Inspired by Gerry’s comment on BlueSky I set out recently to photograph three locations with different cameras. My BTS post sets the scene. An unexpected delay in getting to develop the 5×7 sheets has meant a nervous wait to see if I actually had any large format images to share.
Location 1. Phone and MIA 612m only
Phone (top) and MIA 612m pinhole
I presume the phone uses AI or similar to increase the tonal range of the image but as can be seen the foreground, which in reality was in deep shadow, doesn’t fare so well in the film image. Does it bother me? Well no. The phone image is technically very good but somehow lacks atmosphere and is pretty soulless to my taste. But then I’m predisposed to the film aesthetic.
Location 2. Phone, Intrepid 5×7 and MIA 612m
Phone (top) MIA (bottom & right)
As before the phone does a very competent job albeit it makes the day look brighter than it really was.
5×7 Pinhole
5×7 lensed version
Location 3. Phone, Intrepid 5×7 and MIA 612m
Phone (top) MIA (bottom)
5×7 pinhole
5×7 lensed
Sadly much of the detail in the 5×7 images is lost when they are compressed for the interweb. However, the difference in terms of detail between lens and lensless is very noticeable. Both have their own unique properties though and in their own ways I enjoy them both.
Recently whilst on the 576 bus heading off to meet Jon I spotted a mist filled copse of trees along the way and thought what a great location it would be for some misty images. I mentally filed it away ready for the next time a misty start was forecast.
Just two days later, with mist forecast, and indeed present where I live, I was on another 576 heading for that self-same copse.
Unfortunately, the mist was not as thick there as it had been at home but I still made a few images and had a look around the location ready to try again another day. Here’s a handful of snaps.
All images: Fuji X100T
I didn’t come home with the images I’d hoped for and indeed didn’t make a single exposure with the ever-present pinhole camera but it was a great opportunity to ensure I knew how to get there, how, indeed if it was possible to get into the copse and what photographic potential there was. I will be back!
As this is my year of pinhole photography it’s fitting that my first foray into the 10×8 arena should be with a pinhole camera. With a 10×8 sheet having a surface area four times greater than 4×5 the new camera will dwarf my Titan 4×5 and definitely won’t fit in my everyday-carry messenger bag. As it doesn’t fold down I very much doubt it will fit in the messenger bag I carry the Intrepid 5×7 in either.
Film photography is a niche hobby and large format 10×8 is a niche within that niche … so I guess 10×8 pinhole photography is a niche within a niche within a niche?
To be honest this was not on my radar even a week before I made the purchase. However, a throwaway comment from myself about seeing a Titan 10×8 in my future (I meant in the medium term not the short term) led to “are you serious?” followed swiftly by “I’m sending you a film holder”. When I prevaricated I got the reply “JFDI”, which to be fair I’d used when John was contemplating a lovely walnut and brass 10×8 field camera. This was followed by “I will pre-load it with two sheets of film” and at this point I capitulated. Well, wouldn’t you after such pressure? 😇.
The plan is to use it to make 10×8 paper negatives, exploring both 10×8 photography and a new-to-me technique of paper negatives. I shall of course document my experiences on here.
The camera arrives today … I just need to sell some kit now to pay for it!
The Fuji X100T takes the honours as I take to the streets with @blackeyeddog.bsky.social
All images Fuji X100T
I very rarely photograph graffiti for its own sake and it’s even rarer for me to share it when I do. Why? Well is not my art, it’s someone else’s, so it’s not mine to share. Some graffiti sneaks in, as in the image below, but only as part of the overall scene and not the subject. Indeed, graffiti loses a lot of its impact when photographed in black and white.
Not from this walk (pinhole)
Yesterday however I made a rare exception. On a cold, damp, bland day I met up with good friend Jon for a coffee, photo walk, beer and mainly a good old natter. The light however was virtually non-existent. A quick meter reading revealed that the pinhole cameras in my bag would need a minimum of fifteen minutes to gather enough light for a decently exposed negative. One reading extrapolated to a three hour exposure time once reciprocity was factored in. And the city centre we were walking around wasn’t the most salubrious I’ve ever seen and standing in one spot for any length of time was not really a good idea. Jon’s spidey senses were on high alert.
This barber was very busy.
Pragmatism is a key skill for any urban photographer in my view, and being prepared to change previously well-defined and thought out plans in light of circumstances a prerequisite if a day is not to be wasted. It was clearly a day to leave the pinhole cameras in the shoulder bag and pull the ever-present Fuji X100T from my coat pocket. Candid photography is a genre I enjoy albeit not something I do very often.
The digital camera it would be, set to street-shooting mode and carried on my wrist, easily and naturally hidden in my pocket should the need arise. After three frames I finally made one candid (see top) but it was destined to be my only one of the day as the scarcity of people on the streets effectively ruled candid photography out. Indeed, the only folk we saw in reasonable numbers were not the folk you’d want to attract the attention of. A couple of times we moved swiftly on and opted to look for a different shot.
