rewind

The Big Move

2010-07-29T08:58:00.001-04:00

So, for all of you who read the blog, you are getting a sneak peek at the new wedding blog site. I'm really proud of it, and I'm excited to see it grow over the next few years. Take a look and see what you think.

AND, please send me some feedback through the contact form on the new site. I'd love to hear any ideas....and corrections you might find. Enjoy!

inwardstudioweddings.com

***UPDATE***

Just to be clear, I won't be updating this site any longer. All new posts will be at the above site. To make things easy, I've migrated all the posts from this blog to the new one.

Vintage Chocolate

2010-07-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I photographed a vintage inspired session with Bree and Chris at Pineola Farms in Ft Valley. They've been married for some time, but they thought it would be fun to get dressed up again. A 100 degree heat index did dampened the fun a little.

The Polaroid Chocolate film was made at the end of the Polaroid company's existence. It is very weird, but I love the vintage look it gives images right out of the box.

Tech Notes:

Expired Polaroid (yes, Polaroid!) Chocolate film shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens. Even though it says it is ISO 80, it seemed to be more like 200.

Untamed

2010-07-24T07:54:00.002-04:00

So, after rescheduling at least twice (maybe three time) because of bad weather, I finally got to do Kristen and Michael's engagement session. It was hot, but beautiful. Best of all, we got to use Michael's Bronco as a prop. It is no Rover, but it is a close second.

On a personal note, I live for images like the third one. It looked amazing through the viewfinder, but it is even better in print.

Tech Notes:
Fuji FP-100B shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Hot!

2010-07-23T09:52:00.002-04:00

Megan is a trooper. Yesterday, she suffered a 100 degree heat index to create beautiful portraits. There was some relief inside the Terminal Station, but it was still hot. This is just a small sampling of all we did. Can not wait for the film to come in. Thank you Megan!

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-100B shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5. The last two dried before I pulled them (that happens when it is almost 100 degrees). I was able to wash off some of the goop, but it damaged the prints.

Loco For Lechon

2010-07-21T07:15:00.001-04:00

When in Puerto Rico, you must eat lechon (whole, spit-roasted pig). When in Puerto Rico, you must eat lechon in Guavate. The entire town is dedicated to the art of perfecting the pig. The street is lined with dozens of lechoneras. Skip the ones close to the highway. Venture up the mountain until you reach El Rancho Original. It will be well worth the adventure.

While technically not BBQ, lechon is the best BBQ I've ever had. Several things are different from traditional BBQ. First, it is roasted on a spit over an open fire. It is not smoked. This leads to the second wonderful difference. The skin is rendered into thin, crisp shards. Imagine Peking Duck, but pig flavored. Third, only salt and pepper are used and only on the inside. Lastly, there is no sauce. It is not necessary. They do offer house made hot sauce, but I declined.

If I were a pig, this is how I'd want to go.

Tech Notes:
Kodak Gold 400 shot with my Olympus Epic...before it died. Processed and scanned by Walgreens.

Sand and Grain

2010-07-20T14:30:00.002-04:00

Here is the official post for the wedding in Ft Walton Beach. Valerie and Mark were amazing and I think the images totally show that.

Tech Notes:

The color images are Fuji 400H and 800Z shot with my Mamiya 645AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. The black and white are Fuji Neopan 1600 shot with my Contax G1 and 45mm f2 lens. Everything processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

1940 or 2010

2010-07-20T07:27:00.000-04:00

The lasting nature of the DC-3 is amazing. I photographed these from my window seat while taxiing at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan. Seventy years ago, I might have been riding in one instead of just looking at one.

Tech Notes:

Kodak BW400CN film shot with my Minolta Hi-Matic 7s. Processed and scanned by Walgreens.

School's Out Forever

2010-07-19T16:50:00.002-04:00

We passed this abandoned school in Arlington, Georgia on the way to shoot a wedding in Ft Walton Beach, Florida. So, on the way home, we stopped for a couple of minutes. It is quite sad that such a beautiful building was allowed to decay. At least I will always have these funky Holga images.

Tech Notes:

Fuji Provia 100F slide film that was cross processed by Richard Photo Lab. Shot with the borrowed Holga.

Uno Y Diez

2010-07-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

My god children celebrated their birthdays yesterday. One is one. The other is ten. Amazing how much they look alike.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-100C pack film shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Light Leak X 3

2010-07-18T18:42:00.002-04:00

I love the happy accidents that film affords. My long serving Olympus point and shoot camera is giving up the ghost. In the process, it gave a roll with some pretty crazy light leaks. Here are a few frames that are nothing but leaks.

Tech Notes:

Kodak Gold 400 shot with my Olympus Epic. Processed and scanned by Walgreens.

Fortunate

2010-07-18T18:36:00.000-04:00

On our second visit to Puerto Rico, we finally got to visit El Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan. It was so much more than I even expect. Simply put, it is huge. Here are a few of my favorites.

Tech Notes:

Kodak Gold 400 film shot with my Minolta Hi-Matic 7s. Exposures were either Sunny 16 Rule or WAG (wild ass guess). Processed and scanned by Walgreens.

