Leica + Paris

Darkhorse

Darkhorse

pointed and shot
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Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
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I must be doing something wrong; my lightmeter sucks, or I screwed something up in processing (while exhausted may I ad). My negs seem so thin. I was able to pull some images, and photoshop out some spots and streaks. Maybe I shouldn't have used a powder developer when I haven't before, maybe I should've used new fixer. Shoulda coulda woulda.

At any rate, the scans scanned on auto levels seem OK. I'm just worried about traditional printing.

For the past week I've been in Paris for work. I did manage to go outside before (while jetlagged) and after work (while tired) and shoot some rolls with my new (to me) M4P and 50mm Summicron.

I'm tired.


Scan-110416-0018 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0020 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0026 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0068 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0072 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0061 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0066 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0076 by formerairline, on Flickr


Scan-110416-0078 by formerairline, on Flickr
 
They look reasonable to me, perhaps too much contrast, which might mean underexposed?
I was in Paris this past week, was shooting sunny f16 most of the time and then about 2 stops down in the shade with my MP. Paris is lovely.
I counted 4 film cameras outside my own but didn't see yours
 
Your posts look very good and I don't think you'll have a problem getting good prints. Paris is a beautiful city to photograph and to experience. I brought back quite a few really good shots but how can you go wrong there?
 
marcr1230 said:
They look reasonable to me, perhaps too much contrast, which might mean underexposed?
Click to expand...

They do look very much underexposed. The lens is contrasty as well.
A variety of things may have gone wrong, the chemicals I tend to use are out of stock or old, the lightmeter may be off, etc.
 
they look good on screen here but that might be your post processing. Nice shots - I love the one of the pussy cat :)
 
Darkhorse, they're all nice. I like Scan-110416-0020 the best and they all make me want to go back to Paris. On the critique side, the contrast in many of this set is not what I am used to seeing from your work . Your style is often more delicate than some of these. As others have said, I'll bet you'll be able to print these just fine. Scan-110416-0078 is also very nice.
 
People were taking lots of photos of the art at the Louvre. I didn't see much point of taking photos of the paintings, if you like one you can buy a nice print of one. Statues are a bit more photogenic, even though the museum takes care of the hard part with the lighting.

Yes, this is very much more contrast than I usually do.

Usually for processing I use a concentrated D76 equivalent no-name brand developer, but it was getting old and my local photo place doesn't carry it any more so I mixed up some powder D76.

For fixer I use the same no-name Fixer/Hypo Eliminator combo solution. I had a little bit left and so I used it because the photo place also didn't have hypo for the new fixer I bought. But it's old, and it maybe more hypo than fixer, who knows? I probably should've used the new stuff and washed for a longer time. In fact I should've washed for a longer time anyway, judging from the streaks and spots (that will not come out) on the film.

I should've used the new fixer, and the rodinal I have... but it's so grainy. Bah. Oh well.
 
Paris ain't much of a town. (Quote by - Babe Ruth)

I completely disagree. I loved Paris. One day I'll go back ... without teenaged children.
 
I was also in Paris recently, but just for the day so it was not really a relaxed trip. I'm curious about your film choice and developing times. What does a contact sheet look like - presumably thin negs = dark contacts, hence the contrast 'boost' in scanning? Your night shot doesn't seem to lack shadow detail though!
 
I shot 4 rolls in total, Tri-X 400 at box speed, and 2 rolls Arista Premium 400 (same thing) pushed to 1600. The last night shot was a total guess as far as exposure goes, I just opened it as much as I comfortably could - ƒ2 at 1/30 I think.
 
Photos look great to me. Make me want to leave work right now and get on an airplane to Paris. That said, I would like to rant for a minute. People on this forum are willing to spend big bucks on gear, but try to save a few pennies on old, long expired film and in your case, old chemicals. As the old saying goes "film is cheap, airfare is expensive" and I might say that chemicals are even cheaper than film. Before a big trip, when I buy my film, I make sure that I buy chemicals as well, so that when I get back I can process everything in fresh stuff.
 
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