Summer 2011

Random Pictures

disclaimer: original bad to the bone pictures with no help from instagram.

Film Scans

The top one was shot with the newish Kodak Portra 400, Hasselblad 500C/M and Carl Zeiss 80mm f/2.8.  I like the color and the grain isn't bad at all.

The middle two were shot using a Yashica Mat-124G and Kodak Ektar 100.  I like the color and everything.  I am always pleasantly surprised by how good the images are coming from such a small lens of such primitive contraption.

The bottom one was shot using a Nikon FE and Kodak 400VC.  I don't like the color and grain at all.  This is not the first time.  I don't know if it's because underexposed.

Grand Central

Another one in b/w.

Snowstorm In NYC

Captured using a Yashica Mat-124 G.  Kodak E100G.  Scale and level in GIMP.  Again my 1976 Yashica Mat-124 G proves to be snowstorm worthy.  Woo hoo.

Grand Central

Developed for 8 minutes using HC-110 diluted at 1:49 at 68F. I am not too anal about the numbers even supposedly I should be. The temperature is probably off and the time probably off a bit.

The Epson V500 is basically a disappointment. The software and the film mounts are just atrocious. I cut my 6x6 in 3-frame strip and it's very cumbersome to load that onto the mount, a 4-frame strip maybe a bit easier but my protective sleeve is for 3-frame film. In any event the frames on both ends of the strip would definitely be difficult to mount no matter it's a 3 or 4 frame strip. That said, I believe you can get decent scans from the machine, if you can get the negative properly mounted, and you can get rid of the dust. Good luck wrestling those.

Sometimes, I am pleasantly surprised by my Yashica. It's just a little camera that can. Many of the pictures I like are from this TLR. I can't change the lens so there is no chance I could be using the wrong lens, like my Nikon and Hasselblad. And the pictures are sharp though I don't have any empirical proof it's sharper than my Carl Zeiss but it really doesn't matter much. The shooting experience is great. With no meter, I got most of the exposures all right, of course, film latitude helps a great deal.

Grand Central

Yashica Mat-124 G and Hasselblad 500C/M

Both use 120 film, but I took a measurement of the image size on the negative and the Yashica is a 56x56mm square while the Hasselblad with my C12 back produces an image size of 55x55mm.  The images from the Yashica almost always stray too close to the film edges.  When I load the film I have to make sure the top take up spool mechanism is flushed all the way in and during shooting (it has some play), otherwise the image may really go too close to one side of the edge overlapping the film code there.

UPDATE:  YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, CLICK THE LABELS BELOW TO SEE MORE.

Yashica Mat-124 G

The re-birth.  I sent it for a quick fix and now it's back.  I have an easier time focusing with it than the Hasselblad.  I think it's a nice camera for medium format.

Yashica Mat 124-G

Here's what a graduated neutral density filter would help to give the sky a darker shade of blue.

update: 7/8/2010
GUYS:  Click on the related labels below for more Yashica Mat 124-G.  You have come a long way.

Negative

I shall continue to post crap.

This is a negative scan from my super duper all in one photo-copy-printer-scanner.  If you want to buy me an Epson V750, please let me know.  The above is just a negative scan with color inverted done in GIMP.  The quality is astoundingly bad.  I hope it's just the scan and not the negative itself because that would be bad, really bad.

Black And White From Yashica Mat-124 G

WARNING:  ANOTHER VERY BORING POST

I redeemed myself.  I shot a roll of 125PX earlier and I developed it when I got home.  I am now washing the film in the washbasin, once it hit 30 minutes, I will give a one-minute photo-flo bath and hang it up to dry.  I just peeked at the first few frames and they looked good, at least I didn't introduce any kinks while I loaded the film onto the steel reel.

Okay, I just finished everything.  I hung up the roll and I noticed something.  The square image, unfortunately, shifted just a tiny little bit to the left with emulsion side facing away and the first frame at the bottom.  What it means is the bump on the bottom of the camera caused a shift of the back ever so slightly that the image no longer stays on the dead center of the roll.  As the image is actually upside down when in the camera, so I think the back has shifted a bit to the left pulling the film with it.  The problem is more pronounced in the middle of the roll as the edge of the image ever so slightly touches the Kodak code on the edge.  I don't know if it merits a trip to the repairman, the last time I got a quote from a well known repairman I didn't do it.  It was expensive though I am quite sure it's gonna be worth it.  I may want to check earlier negative see if it has the problem, because honestly I don't know for sure if this is a pre-existing condition or not.

Another thing I notice, though not really related to the Yashica, but it's more a general 120 roll film thing.  So far I have been leaving the tape that tapes the film and the backing paper on the film when developing, I just ripped the backing paper from it and taped it back on the glossy side of the film.  On second thought after having developed four rolls, I think it might not be such a good idea to leave it there, especially the practice of taping it back on the film.  It tends to retain the chemicals, the next time I better rip the tape off, if not the whole tape at least the part left after the backing paper is off.  It's not a major problem but I can see it can be a potential problem.  I saw bluish liquid dripping down from the tape area, even the thirty-minute wash didn't remove those chemicals trapped in the taped area.  The film should be free from chemicals after the wash.  Next time I should rip the tape off completely.

Alex

Brothers

Summer 2008

This is from my humble Yashica Mat-124 G. You know, I really can't see a difference between my Hasselblad and this camera. On a bright sunny day, if I shoot f8 or f11, the results from both camera are just as good. Though it's hard to imagine the punny lens from my Yashica could be just as good as the 80mm f2.8 Planar T. But seriously, what do I know?

Camping

This was our vacation this past summer. We tent camped in Pennsylvania. This was shot using my Yashica Mat, loaded with Portra 120 NC expired some time ago. I like expired film, they are cheap affordable they are good if you can find them. The scan is good not great I suppose. The print is actually better. I am really impressed with my own brand of photography, how do I get my exposure so right? Man, I am a genius. I just love myself as a photographer.

Cast iron pan, I love my cast iron pan.

PS: With the economy in free fall, tent camping might soon become a necessity....

Random Pictures

I was going to say random excellence but modesty prevents me from saying that.

Portrait of Mr. Harry

Alley Pond Park Camping

Sunken Meadow State Park

I don't know if I ever want to use the light meter again. I got another roll of my 120 back and I just like the exposures, every single one of them. Maybe it's because of the printer? I don't know. Even shooting at the sun, there is no color fringing, no noise on the black shirt. Whoo hoo.