California (Bay Area, Northern) 17 hours in North Beach - first photos

[kaiyen]

Hi all,
I say "17" because that's how long I was there.

My first set of photos are up. They are actually just about all the film ones I'll do, though there are a couple of potentials I haven't done yet, and I still have to do the color ones. But this is most of them. Haven't done much in the way of dust removal yet. Just trying to get cropping, contrast, etc down. And contrast, in particular, is tough due to a monitor that isn't very photo-editing-friendly. But it's a start. They are _not_ all great, and some are borderline bad. I am in the self-editing phase. But I thought I'd throw some out there and see what people thought.

Let me know what you think: http://photos.kaiyen.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=36

If you can tell which are the medium format shots (mostly by the shape), those were 3 hours in Rodinal 1+100. Just a lark of a test, inspired by Rich. Those are the only 120 images that were even worth scanning, due to tremendous lack of shadow detail in the rest. Everything is shot handheld, with RFs, at speeds at least 3200 and possibly higher.

allan

 

[rich815]

Ok, a wet night for SURE. I see some good potential in some of those (a couple look reversed?). I like the MF in the long-standing Rodinal. I'm going to try some of that soon. Please keep us posted on your progress when you work some of these up further.

 

[charjohncarter]

Seventeen hours of images taking and then three hours in developer, that is dedication, and it shows. I like it. I live outside of San Francisco and go there when it is too boring in Danville, which is most of the time, although, I have never photographed in North Beach. Do another district photo essay (Mission?) in the most interesting city anywhere.

 

[charjohncarter]

I just read Rich 815, agreed keep us posted. Is Big Al's in North Beach? I assume the Kinky Leather place is though.

 

[kaiyen]

Yes, some are them are reversed. I keep forgetting to fix that. That's just how I scan them in my 4490 - I should do them emulsion down, but I do them up to help with the curl.

North Beach is sufficiently hard to define that you either make it too restrictive (and cut out, say, City Lights bookstore and Vesuvio) or too broad (and turn 1 corner and end up in Chinatown). So we just drew some boundaries and went with it.

I had a good time, though I personally won't do that long of a chunk again, I don't think. At least not with the overhead I'm now dealing with for the photo club - this was a project.

I added the color shots today. Still gotta fix those b&w images.

allan

 

[charjohncarter]

I know the neighborhoods overlap in San Francisco, I was just enjoying seeing that part of the City. I might join you some time on one of your California Bay Area Camera expeditions. I will understand if you choose to not include me.

 

[kaiyen]

I enjoy doing photography with others, so you're more than welcome 🙂. I would like to organize something again sometime soon.

allan