time. And maybe you're the one who needs to be more spontaneous/flexible. But saying that, I want to drop it. I don't know the dynamic, and don't want to presume.

Again, just tossing out some ideas given that you asked.

[Scott --]

Yeah, if anything, there may be a drop down to 6x6 for a while. There's a gulf of difference between sitting for 10x12 and 6x6.

That said, the respite is more for my sanity than the boy's. I get to where I over think these things, and that's what crushes the spontaneity and organic quality. Just need some time. And, again, this is all subject to getting a new lens tomorrow!

[r.e.]

Yeah, if anything, there may be a drop down to 6x6 for a while. There's a gulf of difference between sitting for 10x12 and 6x6.

That said, the respite is more for my sanity than the boy's. I get to where I over think these things, and that's what crushes the spontaneity and organic quality. Just need some time. And, again, this is all subject to getting a new lens tomorrow!

It's so much easier to be spontaneous with 6x6.

But you know, if you're prepared to burn some film, and he's prepared to work with marks, it would be pretty cool to use 10x12 to photograph him moving on a skateboard, or a bike, or fishing or whatever he's into :)

[BrianShaw]

Yeah, if anything, there may be a drop down to 6x6 for a while.


It's so much easier to be spontaneous with 6x6.

Me too. I've even "dropped down" to 35mm when it feels like the right thing to do to get a photo of my kids. Whatever it takes!

[r.e.]

Me too. I've even "dropped down" to 35mm when it feels like the right thing to do to get a photo of my kids. Whatever it takes!

I knew that there must be a reason why the Double Stroke Leica M3, vintage 1955, is my favourite film camera for candid photography :) And not just for kids, either.

Now, if I could afford the upcoming M10, with presumably better ISO performance in low light than the M9... That camera might just be the end of my use of film, including my foray into large format.

[wentbackward]

(i personally dislike squished chin, but nobody plays violin without pushing it.. so oh well.. :())

There was a Korean Violinist, Kyungwah Chung in the 50s who held the violin against her cheek in a very loose fashion. Probably the original asian bird with a violin. Might be worth a look, as she had a very unique style.

Your work is fantastic, but if I may venture a criticism, the bowing hand doesn't look too bad but her left hand looks limp where there should be tension. Probably just one of those things like the Olympus adverts where people were holding cameras with no viewfinder, crookedly up to their eyes, only a photographer would be disturbed by it I guess. On the other hand the way the arms and bow flow against the hip with the slight highlight is very well executed (as always).

Paul

[SergeiR]

There was a Korean Violinist, Kyungwah Chung in the 50s who held the violin against her cheek in a very loose fashion. Probably the original asian bird with a violin. Might be worth a look, as she had a very unique style.

Your work is fantastic, but if I may venture a criticism, the bowing hand doesn't look too bad but her left hand looks limp where there should be tension. Probably just one of those things like the Olympus adverts where people were holding cameras with no viewfinder, crookedly up to their eyes, only a photographer would be disturbed by it I guess. On the other hand the way the arms and bow flow against the hip with the slight highlight is very well executed (as always).

Paul

Paul, thanks..

She was actually playing a bit it as we shot - you can see (when larger) that bow is in fact moving - its a bit blurry and catching multiple reflections).. Not being music expert (i am one of those people who got ears trampled by bears, as they say in Russia) - its kinda hard for me to predict how holding is done :( I will remember your advice on holding, as most likely i will reshoot this at some point. (i dont like how dark it was when we were shooting - i generally like to have a bit of ambient to light up planes when shoot).

[mamypoko]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/7971171958_a86b3c310f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971171958/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7971192916_8220263406_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971192916/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7971205782_78b77033df_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971205782/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7971223738_37d1ac56f3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971223738/)

Mirrors and Makeup - A Chinese Opera

Speed Graphic 4x5 handheld
Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f/2.5
Kodak TMAX 400 Expired
HC-110 1:50

The traditional Chinese opera has seen a slow decline over the years, as the getai (concert) has seemingly rocketed in popularity amongst the young and old here in Singapore.

Click through for a short writeup on each picture.

[cuypers1807]

Really love this Sergei! The other one must be reversed because the chin rest is on the wrong side.

[jcoldslabs]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/7971171958_a86b3c310f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971171958/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7971192916_8220263406_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971192916/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7971205782_78b77033df_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971205782/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7971223738_37d1ac56f3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeylu/7971223738/)

Mirrors and Makeup - A Chinese Opera

Speed Graphic 4x5 handheld
Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f/2.5
Kodak TMAX 400 Expired
HC-110 1:50

The traditional Chinese opera has seen a slow decline over the years, as the getai (concert) has seemingly rocketed in popularity amongst the young and old here in Singapore.

Click through for a short writeup on each picture.

Wonderful series and nice use of the AE handheld. I have yet to calibrate my Speed Graphic to my Aero Ektar, but I have wanted to try something like this.

Jonathan

[Corran]

Very nice Joey!

[Scott Schroeder]

Nice discussion and one I can relate too. I've been photographing my son for 5 years with wet plate! The exposures lead to a pretty solemn look so its not blurred....
However, on a sunny day last month and 1-2s exposures I had fun letting the subjects decide. It was the neighborhood girls I posted here (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?93406-August-2012-Portraits&p=917720&viewfull=1#post917720). I just told them I would take photos and for them to decide on how to 'pose'. I had to talk them out of the charlie's angels pose for DOF reasons ;-)
Other than that it was fun to be an 'operator' and just tweak the scene to come out photographically.



I explained our photo sessions to the boy once as being "organic": I usually have a very slight idea of what to do, and he'll set up, move, arrange himself, and the whole thing breathes on its own. But lately I've been more excited about it, and more eager, and he has been just cooperating. Told him today we're done for a while. When there's a time that more spontaneity is involved, we'll pick it up again.

