Just a preview. The rest of the photos from the SteamShipKillers release party should come tomorrow!
SteamShipKillers Tease
All posts by dwa
Reading on the MBTA
Kodak Tri-X 400, Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M. On the MBTA Red Line between Harvard and Central Sq.
Late Evening at the Public Garden
Kodak Tri-X 400, 50mm f/2 Summicron-DR. This was taken a little before sunset – lots of flare from the sun being just off the left side of the frame!
Musing on film and beautiful machines
A friend asked on Twitter the other day why I seemed to be switching from a very fine DSLR to more and more film. In a nutshell, film and the beautiful machines I use to expose it are more romantic and more involved.
My main film cameras are a Rolleicord IV and a Leica M4. They’re both older cameras (circa 1953 and 1967, respectively) and extraordinarily well made machines — they feel good to hold and use. When using them I’m more drawn in and involved than I am with digital, and much more than my Canon film SLR which is an autoexposing, autofocusing, autowinding wundermachine.
Working in the darkroom is more of the same – making test strips, choosing your exposure and filters, burning and dodging, then watching your photograph slowly appear in the developer is a very visceral experience.
My DSLR still has its place – some of the lenses for it are unique, and others are ill-suited for a rangefinder or a TLR. Even if I had the unobtainable object of lust that is the Noctilux, the DSLR would still be better for night time handheld photography than the Leica. Each tool for the right job.
On the subject of lenses, I’m renting a Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M to try out on my M4. The Leica is a much more discreet camera than the SLRs and their huge lenses are, and I don’t have a longer focal length for it. I’m pretty sure I would enjoy the extra bit of length compared to my 50mm Summicron (which I am) and I was curious to see how this lens handled and drew on the film.
So far I’m very pleased, but when it comes time to buy finding an older, used 90mm f/2 Summicron will probably be more in the character of the camera.
Harvard Square Station Busker
Kodak Tri-X 400, Leica 90mm f/2.5 Summarit-M. Rough edit of the photo, I’ll probably come back to this one and re-post it at some point.
Perspiring
It was a little hot out today.
Blake Brasher in Harvard Square
Blake Brasher (aka @electroblake) busking in Harvard Square. I took some film as well but probably won’t be able to develop it for a couple of weeks.
Blake, you’re welcome to the un-watermarked image if you’d like it.
Cooking Still Life
Flower
This was a quick B&W conversion using Photoshop CS5.
Summer School
I just registered for a summer course at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, which is where I’m currently taking foundation B&W. This one is “Experiments in Silver”:
This course combines methods related to the chemical and optical processes used in camera-less, traditional and alternative photographic production. At a time when digital imaging is prevalent, this course is designed to give you the chance to experiment with traditional, silver based and alternative, light-sensitive media. You can explore work with cyanotype and silver-salt based emulsions, while experimenting with photography’s physical properties in relationship to a variety of surfaces, textures and ideas. Lecture presentations and lab techniques cover topics in conjunction with hands-on practice.
Yup, I’m a total photography geek. I’m contemplating experimenting with medium format film as well, the contenders I’ve narrowed it down to are either Hasselblad V or Pentax 67. Any thoughts on either?
I picked up an old Rollei TLR to experiment with medium format – significantly less expensive than a ‘blad or Pentax system to start out with!