If I Were A Rapper

2010-07-16T16:07:00.000-04:00

This was taken at about 70 miles per hour (considering my wife's lead foot, that is probably a conservative estimate) through the window of the car. I wasn't looking through the viewfinder, so it was a total surprise to see the image. I love the surprise.

Tech Notes:

Holga 120N camera. Fuji Provia 100F that was cross processed. Everything processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

X

2010-07-14T09:44:00.002-04:00

Here are a few images from the church where my wife and I got married 10 years ago. We went super rustic. There was no electricity and the was an outhouse. Even better, our wedding was delayed by hikers who wanted to see the church. I'll never forget it.

I shot them while we were being photographed to commemorate our 10th anniversary.

Tech Notes:

Fuji 400H shot with my Mamiya 645AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

R & R in PR

2010-07-13T14:57:00.000-04:00

This is the first of many posts with images from my recent vacation. Puerto Rico is amazing. The landscape is beautiful. The drivers are... well, interesting.

These are the view of the beach at our condo in Loiza.

This was our view from the park in Arecibo where we ate lunch. Super Pinchos rocks!

And lastly, the view of Old San Juan after the Bacardi Distillery tour.

Tech Notes:
Color images are Fuji FP-100C and the black and white is Fuji FP-3000B. All were shot with my Mamiya Universal with 100mm f3.5 lens.

Film Is Not Dead-The T-Shirt (Published!)

2010-07-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

I was so excited to see that the picture of me in my Film Is Not Dead t-shirt is featured on Jonathan Canlas' FIND blog. Many thanks to my super talented wife for taking the shot. It was only her second time with the Mamiya Universal.

Holga By Richard

2010-07-04T07:31:00.000-04:00

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to borrow a Holga from my lab. It was kinda freeing to take pictures without worrying about the technical aspects. The Holga has only 2 apertures (f8 and f11) and 1 shutter speed (1/100 second). The focus is adjustable, but only as a guess. It can shoot 6x4.5 or 6x6 on 120 film. The think that makes the Holga beloved/maligned is the light leaks. I even went so far as to tape up the camera and still got light leaks! I don't know if I'll buy one (it is only $50), but we'll see.

I didn't get to use it as much as I would have liked, but here are a few of my favorites from Fort Walton Beach before the oil arrived.

Tech Notes:

Holga 120N camera. Black and white is Fuji Neopan 400. Color is Fuji Provia 100F that was cross processed. Everything processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Mountain View

2010-07-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

The film from Southern For Dahlin is back! The color really shows the splendor of the spot. Here are some of my favs.

Tech Notes:

Color images were shot on Fuji 400H with my Mamiya 645AF with 80mm f2.8 lens. The black and white images were shot on Fuji Neopan 1600 with my Canon A2 with 50mm f1.4 lens. All images were processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Sunset Sand

2010-07-02T10:18:00.000-04:00

Here are a few images from Valerie and Mark's wedding in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. More to come when I get back from vacation.

On a side note, I was quite impressed watching Valerie climb the tower in her dress. AND, Mark was suffering from a kidney stone. They are an amazing couple.

Tech Notes:

Fuji 800Z (pushed to 1600) shot with a Mamiya 645 AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

On Cloud Seven

2010-06-30T10:11:00.001-04:00

Wanna shoot film? Here is a nice (and cheap) combo.

Minolta Hi-Matic 7s and Walgreens

First and foremost, cameras had awesome names in the 60s. The Hi-Matic sounds like Ron Popeil named it. The 7s is a 35mm rangefinder with a fixed 45mm f1.8 lens. It has manual aperture and shutter speed controls as well as a matched needle meter (the only function that requires a battery). Best of all, it is cheap. At time of writing, this camera was only $9.99!

The second part is the processing. My regular lab (Richard Photo Lab) is very good, but professional quality work is not cheap. So, for some personal work and test rolls, I use Walgreens. There is a big difference, but I think it is an amazing value for the price. Especially when you consider they will do it in one hour. Normally a roll of 35mm costs $5-$6 (oddly, it has never been the same price twice) for processing and low resolution scanning.

So, find a camera (preferably with manual controls) and shoot!

Tech Notes:

The shot of the camera was taken with a Fuji Instax 210. The clouds were taken with the Hi-Matic 7s on VERY expired Fuji X-Tra 800 film. Processed and scanned by Walgreens.

Upcycled WIN

2010-06-28T07:39:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts of shooting film is the ability to easily and cheaply make your own camera. Pinhole cameras are ridiculously simple and can be made from almost anything. I've seen paint can cameras, shoebox cameras, and even beautiful wooden cameras. This is a new one. Apple makes a great box for the iPhone. This lady makes it better. It is not cheap, but it is wonderful in its perfection.

A Child's Touch

2010-06-25T08:13:00.000-04:00

My dad buys me cameras at thrift stores. Most use discontinued film, but occasionally he finds some real gems. The recent batch was no exception, except...

He found a camera that uses discontinued film AND is a real gem. The Polaroid 95A Land Camera used Polaroid roll film and was produced from 1954-1957. The film has been discontinued for more than a decade. Some convert these cameras to use modern Fuji instant film (probably my choice), but I found this solution for updating the 95A.

I've built quite a few things out of Legos, but I've never used them to convert a camera. It is amazing what the human mind will dream up.

