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The only Ilford developer I was using from time to time was Perceptol but stock I had here was already out of date.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!

Convert – world of photography and ... cameras

There was a long time with no posts. To be honest not sure if people still read blogs… They probably do but whole attention has shifted to fast changing images rather than anything else. 

I also have to admit that I had not much time to write about anything for the last half a year or so. All my projects are on hold due to work and family related duties. One can say that there is always a moment for casual photography… well, that really depends on circumstances .

So ... first post after over 6 months will be mostly about cameras for a change rather than photographed subjects ;) but there are a few photographs to look at as well.

Let’s start from the beginning. Couple of years ago I decided to switch my photographic equipment which I am using for professional purposes to mirrorless system. It was all about weight,  outcome quality and other features unavailable in DSLR world (at least at the time when change has come).

This move took a while but I enjoy every single minute with it. My backpack lost about 40% of its weight and technical quality of work at the same time went up incomparably.

Weight was the main factor when I started to consider similar change with my film cameras I am using for personal purposes… personal projects and rather rare negative film based commercial assignments. 

It was especially important due to my recurrent back problems and the fact that I cycle and walk most of the time. I definitely had to get portable analogue equipment .

I sold my Hasselblad 500cm with its two lenses at the beginning of this year. 10 years with  this wonderful but relatively heavy system came to its end. Shooting hand held, which is the way I work a lot when photographing for personal purposes, was limited rather to 1/125 with Hasselblad. Even 1/60 was very risky with its large mirror. It was also a bit awkward to carry around.

I needed more flexibility.

I decided to go for Rolleiflex T with 75mm f3.5 Tessar lens.

Very small and light camera. At the moment even 1/30 of a second is easily doable handheld. Completely different experience. Now this camera is often in my bag or over my shoulder and it is not a burden anymore. I could come back to my long forgotten routine of photographing Dublin. Of course as long as weather is good. Also thanks to easily accessible and affordable filters I could rediscover my way of photographing and getting stronger contrast which I love. 

© Artur Sikora 

When sun is up which happens more and more often these days - Dublin is beautifully illuminated. I can see places I am passing by almost every day in completely different way. New perception, new way of seeing and completely new way of transferring this vision into celluloid material. 

Chancery House designed by Herbert Simms in 1934 © Artur Sikora

Kiosk designed in 1934-35 by Herbert Simms
 as part of the development of Chancery House housing scheme
© Artur Sikora

That wasn’t the end. I needed wider angle. Equivalent of Hasselblad 50mm lens.

Long research and I ended up with Fujica GS645w Professional equipped with 45mm f5,6 lens.

Extremely light camera, perfect ergonomic design and incredible optics. Also scale focusing system made it obviously point and shoot medium format camera created to photograph architecture or landscape :) 

Berkeley Library designed by ABK Architects in 1967
© Artur Sikora

Miesian Plaza, Recently renovated building 

originally designed by Ronnie Tallon of Scott Tallon Walker Architects 

and constructed in two phases during the 1960s and 1970s

© Artur Sikora

Glandalough © Artur Sikora

I am using both interchangeably and looking forward to get back at some stage to expand my ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ project. I miss visiting modernist classics for pure photography and education purposes. I just need a time for it…

This is not the end of course. My very reliable and also heavy large format camera Sinar F2 has also gone. This was a camera which I wasn’t using anymore due to its weight and complexity of setting it up on site along with very heavy tripod needed for it.

I ended up with two excellent super light custom made 4x5 pinhole cameras with perspective correction. 

Well, I am thinking about getting proper, small and portable 4x5 camera at some stage as well but that’s the future…

Arts Building designed by ABK Architects in 1978
© Artur Sikora

Former Saint Nicholas of Myra National School,
Carman’s Hall, Dublin (1936-39)
Building designed by John Joseph Robinson and Richard Cyril Keefe
© Artur Sikora

Achill Island © Artur Sikora

And that’s enough for now. I hope to prepare more substantial text next time. 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 ...


 

'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!!!

