Monday Column: About Not Reinventing the Wheel, Giving the Due Credit, Digital helping the Analog Etc.

Dear Readers,

Our Monday columnist Matjaž has been quite busy lately, so please forgive me if I took the role of the "surrogate columnist" this week. A while ago, our contributor Alessandro kindly reminded me that it would be very nice if we would discuss the reclamation of Fuji FP instant film negatives on the blog. So true, and I am very grateful to him. Fact is also that I only lately began to play with the instant material. Though a bit more expensive and having a more limited color palette, I find instant film very pleasing with its own aesthethics. Instant film also fits perfectly into our rushy lifestyles-you can shot and get quickly a few photos having all their analog beauty and then set your camera into standby mode till next time. Yet you can still get a negative from your shots. The specific aesthetics of these negatives comes also from the fact that the negative is actually a superposition of a color and a BW negative, therefore the colors get quite muted. Fortunately, there are many many useful tutorials how to obtain a usable negative from Fuji FP film by just using common household bleach, that seemed to me pointless and unfair to make yet another tutorial about this very topic. It would be really just reinventing the wheel. But it's nice to remind about this hidden potential of instant film once in a while. Below, I included a video tutorial made by Sebek (YouTube user baldipl) which seems to me simple and concise to comprehend. And I thank him for his contribution to our community.

Sharing the information, photos or videos among the web is another issue and it just happens too often people just forget to give the proper credits when posting something on their own sites. It's not only unethical-we all know that-it doesn't pay you back such a misbehavoir. You can only lose on your own credibility, that's it. And makes someone else (the proper author) angry. Be nice and fair to others and others will be nice and fair to you.

Coming back to reclaimed negatives-I thought it would be a good point anyway to show how important is to NOT allow the bleach to come in contact with the emulsion side-it will bleach your image too, and you'll get a "nice" magenta cast in the negative (green in the positive image). Below is my very first bleached negative and the inverted image (without corrections).

Reclaimed negative shot on the light table. Bleach leaked underneath on the emulsion edge and also spilled near the truck's front end. The result are green stains (magenta in the negative).

Last but not least, I must confess-the negative on the light table has been shot using my small and handy Philips HD camera. Yes, I have some "digital sins", I confess :) I bought it because is water and shockproof, portable like a cell phone and makes videos of acceptable quality, for example instructional videos. The photo quality leaves much to be desired, but for descriptional purposes only is good enough. I think it will be a good tool helping me with the blog. And paid it only about 110 €. I just try to be conservative with the digital gear. If I'd be a bit more conservative with the analog gear, probably it wouldn't hurt, too. But that's another story.

Mitja

Film Matter: Kodak, what's next?

We have already became accustomed to various news from Kodak. Some time ago, they stated film manufacturing is one of the few remaining profitable sectors. Then, they said they will discontinue slide film production, but will keep the remaining film product line alive. Then the last news is they intend to sell the film business simply because they need to clear their 660M$ debts. I think Kodak behaves much like a ship without compass. How much of this misbehavior is due to Antonio Perez' leadership is another question and not the most crucial one. But it is very sad if we should witness the final decay of such a glorious brand and more importantly, their excellent line of film products! In case they sell the film line, we can only hope they sell it to a responsible owner, taking care and advantage of their glorious emulsions like TriX, Ektar, TMax and others! And the bottomline question: are you ready for the next news from Kodak?

Film Matter: The Impossible 8x10 Film is launched!

Dear Readers,

I am sure all of you have (at least) heard about the efforts made by the team of the Impossible Project. Some of you are also using their products already. These people made a terrific effort in bringing back the instant integral film, once Polaroid products went away for good. Although on a small budget and on a very short deadline, they made it happen. And they made it happen once again! Today they started selling the 8x10 film-not the old Polaroid stock, but from their own production! Yes, they have been already working on the ultra-large format 20x24 film, jointly with the 20x24 studio, but that's a niche product par excellence, given also its prohibitive price... Instead, the 8x10 film is meant to be affordable to a larger number of photographers, albeit it won't be cheap (but still cheaper than old Polaroid stock). Here is their brief description about the film.