Now, I have a new Petzval on its way here, so I may have to try with him one more time... ;)

[C. D. Keth]

I had to talk them out of the charlie's angels pose for DOF reasons ;-)

Hehe, you should have just stopped down and let them do it. "OK, comfy? Hold that for 45 seconds. One....Two....." :)

[szadow]

Selfportrait in bathroom mirror. Testing my new camera Mentor Studio 13x18cm. I got it two days ago, but unfortunately on it's way from Germany to Poland the groundglass got broken. I quickly made one myself just to test the camera. The ground glass is far from perfect & I barely could see anything & the image is a little bit crooked, but it works :)
Mentor Studio 13x18cm + Zeiss 180/4.5
1sec F4.5 ISO80
Kodak Medical Xray Green Film
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/644026_425664717480378_814467521_n.jpg
80417

[cuypers1807]

Razzle 900
150mm Rodenstock Sironar N
Portra 400

Sorry about the crappy watermark.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7980484604_221e04fbc0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24021575@N02/7980484604/)

[jcoldslabs]

The blue sensitive film is not the most flattering for portraits, but I thought I'd try it anyway. Slight subject movement due to the long exposure time.

Century 10A 8x10, Buhl 13" opaque projector lens (f/3.5), Kodak Low Contrast Aerial Duplicating Film (SO-277), 8 second exposure.


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/SO-277-T.-02.jpg

Jonathan

[bigguy88]

Shooting portraits involves many styles.. Some people like to be directed, some - think they know better and acting up if you trying to tell them what to do. However final judgement call is always, no matter what style of shooting you do , is on the shooter. Only you can see groundglass/viewfinder and thus only you can make a call what looks good or not. It takes some beating sometime, or film burning to relax people so they start trusting you to make that call. But - its always up to shooter. Imho.

---

Anyway..

Another one from same shoot. That was actual concept.. Other one was taken while kids were going nuts during intermission around the opera house

Velvia, 8x10, Wollensak as well.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/7966727448_9f277843e3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7966727448/)
Violin player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7966727448/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr
http://www.edslrvideo.com/line.jpg

(i personally dislike squished chin, but nobody plays violin without pushing it.. so oh well.. :())
beautiful..personally i prefer this color one :)

[SergeiR]

beautiful..personally i prefer this color one :)
well.. you know..finding decently priced 8x10 color (neg or positive) film is somewhat of surreal task :(

[photojeff3200]

80456

Burke and James 8x10 camera, B&L petzval lens, 1/2 plate clear glass ambrotype.

[C. D. Keth]

80456

Burke and James 8x10 camera, B&L petzval lens, 1/2 plate clear glass ambrotype.

I like that a lot. It's nice to see a traditional process with a more modern composition like shortsiding your subject.

[nray]

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o131/nray53/Album/scan117.jpg

I had a senior portrait session with Abby on the right. I asked if I could take a 4x5 of her and her sister Amy.

T-Max 400

(I tried a dozen times to lighten this image...it darkens everytime I upload it)

[rpalm]

Great shot!

r


http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o131/nray53/Album/scan117.jpg

I had a senior portrait session with Abby on the right. I asked if I could take a 4x5 of her and her sister Amy.

T-Max 400

(I tried a dozen times to lighten this image...it darkens everytime I upload it)

[SergeiR]

Burke and James 8x10 camera, B&L petzval lens, 1/2 plate clear glass ambrotype.

very cool compositionally

[Ramiro Elena]

8x10 Ilford , Deardorff V8, Wollensak Velostigmat 12"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7964660212_18d0f69e18_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7964660212/)
Violin player (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7964660212/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

Sergei, that's one fantastic model you got. Were you doing a long exposure and tripping the flashes by hand? Her face seems to have some motion blur going on. Same thing seems to happen with the color take.
If I may, I would have placed the violin somewhere else. It blends with her dress in a weird way. Also the hand bag and violin case? in the back are very distracting.

Very nice series either way! :)

[Myxine]

80456

Burke and James 8x10 camera, B&L petzval lens, 1/2 plate clear glass ambrotype.

I love it!! In fact, i love every bits of it.

[SergeiR]

Sergei, that's one fantastic model you got. Were you doing a long exposure and tripping the flashes by hand? Her face seems to have some motion blur going on. Same thing seems to happen with the color take.
If I may, I would have placed the violin somewhere else. It blends with her dress in a weird way. Also the hand bag and violin case? in the back are very distracting.

Very nice series either way! :)

Thanks. It was hand tripping, with packard shutter.. Normally i can do it very easy, but i seem to have timing issues with packards.. need more practice :) It was more of test session - we worked first time together.. It meant for her to be a bit blurry and moving on colour one.. this one - not so much, but you right - still visible that she moved a bit. Oh well :)

[D-tach]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7986896733_a80a517e11_b.jpg

Johan

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/7986906168_486c440a49_b.jpg

Karin

Acros 4x5 & PS945

[jcoldslabs]

Century 10A 8x10, 19 3/4" Kodak Copying Ektanon @ f/10, 8x10 J&C 400 (expired 2002), two second exposure.


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Fortepan-400---T-02.jpg

Jonathan

[Scott --]

Okay, wait for it...

A smile!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7989429605_5b35e52a95_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7989429605/)
A smile! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/7989429605/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

I know, right? New-to-me B&J Ajax #2 Portrait on 10x12 Ilford (this is a crop, but the lens covers the format fine for portraits!).

[SergeiR]

8x10 Arista, Deardorff. Finally got chance to test my new portrait lens, that i at last mounted on board, Dallmeyer 16" Perfac (got from auction for like 35$, about month ago ;))) Awesome lens. Splendid rendering, just as i like it.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/7990414566_83b0fd1e63_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990414566/)
Zoie and Nisah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990414566/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[Alan Gales]

8x10 Arista, Deardorff. Finally got chance to test my new portrait lens, that i at last mounted on board, Dallmeyer 16" Perfac (got from auction for like 35$, about month ago ;))) Awesome lens. Splendid rendering, just as i like it.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/7990414566_83b0fd1e63_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990414566/)
Zoie and Nisah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990414566/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Emil Schildt]

8x10 Arista, Deardorff. Finally got chance to test my new portrait lens, that i at last mounted on board, Dallmeyer 16" Perfac (got from auction for like 35$, about month ago ;))) Awesome lens. Splendid rendering, just as i like it.



