Tag Archives: 240mm

April 2016 Portraits

April 2016 had been the most productive month for lotophotos.  Here are some large format portraits done for my visitors this month.

First one is Joseph Wei, a drummer and music producer from Hong Kong.  The photo is taken inside a studio (with multiple flashes) from Kodak 2d 8×10 camera + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 lens + Kodak B/RA x-ray film.

Kodak 2D 8x10 + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 + Kodak B/RA x-ray film
Kodak 2D 8×10 + Fujinon 250mm f6.3 + Kodak B/RA x-ray film

The second one is of Michael Ho taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Expired (1993) Kodak Plus-X Pan 4×5 film.  The Kodak aero ektar lens is always my preferred lens for 4×5 portraits.  I am also happy that the very expired plus-x film still very useable despite metering it at ISO 50 (instead of the stock 125).

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

The following one is of Richard Fung in deep thought.  Also shot with Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Expired (1993) Kodak Plus-X Pan 4×5 film.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

My friend Pouya Ashtiani models for the next shot.   He was enjoying the warm San Francisco weather in this photo shot from Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Kodak Plus-X Pan film.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 + Kodak Plus-X Pan film

The last set is from the lovely couple Marko Kudjerski and Yandra Lluch.  These polaroids were taken from Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + one big 1000 LED panel as light source.

Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b
Graflex Speed Graphic + Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm f2.5 lens + Fuji FP3000b

Here are the portraits taken from April 2016 and I hope the models are as happy with the images as I was!

 

 

Henry and Wendy Portrait Shoot

During a recent visit of Henry and Wendy in SF, I invited them to have their portraits done in large format.  Setup of the day was my 91-year-old Kodak 2D 8×10 camera with Fujinon A 240mm f9 lens and Kodak Ektascan x-ray film.  The strobes, I used two light sources, one direct light above the camera and a reflective light from the left of the subject.   The dark background is a big piece of black cloth that is about 2.5 feet behind the subject.

Here is a collage of photo of me in action, courtesy of Henry and Wendy.

Portrait session
Portrait session

The film is developed with Kodak D76 1+1 for 10-12 minutes at 19C with rollers and scanned with Epson Perfection V700.  Scanning this time I was faced with a lot of Newton ring issues.   I have an AN glass but that only prevented newton rings from one side of the light.  I have to scan the negatives with emulsion down on the scanner glass, then I put the AN glass on top of the negative.  This way I was able to get rid of most of the newton rings.  I guess I probably need another piece of AN glass and hopefully this issue will go away.

The first photo is that of Henry.  It was shot at f11, 1/30 sec and turned out quite nicely.

Portrait of Henry
Portrait of Henry

Wendy here featured in the second photo, also shot at f11, 1/30sec.  I have asked her to look into the left (her right) reflective light.

Portrait of Wendy
Portrait of Wendy

The final shot is of them together, shot at f16 1/4 sec.  I had cranked up the strobes to be the highest level.  The init negative is dark and about a click off.  I need to double up on the flash to get more light next time.  I have focused on Wendy’s eyes and even at f16, the depth of field is so narrow that Henry’s eyes were very slightly off focus.  I need to add more light sources and try at f22 or even f32 next time for group portraits.

Portrait of Henry and Wendy
Portrait of Henry and Wendy

Overall another fun shoot that yield some fantastic portraits.

Day 1 – Black & White photo challenge

Thanks for Cheung Billy Ka Ming, I accepted the BW photo challenge.  I will be posting one BW photo a day for five days and will nominate someone each day just for fun.  Here is a photo I have taken from a maternity shoot I did not long ago.  The lovely couple is Catherine Wong and Denis Ng.  This photo was taken in Hong Kong with Graflex Speed Graphic + Fujinon A 240mm f9 lens + Fuji Acros.  Film developed in Kodak d76 1+1, Kodak Rapid Fix and scanned with Epson Perfection V700.  This is one of the first photos I took with the newly acquired A 240mm f9 lens and I have to say it’s absolutely the sharpest lens I own.  The lens is extremely light and what’s amazing is that it can even cover 8×10!  Today I would like to nominate Kirk Lau to accept my BW photo challenge.

Catherine and Dennis looking lovely in this photo.
Catherine and Dennis looking lovely in this photo.