Under the olive tree...

I am presenting on this blog varies aspects on my photography. From experiments and tests through my personal projects and exhibitions up to more interesting assignments I have a pleasure to work on. 
We all have own style of work and the way we are the most productive and able to get the best of our knowledge and talent. It is always very personal and depends on many aspects. It concerns not only photographers  but all professions I would say.
As a traditional photographer I appreciate every moment I can slow down and contemplate the scene before recording. Every session takes a time. It has to be planed and properly prepared to eliminate fortuity. It is especially important in case of equipment I am using.
Pressing the shutter release is the final moment. Everything what has to be done in relation to the image is happening before that. After, there is only chemistry…
I am happy enough to work with people who perfectly understand such process most of the time.

Two weeks ago I had a pleasure to work on something completely new for me. I was photographing children yoga classes for Christina Breen (Chroi Yoga), yoga teacher (trained in Yoga for Children & Families with www.rainbowkidsyoga.net) and Montessori educator.  As you probably remember this is not our first cooperation. Last summer I took two portraits during the event organised also by Christina. /You can have a look at it HERE/
This session was a pure pleasure as it suits very well my style of work which is always in benefits for my client and myself. Christina perfectly understand every visual aspect of type/style of photography i am representing and she has a fantastic approach to it. She can also read images in the way that many photographers wouldn't be able to do so.

I came to see the class some time before session to get an idea how everything looks like and what can I do in there to make the best images possible.
Olive Tree Studio, where this session took a place, is located in the basement of 19th century house. It is a beautiful space for yoga and dance. Due to time of the year however we had not enough daylight I needed for this session even if the windows are relatively large. At the same time I didn’t want to use a flash lamps. I am always trying to avoid it as much as possible once I am outside photography studio. It usually flatten image doesn’t matter how well set it is.  I truly love ambient lighting as it give completely different dynamic of the image. It is also very important for me to achieve as much natural and realistic look of photographed person and place as possible. Subdued light, type of the place and the way how the class was runned by Christina - all of it was beautiful and I wanted to show it that way.
That was a challenge...

In this case the space we were working in had a few spotlights giving really nice ambiance. I spent a while before session to set those lights and direct them properly into space of the room I was going to work in.
The light was still relatively low (for photography) but as most of you know I am always pushing my films at least one or two stops. This time even three. It was just right. We were ready.
Session itself took about 3 hours (including over one hour for classes with some beautiful theatrical elements) and it was really hard work for all of us…myself, Christina, our assistants and first of all for children. They were absolutely fantastic and very cooperative. Many thanks to all of them. Here I must also thank their parents! 

That was the first time I was photographing children (beside my own of course) and it was  wonderful  experience. Truly amazing event. Christina is a perfect teacher. She has a great contact with all kids. She is also more then kind and at the same time very professional. If any of you reading this article ever thought about yoga class for your child or for yourself - Christina is a person to contact to.

Above images are just an examples showing different stages of that afternoon session.
More of them will be presented soon on Chroi Yoga website. 
Contact details below:

website:   www.chroiyoga.com
email:   chroiyoga@gmail.com
facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/ChroiYogaPage



Technical part:

I was using there 4 cameras in 3 different formats and 3 films at 4 different speeds. Sinar F2 large format camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 150mm 5.6 lens, Hassleblad 500cm with Planar 80mm 2.8 lens. Canon A-1 with 50mm 1.4 and Canon 6D with 50 1.4 and 35 2 lenses. Yes, I was also using digital camera this time for a few shots but somehow non of them were as good as recorded on film even if this camera is an outstanding performer, especially in low light situations and also during actor head-shots and business portraits in studio.
As for film…a few rolls of beloved TMax 400 exposed at 800, 1600 and 3200, roll of Trix  400 at 800 and for the first time Fomapan 400 4x5 at 400 and also and 1600. It was a test for this film which I never used before. What can I say - I love it!
After first light check I had a plan to shoot all at 3200 but apparently small spotlights properly set gave a couple of stoops better light condition.
All images processed in Xtol 1:1, except Foma 400 and Trix which I souped in Rodinal 1:50. All scanned on great V700 as always. 

