New Banner.......Details

A view from the top of Loveland Pass will be my New Banner for the next few month:

Taken earlier this spring, it is a panorama composite of two Mamiya 6X6 images, taken with E100VS film.  And showing some of that 200% snow pack that kept people skiing through July 4th at Arapahoe Basin (right of center, far horizon around the bend).

The Worst Day of My Life, One Year Later............

The worst day of my life, one year later..........on 7/22/2010 I was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer.  I remember the oncologist asking me how far I was willing to go; how much I could endure?  I told him that I would do anything to survive! 8 months of chemotherapy; bilateral mastectomy with 8 weeks surgical recovery; 12 weeks of intensive physical therapy;  33 daily radiation treatments; soon finishing 1 year of imunotherapy on September 8th.

One year later, I only now realize everything that I've been through; but I also rejoice in the heroic efforts to give me my life back!  And whether or not you knew, blogging gave me a much needed distraction;  something to do that didn't have anything to do with being ill; a reason to go out and photograph on the weekends that I did feel better.

Me, Andy and my new hair (that came back curly for some reason).

Now I feel such an urgency to live; tremendous forward momentum; promises of a new beginning.  I can still hug my little dog and smile ;=)

Thanks to all of you!

Billion Pixel 'Camera'

For you digital enthusiasts.  A camera to salivate over:  European Space Agency to launch billion pixel camera with Gaia Telescope.  Actually a mosaic of sensors, each about the size of a credit card:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSC/SEMQ9V6TLPG_index_0.html

Going to need a lot of storage space!

A Different Kind of Contrast

After two weeks or so of afternoon monsoon rains we head back to higher than normal summer temperatures.  A few weeks ago we reached a near record high:

But a few months ago a record low:

Now that's a definition of Contrast!

Film Test Part VII: White Balance

From the total tonal range, you tell me which is which?

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Film Test Part VI: Green

E100VS: Green

Ektar: Green

We've noticed a big difference in some of the green foliage before.  This result is a bit more of a toss-up.  By the way, this is my experiment with growing potatoes.

Film Test Part V: Low Light

You will remember that Ektar did very well in low light conditions.  And again shines here, with E100VS showing that tell-tale Ektachrome magenta snow:

Ektar 100:

 

E100VS:

Film Test Part IV: Colorado Sky

That stark blue sky has to be correct, or else!

Actually, neither of these is precisely the color above my back yard.  But which one is more pleasing?

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Film Test Part III: Orange

You Pick the Best Orange:


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Film Test Part II: Add some Fuji?

I know, not fair double teaming........But I happened to have some Fuji Superia 200 (their cheap film) in the Kodak Pocket Camera and decided why not shoot the same scene.  So here we go, results not a cut and dry as the first, but the Ektar green is still not the actual green of my lawn and foliage; neither is the Fuji.  So you know who wins by a hair.....E100VS.

First the Fuji Superia 200:

Next Kodak Ektar 100:

And the winner by a hair, E100VS:

Ektar and the Fuji film are more similar.  Both are colder films (e.g. notice the color of the pavement in the background).  Now the pavement isn't pinkish either, but the over all color balance of the E100VS is still truer to life.

Film Test Results........Part I: Not my shade of Pink!

For the rest of this week let's look at the color film test results for Kodak E100VS (transparency) vs. Kodak Ektar 100 (print).

Remeber that we've looked at Ektar before and I have to say the results have not surprised me:

First E100VS for a salmon colored Poppy in my yard:

 

and the Same Poppy taken with Ektar100:

And although you may prefer the Pinker poppy, salmon pink is actually the color of the E100VS Poppy.  The Ektar color is off.

Why does it matter if I use Photoshop?  That's fine for digital, but the whole idea of film is that it is designed to have the correct color balance.  One should not have to spend time correcting colors when using film. It defeats the purpose of film.........

Happy Birthday America!

 

From the Colorado Plains and the Greeley Stampede: