New Ilford Ortho Plus 80 - first (visual) impression

I wanted to try this new film from the first day when it was announced. For a few reasons -  the look of photographs exposed on orthochromatic films, its abilities and finally the fact that it will be available locally at last... as most of Ilford films.
Last Saturday it arrived to the shop where I always buy all photographic materials. It was afternoon, just about 40 minutes before closing time. Too late when I got this information and I had no choice but waiting until the end of the weekend. The longest weekend ever...

***

Monday morning. Finally! Kids in school. I am on my bicycle heading to John Gunn Camera Shop. 8.58am John with his usual wonderful smile opened the door to let me in. 
I took out Rollei, packed into my bag the evening before, and loaded fresh roll of new Ilford Ortho Plus 80. 
Ready to shoot. Beautiful, sunny morning. And very cold.

I decided to go through parks where morning light was doing its magic. I have two on my way home... could also jump into third one but 12 shots (usually too much) in such situation is not enough. Two parks were OK then. I also wanted to expose a few frames on the street photographing buildings, my usual subject.
Done.  A few minutes after 10am I was back at home with roll ready for processing. And then surprise... I completely forgot to check processing data sheet. There was no XTol, my usual developer on the list or anything else I have at home at the moment...like Rodinal Spezial (R09 Spezial).
The only Ilford developer I was using from time to time was Perceptol but stock I had here was already out of date. After extensive online research I was back to square one.
I decided to call on John Gunn camera shop for Perceptol. Unfortunately out of stock but got an advice instead - 4min in Rodinal Spezial can be the way to go. 
OK. It had to be done fast as that was the plan for the day and the clock was ticking.
In my small bottle of Rodinal there was only 20ml left. I needed almost 32ml. 
As this film can be processed under deep red safelight there was an option of processing by inspection. Not this time. It would be too time consuming and too risky considering the fact that I had some images on the roll which I wanted to get processed correctly. 
Maybe I should photograph flower pot next time while testing film. It would be much easier ;)
Back to online research...  
Got it! 
One short sentence at the end of one of many forum's discussion.  
Ilford Ortho Plus exposed at ISO 80... Xtol, 1:1, 9.45min, 20C. 
Quite old 'conversation' and based on large format negative version.
Had to trust this guy.

And I did...

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

My thoughts? I love this film. Sure it's not for everyone and not for every application but it is orthochromatic film. Film designed for specific usage. And it works great for that purpose. Landscape, streetscape or architecture... (besides copy and reproduction of course) 
It's a very sharp, fine grain film with beautiful contrast. What strikes me the most, however, is its dynamic range. I have never experienced it with any other film I was using before. I know, it's my first ortho film so I can't compoare. At the same time, I was using wide range of Ilford, Kodak and Fuji films for over a decade and this material is impressive.
The way how beautifully it renders foliage... 
I definitely should use a camera on a tripod and with closed aperture but this time I really wanted to try it out as fast as possible and with no hassle. 
All photographs were exposed using Rolleiflex T - ISO 80, f8 (except one with f3.5) and 1/60s - 1/125s, handheld with yellow filter. Then all was scanned on Epson V850 Pro using Silverfast Ai Studio software.
Apologise to anyone who expected here very technical information. It's purely visual opinion based on my experience and preferences.
One thing is certain - there will be many people who will enjoy this film for sure. 
I am one of them.

For all specs and data please check Ilford website HERE

Thank you!

Postcards from Ballymun...

Beautiful, sunny day. October 2010. 
Camera loaded with unusual for me material - Velvia 50, colour reversal film...
Now it's like a traveling in time... especially if Ballymun has changed so much since then.
That was a moment in time when every corner of now 'Old Ballymun' was so inspiring.

Yes, it's another blog post based purely on archival materials initially rejected. It basically must have evolved in me and I had to grow into the decision of showing it...   

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

© Artur Sikora

Kino Kijów / Kiev Cinema

Kraków. March 2017. On the way back home.
There was still a few hours left to plane departure so I decided to spend it walking with camera (Polaroid SX-70) and visit a few architectural sites. Kino Kijów (Kiev Cinema) -  building designed in between 1961-63 by Witold Cęckiewicz and opened in 1967 was one of them. 
It's one of the finest examples of polish modernism. It was also the biggest (960 spectators), most modern and the first widescreen cinema in Poland back then.
Kiev Cinema is a part of complex with beautiful Hotel Cracovia designed by the same architect in 1965.

