#filmjune Catch-up Part 2

Here posted responses to questions 6-10: @ILFORDPhoto
@AnalogueWLand @Jaysargo
6. Software and Scanners: Epson V700 scanner and Photoshop CS4.  Why change what works?

7. What do you do with your film waste?  I keep the 35mm canisters and 120 film reels because they come in handy.  Sorry, I throw out the 120 paper covers.  Don't know what I would do with it.

8. Do you prefer Ilford Plus Range or Delta Range Films?  I use Delta 400.

9. My Favorite of all time was Kodak E100GX:

10.  Equipment Quality and Quantity are not mutually exclusive........

A Rainbow for the New Zimbabwe

Best Wishes and Hope for a brighter future:

From our 1998 Trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

More than a 'Make My Day' Moment!

Oh Yeah, Kodak you have made my YEAR! Even though I have to wait until late Fall 2017, my favorite film makes a comeback in 35 mm format:

Lately I've been 90% medium format.  But I have Minolta X-700 and XD-11 cameras that need some love.  So I'll be using them more once this film rolls out......

And now a Kodak E100GX Blast from the Past Favorite from our trip to Patagonia:

52 Rolls Week 38:52

Film Test and chasing Fall across Colorado.  We find ourselves at Boreas Pass, a place we've been before.

First we revisit the Baker Water Tank taken in 2011 with my last 120 roll of Kodak 100GX:

Next an image from this year taken with Fuji Velvia 50:

And a comparison to Fujicolor Pro 400H:

Yu can see why I preferred Kodak E100GX to Velvia 50....It has better true color rendering.  The Velvia 50 image would need more manipulation.


See the Current Film Test Results Here.

Saturdays Online: The Photochrom Age

Hand Colored Images from the 1800's.  How many of us have (or have seen) old photos that were 'hand colored'?

These are great.........And a reasonably easy to understand explanation of what a PHOTOCHROM is. They were willing to do a lot of work to get color.  Why Are we so Lazy Now?

Didn't have any Photochromes lying around the house.  So I'll just have to leave you with another 'lost' film type:

Saturdays Online: What Will Future Cinema Look Like?

And you ask what this has to do with still film photography?

Above, another 'Lost Forever Film' Kodak E100GX

Because left over motion picture film stock was repackaged and sold as 35mm film.  Processing of this film type produced both a positive and a negative.  For some of my old images using this film CLICK HERE.  For better or worse, All of my early slide photography was done suing this film.

Hollywood is going digital and Kodak remains the only manufacturer of motion picture film.  Some prominent Film Makers are negotiating a deal to keep motion picture film alive.

Why does all of this matter?

1. Because small "mom & pop" local film festivals are being forces to spend up to $100K on new digital projection equipment.  This is putting some Festival out of business.
2. As  fan of silent movies, I am aware of just what can be preserved (even fortuitously) by film, and later recaptured and restored.  90% of all Silent Movies ever made were lost because of the volatile nitrate films that were used.  Digital preservation is just as "volatile".
3. In a perverse twist Hollywood wants to record in digital and copy it to film for archival preservation.  But if there is no motion picture film, what then? 

 Just some food for thought.

Q:  Can you identify building in this photo?
 

Calendar 2013: Grand Canyon, North Rim

A few shots from the North Rim Of the Grand Canyon:

Grand Canyon #1

Grand Canyon #2

Grand Canyon #3

In recent years the haze has increased from coal-fired power plants in the areas.  If you have suggestions for dealing with teh Hazr let me know.

We'll be taking a few days off from the Calendar Postings to Celebrate Halloween........

Calendar 2013: Some Views from Zion Canyon

Zion #1

Zion #2

Zion #3

We're still sorting, so there will be more from Zion Later...................

Calendar 2013: Winter Scene Options

My Only Red Rocks winter Options (thus far) are below.  Three from Eldorado Canyon State Park and one of the Flatirons from Table Mesa.  I say thus far, because we are having our first significant snow fall tonight.  If I see a good opportunity I'll go out Thursday morning with the Mamiya 6 and see what I find.

 Eldorado Canyon #1

 Eldorado Canyon #2

 Eldorado Canyon #3

Flatirons 1: From Table Mesa

I'm leaning towards the last two, but thought I would give you all of the options.  All taken with the Mamiya 6X6 while it was snowing.

Calendar 2013: More Local Options

Local options from Red Rocks Park  & Amphitheatre:

Red Rocks #1

Red Rocks #2

Red Rocks #3

Calendar 2013: Take a Look at Bryce Canyon

As you can tell, we've spent a lot of time out on the Colorado Plateau/Canyons region.  NOTE:  I haven't really tried enhancing any of these.  They are straight out of the camera.