Yeah - they should have renamed "Perfect"....

[jcoldslabs]

This is not a portrait taken in September 2012, but it was scanned for the first time tonight. The story behind it is this:

A number of years ago a good friend from graduate school asked me to photograph her wedding. Many of us have been there, I think, shooting a wedding for a friend, but in my case the only gear I had was a Rolleiflex and a Toyo 4x5 field camera. I expressed my concern that I was not well equipped to perform the task, but she told me she wasn't worried. (Well, I was!) The day arrived and I did what I could, but it was a struggle. When it came time for traditional portraits on the altar I had only one flash, a Nikon SB-24, and one six foot sync cord. I had my wife hold the flash up and off camera while I shot the photos.

It is not my most creative work, but I have a soft spot for it for two reasons. One, the photo has a kind of 1960s vibe to it, or so it seems to me, without any soft boxes or the diffused, bounced light so prevalent in wedding photography these days. (Although, I do wish I'd had a second flash for fill.) Two, and of much more personal significance to me, Karen died of breast cancer a mere seven years after this photo was taken, at the age of 36.

Toyo 45A, Rodenstock 210mm Sironar-N, 4x5 Kodak Vericolor III


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

Jonathan

[Kav]

This is not a portrait taken in September 2012, but it was scanned for the first time tonight. The story behind it is this:

A number of years ago a good friend from graduate school asked me to photograph her wedding. Many of us have been there, I think, shooting a wedding for a friend, but in my case the only gear I had was a Rolleiflex and a Toyo 4x5 field camera. I expressed my concern that I was not well equipped to perform the task, but she told me she wasn't worried. (Well, I was!) The day arrived and I did what I could, but it was a struggle. When it came time for traditional portraits on the altar I had only one flash, a Nikon SB-24, and one six foot sync cord. I had my wife hold the flash up and off camera while I shot the photos.

It is not my most creative work, but I have a soft spot for it for two reasons. One, the photo has a kind of 1960s vibe to it, or so it seems to me, without any soft boxes or the diffused, bounced light so prevalent in wedding photography these days. (Although, I do wish I'd had a second flash for fill.) Two, and of much more personal significance to me, Karen died of breast cancer a mere seven years after this photo was taken, at the age of 36.

Toyo 45A, Rodenstock 210mm Sironar-N, 4x5 Kodak Vericolor III


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

Jonathan

Fantastic photo, but I am sorry to hear of the loss of a good friend. For all it's worth, in it's most basic form photography is a visual recording medium. This is the essence of "capturing the moment". It is a wonderful photo and thank you for sharing the photo and the story.

Here is two from friday; shot with a Speed Graphic with a Kodak Ekter 203mm f7.7 wide open on positive paper.

http://kavanaughmp.smugmug.com/StateSidePhotography/North-Carolina/New-Bern-Street-Portraits-Sept/i-pqncVTC/0/XL/Portrait-6-XL.jpg

http://kavanaughmp.smugmug.com/StateSidePhotography/North-Carolina/New-Bern-Street-Portraits-Sept/i-zGxBNrr/0/XL/Portrait-7-XL.jpg

[SergeiR]

Absolutely gorgeous!

Thank you, Alan.



Yeah - they should have renamed "Perfect"....

:), thanks. It was a gamble - couldnt find much info on them, but i figured its not much of cash for 16/6 lens, even without shutter. Its a bit heavy though - solid brass encasing (not as heavy as 420mm heliar, of course, but hey..). Military lens, i presume.

Going to see how it deals with colour - shot two sheets at same time (havent processed yet) b/c outfits had rich colors and i didnt want to loose it completely.

[Corran]

Jonathan, wonderful portrait, perfect skin tone, and just a wonderful sense of depth, not like the cheap wedding photos I see these days!

For me, that's the best portrait I've seen here in a while, it's just "all there." No distractions, no off colors, no silly 1mm DOF. Great job!

[jcoldslabs]

Bryan and Kav,

Thanks for the kind words. The portrait works (for me, at least) because of the the familiarity between me and the subject. There is no stiffness or awkwardness despite it being a very formal "you-stand-there-while-I-focus-the-camera" photograph. Had I been photographing a stranger, I doubt this would have been the case.

Anyway, my wife and I miss her very much. Looking at her wedding photos makes me both sad and happy at the same time. Sharing the image here was a small tribute, I guess.

Jonathan

[northcarolinajack]

I just obtained a beauty of a large brass lens, a Voighlander 17 ½ F6 Extra Rapid Euryscope. I posted a shot made with a Packard shutter box, but the shutter box added weight to the already heavy Voighlander that at maximum bellow extension was a little much. So, I made a front mounted Packard to reduce the weight.
On a bright day I set up to make my first shot with this setup, plus using sheet
ND filters in the waterhouse stop slot. My wife who does not pose for me was in the yard. Without her knowledge I made this shot quickly as she was looking at something in the tree.
The rear standard moved a little making the focus soft, but I like the shot.

Camera – Kodak Full Plate 6 ½ x 8 ½
Lens – Voighlander – Euryscope 17 ½ inch at F6
Film – Ilford HP-4 process in HC110 at 50 to 1

Jack

www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Harris-Photography/109348465760954

[Bill Burk]

A number of years ago a good friend from graduate school asked me to photograph her wedding.

You did a good job, Jonathan. It's a very nice photograph, and touching story.

[akaa]

Hey Everyone! LF newbie here. Thought I would post a picture of my son. He was a trooper just sitting there while I fiddled, and fiddled, and fiddled....

Sorry for the crappy scan :(

HP5+, Zone VI 4x5 and Kodak 203/7.7 anastigmat wide open.