Original photographs of the interior of Kiev Cinema on the pages of  'Witold Cęckiewicz – monograph' 

Kiev Cinema - Rear Elevation
 with fragment Hotel Cracovia (1965) in the background 
© Artur Sikora

I was especially intrigued by a beauty and simplicity of the form of southern elevation (image bellow). I made a photograph which I wasn't entirely happy with. It was lacking something... 

Just a few minutes later I notices an elderly lady slowly walking towards the building. That was the time to make another approach. I visualised wonderful contrast coming in ... monumental concrete wall and somehow fragile, tiny old lady... Quick focus adjustments and now just await for the moment the lady will walk in to the right position. Click....

Kiev Cinema - Southern Elevation© Artur Sikora

In January 2018 this photographs was published in Black+White Photography magazine (digital edition) - B&W Photographer of the Year 2018 competition edition - selection of the judges’ favourites.

Now copy of the same photograph can be viewed on the wall of Royal Hibernian Academy Gallery as a part of RHA 188th Annual Exhibition (until the end of August)

Wonderful show definitely worth a visit if you are around.

Thank you!

B&W Instant film on test (Impossible Project)

I have been thinking about starting to work with instant camera on some photo projects for a few months now. Yes -  instant camera :) There are many people who consider it as a nonsense when we are talking about serious work but it's the same with Holga - 'useless toy camera'. I am actually using it successfully for photographic projects and I am getting fantastic images. Why not do the same with instant camera? Exactly. 
Once you mastering specific camera it will become a perfect tool in your creative process.
Doesn't really matter what it is.
Never got a good results with Large format polaroid films but it was usually due to faulty or simply imperfect equipment (holders).  

Now, there is a chance to make it right...with something smaller.
There is a few options available these days but after all it will be a choice in between two films - Impossible Project and Fuji Instax.

Fuji - seams to work perfectly with consistent, good results and images which are not really changing in time...
Impossible Project - these films can surprise in every single shot for a change and there is no warranty that the look of the image will be the same in a few weeks...
But...there is one thing which keeps me away from Fuji at least for now - format. I don't really like Instax Wide format and Instax Mini is just to small. Impossible is way better in this field giving nice large photographs in Spectra film or slightly smaller but square (the best format ever) with its 600 Type, I-Type and SX70...
There is however another factor/category which is quite serious and makes Fuji stands out - price. Impossible is about 3EUR per image which is quite expensive considering the fact that Fuji Instax Wide for comparison cost about 1EUR per image.

Right...lots of pros and cons on each side.

A few years ago I got a great present from a good friend of mine, Bart (Light Painted) - Polaroid Spectra camera with glass coated lens. Really nice camera.
I tried it just after that with B&W film from Impossible...which came out totally sepia. That was it. No more tests, camera ended up in a drawer as there was no other option for photographic material.

I just decided to give it another chance when I started to think again about instant camera and when I realised that after all this time Impossible invented a new type of B&W film.

Film arrived just before Christmas. Great! All I wanted to know was if the B&W is B&W and if gives relatively good quality image with nice contrast and acceptable tonality (as for instant camera). Colour is beyond my interest if you are asking ;)

Film loaded. All seams to be working well. 
Time for a few snaps... and big disappointment on the first try as photograph was not coming out from camera. 
OFF and ON... Here it is. Wasted one, overexposed... probably due to the fact that it was exposed twice or even three times in order to get it out from camera. 

Problem with power? Hm, not really. It's a new film and battery in it is fresh. Camera seams to be fine as well. 
Another try... The same story...
These test brings nothing... Time to calm down, relax and find solution... 
I did a quick research online - the problem seams to be with the curtain which prevents accidental exposure (in the front of camera, over the pocket where film is ejected). It seams to be blocking for some reason film on its way out.
One quick move and curtain is removed ;)

Third try... and here it is. Photograph comes out smoothly.
Processing takes about 5 minutes as per instruction. Image is slightly overexposed and has a slight sepia tint but it is almost B&W. It's acceptable kind of B&W ;)

© Artur Sikora
(bright sun from the left side, camera set to '0', no adjustements)

Spectra has a possibility of making small aperture adjustments - brighter or darker. Next shot was with 'darker' option.
I was trying to shoot in a really bright day with nice strong sun and good contrasts to get images in the way I like... Holga with similar aperture and settings works well in it so I presume this camera should behave in a similar manner.

Have a look please..

© Artur Sikora
(bright sun from the back, camera set to darken image)

© Artur Sikora
(bright sun from the back, camera set to darken image)

© Artur Sikora
(bright sun from the back, camera set to darken image)

Almost there but not exactly. I am quite happy with contrasts. Images are Black and white and they are big :) comparing to Fuji... But the look of it is still lacking something which is hard to explain... 