Favorite Paint Color?

2010-06-23T16:27:00.000-04:00

Light painting is the technique of lighting an object or scene with a small light source. It is achieved by shooting in complete darkness while leaving the shutter on your camera open. During the multi minute exposure, you light each part of the subject separately. You can use a flash, flashlight, etc. The result can be creepy or beautiful, but it has a distinct look.

I've never tried this on a large scale, but I must. Here is a small scale experiment from many years ago.

Tech Notes:

I don't remember everything, but I believe it was shot with my Canon Elan II 35mm camera. It was lit with at least 20 pops from a Vivitar 283 flash.

Southern For Darling

2010-06-22T13:52:00.000-04:00

Heather and Andy took me to a favorite spot for them outside Clayton, Georgia. We drove, and we drove, and we drove, and we drove, and we drove. I wondered if it would be worth it. It was. It has now become a favorite place for me. You'll understand better when the film gets back from the lab. Thanks guys!

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-3000B shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Studio Space

2010-06-17T14:31:00.000-04:00

They have finally finished the construction and painting. I get to start moving tomorrow. I'm so excited. Here are a few images of the finished space.

Oh, for those who don't know the back story, my landlord made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He needed half of my current space for a dance studio that wanted to move in. I get lower rent and tons of new prospective clients right next door. Win, win!

Tech Notes:

Prints from my Fuji Instax 210 camera. Scanned on my Epson flatbed.

Before The Oil

2010-06-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

The vegetation and dunes at Ft Walton. The oil was still off shore. Who knows what the future holds.

Tech Notes:
Fuji FP-3000B shot with Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens. Scanned negative on my flatbed scanner. Inverted and added contrast in PS.

Hot Hydrangea

2010-06-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

We inherited this Hydrangea bush when we bought our current home. It is huge and beautiful.

Tech Notes:

Fuji 400H shot with Mamiya 645AF with 80mm f2.8 lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

BBQ On Blue

2010-06-15T12:56:00.000-04:00

St Louis style ribs are amazing. I cooked this slab on Memorial Day. I used my own rub and smoked them until they fell apart. They weren't pretty, but they were tastey.

Tech Notes:

Fuji 400H shot with my Mamiya 645AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Photo Booth

2010-06-14T11:21:00.002-04:00

Katie and Rob had a beautiful wedding a few weeks ago at the Blacksmith Shop in Macon. I especially enjoyed the crate myrtel "snow" in the courtyard. Here are a few favs from the film I shot.

Tech Notes:

Color images are Fuji 400H shot with a Mamiya 645 AF with 80mm f2.8 lens. Black and white images are Fuji Neopan 1600 (pushed to 3200) shot with a Contax G1 with 45mm f2 lens. Everything processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Beach Lovin'

2010-06-14T09:09:00.005-04:00

Here are a few Fuji instant prints from Saturday in Fort Walton Beach. The heat caused some problems, but it is always exciting to see what happens. The image of Valerie and Mark dried before I could pull it. I only waited an hour. I almost threw it away, but then I decided I liked it.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-100C (Color) and FP-3000B (B&W) shot with a Mamiya Universal with 100mm f3.5.

Where I Live

2010-06-13T20:41:00.000-04:00

I find myself shooting more personal work since returning to film. Since the lab charges for the whole roll, I have to find inventive ways to use up the frames left after a wedding. Here are a few I took in just a few minutes in Macon. When I got my license at 16, downtown Macon was my first destination, because I grew up in Byron which lacked a "downtown." I loved the old buildings, urban decay and quirky denizens.

As I remember the story, the second doorway was once a jewelry store. It is the jewelry store where my wife's grandfather bought the engagement ring for her grandmother...while her grandmother sat outside in the car.

Tech Notes:

Fuji Neopan 1600 (pushed to 3200) shot with a Contax G1 with 45mm f2 lens.

Would A DVD Survive?

2010-06-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Would a DVD survive 150 years in an attic? Would it survive 50 years? How about 5? A good print will.

Click here to read the story.

An Actual Polaroid

2010-06-11T07:18:00.000-04:00

This is a Polaroid I took a few years ago at a wedding on St Simons Island. I had just bought a Polaroid 600SE and "needed" to try it out. I still love the image. So much, in fact, that it is framed at the studio.

Tech Note:

Polaroid 667 (I think) shot with a Polaroid 600SE and 150mm f5.6 lens.

Decade

2010-06-10T10:15:00.000-04:00

Today is my tenth anniversary and my birthday! Jeca and I have known each other since we were 10 years old, but didn't start dating until we were in our early twenties. Actually, it all started when I was photographing one of my very first weddings. Jeca was a bridesmaid.

It has been so much more than I could have hoped. The next ten should be even more amazing.

To celebrate a decade, we had our good friend (and even better photographer), Hassel Weems, photograph us at the church where we were wed. While he shot most of the images digitally, he did agree to do a few on film.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-100C shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Morning View

2010-06-09T14:09:00.000-04:00

This was the view in my camera room as I walked to make coffee in the mornings. The chairs cast a very cool shadow on the back of my seamless background. It is no more. Many exciting things are coming. Stay tuned.

