Tag Archives: perfection

First 8×10 Portraits

Six months ago, I did some test shots with my Burke & James Grover 8×10.  I finally got them developed and scanned recently.  With a couple of flashes and remote (without any diffusion), I shot a few portraits when my friends Norris and Fiona were visiting.  Here is the result.

Burke & James Grover 8x10 Portrait
Burke & James Grover 8×10 Portrait

I used Kodak Ektascan B/RA x-ray film metered at ISO50.  Burke & James Grover 8×10 with Fujinon 250mm f6.3 lens.  Lighting setup with two Yongnuo YN560II flashes on two YN622C  and a YN622C-TX.  Developed with Kodak D76 1+1 20C for 10 minutes.  Scanned with Epson Perfection V700.

Lighting is harsh, this is due to the lack of deflectors (they were still being shipped from Asia at the time).  The harsh lighting reminded me a bit of a prom shoot would of looked like in the 1960-70s.  Nevertheless a decent shot for first trials.

 

Kodak Ektascan B/RA Reciprocity Test II

The last test of 12x was slightly over-exposed so the new test was a 10x compensation for one minute exposure.  It looks like a working combination.  I was also testing out my Kodak 8×10 2d with a Goerz 12″ f6.3 lens.  It’s amazing that a 91-year-old camera is still holding up and taking great photos just like it did when it was out of the factory.  Film developed in Kodak d76 1+1 22C for 10 mins, scanned with Epson Perfection V700.

10x compensation for 1 minute metered exposure
10x compensation for 1 minute metered exposure

 

I had some doubts  with the Goerz lens as it was over 90 years old.   Initial inspection showed a perfect lens (with only two tiny tiny air bubbles in the front element that won’t affect the photo).  The shutter is snappy (seemed accurate) and both B and T modes work.  The middle of the photo is pin sharp.  The left side however, was slightly off focus.  At first I thought it was corner sharpness of the lens but then I was shooting at f8, so this is not likely the issue.  I inspect the camera again and found that the rear tilt adjustment was off.  The left and right gear was somehow off by at least three clicks.  I think it had been in this position for a very long time and I had to spend sometime forcing it back to right position (without breaking it).  Now both left and right gears are matched, this focus issues should be fixed on the next shoot.

Kodak Ektascan B/RA Reciprocity Test

I never shot Kodak Ektascan B/RA xray film at night.  There were also no information online regarding the reciprocity of this film.  This film is normally used for health x-ray applications and there is no need to worry about long exposure.  I decided to do a test shot.  Shanghai and TriX has terrible reciprocity characteristics.  For 1 minute exposure, I generally compensate it by 8x and it worked well.  I know Ektascan is probably equivalent if not worse, so I decided to try a 12x compensation for 1 minute metered exposure.

Here is the result.  Burke & James Grover 8×10, Fujinon 250mm f6.3 lens, developed in Kodak D76 1+1 10 mins and scanned with Epson Perfection V700.

12x compensation for 1 minute metered exposure
12x compensation for 1 minute metered exposure

It looks like a working combination.  I think it might be slightly over-exposed, perhaps I need to try one with 10x compensation.

Inspiration from undeveloped negatives

Hardly shot anything in the past six months, I finally got my dark room setup last week. Rolls of 120s and tens of 8×10 sheets were waiting to be developed in the past nine months.  Honestly I don’t even remember what I took in the medium format rolls.  I mixed some d76 last weekend, got the development tanks, measurement cups all cleaned up.  Timer, thermometer all in place.  Dry hanging rack and enclosure all in tact.  After studying past notes on development, in the past weekend, I finally developed my first roll of film in nine months.

Opening the jobo tank, I see images, images that I didn’t recognize and had no recollection.  I didn’t think too much of it and let it hang dry.  I scanned some of the photos today and saw this photo.

Zeiss Ikonta 532/16, Fuji Acros, dev d76 1+1, scanned with Epson Perfection V700.
Zeiss Ikonta 532/16, Fuji Acros, dev d76 1+1, scanned with Epson Perfection V700.

I looked at this and I was like wow.  The Zeiss Ikonta is one of those under-rated cameras.  It folds nicely, has a Zeiss Tessar at f2.8.  The rangerfinder is also easy to use and you can focus really quickly.  Looking at this photo, instantly, I wanted to go out and shoot more.  Jaded from all the moving and change in the past year, I guess this was a catalyst for me to get back into what I love doing.

Day 4 – Black and white photo challenge

Day 4 of 5 of black and white photo challenge.  Each day I am trying to post a photo that is taken from a different camera and a different medium.  Today I am back on large format but with a different lens and film from day 1.  This was shot at the Bund in Shanghai, China.  Photo taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Fujinon 65mm f5.6 lens + Shanghai GP3 film.  Developed with Guan long d76 + Guan long F5 Fix, scanned with Epson Perfection V700. Today i nominate Pouya Ash for the BW photo challenge, in which to post one BW photo per day for 5 days and also nominate someone each day because it’s fun.

The Bund, Shanghai, China
The Bund, Shanghai, China

Day 2 – Black and white photo challenge

Day 2 of 5 of black and white photo challenge.  Each day I am trying to post a photo that is taken from a different camera and a different medium.  Today I picked a 135mm shot I did in Kyoto, Japan last year.  Amy and my mom were walking in front of me and the shadow was perfect when I took this shot.  Photo taken with Canon QL17 on Kodak TriX.  Film developed in Kodak D76 1+1 and Kodak Rapid Fix, scanned with Epson Perfection V700.  Today I nominate Michael Ho to accept my black and white photo challenge.

Amy and my mom in Kyoto
Amy and my mom in Kyoto, Japan

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.

Large Format Portrait

One of the best LF portraits I have taken recently is this one of my mom.  Taken with Graflex Speed Graphic + Buhl 9″ f3.6 lens + Fuji Acros.  Developed in Kodak d76, 20C 11 minutes, first minute agitation, 4 flips every minute.  Fixed with Kodak RapidFix and scanned Epson Perfection V700.

Large format portrait of my mom.
Large format portrait of my mom.

SFO in 6×6

I had a few shots left on my Zeiss Ikonta 532/16 before I boarded a plane at SFO.  The sun was setting and made a nice reflection on the ground.  Taken with Zeiss Ikonta 532/16 on Fuji Acros.  Developed in Kodak d76, 20C, 11 mins, first minute agitation, then 2 flips every minute.  Fixed with Kodak rapid fix and scanned with Epson Perfection 4870.

SFO in 6x6
SFO in 6×6

San Francisco Bay Bridge night view in Large Format

After fixing another old speed graphic and a graphex 90mm f6.8 lens, I put it to use with Fuji Acros on a clear evening shooting the Bay Bridge in SF.  Developed in Kodak D76, 20C, 11 mins, agitation first minute then 6 flips every minute.  Fixed in Kodak Rapid fix.  Scanned with Epson Perfection V700.

Downtown SF, looking at the Ferry Building
Downtown SF, looking at the Ferry Building
Ferry Building clock tower
Ferry Building clock tower
Bay Bridge in SF
Bay Bridge in SF