First photos of Ashley with the IIIa

[remrf]

A young lady I work with agreed to pose for me and after two weekends with lousy weather we finally got together today. She was a very easy subject to work with and I wish I could have done her justice with my Leica (IMO I did not this time) . I shot the Kodak asa 400 B&W c-41 film rated at 320 as someone had suggested but I think I would have been off better rating it at 200. The Walgreens scratched three of the negs but thankfully they weren't poses I thought were all that wonderful anyway. Next time I will take them to the pro lab I use for my mf and lf film. They are more carefull. I can see from the results this time I need to work a LOT more with the Leica to get the kind of images I think are possible with the camera. My framing was off in more than one instance and focus was an issue in others. But these 3 are what I thought were the keeper's of the shoot.

I also shot two rolls of 120 with my 645. One of Velvia 100 which happened to be in the camera at the time and a roll of Tri-x. I used the 150mm for those and I think those will be much better as my tired old eyes could see to focus much easier with the larger viewfinder. 🙄

 

[VinceC]

You're being too hard on yourself. The shots show a wonderful casual air.

It looks like you're in just a bit too tight with framing using a 50mm lens (if it's longer than a 50, just slap me upside the head. But the last shot in particular looks like a 50). These are the kinds of shots that do best in the 75 - 90mm range. Or else use the 50, but as a horizontal with a bit more of the environment.

The difference between 320 and 400 ISO is pretty subtle, only about 1/3 of a stop. Doesn't have much impact in black and white, only in digital and slide film, where latitude is so much narrower. I have good results exposing Kodak B&W at 200. It also seems to do okay at 100 ... just loses grain at the slower speeds but doesn't block up the highlights.

 

[remrf]

You're being too hard on yourself. The shots show a wonderful casual air.

I looks like you're in just a bit too tight with framing using a 50mm lens (if it's longer than a 50, just slap me upside the head. But the last shot in particular looks like a 50). These are the kinds of shots that do best in the 75 - 90mm range. Or else use the 50, but as a horizontal with a bit more of the environment.

The difference between 320 and 400 ISO is pretty subtle, only about 1/3 of a stop. Doesn't have much impact in black and white, only in digital and slide film, where latitude is so much narrower. I have good results exposing Kodak B&W at 200. It also seems to do okay at 100 ... just loses grain at the slower speeds but doesn't block up the highlights.

Yup. Its a 50mm. The only lens I have at present for the IIIa. And I think you are right. The framing is too tight. I wanted to get in close for the best detail but played too close to the limits this time. We are trying again next weekend. This time in a "studio" situation i.e. my house with multiple strobes and various backdrops as well as natural lighting. Ashley is a doll to work with and I hope to better capture what I think is a very beautiful young woman.

Ditto on the film speed. next time asa 200.

 

[VinceC]

I thought so. 50 at that distance starts getting you the big-nose-big-chin syndrome that makes attractive young ladies stop speaking to us. Keep it pulled back to 4 feet or so. I'm attaching a recent shot of what I consider to be a good minimum working distance for portraiture with a 50.

 

[jan normandale]

I think the shots are great, you've moved in on the subject and that is where the interest is in this posed set. Sometimes the setting is important as part of the shot and then leaving room in the frame for the location is appropriate. These are just my preferences. I'd say continue with what you are doing. Maybe change the format a bit to let the model gradually loosen up in front of the camera. Street shots, in stores, in the car whatever.

Regarding the ISO setting for the Kodak BW 400 C41 film.... my experience has been best at the rated ISO of 400 here is a link to a shot using this film

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=26455&cat=5389

 

[remrf]

I think the shots are great, you've moved in on the subject and that is where the interest is in this posed set. Sometimes the setting is important as part of the shot and then leaving room in the frame for the location is appropriate. These are just my preferences. I'd say continue with what you are doing. Maybe change the format a bit to let the model gradually loosen up in front of the camera. Street shots, in stores, in the car whatever.

Regarding the ISO setting for the Kodak BW 400 C41 film.... my experience has been best at the rated ISO of 400 here is a link to a shot using this film

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=26455&cat=5389

Your shot has the contrast range I would hope to get from the film but have not as of yet. I have shot the film at rated asa a few times in the past and was not happy with the results. Kind of flat and not at all the rich range of tones of your example. It might be the lens I'm using which is an old Summar f-2 uncoated lens. I have an Industar 50 mm as well (2 actually) and I will try some exposures at rated asa with them on the IIIa.

Thank you for your comments.

 

[jan normandale]

try your Zorki with the Industar 22 and 61 lenses and see what you get. You may be right it could be the lens itself. The I-61 has the most contrast of the two and usually gives interesting rendition.

 

[VinceC]

>>I'd say continue with what you are doing. Maybe change the format a bit to let the model gradually loosen up <<

Jan Normandale is right. It would be useful to try a mix of angles and distances and settings. Usually people don't get nearly close enough. I particularly like the framing of number 1 and 2, very classic. The third shot is what caught me as being a tad too close for the lens.

 

[remrf]

good shots ---- on shot two, look at the top of her neck - see the lines, when a woman sees this, she'll immediately think she's fat -- these lines are a big people no-no -- have her lift her chin and turn head slightly --- hedgecoe has a good book on some of the basics of posing people...

Odd that you would say this. During the entire shoot I was having her drop her chin slightly as she was naturally posing with her chin held higher. I did not like the angle when viewed through the viewfinder. On shot two there was not much I could have done. It was a grab shot between "real" shots in a moment of amusement. However I will try what you have suggested in the next session. Thank you for your comments.

Also thanks to Vince for his comments as well. I will enter the next shoot with new ideas from the folks at rff.

 

[FrankS]

Raise her chin/have her turn her head away slightly, and then raise the camera position if the raised chin looks odd. I'd stick with the Summar. The I61 especially is not kind to female portraits.

 

[danielnorton]

I love the softness & glow of these images, now I am anxious for my ebay won summar to arrive this week 😀

A young lady I work with agreed to pose for me and after two weekends with lousy weather we finally got together today. She was a very easy subject to work with and I wish I could have done her justice with my Leica (IMO I did not this time) . I shot the Kodak asa 400 B&W c-41 film rated at 320 as someone had suggested but I think I would have been off better rating it at 200. The Walgreens scratched three of the negs but thankfully they weren't poses I thought were all that wonderful anyway. Next time I will take them to the pro lab I use for my mf and lf film. They are more carefull. I can see from the results this time I need to work a LOT more with the Leica to get the kind of images I think are possible with the camera. My framing was off in more than one instance and focus was an issue in others. But these 3 are what I thought were the keeper's of the shoot.

I also shot two rolls of 120 with my 645. One of Velvia 100 which happened to be in the camera at the time and a roll of Tri-x. I used the 150mm for those and I think those will be much better as my tired old eyes could see to focus much easier with the larger viewfinder. 🙄

 

[remrf]

Raise her chin/have her turn her head away slightly, and then raise the camera position if the raised chin looks odd. I'd stick with the Summar. The I61 especially is not kind to female portraits.

I went and looked at some of the shots I had done with the 61 before I got the Summar and you are right. It is a more contrasty lens and one shot which most closely approximated the lighting of the shoot with Ashley has a good deal more"edge" to it. Care would have to be taken with the subject. But thankfully I have lots of film and it won't hurt to try it along with using the Summar under more controlled lighting conditions.

I did exactly what you suggested pose wise on the tri-x roll. I dropped the film off today for processing and contact sheet and will probably post a few of them on my web site. They are not rf related images.

 

[FrankS]

Please alert us when you do so. 🙂