Free Triptych

2010-06-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

My lab charges for the whole roll of film whether you shoot one image or 38 (the Contax uses every inch), so I experiment with the unused frames after a shoot. I have overexposed images 4 or more stops, I've shot images of my dinner, and I've played with slow shutter speeds. Here is a series of the last.

Tech Notes:

Fuji 400H shot with Mamiya 645 AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. I don't remember the shutter speed, but I'm pretty sure these are cooked. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Tallahassee Tale

2010-06-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

I was lucky enough to photograph Amanda and Jesse's wedding in Tallahassee a few weeks ago. It was a perfect weekend. Trinity United Methodist Church and the Carriage House at Goodwood Museum and Gardens were both beautiful locations. I hope to make it back one day.

Special Note:
I know it is out of focus. I didn't mean for it to be that way, but I really love it. It is absolutely a happy accident.

Special, Special Note:
How many images does it take? This is an idea I've explored for some time. Below are only 34 images. Is it enough? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Tech Notes:

Color images are from either my Mamiya 645 AF on Fuji 400H or Canon A2 on 800Z. The black and white are Fuji Neopan 1600 with my Contax G1. Everything was processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. Photoshop was used just to crop the images.

Blacksmith Booth

2010-06-03T09:16:00.000-04:00

Here are a few images from the wedding last Saturday. Can't wait for the film to come in.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-3000B shot with Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens. Scanned negatives from the film. Photoshop was used to retouch, invert, flip and add contrast.

Say It With Ribs

2010-05-31T20:13:00.000-04:00

I'm Southern. We celebrate and mourn with food. So, I made ribs today. They weren't pretty, but oh, were they good. I got this shot just as another thunderstorm rolled in so the light was a little blue.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-100C shot with a Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Station Soiree

2010-05-27T11:53:00.000-04:00

Less than two weeks ago I photographed Megan and Sid's wedding and the film is in! The wedding was beautiful and the reception was incredible. I've always loved the Terminal Station in Macon, so I was thrilled to see it decked to the nines. Here is a small (well, maybe not that small) sample of what we got.

Tech Notes:

The color images from the church and the detail shots from the reception were photographed on Fuji 400H using my Mamiya 645 AF with 80mm f2.8 lens. The color images from the reception were photographed on Fuji 800Z using my Canon A2 with 24-105mm f4 L lens. The black and white images are on Fuji Neopan 1600 (pushed to 3200) using my Contax G1 with 45mm f2 lens. Everything was processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. Photoshop was used for cropping, adding the white border and minor touch up work.

Digital Analog

2010-05-25T20:36:00.003-04:00

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by Scott Sheppard for his Inside Analog Photo podcast a few weeks ago. IAP is an audio and video podcast dedicated to the many sides of film photography. Shows have included interviews with wedding, commercial and fine art photographers as well as industry representatives. Topics have included the 20x24 Polaroid camera, creating negatives from Fuji instant film and building cameras from skulls. It has been a huge help in my transition, so I consider it a true honor to be included.

I've been eagerly waiting for it to be posted so I can share it with all of you. Click here to take a listen and let me know what you think. I'm not brave enough to listen...yet.

Negative=WIN!

2010-05-25T16:57:00.001-04:00

Fuji instant film is amazing. Not only do you get a beautiful print, but you also get an amazing negative. The 3000B film has a negative that remains visible and can be easily scanned. Here are a few scans of the negatives from the prints I posted yesterday. There was a little damage from pulling off the extra paper that I feel adds to the image.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-3000B shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens. The negs were dried before removing the extra paper. They were scanned on a flatbed scanner and Photoshop was used to invert and add contrast.

Capital Weekend

2010-05-24T10:21:00.000-04:00

I had the true pleasure of photographing Amanda and Jesse's wedding this past weekend in Tallahassee. It was simply beautiful. The film is off to Richard's this afternoon, but here is a little instant gratification.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-3000B shot with my Mamiya Universal and 100mm f3.5 lens.

Southern Nights

2010-05-21T07:39:00.000-04:00

I love the glow of neon at night. It is even cooler in black and white.

Tech Notes:

Fuji Neopan 1600 pushed to 3200. Shot with my Olympus Stylus Epic point and shoot camera. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Low Country Love-Ted Turner Version

2010-05-20T09:13:00.000-04:00

Now for the color version of the engagement session I did on the coast a couple of weeks ago. It was great fun to be on the water and even get to make use of a well placed sailboat.

And, in case you were wondering, I love film. I shot these images from about 11:30am to 1pm! While I normally avoid mid day sun like the plague, film allowed me to get awesome images even with very harsh lighting. Why did I ever switch?

Tech Notes:

Kodak Ektar 100 120 film shot with my Mamiya 645 AF and 80mm f2.8 lens. I got the film for free from Kodak while at Imaging USA. I'm really impressed! Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Wright On

2010-05-19T11:14:00.000-04:00

Here are a few favs from a recent "engagement" session in Dahlonega. They have actually been married for about a year, but had never used the session included in their wedding package. So glad they decided to use it.

Tech Notes:

The color images are Fuji 400H 220 film shot with my Mamiya 645 AF with an 80mm f2.8 lens. The black and white image is Fuji Neopan 1600 35mm shot with my Canon A2E and 24-105 f4 L lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. Photoshop was only used for cropping, straightening and adding the white border.

