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?
31.8.12
30.8.12
Film Matter: The Impossible 8x10 Film is launched!
Dear Readers,
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
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 |
Mitja
29.8.12
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.«
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.
27.7.12
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!
25.7.12
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.
|
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.
|
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
Alessandro's Bio
My
name is Alessandro Bocchi and I am from Italy. I was born in 1970 in Mirandola
near Modena in the center of Italy. Now I live in Padua, near Venice with my
wife, 6 rabbits, 2 Guinea pigs, 2 cats and 1 dog. I work as a computer technician
all days and for this reason I started to hate the latest technological
equipments.
I
started taking pictures during one summer at the sea in the south of Italy. I
was a 14 years boy and I was with other friends in the swimming pool of the
camping. There was a very beautiful girl of my same age and I started taking
pictures of her (you can see the pictures I am talking about on my flickr
page). I immediately discovered the pleasure of taking pictures. Portrait of
person. The camera I used was my fathers camera, a wonderful Rollei 35 TE. I
still have that camera and I still use it once in a while because its still
really compact.
After
my fathers camera I had the Fujica STX2, the Nikon F 301 and many many others
like the Nikon FM2, F3, F100 and also the F4s. When I moved to the digital with
a Nikon D300 I sold everything for a very cheap price. But very soon I felt
that the digital photography was missing something.
One
day in a little old shop I came across a Mamiya RB67. It was love at first
sight. I could never take that camera out of my head. I finally got that camera
and then a series of lenses from the 50 mm to the 180 mm and other accessories.
I discovered again the pleasure of taking pictures. Taking pictures with a
camera that doesn't have any batteries. A camera that is completely mechanical
and that will not take any kind of decision by herself. The only little problem
of this camera is that its a huge camera to take with you around the city. For
this reason I came across to a Mamiya C330. This is my definitive camera. I
really love this camera. I can have interchangeable lenses, there is no mirror
that slaps and makes vibration and noise, and finally it works with the square
format that is the one I like most.
Taking
pictures with this two cameras gives me lot of satisfaction and lot of
attentions too. Everyone is looking at me when I walk with one of this cameras
hanging from my neck. Everyone wants to see, to know and to look trough the
finder. But the most eye popping thing is the instant film back. I love to take
pictures of people on instant film and than give than the picture. They are
always very happy and usually they let me take more pictures. I also keep the
instant film negative that i bleach and than put in the scanner to get back the
picture that I gave to the subject. I really love that reclaimed negatives. It's
really amazing to see how many details you can take out from that thing that
usually I throw away.
Recently
I found myself to use more and more black and white film. I like very much the
Ilford HP5 and I began to use the Kodak TRI-X just from few months. I just finished
a dark room course and I loved the developing and the printing so much. I am
just a beginner and I describe myself an apprentice photographer.
The
more I go on, the more I discover that I don't know anything and there is much
much more to learn. I still make a lot of mistakes and I waste film most of the
time, but when you took a nice picture and you develop it and then print it,
and it will magically appear on the paper in the dark room, it is an amazing
satisfaction.
Here
you can see some of my pictures that I like most.
As
you can see one of my preferred subjects are portraits. I always ask my wife,
my daughter and also my friends to pose for me. My wife has been a model since
she was 6 months old, starting with advertising baby nappies. Now she is no
longer a model, by the other side, she became a much better photographer than
me. I use every occasion to take portrait pictures. Recently, there was a
rabbit fair and i shot a portrait to everyone holding his own bunny.
Alessandro
Bocchi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)