80648

[SergeiR]

8x10 ilford (HPF+) 100, Dallymeyer Perfac 16"/6 @16

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7990775097_547bfe0834_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990775097/)
Nisah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990775097/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

(it was end of the sitting, she was tired, but braved one more shot.. a bit different pose than i tried her to do, but oh well..)

[jcoldslabs]

You did a good job, Jonathan. It's a very nice photograph, and touching story.

Thanks, Bill. It is a bit sad to think that since Karen had no kids, and since we've lost touch with her husband, there is no one to whom I can give these images who would really appreciate them in a personal way, except maybe her sister or parents, but they have copies already. Part of the joy of getting around to scanning older photos with people in them is passing them along to the folks involved who usually get a kick out of seeing themselves 10, 15, 20 years ago. I'm not on Facebook, but I wonder how this new interconnected repository of images will change how people relate to photos of the past. There will be less of a sense of surprise and discovery--finding an old shoebox full of photos in the attic, for instance--if the photos from your college days remain accessible from your page and your friends' pages now and into the future.

Jonathan

[Corran]

I think there is going to be a great sense of loss for some people who realize a few years in the future that none of their digital photos are available, or possibly they are only alive as a 0.2mp file from whatever Facebook becomes.
One of the reasons I enjoy shooting Fujiroids is to give them away, an instant print, something few people these days get.

[Lightbender]

Fabulous. You can see the weariness on her face. (It's not apparent that its weariness from the shoot) It make for a very emotional photo.

[Luke79]

Great Sergei love the light

here is my first 8x10 outdoor still practicing :-) power packard fast triggered :D

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408369.jpg

[SergeiR]

Nice use of vines to frame. Thats it, man. Now you will be sucked into 8x10 ;)) No way back ;))

[SamReeves]

Great Sergei love the light

here is my first 8x10 outdoor still practicing :-) power packard fast triggered :D

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408369.jpg


Nice use of vines to frame. Thats it, man. Now you will be sucked into 8x10 ;)) No way back ;))

I didn't see the vines. :-)

Beauty of a photo.

[bvaughn4]

A little upscale senior portrait for my niece. Wet plate on trophy aluminum, Hyatt Petzval @ f8. Whole plate on Deardorff V8.

80759

[jcoldslabs]

Self-portrait.

Well....it was my idea to do it, but I had to have my wife focus, insert the film holder, pull the slide and make the exposure. Can that still be called a self-portrait?

Century 10A 8x10, Kodak 259mm process lens, Kodak Low Contrast Aerial Duplicating Film (SO-277), five second exposure.


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/SO-277---J.-in-Sun-r2.jpg

Jonathan

[Corran]

:)
Did she appreciate not being the subject this time? Nice shot.

[ImSoNegative]

8x10 ilford (HPF+) 100, Dallymeyer Perfac 16"/6 @16

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7990775097_547bfe0834_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990775097/)
Nisah (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7990775097/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

(it was end of the sitting, she was tired, but braved one more shot.. a bit different pose than i tried her to do, but oh well..)

excellent! love the lighting here.

[Mark Sawyer]

Wonderful work all around, gentlemen!

[szadow]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424721_428064233907093_319517677_n.jpg
Selfportrait
Mentor Studio 13x18cm + Zeiss 180/4.5 + Fomaspeed FP312 Matt (paper negative)
2 minutes f22 ISO6
Exposure had to be long enough so I could trip the shutter, sit down and come back to finish the exposure.
80779

[jcoldslabs]

Did she appreciate not being the subject this time?

I suppose, but yesterday morning she was not so lucky!

Toyo 45A, 210mm Sironar-N, 4x5 T-Max 100 (expired 1999), two second exposure.


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/T.-in-Bed-04.jpg

Jonathan

[northcarolinajack]

This is a shot I made of a Gentleman while my wife was shopping for antiques. My many thanks for allowing me to make this shot.

Camera – Speed Graflex
Lens – Wollensak Veritar at F-6
Film – HP-4 Ilford processed in HC-110 at 50/1

Jack

www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Harris-Photography/109348465760954

[Luke79]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408939.jpg

[Miguel Coquis]

...one can imagine that bokeh may become a fundamental quest, an optical canvas,
beauty becomes éphémère....
nice shot Luke !

[Scott --]

That's amazing, Luke.

[Miguel Coquis]

[QUOTE=szadow;933963]https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424721_428064233907093_319517677_n.jpg
Selfportrait
Mentor Studio 13x18cm + Zeiss 180/4.5 + Fomaspeed FP312 Matt (paper negative)
2 minutes f22 ISO6
Exposure had to be long enough so I could trip the shutter, sit down and come back to finish the exposure.


...interesting planned portrait ,time dimension and transparence makes it magic !
nice shot !!!
I like Mentor Kameras too.

[Mark Sawyer]

Wonderful, Luke! You and that Aero-Ektar were made for each other...

[Pfiltz]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408939.jpg

I have to go against the grain on this shot. All I see in this image is a bright spot right of center.... I can't find her, and when I do, I go back to the light.... Pity too. She's such a lovely looking lady.

Sorry.

[Jim Galli]

I have to go against the grain on this shot. All I see in this image is a bright spot right of center.... I can't find her, and when I do, I go back to the light.... Pity too. She's such a lovely looking lady.

Sorry.

Can't take my eyes off this girl. She's stunning. Didn't you read Alice in Wonderland?

[Jim Galli]

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/405Kodak18PlastigEtc042907/Kaydon_MomS.jpg
Caydon's mom

Caydon lives next door to my daughter in Oregon. He's the same age as my grandson and they actually play outdoors for hours at a time which I'm very happy about. And that's his mom.

[Pfiltz]

Can't take my eyes off this girl. She's stunning. Didn't you read Alice in Wonderland?

Yep.

Saw the movie too.

[Scott Schroeder]

Jim, the pic didn't come through.....

Luke, I really like the last one. I might suggest a small crop off the bottom. More of a 20X24 ratio.