Two Worlds Unite

2010-05-17T10:05:00.000-04:00

Saturday's wedding was amazing. Megan and Sid were awesome! The reception was incredible. It was also a little crazy.

As part of my transition to film, I've been shooting some film at each wedding to build my portfolio, work out bugs in my technique, and decide on the best equipment for each situation. This past weekend, I shot quite a bit of film along with my normal digital coverage. It was so much fun, but also a lot of work. I even had a special assistant to wrangle film and gear.

I shot eleven rolls, but the "polaroid" went a little neglected. Here are the two I shot.

Tech Notes:

Fuji FP-3000B shot with a Mamiya Universal with 100mm f3.5 lens. I forgot to pull them until the next morning. Gotta remember to do that sooner.

Double Ikon

2010-05-14T12:45:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of double exposures from my Zeiss Ikon Nettar 6x9 camera. The cocking of the shutter and advancing of the film require separate movements so it is easy to accidentally create a double exposure. The first was a mistake and the second was intentional.

Tech Notes:

Fuji Neopan 400 ISO 120 film shot with a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 6x9 camera. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Davis Deaton Day

2010-05-13T10:36:00.002-04:00

Here are a few favorites from a recent wedding. The weather was perfect and Allison and Trey were so much fun.

I'm so pleased with the results that I can't wait for the wedding this weekend. I'm planning on shooting enough film to create a complete sample album. Shooting both digital and film is work!

Tech Notes:

The color images are Fuji 400H with my Mamiya 645AF with 80mm f2.8 lens. The black and white images are Fuji Neopan 1600 with my Contax G1 with 45mm f2 lens. All were shot with available light. The film was processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. Photoshop (actually Adobe Camera RAW-it works on jpegs as well) was used to crop and straighten the images as well as add the white border.

Olympus Decay

2010-05-12T12:50:00.000-04:00

Confession time.

I am terrible about stopping to take pictures when I am traveling. I am consumed with arriving. As much as I believe it is about the journey, I'm all about the destination when I'm driving. Here are some examples of what happens when I overcome by need to be there.

These images were taken of the old Lee Maddox Grocery in Jackson, Georgia. Truth is that I've passed it dozens of times and never stopped. I did this dreary day.

Tech Notes:

Fuji Neopan 1600 35mm film shot with an Olympus Stylus Epic. It is a fully automatic point and shoot camera with a 35mm f2.8 lens. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. No Photoshop except for the white border.

Cake Love

2010-05-11T12:49:00.000-04:00

This year I'm switching my wedding business to film. Next year I plan to do the same for my portrait work. I haven't really started working on the portrait side, but, recently, I needed to finish off a roll I started a few days earlier, so I took part of a first birthday session on film. He really loved that cake.

These images were shot on the new Kodak Ektar 100 rather than my normal Fuji 400H film. The skin tones are beautiful! I'm really impressed.

Tech Notes:

Mamiya 645AF with 80mm f2.8 lens on Kodak Ektar 100 ISO 120 film (Got it free at Imaging USA). Shot in studio with 3 Alien Bees strobes. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. No Photoshop except to add the white border.

Glass But Not For Drinking

2010-05-10T09:44:00.000-04:00

I spent about half an hour in one of my favorite stores in the world this weekend. It was an amazing 30 minutes. The Paris Market in Savannah is filled with a combination of new French inspired home decor and antique items from around the world. Each time I have visited, the inventory has changed. Each time I have found something that I would need to sell my Rover to purchase. Each time I have found a few items that fit into my meager budget. This trip was no exception. There was a 15 drawer chest that would be perfect for storing prints and negatives. I wasn't the only one who thought so. It was filled with old prints and had boxes of old glass plate negatives and slides on top. In fact, an entire corner of the basement was filled with old photographic items. There were large format field cameras, old Speed Graphics, stereo viewers, and projectors in addition to the prints and negatives. I found one negative that I had to have. I need to go back!

Tech Notes:

Glass plate negative, 4x5 inches. I guessing it was taken in the 1930s-1960s based on the gentleman's attire. Since I don't yet have a negative scanner, I used a normal flatbed scanner with an old viewing light box on top of the negative. I inverted in Photoshop, converted to black and white, and brightened it slightly.

Low Country Love

2010-05-09T18:31:00.001-04:00

Here is a sneak peak of today's engagement session from the low country. Ryan (the bride) and Keith (the groom) decided to use the wedding location for the engagement session as well. The weather was amazing. The marsh was beautiful. The couple was great fun.

Tech Notes:
Mamiaya Universal with 100mm f3.5 lens. Fuji FP-3000B instant film.

As an added note, I dropped my camera during the session and apparently fogged the film. I kinda like the results.

Some Call Them Mistakes

2010-05-05T10:18:00.000-04:00

I call them learning opportunities. I had a couple this morning.

First, remember to pull the dark slide on your back.

Second, you can't do the lifted edge trick on the 3000B film (it processing in only 15 seconds).

Tech Notes:

Mamiya Universal with 100mm f3.5 lens. Fuji FP-3000B instant film.

