First year with film, M6 and rangefinders

[Peter David Grant]

So before I show my few pictures, I'll just give you all a quick bit of background.

I decided about a year ago to sell all my digital gear and buy a film rangefinder. Having never experienced a rf or developed my own film it was a bit of a jump in to the unknown.

So I got myself a used M6 ttl and a new Voigtlander 35mm F1.4. I quickly settled on bulk loaded hp5 with d76 and found b&w film development easy enough. I also have a bulk panf, that I am going though slowly.

My only regret so far was the choice of vf magnification, at 0.85 and me wearing glasses, the 35mm frame lines are a bit vague.

Anyway, On to my pictures, I am interested to know what you think, where I can improve and what you like;

PS: Sorry if I've broken any posting rules

1. Oxford

2. CCTV

3. Contrast

4. Jamies

5. Bum

6. In the rain

7. Reader

 

[rover]

You make this huge decision, never ask our advise, settle on a film and developer without ever smelling the stuff before, and then come here afterwards and tell us about the results?

What are you, a photographer or something? 🙂

Hey, thank you and welcome to RFF, I enjoyed your work.

 

[shyoon]

The second photo is so good it hurts.

 

[Mablo]

Lovely work. Thanks for sharing and please, post some more.

 

[CopperB]

Yowzer! I love the entire series. They've left me wanting to see more and more.

 

[Keith]

Five and six are my favourites but they're all very, very good IMO!

So how do you feel about the M6 and your rangefinder experience ... aside from your slight viewfinder problem?

 

[River Dog]

Good call, I have recently made the same decision - now shooting with a Leica CL and a Zeiss 50mm as well as a variety of other old film cameras that caught my attention.

It is a real joy for me and I love your photos - you have an eye for people in their surroundings.

The 2nd one is quite special and the woman at Oxford Circus is well spotted.

 

[julescasablancas]

I like the complexity of #3 and the atmosphere of #7
Excellent!

 

[ChrisN]

Welcome! Some very good photos there - you have a keen eye and are a natural observer of people.

Do you feel you made the right decision (into rangefinder)?

 

[BobYIL]

- M6 .85 and M6 .72 are about the same price, so no problem in replacing your .85 if 35mm is your most used FL.

- It's obvious that you have talent to "see" and RF will help you to express the split-seconds better than your digital gear.

- Do not push HP5 in D76 if you want long gradations. Try once to rate it at 320 and reduce regular development time by one minute undiluted, you may like it better.

Film is wonderful, especially in B&W. Digital still have years to duplicate the same tones.

May light be with you.

Bob

 

[randomm]

Number 6. "in the rain" is very nice. Just straighten the horizon and start selling prints 🙂

 

[drinkingeye]

very good work indeed! I love no. 3. Keep up good work cheers

 

[Peter David Grant]

Thanks all for the very kind comments, and I've put a few more at the end of this post.

I am completely happy with with RF, as it suits me perfectly. The camera is so comfortable to use, simple and straight to the point. I am ever impressed by the latitude of film in comparison to digital. I've lost 2 rolls of shot film from stupid mistakes (opening tank in the light after loading film 5min earlier, and opening camera after rolling film back in. Least I thought I had, the film came off the spool and didn't have the feel of the rewind leaver to notice this at the time), but thats the way it goes.

I've not completely become one with the camera (only shot about 50 rolls so far) so I am not intuitive yet, but its getting better with each frame.

Overall though, the right decision was made.

Bob, I've only used d76 for hp5 @ 400, and panf @ 50. I've shot hp5 @ 1600 quite a few times developing in stock or 1+1 microphen. Eventually I might swap for different VF, but want to give it more time first, as I've not shot with any other lenses. I'll give shooting at 320 and reduce time as you suggest some time. Not been shooting much recently though.

The most important thing for me to improve though is my own self confidence around others. Got along way to go!

randomm, when ever I straighten the edge, I lose the edge of the chair at the left! I might be able to do something in Photoshop though. Selling prints is something I've been thinking about recently, Thanks for the kind words.

Finally thanks for the very kind welcome you've all given me here.

Anyway a few more;

1. Westminster

2. Down by the beach

3. Sorrow

4. No more work

 

[Keith]

You seem to have the ability to be able to use a small aperture with a corresponding large depth of field but isolate your subjects at the same time ... #7 really shows this IMO.

 

[Peter David Grant]

Keith,

In the case of #7, I would have preferred a smaller DOF, but that said still pleased with the image. Subject isolation has naturally appeared in my images and appears to be a strong point.

Cheers,

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I think it is refreshing to actually see some nice extended DOF. There seems to be an obsession these days with whisker thin DOF that, frankly, is getting boring. I like these photos.

 

[randomm]

randomm, when ever I straighten the edge, I lose the edge of the chair at the left! I might be able to do something in Photoshop though. Selling prints is something I've been thinking about recently, Thanks for the kind words.

Yes, you're right - my bad. Might be doable with a clone/stamp/content aware fill -session in PS though.

 

[will-i_am]

wow great style number 2 cctv is an awesome shot i love the sense of isolation and distance between the viewer and subject that is present in this and some of your other shots really nice use of the 35.

 

[Richard G]

Hat off to you, indeed. Loved rover's post.

 

[Mcary]

randomm, when ever I straighten the edge, I lose the edge of the chair at the left! I might be able to do something in Photoshop though.

I think if you go to Image/Rotate Canvas/Arbitrary and try some settings between .9 and 1.3 CCW and then use the crop or marguee to remove the excess/PS background you'll end-up with a straighter horizon without cutting of the left end of the bench, But you'll be cutting it pretty close.

BTW lovely work hope see much more in the coming weeks and months.