retro wedding

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

shots from the late 1800 quaker wedding reenactment. Bear in mind there was no flash in 1800 and none on my retro cameras. Pictures appear pretty much as they would have in that time period ( I think)

http://free.000angels.com/retroshooter/groomesm.jpg

PNA · Jul 16, 2006

I like them all. They appear natural and I don’t mind the “white blowout”, it adds to the mood. I notice a lack of contrast, is that on purpose and would it ruin the overall effect you are after?

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

I shoot retro flat... I like the faded look.. the negs had contrast lots of it but the aging filters flatten them out and remove a lot of the details. Yes they are digitally altered.

PNA · Jul 16, 2006

I understand......you've achived your goal. What about a slight yellowing/browninsh tint, for that aging effect?

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

I applied a aged sepia then degraded it... The whites aren't really quite white they are more a faded white. The blacks are actually a dark brown tint.

They seem to be pretty close to a faded alubumin look. I see a lot that look this way on the net and antique road show.

Now and then I do a salt print shot but they are a little off the scale. The old original salt prints were red and white.

PNA · Jul 16, 2006

Salt??? Table salt sprinkled on the print?

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

No the first photo papers were impregnated with a I think silver salt solution I dont know the chemical name right off. They were just called salt prints and they were for the most part very primative.

PNA · Jul 16, 2006

Now I recall what sliver salt is.....thanks.

I gather you still have a darkroom set up and process your B&Ws. That's great.

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

Actually yes and no. Its a daylight darkroom.. I load stuff inside of a changing bag converted to a tiny little tabletop room by the use of cardboard boxes. Then I load into negative holders or into daylight tanks most of the tanks I built myself. Matter of fact that's todays project.

I building new four by five daylight tank from a piece of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe.

PNA · Jul 16, 2006

Show me.....

Are you develppoing large format?

terri · Jul 16, 2006

These are amazing - they really do capture the essence of period photography. :thumbup: The couple must be thrilled.

Thanks for posting these!

mysteryscribe · Jul 16, 2006

They are boyfriend and girl friend it was a real wedding. It is just a reenactment but I thought it turned out okay.

You should see the full sized tiff files they are beautiful.

And yes I am processing up to 4x5 film in home made daylight tanks then I just scan the negs since I cant work in the dark. My balance is gone along with my memory. I dangerous in low light situations. But the digital darkroom works well for me.