Two shots left. Time for different lighting. Evening at home... As usually during tests I had to talk to Amelia (my daughter). Two shots in two slightly different lighting conditions (please see descriptions under each photograph).
One is just perfect technically the other one is better from visual point of view but not sharp enough. It was however my fault.

© Artur Sikora
(desk lamp in a front of Amelia, over the book, ceiling lights in room ON, camera set to '0', no adjustments)

© Artur Sikora
(desk lamp in a front of Amelia, over the book, ceiling lights in room OFF, camera set to '0', no adjustments)

Perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for.  Nice tonality and excellent sharpness once properly set and focused (It is of course rather camera not film itself).

Photograph on the left side was made with first version of 'B&W' Impossible Project film and it was never B&W.
Image on the right side was made with new version of the same film. Please see description under the image above. 

Will have to think now about getting nice SX70 with manual focus for square images at some stage. 

Now, Fuji plan to release square format Instax in a few months ...it will be smaller than Impossible but this will be a great option for consideration. 
Not sure if they will decide to go with Black and White as well though...

Questions, questions... and doubts ...


 

Oasis...

About a week ago I got finally some spare time and also a lot of light coming along…seams like an amazing configuration in such a dark and wet winter days. That was also the moment I could finally go out with my camera and focus once again on the most important for me project after a long break - ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ …

I wasn't really expecting such a good moment right now so decided to go with the flow. No earlier preparation or big plans… I just knew what to do and how I wanted to do it in this particular moment. 

The idea for this session was in my head since a few years now. There was however always something more important. Apparently not this time …

Mespil Estate - Mespil Lodge and Cherry House

Elm House

Mespil Estate - very unique place I was passing by so many times. Beautiful, simple forms with fantastic details. 

Elm House, Mespil Lodge, Cherry House, Oak House, Maple House, Ilex House, Fir House, Willow House, Beech House, Rowan House, Mespil House, Sycamore House, Cedar House and swimming pool in the middle… All of these buildings surrounded by incredible green spaces. 

That day, in that wonderful light all these red brick structures, colourful trees around them and smooth grass made it absolutely special place to be. 

It is like an oasis in the city centre. 

Sycamore House and Cedar House (front elevations)

Rowan House

Sycamore House and Cedar House (rear elevations)

Cherry House (rear elevation)

I wish new apartments to be designed and build in such a synergy with the surrounding environment. 

Construction of Mespil Estate designed by Tyndall Hogan Hurley Associates started in early 50s previous century. Sounds like an ages ago …


Some tech info traditionally:

All photographs made with Hasselblad 500c/m + Planar 80/2.8 and Distagon 50/4 + Ilford Pan F Plus 50 at box speed.

Pieces of Ballymun in Budapest...

During one of my visits to Ballymun I photographed the last remaining back then (2013) block of flats - Joseph Plunkett Tower. I remember how impressed I was seeing this building from the inside including one of the flats.

It's gone now. 
You can have a look however at the article related to it with some photographs in-between. Just click HERE please.

Last Saturday I got a message from PH21 Gallery in Budapest stating that one of the photographs made that day was selected for their juried international exhibition 'Shadow and Light'. 
Wonderful! 
I had no chance to show my work in this part of Europe before. 

Above photograph is a part of my long term project 'Unfulfilled Dreams' related to modernist architecture in Ireland. Please click HERE to have a look at all series. 

Exhibition starts December 17, 2015 and will run until January 19, 2016.

PH21 Gallery:

H-1092 Budapest

Ráday u. 55.

Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 2–6 p.m. and by appointment /info from gallery website/

'Somewhere in Dublin' - prints

'Somewhere in Dublin', It's a collection of photographs I made using Holga 120GN camera and B&W negative film (various) while walking or cycling through the streets of Dublin for the last few years. 

This particular constantly growing collection is now available for sale in a form of small but beautiful and affordable prints.
These are signed Fine Art Archival unmounted prints on Canson Photosatin Premium RC museum grade semigloss paper (270g/m2).

Paper size: A4
Print size: 6x6 inch (apx 15x15cm)

Price EUR 35 (per print) includes postage worldwide.

If you would like to purchase such print just contact me please with the title of selected photograph and I will forward details with payment methods (PayPal, bank transfer or cash) and estimated delivery time.

You can also have a look at selection of Limited Edition prints (most of them framed) available HERE or original one of a kind wet prints made in large format camera and wet processed (framed) available HERE . Please click links attached.

Thank you!

Pigeon House..