Instax In The Rain

2010-05-04T09:14:00.000-04:00

I shot a couple of images with my Fuji Instax 210 camera (think Polaroid on steroids). It is an integral film camera. There is no peeling apart of the film. There is no timing. There is no sticky goop. Everything is contained in the film itself. It has a fixed focal length lens with a relatively small maximum aperture. You have to learn to work with the limitations it presents.

I normally use it for the Instant Guest Book, but I've been thinking of other ways to put it to use. The first is from my favorite Mexican restaurant, El Carnival. The second is from my trip back to the office in the rain.

Tech Notes:
Fuji Instax 210 camera with Fuji Instax film (800 ISO). The first image is a little blurry because the camera won't focus closer than 3 feet.

30 Photos That Changed The World

2010-05-03T10:23:00.000-04:00

There is an awesome post at the Photography Schools Online blog that discusses images that have become part of the vernacular. The images range from large format landscapes to digital snapshots from Iraq. While not all the images are analog, most are.

My personal favorite is the Robert Capa photo from Omaha Beach during D-day. It has what seems to be a blur caused by panning the camera during exposure. It adds to the sense of movement and urgency. The funny part is that Capa did not pan the camera. The blur came from a lab tech drying the film too quickly. The heat caused the emulsion to smear slightly. Analog leads to happy accidents.

It is a wonderful, informative and educational read. If you are a photographer, or hope to one day be a photographer, study these images. If you one day create an image with half the impact of these, you have moved a mountain. Check it out here.

Coffee Break

2010-04-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-23T07:35:00.000-04:00

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?

2010-04-21T11:42:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-15T12:09:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-14T14:32:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-12T09:52:00.000-04:00

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

2010-04-09T16:19:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-05T14:15:00.000-04:00

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.

Riggs Gets A Haircut

2010-04-01T10:52:00.000-04:00

About a month ago, I got to photograph Riggs' first haircut. I thought the old-fashioned barber shop was the perfect place to experiment with film. I am really pleased with the results. So pleased in fact that I decided to post every frame on my Facebook page. Friend me and see them all (look for Booth film). Here is a selection for you now.

Tech Notes: Fuji Neopan 1600 film shot at 1600 with a Nikon FE with 50mm f1.8. Shot with available light. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. I added a white border, but they are untouched otherwise.

Cherry Blossom Bridal

2010-03-29T21:22:00.000-04:00

Here are two scans of the Fuji instant film I shot today during a bridal session at Coleman Hill. Cherry blossoms in black and white are oddly beautiful. More to come when the film comes back.

Tech Notes:

Fuji instant FP-3000B film shot with a Polaroid 600SE and 150mm lens.

Tease From This Weekend

2010-03-29T11:39:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple of quick and dirty scans from the Fuji Instant images I created Saturday at Pineola Farms. The first is way overexposed, but I like it. Thanks Jenna and Drew.

Tech Notes: Fuji 100C color instant film shot with a Polaroid 600SE with 150mm lens. AND, as further evidence of the super cool nature of Fuji instant film, I left these for about 6 hours before pulling them.

London LomoMatrix

2010-03-25T07:26:00.000-04:00

Remeber the Matrix? It was an amazing movie that used ground-breaking technology to change how time, space and motion were depicted on the big screen. Dozens of digital still cameras were used to create the signature bullet time effect. It is a relatively simple concept, but wildly expensive to achieve. It has been used many times since in other Hollywood movies.

So, want to do it yourself on a budget? Just get 2 dozen friends with their crappy film cameras. Look below for the results. Truly amazing what you can do if you use your imagination.

Preview From This Weekend

2010-03-21T22:27:00.000-04:00

Saturday I headed to Clinton, South Carolina for Amanda and Jesse's engagement session. They live in Athens...the wedding will be in Tallahassee....but, they met at Presbyterian College. So, I thought PC would be the perfect spot. It was. Here are some of the "polaroids" from Saturday afternoon.

Geek Note: Polaroid 600SE camera with 150mm f5.6 lens. Fuji 100C instant film. It was dark, so some of the exposures were 1/15 sec. I needed a tripod. Also, a very cool aspect of Fuji instant film is that it is self terminating. You don't have to pull it after a specific time. It stops developing when it is finished. The first image wasn't pulled for over an hour.

A Little Update

2010-03-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

Spring marks the start of the wedding season. There will be a lot more updates in the coming weeks. I have some amazing weddings and engagement sessions coming up that I'll be using to expand my film portfolio. Stay tuned!

On another note, I added another piece to my film camera collection. I got a great deal on a Canon A2e on Ebay. I had two of these many years ago. I loved them, and I'm so happy to have one again.

As part of buying any piece of film equipment, I shot a test roll of film. The camera is in perfect working order, but the images I shot were unremarkable. Here is one that wasn't too awful.

Tech Notes: Canon A2e with Canon 50mm f1.4 lens. Kodak 400VC film (a free roll from the Kodak booth at Imaging USA). Film rated at 200. Processed and proofed at Coke's Camera, Macon, GA. 4x6 proof scanned by me.

Film is Alive

2010-03-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

Southern Weddings Magazine has an article interviewing several wedding photographers who use film. It is wonderful that Southern Weddings recognizes the value of film and provided a forum for these luminaries to discuss why they prefer film. Take a look at the article (via A Bryan Photo). To add my two cents...I feel an image captured on film more closely matches what the human eye sees. When you see the print, it matches your memory.