Thank you!

Behind the trees

Third post within one week... It's very unusual for me ;)
Well, I just couldn’t wait to show you all these wonderful buildings. Would love to do it  almost at once ;)
This is the last one I visited during Open House 2012  after The Old Terminal and Central Bank anyway.

Sunny afternoon, distance just about 10km so I took my bike as usually. It was still early  when I arrived. I had some time to enjoy the area before our tour started. Very quiet road with lots of mature trees around and in-between them, covered in green...Meander.
Classic modernist, flat-roofed house designed by Alan and Mairin Hope and built in 1939 as a home for their family.

View from the garden

Interior is very impressive with its original furnishing and also external and internal finishes.
Meander, constructed of cedar-cladded block-work is not very big but at the same time spacious, cosy and bright interior due to often double or ever triple aspect rooms.
It is one of the most important example of Irish Modernism. 

tech:
again - hasselblad 500C/M with Planar 80mm 2.8 and Tmax 400 pushed to 3200

Tribute to Nick Cave...

Good things happening in Ranelagh Art Centre all the time. Some of you remember this place from my ‘Coffee Flavour’ exhibition a few months ago (please see the link LINK) ;)
Last Friday and Saturday on the first floor in the room lightened only by the candles David Noone had his very personal concert - tribute to Nick Cave.
About an hour of a really good performance wormed up by fantastic atmosphere. On December last year I was working with David on promotional portraits for this gig (please see the link LINK).
Friday afternoon we met again to take a few portraits during David's dress rehearsal.

A few words from press release:

‘Writer and musician, David Noone will perform his unique take on the music of the legendary Nick Cave, at the Ranelagh Arts Centre in February. In this intimate acoustic concert, David will perform the songs of one of his favourite songwriters whom he believes to be possibly the greatest lyricist to have emerged in the last thirty years.  

David grew up in Rathangan, Co. Kildare, where he began his writing career as a music journalist with local newspapers. Moving to Dublin, he formed his first band 'Poppy' and then spent three years as lead singer and songwriter with 'David Noone and the Night Porters'. He has also published a collection of poetry -'My Cat's a Vicious Drunk' and his first play - 'Ructions' was performed at the 2010 Ranelagh Arts Festival.'

As far as i know, both David’s performances were not the last this year...

“David Noone sings Nick Cave”

My cooperation with David has a quite a long history as most of you already know (lots of photographs for publicity purposes). Just a few words for those of you who are here for the first time - David is a Dublin based writer, musician, actor and long time collaborator with the artistic collective The Colour and Form Factory.
A few days ago he came to my small studio. This time we wanted to create a promotional portraits for “David Noone sings Nick Cave” performance which will take a place in February 2012 in Ranelagh Arts Centre. This show is curated by Tony Strickland - independent art curator.

Above are two photographs of my choice. Its an ongoing assignment so please keep following this blog, facebook website, tweeter and google+ (recently created) for updates (links on the top of this page) .
And some technical info at the end: all taken on Kodak TMax 400 at box speed with a little help of Metz 45Cl-4 flash gun on the left with small soft box on it.

                                                                     ***

It also may be the last post this year on my blog so I’ll take an opportunity to wish all very Happy Christmas and best of luck in New Year! 

Thank you for being here!!! :)

...on the go (one day)

5am. I could not sleep... 
After a few minutes of looking at the room's ceiling I grabbed my bag and left hotel...City wakes up.  First cars on the street and wonderful smell of coffee from just opened coffee shops. Ten minutes with espresso and a cigarette over the corner ...good moment to load the film as well ;)
Then...there was just a walk through morning mist.

Waterloo Bridge
(Ilford Pan F Plus 50 in Caffenol-C-M)

National Theatre
 (Ilford Pan F Plus 50 in Caffenol-C-M)

On the River Thames bank

 (Ilford Delta 400 in Caffenol-C-L)