My first film shots - 24 B&W unedited

keith204 · Aug 13, 2008

craig said:
Why did you choose B&W for these?

Love & Bass

This was my first roll of film to shoot, and shooting in B&W just felt like I was really going back to the good ol' days. Also, I wanted something that would teach me to look for good natural lighting and contrast.

Alpha said:
The exposure is ****ing SPOT ON in these. Nice work.

Alright! Thanks!

snowalker said:
Specially the last one...
By the way you have more wifes or what?
"My wife again . One of my favorites."
Just kidding )

What's wrong with polygamy?

Here's a question for you guys...I want to get a few of these bigger. In particular, #6, #11, and #17 in a size that's good on a wall. I like the 16x20 size, but hate that I'm forced to crop. What are some other sizes that I should go for? Putting these in living areas & kitchen.

Then, how on earth do I get these developed/enlarged!? That seems weird to ask, but the scans aren't going to do the trick. I have the negatives...now what?

Alpha · Aug 14, 2008

35mm will size up closer to 11x14. You could always print as big as possible on 16x20 and then crop with a matte when you frame.

You'll want to have these printed with a traditional enlarger, rather than scanned and then printed digitally.

Call Lawrence Photo in Springfield. http://www.lawrencephotovideo.com. If they can't do it, ask them to recommend another lab that can.

keith204 · Aug 14, 2008

Alpha said:
35mm will size up closer to 11x14. You could always print as big as possible on 16x20 and then crop with a matte when you frame.

You'll want to have these printed with a traditional enlarger, rather than scanned and then printed digitally.

Call Lawrence Photo in Springfield. http://www.lawrencephotovideo.com. If they can't do it, ask them to recommend another lab that can.

Great info! I just assumed that the proportions were 3:2. This is good to hear!

Yeah Lawrence is a good idea...they're the only developer in Springfield that I know of. Honestly, I absolutely loathe going into Lawrence looking for any type of gear. It seems like for every question I have, they go look in the instruction manual (as if I couldn't do that). IMO they don't seem to have photographers working there, but rather old salesmen. I'd love to be proven wrong sometime, but after about 20 times of going there in the past year, I have yet to leave satisfied with anywhere decent answers. Anyway, enough complaining from me. They make great prints, so I'll go there...just wish some place in Bolivar could do it!

Speaking of photo salespeople, I have to compliment Best Buy for hiring knowledgeable staff lately. The past few salespeople I've talked with there have really known their stuff. Tonight I had a 30-minute talk/debate/etc with the guy, and I learned a few things. Very impressed..it was a lot of fun.

icassell · Aug 14, 2008

Great start! I particularly like #12 -- your aunt seems like a character!

keith204 · Aug 15, 2008

icassell said:
Great start! I particularly like #12 -- your aunt seems like a character!

She is. Blonde. A few years ago, my dad rented her a car. On her way out of the rental place, she didn't check out and somehow drove the front two tires over the spikes without popping them. The clerk put the spikes down so she could back up and checkout, but she thought they were letting her out. Real silly deal...but, since she didn't checkout and finish her paperwork, the car was reported as a stolen car and there were obvious complications.

fabric · Aug 15, 2008

a great roll.
the magic of one or two rolls of film, exposed leisurely over a period of time
is this 'time capsule' characteristic. it's a thrill when time passes a little and
you can't quite remember what you photographed along the way.

these are interesting. a real mix. i love the varied quality and exposures.
i like your approach to making pictures.

terri · Aug 15, 2008

Man, I'm jealous - this many keepers from one roll - and your first roll, at that? Don't let it go to your head, grasshopper. Frustration lies ahead, called learning curve! :lol:

Seriously, I think you're doing everything right so far - trying different lenses, but sticking mainly with your 50mm. :thumbup: You can expand as you go, but it's the best way to learn.

I think your people shots are your strongest! #s 7, 12, 14, 18 and 19 in particular (okay, technically 19 isn't a people shot but you still captured a great expression).

I agree with you about #17, great image.

Your exposures are spot on, and these are just scanned negatives - anyone good in a darkroom will be able to give you fabulous prints from these. Whoever said up there about the people shots only having more personal value as time goes on is correct. Always store your negatives in archival sleeves and keep them in a dust-free environment; you never know what you might want printed up 10 or 20 years down the road.

I think this roll is proof that you and B&W film are in the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

keith204 · Aug 15, 2008

WOW thanks for all the compliments! I can't explain how much FUN I had shooting B&W film. It always kept me on my toes, and waiting in anticipation. Fabric-the 'time capsule' characteristic is exactly what I felt. That adds a whole element to photography.

Terri, your thought on people pictures is great. I disliked them at first, but find them more and more intriguing every time I look back at them. The black and white adds some type of expression that color doesn't. It seems like color is distracting, where B&W forces the user to interpret the emotions. Sounds weird, but it's gotta be something like that. You're right about me & B&W film. For some reason, I absolutely love it. Sure, you can take a color digital and make it B&W, but it takes out the elements of fun and doesn't hold as much value (to me at least). After I ran out of this roll of B&W, I put in a color roll. Then, after receiving the B&W developments seen above, I ripped out the color film and put in another roll of B&W!

Next step - I'd like to find some film that has a nice grain to it. These don't have the classic grain that some intense B&W photos have. Is there anything like 1600 ISO or even 3200 ISO that has a nice fine grain? I've seen a few people talk about 3200 Tri-X a few times. My only problem with this roll was that I had 400 ISO which sometimes limited me. What kind of film would you recommend?

RyanLilly · Aug 16, 2008

So Kieth, how man shots before you stopped trying to look at the LCD on the back?

KD5NRH · Aug 16, 2008

Ryan; I hate that - either trying to check the histogram on a film camera, or forgetting that I can check on a digital drives me up the wall. Half the time the "review" time expires before I remember that I can see if I blew the focus or exposure on digital. The other half I'm partway to changing the ISO setting mid-roll before I remember that that doesn't work with film

manaheim · Aug 16, 2008

Am I the only one wondering why the Back to the Future DeLorean is parked outside some random building somewhere???

Anyway... nice set of shots. I particularly liked the waffle house one and both of the ones of your wife. Very nice. I understand you had some technical issues, but the mood of the one of her in the restaurant was very pleasant regardless.

Gotta get back in time... do da doo da doooo... :band:

keith204 · Aug 16, 2008

RyanLilly said:
So Keith, how man shots before you stopped trying to look at the LCD on the back?

I'm still looking...drives me nuts.

manaheim said:
Am I the only one wondering why the Back to the Future DeLorean is parked outside some random building somewhere???

Anyway... nice set of shots. I particularly liked the waffle house one and both of the ones of your wife. Very nice. I understand you had some technical issues, but the mood of the one of her in the restaurant was very pleasant regardless.
Gotta get back in time... do da doo da doooo...

Yeah it is pretty weird, that car being there...

keith204 · Aug 16, 2008

so, what's some good film to use that's quite a bit faster than 400?

Alpha · Aug 16, 2008

You can push Tri-X up to 3200. There's also Kodak TMZ, which I'd rate at about EI 1000 but you could shoot faster. Same for Ilford Delta 3200. Fuji Neopan 1600 is beautiful stuff, too.