Following the path described in previous post 'Baths' I would like to show here a few more of my old photographs which are research materials only but still worth a look.
Before my several visits to Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock baths I snicked into completely different structure - Victorian power station also known as a Pigeon House, where electricity strted to be generated in 1903.  
This plant was decommissioned in 1976, when new power station Poolbeg (still known locally as the Pigeon House) was constructed. .
You can have a look at a few more images from that place I posted here straight after my visit about 4 years ago. Here is the LINK 
This place has an amazing potential for everyone who likes exploring and industrial photography. The only limitation is an access ...officially forbidden and what's comes with it - very limited amount of time you can spend there if you manage to get inside.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Baths...

Back in 2009/2010 I was working on a small documentary project. That was a moment when I decided to step back into college after almost 10 years.
This time just for one year. Photography and Digital Imaging at NCAD - very good course I would recommend to anyone who would like to extend his knowledge about visual art, history of photography and first of all learn how to approach every single project. That was the reason why I decided to be there.
As a self-taught photographer working already a couple of years I wanted to learn something more then just a technicalities or basic knowledge about composition which was a big part of my architectural education (years before).
PDI course gave me all of it. Beside that I met a lot of fantastic people.
Also for the last two years I was invited to run a darkroom part of this course with new students. Another fantastic experience.

Lets get back to the gist of this post - mentioned documentary project. Doing a research I focused on abandoned places and traces. 
I would like to show here two of them - Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock Baths. Both built in 19 century when bathing started to be very popular.
I never showed before most of these images but I think they are worth a look and it’s an interesting documentary material especially when Blackrock Baths don’t exist anymore.
Lots of historical photographs and information is available online so I will focus here only on its visual part. These are only research materials and were not used in the final project.

The Blackrock baths built beside the Blackrock train station were provided for by the railway company in 1839. They could accommodate up to 1000 spectators and were well known for swimming galas and water polo.

Blackrock Baths were closed in late 1980s and then dismantled due to lack of maintenance. In 2012 they were demolished.

Dun Laoghaire Baths. This very popular place at the time it was built in 1843. 
'There was a range of bathing options including sea and fresh water, hot and cold baths. Children had their own pond and paddling pools and there was medical baths. These included sulphur, seaweed and Russian and hot sea-water.' 
(info. Abandoned Ireland)
Now it is abandoned and decayed after it’s closure in the end of 1990s.
There are however plans for its restoration. 

Stepping into each part of these objects was very emotional as always in such a situation. These are disappearing structures with great history.

All above photographs were taken with my beloved back then Mamiya C330 Professional with 80mm 2.8 lens and Ilford FP4+ (as far as I remember).

'Coffee Flavour'...

  Sound of coffee maker is the first sound I can hear every morning after alarm clock. Wonderful aroma fills all the place along with it.
That’s the time to seat down with a cup of steaming coffee and travel in my mind to different places, think about different situations…or have a nice chat. 
I have to repeat such a moments a few times during the day … this is the time with ‘Coffee Flavour’...

My routine made me think about transferring it into still images. I wanted to show such a moments which are very important for many of us, moments of contemplation.
That was December 2009 when I made a first photograph. 'Coffee Flavour’ grew up since then to a significant series of portraits, which are not necessary meant to show people but rather their minds.
I made the last photograph in summer 2013. That was a four years of work...
Most of you remember also exhibition in Ranelagh Arts Centre in November 2011. I showed there over 20 prints back then.  That was the moment when these photographs were presented for the first time in a full glow.

Now I have in the front of me beautifully printed album - 'Coffee Flavour’ ... album which is a final version and kind of capstone of all series.
And what can I say... It's wonderful. 
It is printed on fantastic Blurb's premium matte paper 8x10inch (20x25cm) and I am really impressed by its built quality. 
As for content... all 'Coffee Flavour' series is presented here. 
Thirty portraits of minds/thoughts.  
It’s so good to look at these portraits printed in that form rather than seeing it only on a computer screen.
 

I was hoping to get it done before Christmas. Small delay however was inevitable due to some technical problems.
As I mentioned before on my facebook website I used a Blurb service for this purpose. That was the only option at this stage. Blurb is a print on demand service and requires a specific approach while preparing all files. Sometimes it is necessary to make a few reprints to be sure that final book will be printed in the way as it should be.  Beside that printing B&W photographs is a real challenge. 
I have to admit that Blurb's customer service is very helpful which make all process very smooth.
Below is a link to Amazon.com (update 01/05/2014) where you can purchase 'Coffee Flavour'. It is available in three different cover versions: softcover, hardcover with dust jacket and hardcover with image wrap.

Please click HERE to go directly into online shop.

Here I would like to thank all people who helped me with this project! That means a lot to me!
...and I really hope you will like it! Thanks a lot!!!