It Is Official

2010-03-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

This week I booked my first film wedding of the modern era (I photographed weddings for about 5 years on film before switching to digital) and place my first ad for film weddings. I'm so excited to see what comes of my crazy idea. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and concern.

Engaged by Richard

2010-03-02T07:24:00.003-05:00

As part of my ongoing testing, I sent some recent rolls to Richard Photo Lab. They are considered by many to be the best film lab in the country. I'm very pleased with the results. I guess you get what you pay for.

These images are from a recent engagement session. All were shot with my Mamiya 645 AF on Fuji 400H film. All images are the original, uncropped scans.

Where It All Began

2010-02-19T21:06:00.001-05:00

My love of photography began with a camera given to me by my aunt as a graduation gift. It was her old camera, but it was the world to me. It was a simple 35mm camera made by Sears. Well, I think it was actually made by Ricoh, but it was sold by Sears with the Sears name on it. It used the K mount lens mount. I had a couple of lenses for it and used it for a year or so before starting my love afair with Canon. It was the beginning.

Thanks to ebay, I found one tonight. We'll see if I win. It would be nice to have it again.

The Lasting Nature of Film

2010-02-17T21:14:00.000-05:00

Film reigned for more than 150 years. During that time, many iconic images were created with it. Now, you can own a very nice (and not inexpensive) print of some of those images.

Conde´ Nast, publishers of Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ among others, have an online store where they offer high quality prints of images that have appeared in their magazines. These are not the images you typically find in magazines. These are works of art by some of the luminaries of the photographic world captured on film. These images capture writers, actors, athletes and musicians that have shaped our culture.

These images are amazing. They are perfect. They are a source of inspiration.

Take a moment to find a favorite. Mine is the portrait of Alfred Hitchcock.

10 Rules To Live By

2010-02-07T18:57:00.005-05:00

Lomography is a wonderful concept devoted to analog photography. They provide great info and inspiration. Best of all they sell unique photographic equipment and specialty films to aid in the pursuit of the happy accident. Not mired by the need for perfection, Lomography celebrates the unexpected and unusual.

They have created 10 rules to help anyone understand the aim of Lomography. These rules actually apply regardless of your equipment.

Take your camera everywhere you go

Use it any time – day and night

Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it

Try the shot from the hip

Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as close as possible

Don’t think (william firebrace)

Be fast

You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film

Afterwards either

Don’t worry about any rules

Now I have to figure out how to incorporate this in my professional work.

A Podcast For Like Minded Crazy People

2010-01-27T15:08:00.004-05:00

Host, Scott Sheppard, produces a weekly podcast, Inside Analog Photo, in which he interviews analog (film) photographers and manufacturers. He has interviewed everyone from a rep for Mamiya to Kodak film engineers to Jose Villa. The interviews usually last 30-60 minutes and Sheppard asks questions ranging from "how did you get into photography?" to "what gear are you using?" It is part inspiration and part instruction. I have learned so much. It is absolutely the best place for information on analog photography.

I am so glad I have found so many like minded photographers and have even had the pleasure of speaking with a few. I am constantly amazed by the giving nature of some photographers.

Bridal Show Season

2010-01-20T14:24:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share the images that make up the backdrop of my current bridal show booth. Each image is a 30x40 poster in the booth. I unveiled them at the Macon's Wedding Ring Bridal Show and they will again be on display this Saturday at the Gallery 51 Grand Opening. Drop by to see them in person.

Film Camera or Defender of the Universe

2010-01-15T07:45:00.000-05:00

Is it a mid 80s 110 camera or a robot? It's both! Even better (according to the comments), there were several different models. I'll be on the search for one of my own. Thanks to Gizmodo for finding it.

The Way Back Machine Strikes Again

2010-01-14T11:12:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple more images from my original portfolio. I don't remember the cameras or films I used, but I do love these images. The first is my godson about 7 years ago. The second is a beach near my grandmother's house in Florida.

Wild(s) Bridal

2010-01-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing a former bride in her dress once again. Many call them trash the dress sessions, but I just think of them as bridals without worrying about the dress. Ashli chose her grandfather's farm in Gordon for her session. It was perfect! It had open fields, old fences and even a very old car. And for those who ask, this is why I like shooting film. Here are a few of my favorites.

Photographer's Note: The color images are from the Mamiya 645 AF with the 80mm lens on Fuji 400H film. The first B&W image is from my Zeiss Ikon Nettar 6x9 camera (made about 1950) on Kodak Tmax 400. The Second B&W is from my Nikon FM with 50mm f1.8 lens on Ilford SFX 200. The Ilford film is near infrared. I used a R72 filter to enhance the effect. The scans were done on a Epson V500 I borrowed from a friend.

Specialize

2010-01-05T22:47:00.000-05:00

You might know Jeff Bridges from The Big Lebowski, but I bet you didn't know he was an avid photographer. That wouldn't make him special, though. Photography is one of the most popular hobbies in America. What makes Jeff Bridges special is his devotion to a single camera. If it were a Leica or a Hasselblad, he wouldn't be special. Jeff Bridges camera of choice?

