28 Sept 2010

Secret Film Development Process

I have been working on a new top secret film developing process which I shall now explain for the more technically minded among you. Please keep it to yourself because if this gets out then everybody is going to be doing it and it won't be unique, or secret, any longer.

Here it is step by step:
1.) Acquire any old 35mm film camera (cheap because nobody wants them any more) I used a Trip 35, but this process should work equally well with other types/brands too.
2.) Find some heavily expired, discontinued slide, E6, film. It's even better if it has been hand rolled into a C41 negative film canister. For the purposes of this scientific, photographic research I used Kodachrome 64, hand rolled into a 200 ISO Agfa negative film canister.
3.) Load said film into purchased camera.
4.) Find a subject and shoot it.
5.) Take film out of camera.
6.) This step is very important. Take film to local film development lab and hand it in without telling them what the film really is. They should just stick it through the regular C41 machine and press "go", or whatever it is they do back there that got so expensive to do in the last ten years.
7.) When you go to pick up the film they will think the film is ruined and they might not charge you for the development. Make sure you take the film home anyway, don't be a sucker.
8.) Scan your film as negative film.
9.) Mess with the resultant images in the GIMP/Photoshop/Paintshop Pro, etc. until it looks kinda old and groovy like the samples below.
10.) Post them on-line for all to see and claim that you have discovered a new top secret process for developing film.






What are you doing here reading this blog post, get out now and go have some fun! GO!

25 Sept 2010

My favourite guest house in Witbank


If you are going to be staying in Witbank at any time in the near future, I highly recommend the D&L Guest House! Great guest house, fantastic service, personal touch.

17 Sept 2010

Contemplation


Another natural light shot, with harsh light streaming in through a window. I like to think it adds mood...

16 Sept 2010

My friend Jesus - Portrait


After shooting a bunch of portraits with my cheapo umbrella/flash set-up I decided to take an available light portrait of my Mexican friend Jesus.

The Nikon 35 f1.8 DX AFS does a really great job, and sharp too!

15 Sept 2010

Micro Stock photography sites are "evil"

At least most of them are... and I have believed for some time that they have damaged the industry. Nice to see someone agrees with me. There is an article here: “Unsustainable” – MicroStock Comes of Age…er, Not. that deals with the Micro Stock photography industry and explains why it is not all coming up roses.

I personally have never had the urge to sell my hard work for a pittance and probably never will develop that urge, but the Micro Stock industry has affected many hard working photographers worldwide negatively anyway. If you feel the urge to work for nothing, at least do it for a good charitable cause, not to simply enrich some jerk in an office a thousand miles away!

Daryl - Portrait


Nikon D90, Nikon 35mm f1.8, SB600 flash shot thru cheap transparent umbrella = lots of fun!

14 Sept 2010

Kevin - Portrait


Putting my umbrella to good use!

I could really get used to having so much control over the light...

13 Sept 2010

Another from the same session


It's amazing what a big difference the cheap budget shoot through umbrella makes to portraits as opposed to direct flash. A definite step up in terms of quality! The diffuse light falls off much more gently, and gives a nicer, more natural look. One day I want to step up to more powerful studio lights, but until then my existing flash units look like they can handle these smaller jobs.

12 Sept 2010

Phoebe - Portrait


Trying out my new shoot thru umbrella with a Nikon SB600 flash inside.