[John Conway]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408939.jpg
Keep them coming. Your work is wonderful.

[Reinhold Schable]

An old trick is to view a photo through squinted eyes.

Does it still have visual impact and presence?
How has contrast and tonality been affected?
Are the important elements still well balanced?
If the image has lost strength and balance it may need more work...

Reinhold

[bracan]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img408939.jpg

Excellent. What lens Luke?

[Pfiltz]

An old trick is to view a photo through squinted eyes.


Interesting to know. I've turned around, and look at an image real quick to see where I focus the fastest on, but I"ll try the squinting routine as well.

Learn something everyday, which is a good thing.

[Scott Schroeder]

I think it has merit while taking the photograph. With Black and White it can really show the scene's tonal range and present the highs and lows. I've found it can show you areas that were darker (or lighter) than anticipated looking at the scene 'normally'.


Interesting to know. I've turned around, and look at an image real quick to see where I focus the fastest on, but I"ll try the squinting routine as well.

Learn something everyday, which is a good thing.

[C. D. Keth]

I have to go against the grain on this shot. All I see in this image is a bright spot right of center.... I can't find her, and when I do, I go back to the light.... Pity too. She's such a lovely looking lady.

Sorry.

I find myself doing the very same thing. It looks like a portrait exposed before it's been lit. She just recedes into the grey.

[ypres.bass]

Great Sergei love the light

here is my first 8x10 outdoor still practicing :-) power packard fast triggered :D
wunderbar shot...

[Andrea Gazzoni]

first attempts with my 4 years old as a model.
Wista 8x10, Fomapan 100, available time and light

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/94184552/viola%20dry%201400dpi%20ridotta.JPG

[Corran]

Kodak Century Universal 8x10 Camera
Schneider Symmar-S 300mm f/5.6
Fuji Super HR-T X-Ray Film, rated at 50
1/125, f/5.6, with bounced flash, developed 6:30 in Rodinal 1:100 @68F

"Scanned" with DSLR on a foam board sitting on top of a studio light to make a ghetto lightbox. The board had texture which came through the photo. Kind of a neat effect so I left it. Looks like some type of alt process or something.

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/800_5355s.jpg

[Frank Petronio]

first attempts with my 4 years old as a model.
Wista 8x10, Fomapan 100, available time and light

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/94184552/viola%20dry%201400dpi%20ridotta.JPG

Excellent!

[SergeiR]

first attempts with my 4 years old as a model.
Wista 8x10, Fomapan 100, available time and light

nicely done :)

[SergeiR]

8x10 Arista (cropped a tad to square, just b/c...), Deardorff, 8x10 Gundlach Radar

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8014394124_7158ecb8f7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8014394124/)
scan0176www (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8014394124/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[jcoldslabs]

Kodak Century Universal 8x10 Camera
Schneider Symmar-S 300mm f/5.6
Fuji Super HR-T X-Ray Film, rated at 50
1/125, f/5.6, with bounced flash, developed 6:30 in Rodinal 1:100 @68F

"Scanned" with DSLR on a foam board sitting on top of a studio light to make a ghetto lightbox. The board had texture which came through the photo. Kind of a neat effect so I left it. Looks like some type of alt process or something.

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/800_5355s.jpg

Really nice balance to the composition, and great use of back-lighting. I'm going to have to try some x-ray film one of these days.

Jonathan

[Luke79]

Thanx to all for the feedback, i had positioned her in the light stream but for me the magic was gone at this positon, i was going more for the complete look of the picture and the diagonals and the magic fairytale look :D

Sergei and Frank both beautiful pictures !

[Luke79]

Thanx to all for the feedback, i had positioned her in the light stream but for me the magic was gone at this positon, i was going more for the complete look of the picture and the diagonals and the magic fairytale look :D

Sergei and Corran,Frank great and beautiful pictures !

[Ramiro Elena]

8x10 Arista (cropped a tad to square, just b/c...), Deardorff, 8x10 Gundlach Radar...

I love the look of that lens, I need to get me one :D
The post-processing however ruins the sharp/soft quality. It's probably Flickr's sharpening although I don't usually notice it this strong.

[gsinico]

80915

Fujinon 250 SF yellow disk, @f\9 Delta 100 N-1 souped in HC=B

as you can see in the imagine, the camera is the chamonix N-1

[SergeiR]

I love the look of that lens, I need to get me one :D
The post-processing however ruins the sharp/soft quality. It's probably Flickr's sharpening although I don't usually notice it this strong.

It depends on frequency, apparently. When 5k * 5k size is optimized for print, every now and then 1k or 800 on shortest size (resized in PS) will come out a bit stronger sharpened when loaded on flickr. No clue what they do to them.

[SergeiR]

8x10 Ilford, Rodinal 1+100. 8x10 Gundlach Radar @f5.6 (i do record parameters every now and then ;))

Different processing and different film. Apparently i need to do some more experiments to find decent developer for 8x10 arista.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8016122344_14385f94bb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8016122344/)
Heather in polka dot dress (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8016122344/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[Luke79]

sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img409343.jpg

[Miguel Coquis]

...wow !
you might be ready for Ross Xpress now,
...how can one make a bad pic with a wonderful model ?
sweet shot Luke !!!!

[D-tach]

sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"



Gorgeous!

[SergeiR]

sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"

Thanks. Back at ya , man. Very lovely shot. Question though - is is light fall off or end of coverage? I was pondering on pentac at some point, but gave up non knowing coverage limits of it.

[Luke79]

thank you all, yes sergei its end of coverage, but you can get full body shots like this with it

[Zaitz]

It depends on frequency, apparently. When 5k * 5k size is optimized for print, every now and then 1k or 800 on shortest size (resized in PS) will come out a bit stronger sharpened when loaded on flickr. No clue what they do to them.
All of Flickrs smaller sizes than 'original' are sharpened. Great photos again!

[SergeiR]

All of Flickrs smaller sizes than 'original' are sharpened. Great photos again!