The Widelux

Widelux made several versions of their swing-lens panoramic cameras, but Brides uses a 35mm version to capture behind-the-scenes images from movie sets. He as even released a book of the images. His website includes information about his film career as well as his love of the Widelux. There are examples of his work as well as information about using the Widelux. It is very interesting to see someone so committed to such a special area of photography.

A Little "Instant" Gratification

2009-12-29T15:22:00.003-05:00

I thought I'd share a few instant images on Fuji instant pack film from my Polaroid 600 SE. These are from a bridal/trash the dress session from last week. I photographed Ashli's wedding a few years ago and she was kind enough to be a guinea pig for my film exploration. We drove to Gordon to her grandfather's farm and it was totally worth it. The rest of the film is in California, but I'll post it as soon as it is back. If these are any indication, the film should rock!

And, just in case no one has come up with this, here is a great way to recycle your Fuji pack film cassettes. I use them as a frame to display my favorite image from the set. It is, of course, the perfect size!

Analog Isn't Dead

2009-12-18T09:43:00.000-05:00

When you start down the path to crazy, you find there are many others on the path with you. There is a large community of film nuts all trying to save their beloved medium of choice. Some are even finding new ways to create images using analog technology.

One such person is Aaron Muderick. He has created a technique to create negatives from instant Fuji film. You might wonder why this is important. Simply, you can create a 3x4 inch negative without a darkroom using only normal household items. Here is a link to the Inside Analog Photo podcast where he details the process. You can also see examples here and here.

I'll post some examples once I give it a try.

I Mean Old School

2009-12-11T07:38:00.002-05:00

I found this post this morning on the blog of A Bryan Photography. It is an 8mm movie shot at a recent wedding. That would have been cool enough, but it shows the photographer shooting the groomsmen with what appears to be a Speed Graphic! (Look at about the 2:30 mark on the video.) That is commitment to the analog medium.

Our Wedding from Caleb Chancey on Vimeo.

Brilliant Inspiration

2009-12-09T07:24:00.000-05:00

I found this throught Tim Gruber's wonderful blog. Unfortunately, the link to the original post doesn't work, but I found another copy of it on Frank Chimero's blog. (Frank includes really cleaver illustrations along with the text.)

It is a list of 10 principles that can either make your work better or worse. I'm not sure how they could make it worse. These principles are powerful and I found them very appropriate to my return to film. Here are a couple of my favorites, but follow the links to read them all. Then do them all.

8. Being too comfortable is dangerous. Most creatures die in their sleep. Keep moving, or get eaten. The only things you should be absolutely comfortable with in your creative process are your tools.

9. There is nothing keeping you from doing the sort of work that you wish.What do you want? It’s a hard, yet crucial question. We all do creative work to get happy. It’s why we let it beat us up, and it’s why we keep crawling back to it. Figure out precisely what you want, and realize that if no one will pay you to make it, you can still make it for yourself. And you still win, because you’re happy.

Straight From The Wayback Machine

2009-12-03T16:48:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of images from my original portfolio that I'm not embarassed to show. I actually think they held up pretty well.

The first is an iris I photographed on 35mm film with my Canon Elan II. I lit it with a work light from Lowes. I was so pleased because it looked like I envisioned it. It still hangs in my living room at home.

This is a portrait of a friend of a friend. It was taken with my Elan II at Rose Hill Cemetery. I normally tell people to avoid dappled shade, but I think it works here.

Fashion Bridal

2009-11-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

I was lucky to get Jessica to agree to do a bridal session on film. Knowing that she is a working model, I had my work cut out for me. I sent her to my stylist (Kasey at Chadwick Hudson Salon in Macon) for a super crazy hair style and we spent an hour creating images that are unlike anything I've ever done.

These images were captured on Fuji 400H with a Mamiya 645 AF with an 80 f2.8 lens. I tried a new lab. The scans were not to my liking, so these images have been post processed and cropped.

Dear Santa...

2009-11-17T12:35:00.001-05:00

I would like one of these. It is a film camera. It is a Leica. And it is Orange! It is almost $15,000, and there are only 100 available worldwide. Oh well.

Another Image

2009-11-12T10:09:00.000-05:00

Here is an image from a recent "engagement" session at Washington Park. They are actually already married.

Mamiya 645 AF with 80mm 2.8 lens on Kodak 400NC.

Film On The Move

2009-11-11T08:06:00.000-05:00

The love of film can take many forms. I choose to use the still image. Joel Serrato uses moving images. He using Super 8 film to capture the moments that make his clients' days unique. His films are amazing. They simplify. They focus. They capture. Take a look here to see what I mean.

Simple Pleasures-Film Edition

2009-11-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

Simple Pleasures is a concept I've worked on for years. Most of them are food related, but I thought I'd do one devoted to film and film cameras. Please feel free to add yours in the comments.

1. The click of a Hasselblad shutter. (Unfortunately, I don't have one any more.)

2. The smell of film chemistry. (It might cause cancer, but it is one of my favorite parts of going to Coke's Camera.)

3. The look of an image in a huge viewfinder. (This is strictly a medium format thing.)

4. The feeling of elation when the film comes back from the lab.

5. Polaroid! (Ok, now it is Fuji, but it is still such a creative medium.)