VSU Spring Commencement 2016

VSU's graduation was two weekends ago, and while working I brought a couple of cameras to shoot some photos for fun.

I used a Leica M6 with 3.5cm f/3.5 and 50mm f/1.4 (2000) Nikkor lenses (T-Max 100), as well as a Fuji GL690 and 100mm f/3.5 (with Fuji NPH and NPZ films).

Here's some shots before the start of graduation at both locations:

 

 

 

And here's some during both ceremonies:

The big finale was fireworks:

This might be the last graduation I attend at VSU, so it was one to remember.

Experiments with Black and White Reversal Process

Years ago I discovered an article about doing black and white reversal imaging. This process uses normal color film but substitutes one step in the developing process to "tone" the image, creating a reversal image (positive).

I finally got the materials some weeks ago and did some experimenting. It worked, but I had to calibrate the process for my EI (which is much lower than the rated film speed generally).

Anyway, the first test shot I did was of my girlfriend, using 4x5 Fuji CDU II duplicating film (E-6 process), which is a really slow film that is tungsten balanced. I figured it would be a good starting test film. Here is the result:

She isn't smiling because it was a long exposure by the way!

I also tried shooting some normal black and white film, but on most films I tried the emulsion would get destroyed, except T-Max 100. This was HP5+:

So after thinking more about it, I decided to try some old C-41 negative film, which actually works quite well and has huge dynamic range, but I've discovered it's best to overexpose it 2-3 stops from the normal ISO rating...in fact I couldn't really "overexpose" it no matter how I shot it. Here are a variety of shots I took while experimenting:

 

 

A lot of people may ask, what's the point? Well, for all of the above shots, I was using Kodak Gold 200 35mm film, which is old and expired. The colors are kind of messed up and it's really grainy when used normally. I was given about 20 rolls of this stuff and I hate to throw it away. But when processed like this, it's almost grain-free and of course has no color problems. I really like the results after dialing in the process, so it's an easy way to shoot this and other old films I find. I also have several hundred sheets of very old 4x5 E-6 film that I will use like this most likely. So this is really helpful for someone using older film, especially me since I shoot a lot just for fun. I might not use it for "serious" photos but it works so well, maybe so.

Field Trip to Gainesville - VSU ART

Last Friday Dominick and I took another group of students on a trip to see some art and make photographs.

This time we went to Gainesville to see the NEXUS show, a retrospective celebrating 5 key members of the University of Florida's photography faculty. We also stopped at the Thomas Center to see some interesting underwater photographs, and finally we went to the Devil's Millhopper park to make some images. We also saw the last light at Payne's Prairie.

Here are some images from the trip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the images at the Harn and at Devil's Millhopper I shot my new Pentax 67ii and my 55mm and 105mm lenses. The rest was with my Leica M6 and Summitar 50mm f/2 on Rollie CN200.