Thanks.
8) yes they do sharpen, but interestingly enough its not always super-duper visible.

[Craig Tuffin]

Back at work after a bit of a rest post exhibition and demonstration in Melbourne. Nightmare drive with the caravan darkroom...about 3500km round trip.

8"x10" Wet Plate Ambrotype

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8014703702_1a9995601c_b.jpg

[bracan]

Sinar P4x5, Wollensak Verito 9 inches f4 wide open on Fuji FP3000B 45.

80949 80950

[ImSoNegative]

sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img409343.jpg


fantastic!!

[SamReeves]

8x10 Ilford, Rodinal 1+100. 8x10 Gundlach Radar @f5.6 (i do record parameters every now and then ;))

Different processing and different film. Apparently i need to do some more experiments to find decent developer for 8x10 arista.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8016122344_14385f94bb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8016122344/)
Heather in polka dot dress (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8016122344/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr


sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img409343.jpg

Very awesome.

[SergeiR]

Btw, for those who decided to grab Radars (lens). Its got that funky issue with colours being focused on different planes, apparently, at least when near-wide open.
Just a fair warning - it will be softer if you do color , not Heliar soft, like it does on b&w.

8x10 Velvia.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8021671174_be99970cf3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8021671174/)
scan0184www (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8021671174/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[Ken Lee]

Sinar P4x5, Wollensak Verito 9 inches f4 wide open on Fuji FP3000B 45.

80949 80950

I just love the perspective you get from a 9-inch lens on 4x5 - the sense of distance/closeness and the softness is wonderful.

[bracan]

fantastic!!

Excellent photography, excellent light, excellent model!
Bravo Sergei!

[SergeiR]

Excellent photography, excellent light, excellent model!
Bravo Sergei!

Thanks, but you meant Luke, most likely ;)

[bracan]

Thanks, but you meant Luke, most likely ;)


Ups, sorry Luke:)

Excellent images from both of you!

[BrianShaw]

Btw, for those who decided to grab Radars (lens). Its got that funky issue with colours being focused on different planes, apparently, at least when near-wide open.
Just a fair warning - it will be softer if you do color , not Heliar soft, like it does on b&w.


My limited experience with my 5x7 Gundlach Radar is that the effect is minimal (un-noticable) at f/8 or so.

[SergeiR]

My limited experience with my 5x7 Gundlach Radar is that the effect is minimal (un-noticable) at f/8 or so.

As with most of aberrations it should go down a bit, till you reach diffraction point, so i think you right, it will get less noticeable as you closing. That was shot at about 5.6-6, so effect is quite pronounced. Its got almomst painting like edges. Which i like, being all up for pictoralism in portraits ;))

[Stephane]

Egil, taken mid-July a couple of days before I left.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/8003798305_9ae7f79ee8_b.jpg

[taulen]

I really like that one Stephane ! =)

[Pfiltz]

Kewl Steph

[bracan]

Fantastic Stephane!!!!

[Jim Galli]

I really like that one Stephane ! =)

Bill Clinton, right?

[Scott --]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8028045513_183260db94_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/8028045513/)
Middie... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/8028045513/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

The boy's getting ready for summer travel team tryouts this weekend. 10x12 FP4+, Grubb aplanatic uncorked

[Frank Petronio]

Just can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazjaeHBTP1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

[Craig Tuffin]

Beautiful Frank! Love the warmth of the shot. That hair movement finishes the whole piece off perfectly.

[rpalm]

Extraordinary.

r



Just can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazjaeHBTP1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

[Frank Petronio]

Thanks, she made it easy ~

[Kav]

My friends asked me to take some engagement photos of them, so I broke out the film cameras. This one was shot hand held with a Speed Graphic using a 127mm Ektar lens (coupled to the rangefinder) and a M5 flashbulb. Taken at Fort Macon, NC.

http://kavanaughmp.smugmug.com/Weddings/Joe-and-Kim/Engagement-Photos/i-pmk2FJ3/0/XL/Engagement-XL.jpg

[bracan]

Beautiful shoot Frank!!!!



Just can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazjaeHBTP1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

[lab black]

Frank,
The subtle off-center shift of framing in concert with the slight upturn of the eyeliner and your remarkable vision have resulted in a compelling, unique and stunning image.

[JosephBurke]

Frank, I saw the FB version and was immediately drawn to it. Now that I see it in larger form, well, it's all the more exceptional!
Stunning image!

[bigguy88]

http://www.ebeautytalk.com/dot.jpgJust can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazjaeHBTP1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg
love the way you capture her.. :) more pls

[Myxine]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mazjaeHBTP1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

I find that portrait especially hypnotizing. I just wished i was able to shoot something like that some day. Could look at her all day long (well i guess it would be the same with real life Frances too)
May i ask if there was some strobes or lights of any kind involved? I see a catchlight in her eye but can't figure if it's an artificial light or not

[SergeiR]

Just can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":



very very nicely done

[Corran]

I set my camera up outside my place of work and took random portraits of some friends for fun. Here is the first on 8x10 x-ray film w/ Gundlach Radar:

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/810p001s.jpg

[Frank Petronio]

May i ask if there was some strobes or lights of any kind involved? I see a catchlight in her eye but can't figure if it's an artificial light or not

No it was a windy, rainy day and we were underneath a park's picnic area (roof only). The raw scan had green in the shadows of her flesh tone and pink highlights, with blue overall, thus I got to experimenting and deviating from reality in Photoshop. It will also convert to B&W beautifully and this is my standard operating procedure - shooting color negative gives you unlimited options. Probably getting a better drum scan would give me cleaner flesh tones, I think I am pressing the limits of my poor Epson 700.

