This week I gave the digital camera a rest and was back to shooting film. I use 35mm Ilford Hp5 processed in Kodak D-76 developer diluted 1:1 with water. I’ve been using D-76 for over 30 years now and it still gives reliable results. In case you are wondering how I fit this into my schedule I carry the Leica M6 around with me from Sunday until I have two rolls exposed. Generally I have that done by Wednesday or Thursday, process the film on Thursday or Friday evening, and print sometime during the day on Saturday.
It takes more patience than time. Shooting is incidental and done while doing other things. Processing the film takes about 45 minutes. Making three prints takes another hour or so. Depending on my mood and how the week goes this can seem easy or impossible. Luckily it doesn’t matter how I feel. I just need to do it.
Still not sure where I am going with this project but I believe something good will happen. Photography remains a mystery to me a lot of the time.
So here are this week’s pictures:
Kim at Barnes and Noble.
Twisted vines in bird paradise.
Trees in the wind at local park.
Most of life is a mystery. Where your project goes or what it becomes isn’t the point. The process is. Or in scooter parlance, the ride is what it’s about … not the destination.
The photo of Kim is my favorite of the three this time.
Have a great week, Steve. ~Chuck
Photo of Kim indeed… very rich frame with plenty of contrast. HP5 is my choice as well, although I’m using it as a roll 120 on a retired Rollei SL66. His old mechanism tends to cheat 3-5 exposure values if the outside temp. is under 15C degrees, luckily Vespa’s underseat provides a warm “nest” until I decide to make a shot. HP5’s ISO value is a bit high for oncoming sunny days and I’m unable to go over 1/500 in practice.
Still got some Agfa Rodinal leftovers to play with, slow process on 20C degrees and stronger agitation delivers me almost invisible grain and rich contrast, but with spring and all of it’s colors coming our way, Reala or some nice slide… or simply digital.
Enjoy among sticks Steve and keep riding, shooting and posting!
Greetings from Belgrade, Serbia
Chuck: Exactly! I need to be reminded of that over and over it seems.
milos: I’ve hardly scratched the surface of what the HP5 film can do. I pretty much process the same all the time anymore and hope I can fix things when I print. I worked the same way with the view camera. Had things zeroed in pretty well and just stuck with it. Intricate Zone System work never really connected with me. I just don’t have that kind of temperament.
If you ever post any pictures from Serbia let us know. Would love to see what your part of the world looks like in the spring.
Wonderful b&w. I admire your discipline to not fall behind on the development. I have a backlog of rolls now and you’ve inspired me to get moving…
Nice blog! Very fun to read and I love the photos as well. New to scooting and blogging myself, but do check us out at http://www.noton95.blogspot.com/ Happy scootin!