Coffee Break

I decided to experiment this morning while I was brewing my coffee.  I shot the images and then lifted the edges slightly immediately after pulling the film.  Then, I left it to process normally.  I really love the unexpected results, but it will need some refining.

Tech Notes:
Fuji FP-100C instant film shot with a Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.  The coffee cup and sofa were shot with window light.  The chair was exposed using 3 Alien Bees strobes.  I scanned all three at one time on my scanner using a piece of cardboard as a dark background.  I then used Crop and Straighten Photos found under File-Automate in Photoshop to make them individual files.  An oldie but a goody.

Film Is Not Dead-The T-Shirt

Jonathan Canlas is an accomplished photographer who uses film as his exclusive medium of choice.  He is so fanatical about it, that he created the Film Is Not Dead workshop.  He fills 3 days with as much information as possible about all things analog photography.  I hope to make it one day. 


For now, I'll have to be satisfied with the t-shirt.  I can't wait for it to arrive.

Got Some Time On Your Hands?

Digital cameras are not well suited for extended exposures.  The longer the sensor is exposing, the greater the noise.  This isn't a huge issue with most exposures, but what if you needed a very long exposure?  What if you needed a 6 month exposure?


Film is your answer.  More specifically, paper is your answer.  This post about creating a 6 month long exposure using a home made pinhole camera is pretty cool.  The photographer used it to create an image tracking the sun's path.  Also, check out the post with instructions on creating your very own super long exposure.


The coolest part is the use of photographic printing paper to capture the image and then scanning the undeveloped paper.  Amazing!

Instant Beauty

Here are a few Fuji instant prints from the shoot posted yesterday.  These were invaluable for building trust with the client.  The first one was the first frame I exposed.  The client was sold from that moment.

Tech Notes:
Fuji FP-100B shot with a Polaroid 600SE and 150mm f5.6 lens.  As with most of my film work, I used only natural sunlight.  Scanned quick and dirty by me.

The Cat Is Out Of The Bag

A few months back, I convince a good friend and commercial client to let me create a series of images to use for a vintage inspired ad for the Blacksmith Shop.  Best of all, he agreed to let me shoot film.  He has wanted to keep them under wraps until now.  The second image will be an ad on the back cover of Wedding Belles Magazine.

Tech Notes:
Shot entirely with my Mamiya 645 AF.  Most images were captured with the 80mm f2.8 lens.  A few, including the last one, were shot with a 55mm f2.8 manual focus lens I purchased for $25.  Color images are Fuji 400H film and the B&W are Fuji Neopan 400 film.


Thanks to Peggy Keys for the hair and makeup,  Jonathan's Bridal for the dress and gloves,  Allison Lucas for the flowers,  Aubrey Newby for his courage and birdcage veil, and  Kristen Clements for being an awesome model.  

Guest Book In An Instant

I'm so excited to announce a new analog product for weddings.  The Instant Guest Book combines the idea of a photobooth with an awesome guest book.  The IGB is a beautiful scrapbook filled with Fuji Instanx instant prints and your guests' kind words and advice for a happy  marriage.    


Here are a few images of the IGB we created Saturday for Allison and Trey.  They had a very cool family picture wall that added a fantastic border to all the images.  Please contact me if you'd like to have an Instant Guest Book at your reception.

Tech Notes:
The images of the book were captured with a digital camera, but the images in the book were made with a Fuji Instax 210.  The scrapbook is from Kolo.

The Lasting Nature of Art

I found two rolls of 35mm film.  I wasn't sure when they were shot.  I wasn't sure what was on them.  I was saving them to send off, but I was told by a friend that Walgreens offered processing and scanning.  


He said the quality was good.  He said the turnaround was fast.  He said the price was great!


I use Richard Photo Lab for all my professional work, but I thought I'd give Walgreens a chance for some personal stuff.  One word.  Impressed.  The resolution isn't high, but that is the only critique I have.  


Here are a few of the images from the rolls.  The film was shot in 2004!  The images are from a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly glass exhibit.  I am amazed by how well the film held up.  It has spent it's life in my house or studio, but it has never been refrigerated.  

Tech Notes:
Fuji NPH film (predecessor to Fuji 400H).  I don't remember what camera and lens.  Processed and scanned by Walgreens.  No adjustments made except to add the border.  

Cherry Blossom Bridal-The Film Is In

A few weeks ago, I photographed a bridal session in the cherry blossoms.  Here are a few examples of the from the film.  I really love the way the colors rendered on film.

Tech Notes:  

The color images were shot with a Hasselblad 500CM and 180mm f4 lens on Fuji 400H film.  The black and white was shot with a Nikon FE and 50mm f1.8 lens on Ilford Delta 3200 film.  Expertly processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Fuji 3000B From This Weekend

So, as discussed, Fuji instant film is self terminating (it stops processing when the reaction is complete).  I've had good results after as many as 6 hours.  Well, I decided to push it a little further.  These prints were pulled after 12 hours.  The results weren't great.  The images seem to be properly processed, but the "goop" dried on the print.  Look closely and you can see it in the scans.  Live and learn.

Among the Pecans

Here are a few favs from a wedding in March at Pineola Farms in Ft Valley, Georgia.  Jenna and Drew were fantastic.  The weather was fantastic.  I think the images are fantastic.  

Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day.

Tech Note:  Black and White square images were shot wtih a Hasselblad 500CM with a 180mm f4 Carl Zeiss lens on Kodak Portra 400BW.  The color images were shot with my Mamiya 645AF with 80mm lens on Fuji 400H.

Color in Clinton

My wife and I had the pleasure of traveling to Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina to capture Amanda and Jesse's engagement session.  They met while attending PC.  We scheduled the session for about an hour before sunset.  The light was beautiful and Amanda and Jesse were a ton of fun.  I can't wait for the wedding in Tallahassee next month.  

Tech Notes:
Fuji 400H film with a Mamiya 645 AF and 80mm lens.  Expertly scanned by Richard Photo Lab.