I don't care for how perfect her eye make-up is... I dodged the eye catchlight slightly but didn't add them, I also had to soften the eyes and remove some minor wrinkles, paint with color-only underneath, fix lines and lip edges around her mouth, slightly bring out the weak chin, and liquify her arms and shoulders to bring them in and also slightly fix the arm-fat wrinkles and hint at larger breasts. Oh and thin her neck and sharpen the angle between it and her shoulder. And take out some meat between cheek and ear that often looks unhuman. And then I had to go over and using the color-only mode with the right flesh color on the paintbrush tool, fix all the splotches of strange colors we all have. And then add a "peach" layer, selecting editing the mask to let the underlying color through (use a Wacom tablet). adjusted the eyes to pop out but not too much, this is the hardest part and usually where you see poor work. All to make her look like herself ;-) this is far less retouching than she is used to, she is a working catalog model and acts in commercials/small roles in LA.

I'm sure someone will have a wry comment about all this but it is what's expected for commercial work and to have happy clients. I don't think it is excessive myself but I've been doing Photoshop retouching on people for twenty years.

Starting to use lights outdoors more often, stay tuned as the weather is going to Hell and I will need to. Just bought more sandbags for the stands....

210 APO-Symmar on 4x5 Portra 400 at f/8, 1/60, kind of underexposed.

Thanks everyone... starting with a good looking person helps the most, if you follow the number of comments it is always proportional to the attractiveness of the subject regardless of the photographer!

Another take ~ I'll probably use this one, I don't want to do a bunch of fake color - if you show it, people will ask for it and you get stuck trying to duplicate a one-off situation.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb0qfeXp681r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

[Alan Gales]

Thanks, she made it easy ~

I had a girlfriend like that once. She was very photogenic and instinctively knew how to give me the look I wanted. She definitely made it easy.

Stunning photograph, Frank!

[Myxine]

No it was a windy, rainy day and we were underneath a park's picnic area (roof only).

Thank you very much for the extensive answer, Sir.
I was actually wondering the origin of the smooth highlights on her cheeks while her forehead was a bit darker: now it all makes sense underneath the picnic area. I'd vote for the color version if i was asked to :)
And will remember to shoot next picnic i do

[Alan Gales]

I normally prefer black and white portraits but in this case I agree with Myzine and prefer the color version. Her eyes are captivating!

[dperez]

Frank,

You are a baddass! I love those subtle colors.

-DP


Just can't wait to photograph Hillary soon ;-p

Anyway here is Frances, with delicate skin tones mangled by website/browser/sRGB "assistance":

[ImSoNegative]

Btw, for those who decided to grab Radars (lens). Its got that funky issue with colours being focused on different planes, apparently, at least when near-wide open.
Just a fair warning - it will be softer if you do color , not Heliar soft, like it does on b&w.

8x10 Velvia.


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8021671174_be99970cf3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8021671174/)
scan0184www (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8021671174/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

Wow!! I really like this

[ImSoNegative]

I set my camera up outside my place of work and took random portraits of some friends for fun. Here is the first on 8x10 x-ray film w/ Gundlach Radar:

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/810p001s.jpg

Nice portrait!!

[W K Longcor]

I normally prefer black and white portraits but in this case I agree with Myzine and prefer the color version. Her eyes are captivating!

I agree -- the color of her eyes is the key to the image!

[Peter De Smidt]

Frank, both the color and BW versions are terrific. I don't know which one I like better.
Corran, that's a good, straightforward portrait. Does he like it?

[Corran]

Thanks, ImSoNegative and Peter.
Yes, he likes it! As it happens, it was actually his birthday, so it kinda worked out. I was just fooling around so it wasn't a formal session or anything.

[D-tach]

I normally prefer black and white portraits but in this case I agree with Myzine and prefer the color version. Her eyes are captivating!

+1 The color of the hair and eyes match perfectly

[szadow]

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/0/4/8/6/artlimited_img410131.jpg (http://www.artlimited.net/image/en/410131)
Sinar F2 + Rodenstock 210/5.6
1/125sec F11 ISO100
Fomapan 100 + Diafine 3min+3min

[mathieu Bauwens]

81117
after a dance show

Nagaoka, 180mm S Symmar, TXP 320@800, D76 JS process
flash on the left with softbox.

[bracan]

Acros 100, Sinar C4x5 and no name Petzval lens f4 wide open.

81153

[ImSoNegative]

Acros 100, Sinar C4x5 and no name Petzval lens f4 wide open.

81153

Nice!!

[bracan]

Thanks ISNeg. Few more from same shooting yesterday.

81165 81166

[hoffy]

This thread is why I want to give LF a go. So much nice work.

[Frank Petronio]

Another of my misogynistic portraits....

[Alan Gales]

Another of my misogynistic portraits....

I like the portrait but how does it show a dislike of women?

[rpalm]

wow!

r



Acros 100, Sinar C4x5 and no name Petzval lens f4 wide open.

81153

[Frank Petronio]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb4j59C4MR1r9m8iwo1_1280.jpg

I swear there were puffy clouds overhead just 15 minutes before....

[chrishayton]

Not sure what it is but there something very special about that photo Frank. Its quite understated in terms of exposure,contrast yet the timing is flawless as is the eye line of the groomsmen and bridesmaids, Love it.
I thought it was taken in the UK looking at the scenery and the weather until I saw it was you who had taken it

[Frank Petronio]

I've been to the Lake District and that's hard to beat, but there still are some very nice domestic landscapes through the NorthEast, especially "New" England ;-)

[Bill Burk]

I swear there were puffy clouds overhead just 15 minutes before....

You know I'd love to see a wedding with several people in the audience shooting Speed Graphics. People just don't look right to me using cellphones to take pictures of events.

[lenser]

Frank,

Love the wedding photo, but you might consider removing all but the last 1/16 inch of sky (to the right side) and drop out about 5CC of yellow, both to bring up the colors. Now if there was only some way to get the guys to NOT do the fig leaf pose........my God, if I've had to talk one groomsman out of that pose, I must have done it to a thousand over the years.

Great, great image!!!!

[Peter De Smidt]

Frank,
Now if there was only some way to get the guys to NOT do the fig leaf pose........my God, if I've had to talk one groomsman out of that pose, I must have done it to a thousand over the years.
!