 Bryce #1

 Bryce #2

 Bryce #3

 Bryce #4

Bryce #5

Calendar 2013: More From Arches

More from Arches (and still a few more to sort through).  But tomorrow we will take a trip to Bryce Canyon.  See all of our Past Calendars HERE.

 Arches #5

Arches #6

 Arches #7

Arches #8

Help Select Our 2013 Calendar

It's been a couple of years since I've last created a gift calendar for family and friends.  So it's time to get back on track.  This Year's Theme is Red Rocks of the West.  And for your assistance, the person that sends the most comments will get a calendar (where ever you are in the world, I'll get it to you!).

We'll start with some views from Arches National Park:

Arches #1

 Arches #2

 Arches #3

Arches #4

More from Arches tomorrow.............Link to our 2010 Calendar.

More on Loss of Detail............

Bill brought up an interesting point yesterday, so I pulled up another example:

 Fuji Provia 100F Above, E100VS Below.  All I can say is that obviously the emphasis on vivid saturation of the color has a strong affect on detail, especially in the red/orange/pink range of shades.  E100GX did not have that problem (e.g. yesterday's posting).

The Final Test!

So why am I going through all of this?  Because when I travel to places like Patagonia, I'll probably want to shoot color slide film.  When my favorite E100GX (which I used in Patagonia) was discontinued, my search began.

The Final Test is provided by my Deep Orange Oriental Poppies:

First Provia 100F:  Lookin' Good!

Next, Kodak E100VS: A bit over saturated, but that's what VS does!

And a Flash from the past,  2009 Kodak E100GX:  Still the Best!

Vintage Camera News: Old Cameras Return and New Films are Tested

First, we can't start without a Photo:

Me and the kids on a recent visit to Independence Pass.

Lot's of film testing going on.  I'm still searching for that color transparency film to replace Kodak E100GX.  Since that's long gone, we are testing against E100VS (which was recently also discontinued, but still available).

We've tested E100Vs vs Fuji Velvia 50 and found that it was OK for 120 film, but I don't want to be restricted to carrying a tripod when I shoot 35 mm.  So the Testing continues for a faster 35mm alternative.

I've completed another 120 transparency film test, this time a retro film that is available again:  Agfa CR 200 Digibase, that is now produced by Rollei.  The film is currently being developed, results sometime next week.

Still in the camera is our test of Fuji Provia 100F for 35 mm;  coming up soon Fuji Provia 400.

On another Note, the Canonet is back and currently we are using it to test Rollei Crossbird C-41 cross processing film..  Have any of you tried this?

Also on the developing deck, experiments with Infrared B&W film.  I'm keeping it cool while I mix (and age a bit) some D76 developer.

Any suggestions for films to test are appreciated.  Now let me stop procrastinating and go mix that D76.

Velvia 50 vs. E100 VS: The Results

This test highlights April flowers...........so let's jump in!

Conditions:  Mamiya 645 with changeable backs.  Each film has it's own back with proper ISO setting: each image taken from the same position, same lighting conditions, by changing the back while the camera was on the tripod.  Photos are not retouched; so have been cropped.

Lens: Mamiya Sekor f/4 80mm with Macro. 

WHY?  I never was satisfied with Velvia 100 and I am still looking for a replacement for E100GX; Everyone told me I'd love Velvia 50:

RED:

Velvia 50

E100VS

I'd say these are pretty close, with the Velvia a bit more orange; E100VS known for sometimes unreal reds seems OK...... So it's a tie here!  I'd be happy with either color.

To See E100GX Reds CLICK HERE:

Spring Has Sprung!

Last night was the Vernal Equinox.  Happy First Day Of Spring!

Happy New Year!

And for the New Year we inaugurate another series:  Sundays Overseas, where I share my foreign travels with you.  This is another attempt to force me to dig into those files for: More from Britain, South Africa, Norway, Panama, Mexico, etc..........

We begin with an old favorite, Cerro Torre from Argentine Patagonia.

Tech Data:
Minolta X-700
Kodak E100GX Film
Tamron f/2.7 28-200 Zoom Lens

Film Test Almost Complete

If you've been following for a while you know that I lamented the loss of my favorite color film Kodak E100GX.  A 'cousin' of this film still exists E100VS (vivid saturation).  I've used it before but had preferred the former.

Anyway, I've also recently tried Kodak's new print film Ektar 100, with mixed results.  But to be fair I decided to have a head to head test of Ektar 100 vs E100VS, using identical camera models and settings.  The in camera meters were within 1/2 stop or less.  About 10 years difference in age.

That film is now at the shop being developed.  But Note to Self, don't use 36 exp for a film test, it will take forever!  I started this in February after all!

(And Yes I do know that everyone raves about Fuji Velvia 50, but that's too slow for my 35 mm work, and Velvia 100 has real color balance problems.  If I wanted to spend all of my time in Photoshop making these corrections I wouldn't use film.)