An "official" test shot made on the new film. Photo by Jennifer Trausch, retrieved from http://www.the-impossible-project.com

I must admit, I have never been particularly interested in instant film, especially not in integral instant film, due to its drawbacks. Only lately, I quite fell in love with the peel-apart ("pack") film made by Fuji and used on an old Polaroid Land camera. But that's another story for another day. In the meantime, we can just wish the Impossible Team will make their product prices more affordable.
Mitja

Portfolio of the Week: Anna Gawlak

Dear Readers,

It's a pleasure to be back after a hiatus! This week we feature a young self-taught Polish photographer, Anna Gawlak, from Krakow. Her analog photographic journey is relatively short, time-wise, but nevertheless, her talent is so obvious. She works in both 35 mm and medium format using her Canons T70, T90, AE1, and a Kiev 60.

By her own words: »I really don't know why I take a pictures. I suppose that is for me like a spinning a tale: spooling a film, snapping photographs, composing them... The narrative about calmness and naturalness. Calmness is more than lack of movement - I cannot stop searching it everywhere I am. Searching the naturalness means trying to pick out what is true and simple in the world - I cannot stop doing it.
But, first and foremost, my own story is about big, big love. I love the world: light, colour, contrast, symmetry, trees, tasty food, buildings, doors, feet, ankles, eyes. I love the human being. Everywhere I am - I cannot stop searching.
And all that makes the simple pleasures of life.
I like a film because I like learning new things. And learning to be patient belongs to them. 36 photos... it is very much!:) Besides, when I have to do 36 images I must be and I want to be more sensitive.«

It's just so good to hear over and over again how people get sentimental when using film, and Anna's position is also very philosophical, I think. I think also that her photos are very much zen-like, a celebration of simplicity in the best sense. Anna's work can be found on Flickr and Thumblr.

All photos copyright: Anna Gawlak

An apology and an invitation

Dear Readers,

I must communicate, with greatest regret, that we'll shut down the blog for 3-4 weeks, for various reasons. The main reason is the current lack of time. But we'll return by the end of August. Some of the reasons (for shutting down) will pay off in the future contributions on the blog. 

At the same time, we openly invite you to email us your portfolio proposals. We're always happy getting these emails, and we'll try to reply you as soon as possible. Meanwhile, have a good time, make many good photos, restore some old cameras and nurture your love for analog photography!

silver regards

Mitja

 

Cottage Tip: Revitalize an old Polaroid!

Probably you recall when I was ranting about the »new age« instant photography? Well, this time I thought it would be nice to offer an alternative to this new age stuff. I know, this is nothing new, many people did it many times, but nevertheless, there are still many of you out there not (yet)  having an instant camera, like me, until quite recently. Given the available instant film choices today, getting a Polaroid Land camera is probably the best option, since pack film is regularly available, and at a moderate price-Fuji FP instant film. A nice feature of this film is also the possibility to reclaim the remaining negative, but this will be the topic for another post. The Land cameras are great eye catchers with their bellows, and some of them produce photos of respectable quality (but they cost more). Most of them not, like mine, having a simple plastic lens, but they still have (or maybe for this very reason) their own charm, and you can get them for very little.

Polaroid Land cameras-they are so sexy, aren't they. Jean Pierre, thanks for the photo.

The main issue is where to get the battery for this 4-decades-old camera? The majority of Pola Land cameras use the 3V 532 alkaline battery, which is quite difficult to find nowadays and is also quite expensive-like as much as you spent on the camera itself! In case you don't own a rare or collectible camera, don't feel too sorry to make a bit of surgery on your Pola Land wiring. Just cut off the old battery contacts and solder a plastic insert for two 1.5V AAA batteries instead. Just make sure to have these batteries connected in series (with 3V output) and having them soldered to the right polarity! That's it! It's a 10 minute job, more or less. 