One photographer I work with calls it the "Pee Pee Pose".

[Frank Petronio]

Thanks! Yeah it was the last warm day of Summer and there isn't much blue in that sky, once I take the (fake, Portra) warm out it goes dead ~ it's a bugger to balance "pleasing".

I have to admit that the Nikon DSLR gives me pleasing color in varied situations, more consistently, as much as I love Portra in general.

[lenser]

I stopped doing weddings over 20 years ago and haven't shot color negative film since the Vericolor days. I wasn't aware that Portra has such a yellow bias. Seems like it really messes with both the tonality and contrast, or maybe I'm just used to the value ranges of both Vericolor and now, transparency films.

[Frank Petronio]

Well I could probably do better but in general terms, Portra is warmed up to the edge of being unnatural - but in a customer pleasing way since most people want warmer skin tones. And Ektar feels quite cool and harsh in comparison. In both cases Kodak departed from reality to suit marketing needs.

I don't do weddings either, this was for a friend. Weddings are really hard work, people who do them well deserve high praise and pay.

[Corran]

I don't do weddings either, this was for a friend. Weddings are really hard work, people who do them well deserve high praise and pay.

Funny how only photographers realize this! :)

[lenser]

Agreed, Frank. When I had the studio and was actively doing weddings, I could count on a total of at least 45 hours per wedding. That was counting all conferences, the equipment check out, film handling, the actual shoot, sending off the film for processing, organizing the previews into a cohesive story, the preview and ordering conference, then the actual sales meeting(s), taping the ordered negs to the cropping cards for the lab, then organizing all of the orders when the prints came back plus the final delivery presentation. If the whole tribe couldn't make it to one sales meeting, that would extend the hours to about 48. To outsiders, it looked like four hours on a Saturday afternoon, but what did they know. I have to wonder how many marriages have floundered on the altar of being a wedding photographer who is never home with the family on weekends. I loved the actual shooting and telling the story, but the rest was absolute misery of taking away from a real life.

As to the color bias, I worked very closely with my lab back in the 70's and 80's to establish a skin tone warmth target that was pretty accurately based on the equivalent of an 81A filter on perfectly exposed transparency film. It gave that lovely deep suntanned look without odd tonalities thrown in. They were able to create a target color profile for my work that was easy to match so long as I nailed the exposure within half a stop.

I actually got the idea from going to one of the old Nikon School seminars back in the early 70's in which one of the instructors had shot centerfolds for Penthouse. He told the story of how they gave every model that same glorious tan....Nikon lenses, Kodachrome film, and a Nikon 81A filter. Stunning results and it certainly paid of in working out this formula with my lab.

[jcoldslabs]

One of my favorite aspects of LF portraiture is having the camera set up and focused, film holder in, dark slide pulled and being able to talk to the subjects with cable release in hand while waiting for the right moment to trip the shutter. It helps enormously when the subjects are friends.

Toyo 45A, 210mm Sironar-N, 4x5 T-Max 100


http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5-Karen-and-Rich-BW1.jpg

Jonathan

[SergeiR]

8x10 arista (cropped from longest side a bit), Gundlach Radar 8x10.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8039243322_e3ba00fd79_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8039243322/)
Thats it : hitching a ride (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8039243322/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

It decided to rain so had to adjust original concept a bit by adding umbrellas (one for model and one for camera.. i still got super wet :)), instead of canning shoot entirely.

[Scott --]

Trying the B&J Ajax #2 Petzval again on 10x12.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/8041381331_b9ec36a7cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/8041381331/)
Ajax... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott--/8041381331/) by Scott -- (http://www.flickr.com/people/scott--/), on Flickr

[lajacks]

Greetings,

Have been a lurker for years on this forum.

To introduce myself, I am a 30 yr photo enthusiast (currently at 44 yrs old and hopefully still counting). I shoot 35 mm (rangefinders), Canon digital, and 4x5 and 5x7 on occasion. I pay the bills as a chemical engineer. Most of my film usage is B&W with the ocassional home-processed C-41.

I have tried shooting my dad a bunch of times, but managed to get this one around last year holidays. I printed it, and put in my office. It has grown on me as I think it captures the expression of my dad as I usually think of him. He had to have something in his hands, and that's his iPad - which is something I never thought I would see him do. I hope folks don't mind my posting it in Sept, but it has only been recently that I built up enough nerve to share it with the forum.

I used a Deardorff 4x5 Special with 210mm Rodenstock Geronar f/6.8 and Tri-x 320 in HC110.

Best regards,
Scott

81265

[SergeiR]

And one more to close off the September (shot this Thursday)

4x5 Delta (100), Chamonix 45n2, Symmar 210mm

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8042098080_bdd7e95622_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8042098080/)
T* (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/8042098080/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[polyglot]

8x10 arista (cropped from longest side a bit), Gundlach Radar 8x10.

It decided to rain so had to adjust original concept a bit by adding umbrellas (one for model and one for camera.. i still got super wet :)), instead of canning shoot entirely.

The story in this is wonderful, and it's the rain that makes it IMHO.

[SergeiR]

The story in this is wonderful, and it's the rain that makes it IMHO.

:) Thanks. I just hoped for wet surroundings, but being able to shoot without actual rain, so she could be a bit more flexible with what to do with props , but oh well :)

[nray]

Greetings,

Have been a lurker for years on this forum.



Welcome!

[computterman]

"Hat"hunter

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/145513818.jpg

27x27 cm black glass ambrotype
exposure time 2 seconds
Hermagis 300 mm 4.5 petzval
KCN fixer

Absolutely fabulous, love it

[computterman]

sergei nice model love the pose :D

efke 25 / 8x10 / dallmeyer pentac 10"

http://www.artlimited.net/user/0/0/2/3/0/2/0/artlimited_img409343.jpg

That's an amazing picture BRAVOOOOO!!

[goodfood]

Those were the days. 23 pages per month.

[Deardorffuser]

del