alternative process

Film Doesn’t Matter

by EveNSteve

Lately I am seeing far too many images praised, not for their quality, but simply because they are film based. Much as I love film, that pisses me off. I want to see great work get attention- film or digital- whatever!

Favoring film-based images simply because they’re from film strikes me as similar to the mistake that some shooters make when they assume a certain camera brand (did someone say Leica?) magically makes their images superior. Bottom Line… use the tools that help you make your work. Process is important but it’s not all-important especially to a collector or client… in the end people buy what they like.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

News From Kodak on Film Production Materials

by EveNSteve

Kodak

So in case you missed  the hysteria: Kodak is no longer going to make acetate which is a base material for most roll films… HOWEVER!! this does not mean the end of film for Kodak. Kodak reportedly has several years worth of  material on hand, their sheet films are on ESTAR base material- which they still produce- and they are looking for additional vendors to fill their acetate needs when their supply runs does out… again not for several years. This is really not as big a deal as some would suggest. Other sources of acetate exist- there will be a lot more news like this in the coming years from all current film makers, so we as film shooters need to take it in stride and not freak out – yet! For now just go shoot some freaking film!

Link to article:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/The_Storyboard/4294971668/index.htm

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Emulation – Film Is Still King

by EveNSteve

Please click on the audio play button below to listen to a 3 minute discussion why digital emulation “proves” that film is still king!

LF Kickstarter – Travelwide 4×5 Camera

by EveNSteve

Of course not the first camera of this kind and I do worry about the build quality BUT at $100 for the camera (lens and accessories are additional $$$$$$) it is quite interesting.

Travelwide 4x5
Travelwide 4×5

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderlust/travelwide-45-camera

As I said others options do exist and many with a better build quality and additional options, however, anything to keep film and LF alive is cool by me! Ive been shooting a lot of LF in the last few months… but more on that and a review of some LF films and processing options in a few weeks.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Presenting The Cuboid Selectascope

by EveNSteve

After quite a while working with my Cuboid camera I asked Matt Abelson of Abelson Scopeworks if a turret with 6 scopes would be possible to retrofit to my Cuboid while maintaining the ultra wide 25mm focal length… all I have to say is that it is spot on for my artworks and damn does it look nice!!

With the custom SELECTASCOPE option I have the choice of F196 – F32 with a Zone Plate at F45! The varying degree of sharpness and the option of overlaying different levels of sharpness on the same negative through multiple exposure is a creative A-Bomb…. ART Bomb that is!

The Cuboid SELECTASCOPE

Previous articles on the Cuboid:

https://figitalrevolution.com/2010/02/08/the-cuboid-pinhole-camera-pimped-out/

https://figitalrevolution.com/2009/12/18/new-addition-to-the-cuboid/

https://figitalrevolution.com/2009/10/29/the-cuboid-multi-aspect-ratio-pinhole-camera-part-2/

https://figitalrevolution.com/2009/10/22/the-cuboid-pinhole-120-film-camera-abelson-scopeworks-schaub-indianhill/

For those of you who are curious I believe only one Cuboid is left for sale!

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

The End Of Film? Or… The End Of Digital?

by EveNSteve

Click on the audio play button to listen to this 14 minute discussion on the future of photography by Stephen Schaub.

LINKS:

How Much Longer Can Photographic Film Hold On?

Traditional Camera Film Makes A Come Back

Kodak BW400CN and Fuji Acros Compared in Caffenol C

by EveNSteve

Here is an interesting side by side… shot within a few minutes of each other. The BW400CN is an EI of 200 (this film in my Caffenol C process has a very usable EI range from 50-800). The Fuji Acros is an EI of 100 (box speed… depending on processing time the Acros has a usable EI from 50-800). Both can go further in either direction but this range is the real sweet spot. The crops represent a 4″ x 4″ from a 20″ x 20″ image size… yes the BW400CN has more grain but it is much sharper and I am not sure the grain would even print at the 20″ x 20″ size. Both films have fantastic reciprocity characteristics with no adjustment required until 120 sec.

When you hover over the image it will give the description of the thumbnail.

Viva la Revolution-

Stephen

Kodak 400TX Caffenol Test

by EveNSteve

As you know I’ve been doing a lot of testing with Caffenol C in preparation for my book The Photographer’s Coffee Break but this morning I needed to run a quick test with Caffenol (no C) and Kodak 400TX… the results are really nice. With the Caffenol you get a usable film speed around 100 with nice contrast and grain… what’s not to like? Additionally, I have been spending time testing different methods to eliminate edge density which is very common on Caffenol and Caffenol C processed films- this morning I think I nailed it… more testing this afternoon but this image had no edge density which my previous tests with this film and others did have.

Kodak 400TX Caffenol Process

Stay tuned…

Viva la Revolution-

Stephen

Kodak BW400CN Processed in Caffenol C

by EveNSteve

The testing continues… BW400CN (C-41) by Kodak processed in my tweaked Caffenol C… the testing for this film is almost done… usable EI is around EI 50 – 400 / 800 all with the same processing time! Grain has a nice defined presence but not overpowering. A big advantage to this material beyond the flexability of the EI as mentioned above is the fact that is has fantastic reciprocity characteristics (no compensation required till 120 seconds) and it is very easy to scan on almost any scanner.

Below is a sample image shot with my Leica MP with a 28mm lens – the EI for this shot is 200. The dark barn board above the doors was placed at Zone 3… the light snow outside which has full detail is Zone 16!! This is a straight scan with minor adjustments in PS for contrast / levels… more soon.

Here is an example just for comparision of the same test shot on Kodak Tmax 400 processed in PMK using the technique outline here… instant coffee is looking pretty dam good!

Note: both shots were done using only natural light.

Manipulation: The World’s Second Oldest Profession

by EveNSteve

Click on the audio blog logo to listen to this 7 minute discussion on manipulation and how I feel photography should embrace it as a core belief rather than shy away from admitting something that is at the very nature of our medium. First, however, watch the videos below (full screen with your sound turned on if possible).

“Is it a brave new world? Or are we just now admitting something that has always been true: all photography at its core involves some form of manipulation.” -Stephen Schaub, Leader Figital Revolution