A new battery holder with two AAA batteries. Note the cut original contacts.

The new battery holder fits just perfectly inside the battery compartment.

You will also need to get rid of the remaing plastic tabs-retainers (for the original battery). It is an easy job: just move them in rear-forward motion for some time, and the tabs will just fall off. Now, the new plastic battery insert will fit nicely in the battery compartment of your old Polaroid! It is worth to take a look at the Land List where types of batteries are listed for single cameras. If you own a camera which uses a 531 battery type (4.5V), then you'll have quite a bit of trouble. Probably is just easier to get a 3V camera instead.

If you're unaware of the camera conditions, it is a good measure to check (from time to time) the voltage of the batteries. These old cameras can draw some current even if the are not  in use. And when you just want to use them, the batteries are too low. So, don't waste the instant film because of empty batteries, just have a pair of fresh batteries for backup-they are cheap!

Portfolio of the Week: Alessandro Bocchi

Dear Readers,

This week we feature an Italian photographer, Alessandro Bocchi from central Italy (Padua). Alessandro sent me both a very comprehensive portfolio of photos and biography. He works primarily in medium format, 6x6 and 6x7, with his Mamiyas and uses a variety of films, among them also instant (Fuji) films, mastering very well the reclaiming of the peel-apart negatives from these films. He's another guy who describes himself as an amateur or apprentice, but his work shows much more than that.Nonetheless, he has been also featured in Italian Vogue. Although he only recently dived in the wonderful darkroom world, his photographic technique is far from this. Moreover, Alessandro is yet another photographer who made a happy return to the analog world. Alessandro's work can be found on Flickr. Enjoy his work!

Silver regards

Mitja

Dragoncello (MN) - Christine in the Creepy House - Mamiya RB67 Professional SD with SEKOR K/L 127 1:3.5 L at 5.6 and 1/30. Polaroid Land Pack 100 Back loaded with Fuji Instant Color Film FP-100C.

Castello Tesino (TN) - Christine - Mamiya RB67 Professional SD and Ilford FP4 100.

Castello Tesino (TN) - Vegetation under the woods - Mamiya C330 Professional with SEKOR 80 1:2.8 Blue Dot and Kodak Portra VC 400.

Burano (VE) Italy - Christine with a Night Dress - Mamiya RB67 Professional SD with SEKOR 90 C 1:3.8 at 5.6 and about 15 seconds. Polaroid Land Pack 100 Back loaded with Fuji Instant Color Film FP-100C.

Gorino (FE) Italy - Hope and Christine - Mamiya C330 Professional with SEKOR 80 1:2.8 Blue Dot and Fuji PRO 400H

Vigonza (PD) Italy - Model Valentina - Mamiya RB67 Professional SD with SEKOR K/L 180 1:4.5 L at f 8 and 1/125. Polaroid Land Pack 100 back loaded with Fuji Instant Color Film FP-100C.

Stra (VE) Italy - Model Laura -Mamiya RB67 Professional SD and Mamiya HP701 Polaroid Land Pack Film Holder, SEKOR K/L 127 1:3.5 L @ f 8 - 1/125 s; Bleached negative of a Fuji Instant Color Film FP-100C

Padua (PD) Italy - Christine and our bunny Weizen-Mamiya RB67 Professional S and Mamiya Press Polaroid Land Pack Film Holder, SEKOR C 90 1:3.8; Polaroid 125i Silk Instant Color Film

Montegrotto Terme (PD) Italy - Dania jumping in the water from 6 meter- Mamiya C330 Professional and SEKOR 80 1:2.8 Blue Dot; Kodak T-MAX 400

Padua (PD) Italy - Net Center Tower at Night-Mamiya RB67 Professional SD and SEKOR 50 C 1:4.5 (at 3 minutes - f 8.0); FUJICHROME T64

All photos copyright: Alessandro Bocchi