He’s a bit too far away for this to be a true candid. In fact it was the juxtaposition of the workman and the mural that drew me and I waited to align his yellow coat with the fallen road sign and double yellow lines.
So, after a coffee and a good catch up we decided to take a meandering walk in a vague loop around the city centre, sticking our noses, and our feet of course, down alleyways and the lesser trod streets in search of photographic inspiration. All the time I think we were being gently led towards the pub and a well-deserved pint however. Jon found a street he’d photographed before which had a rich selection of graffiti and we nosed along its length making several images; it would end up being the most photographed part of our walk.
I managed to fit a person into this frame … just about
And this one
So, photographing graffiti is not usually my thing for reasons already stated. I did however add my own touch to these images. My choice of composition, what elements were left in the final image, what was excluded and the amount of context were literally framed how the scene would be seen. For the images in the cobbled back street such as the one preceding this paragraph I also tweaked the files in Snapseed to give them a slightly more saturated and vibrant look. As the first and last images in this post (both presented as the camera processed them) demonstrate however the overcast, even light really brought out the vibrant colours on the street without my “help”.
I snuck another figure in!
We spent less than an hour making images, I only ended up with around thirty images on the memory card including a few duplicates. Most of our time was spent catching up and talking cameras and photography. It was a great way to spend a few hours in excellent company.
Duckett Lane deserved a close-up I thought.
Finally, the first image I made on the day.
So there you have it. Some rare graffiti images courtesy of a damp, overcast day and my ever-present Fuji X100T. Thanks must go to Jon for the conversation, his company and of course his spidey senses!
BTS on a LF/MF comparison shoot. In which a surprise from @miapinholecameras.bsky.social comes in very handy. Real jeopardy as I’m posting this sneak peek BEFORE I’ve developed the LF sheets. #believeinfilm #pinhole
I recently took a walk with a 5×7 field camera, four sheets of Fomapan 200 film, a 6×9 pinhole camera with a part used roll of Kodak Tri-X and my phone. The plan was to make some comparison images for Gerry. I had three compositions in mind; the first would only be photographed with the 6×9 pinhole and my phone as I only had enough sheets of film for two locations. At the other two locations I’d make five images:
Phone
6×9 pinhole vertical
6×9 pinhole horizontal
5×7 pinhole
5×7 with a regular lens
I’ve not developed the four sheets of 5×7 as yet so I still have my fingers crossed for those but the medium format film is drying as I type and of course the phone images are already available. I’d considered delaying this post until I knew for sure I had images … but what the heck, I always share the good, the bad and the ugly so even if I have messed up, and it’s been a while since I shot 5×7, I’d be sharing them anyway.
As you can imagine a 5×7 field camera even with just the bare essentials of absolutely necessary accessories is not the lightest thing to carry about. However, I’ve pared down my kit sufficiently that it all fits in a Tenba DNA 16 Pro DSLR Messenger Bag. I still need to carry a decent tripod, you can’t stick a 5×7 field camera on a mini tripod that fits in a coat pocket.
Location 1
Location 2
Location 3
Now, having bragged about condensing a whole 5×7 kit into a (large) messenger bag I have to confess I left my spot meter on the table at home so ended up metering with my phone.
The phone is a Samsung A56, not top of the range but it does what I need it to do without fuss.
The pinhole was of course the MIA 612m configured for 6×9. Finally, I used an Intrepid 5×7 field camera with a 210mm lens (180-210 is considered the “normal” focal length for 5×7) and a slightly wider Intrepid f180 150mm pinhole board.
Working method: first I decided upon the broad composition and set up the tripod. The 5×7 was placed on the tripod and the 210mm lens fitted. Composition was tweaked and the tripod was then locked down and not moved for the duration. The usual 5×7 “dance” followed, which I have to confess I enjoy. With focus achieved, lens closed and set to f32, yellow filter and cable release both fitted I proceeded to reach for the (not present) spot meter to decide on shutter speed. Compromising with a global reading on my phone I then set the shutter speed and made the lensed exposure.
The lens was then swapped out and the pinhole board fitted for the second exposure. With that done I removed the Intrepid and put the MIA in its place for the two (horizontal and vertical) exposures re-measuring the light. I made three meter readings at each location – for the lensed image, for the 5×7 pinhole and then for the MIA. Given how quick it is to change the orientation of the MIA there was no need to remeasure between takes.
When I wrote my original impressions blog post for the MIA 612m I mentioned that I’d like a second tripod socket for vertical images. Imagine my surprise when a week later I received a prototype L-bracket especially for the 612m in the post. It can be used free-standing or on an Arca-Swiss tripod plate. Speaking to Andrea I understand he will soon be offering this through the shop on his website. Thank you Andrea!
I will never tire of looking at a ground glass screen
All three locations completed it was time to head home. With one frame left on the MIA I got out the gorilla pod and framed up a bonus image. The four minute exposure time gave me an opportunity to mentally review what I’d just done.
I am waiting for a new developing tank to arrive so the reveal may be a few days away as yet … I’m keeping everything crossed.
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