film capture

The New Kodak Ektar Film in 120 – A Quick Review

by EveNSteve

As promised here is a quick review of the new Kodak Ektar film in 120!

Full 120 Ektar Test Image

Click on image to see crop detail… full size image is 40″ x 40″, crop detail is a 4.5″ x 4.5″ section outlined in the above image as a white box. 

Technical Stuff… 

  • Camera: Rollei TLR “F”
  • Exposure: 1/60 at F11
  • Film: Kodak Ektar 120, EI 64 (Same as my test for the 35mm version.)
  • Scanned on an Imacon Scanner, dry.  I did my scan using a color setup I had created for the 35mm version of this film (scanner setting all balanced to a Macbeth Color Chart in direct sun) and found that it matched perfectly when opened in Photoshop.

 macbeth-color-checkerColor Chart Example. 

  • Photoshop adjustments limited to levels.
  • Full Size File: 600MB at 360 DPI which equals a 40″ x 40″ Print.
  • Cropped area equals a 4.5″ x 4.5″ section of the full 40″ x 40″ Print.

Conclusion… as with the 35mm version of this new film from Kodak it is hard to find something not to like… it scans quite easily, has great contrast and color, very fine grain with good sharpness. Again, I feel that it performs better in contrasty light at and EI of 64 than the box speed of 100 but that is just my opinion. Link to First Ektar Article here on FR.

ONE QUESTION… did you see the bent nail in the detail crop?… WOW!

Viva la Revolution-
Stephen

Buying Used Photographic Equipment

by EveNSteve

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Buying used photographic gear can be a great way to save a few bucks and get that lens or camera body you’ve been dreaming of now. In this audioblog I outline a few suggestions to consider when buying used gear online or at a photographic store.

The artwork below was just made with my “used” Leica M7 and my “used” Leica 90mm Elmarit Lens.

leafearringsvermont2009springm7

Last Year’s Leaves, Vermont. 2009
From A New Eden
Leica M7 with 90mm Elmarit Lens
In Camera Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique, 3X
Kodak Ektar Film
Printed 9.5″ x 25″ on Fabriano 640 gsm Rough, Hand Coated.
Copyright Stephen Schaub 2009

detailvermont09

Print surface detail, hand-coated Fabriano.

The Corrupted M7 Meets Kodak Ektar

by EveNSteve

Ah yes I had a bit too much time on my hands Friday… I just figured out a method for slipping film in my Leica  M7 using a similar technique I’ve outlined here for the XA and LCA camera systems… somewhere there is a German engineer grinding his teeth!

Early Spring, Vermont. 2009

Early Spring, Vermont. 2009
Leica M7 with 50mm Summilux F 1.4 Lens
In Camera Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique, 3X
Kodak Ektar Film
Printed 10″ x 25″ on Fabriano 640 gsm Rough, Hand Coated.
Copyright Stephen Schaub 2009

Tapestry, Vatican Museum, Italy. 2009

by EveNSteve

Here is another example from my recent photographic trip to Italy where I had to work through a difficult situation with many restrictions but in the end was rewarded with an image I really like. The artwork was made in the Vatican Museum which is really beautiful and amazing, but as you can imagine very strict with rules about what and how you can photograph. This image is an overlapping frame panoramic (3 frames, in camera) of two different tapestries… I visualized my final image and selectively chose different elements from  two different tapestries to create a new tapestry of my own.

tapestriesvatican_triple_schaub_2009

Tapestry, Vatican Museum, Italy. 2009
Triple Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique
Capture: Olympus XA 4, Kodak Ektar 100
Image Size: 9.5″ x 25″, Printed on Fabriano Rough 640 GSM
Edition Size: One.
Copyright Stephen Schaub 2009

NOTE: Stay tuned for my next two articles on REDSCALE film and thoughts on the Black Cat Extended Exposure Guide.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Thoughts on Exposure Calculators

by EveNSteve

Do you trust your light meter?… I don’t! Good exposure is the result of a healthy relationship between camera technology and your visual memory/ brains. In the video below I discuss other options to your in-camera meter or even a hand-held meter as a suggestion for creative growth and better photographic control.

LINKS:

Fred Parker Ultimate Exposure Computer

(Fred Parkers information on exposure is a  good read and something to spend a bit of time with.)

Rick Oleson Really Clever Pocket Exposure Calculator

Exposure Mat by Dave Harris

Andys Handy Exposure Calculator by Andrew Lawn

andyshandyexposurewithdof(In the video I call this Handy Andy’s Exposure Calculator and of course it is Andy’s Handy Exposure Calculator… sorry!) Just as a note this is my favorite Exposure Calculator from the list above.

The image to the left is Andy’s Handy Exposure Calculator with my attached Rollei 35 DOF Chart. What more could you want!?

 

and here is some good information on LV and EV…

What Are LV and EV by Ken Rockwell

One more Exposure Calculator…

Shoot Diana Exposure Calculator

The Shoot Diana Exposure Calculator is made specifically for the Diana+ camera by yours truly… it’s not free like the ones listed above but at only $5 it won’t break the bank either.

Happy shooting… Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Note: What was the first practical photographic light meter? The Weston Photronic Exposure Meter model 617 ca 1932/33.

Caligula and Friends

by EveNSteve

How’s that for a catchy title? The image below represents- as I mentioned in my audio blog journal from Italy – a situation where I had to work though some difficult restrictions but in the end was rewarded with an image I really like. The artwork was made in the Vatican Museum which is really beautiful and amazing, but as you can imagine very strict with rules about what and how you can photograph. When we entered the “room of heads” (my name) I was really drawn to the layers of history and how everything seemed to merge into an ordered historic chaos. This was also a situation where the macro feature of the XA 4 really came in handy!

Caligula and Friends

Caligula and Friends
Vatican Museum, 2009
Triple Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique
Capture: Olympus XA 4, Kodak Ektar 100
Image Size: 9″ x 25″, Printed on Fabriano Rough 640 GSM
Copyright Stephen Schaub 2009

Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique

by EveNSteve

Below find new artworks from my recent photographic trip to Italy. All of the images below were shot on an XA 4 using Kodak Ektar film. I am still scanning and editing my film and anticipate finishing this body of work in a month or two, at which time I will post a complete portfolio. No titles yet; just basic information with each image for identification purposes. The last image in the series however is a photograph of a finished printed artwork from this series and as such has additional information.

To view additional artworks made using this technique please view my A New Eden Artworks.

One last image made since my return and after figuring out how to do this technique on the Rollei 35… experimentation is key!

setsoftreesbenningtonvt1
Sets of Trees, Bennington, Vermont. 2009
Copyright Stephen Schaub. 2009

Italy Photographic Journal

by EveNSteve

AudioBlog Logo

I decided to keep a quick audio journal on my recent photographic trip to Italy. Each day recording is around 2 or 3 minutes long, with thoughts on light, travel and places visited as well as on what worked and what didn’t. Also see the snapshots below of places mentioned in the audio, as well as yours truly in Rome… note the well traveled BBB2 (also note how the flash is illuminating the reflective panel… this level of safety is really nice in a city like Rome with its somewhat questionable driving regulations!)

Viva la Revolution! –  Stephen

Kodak Ektar 100 Now in 120!

by EveNSteve

kodakektar120When you have a great product run with it! Kodak has just announced the release of Kodak Ektar 100 in 120… this makes sense from a marketing point and is something I feel photographers working in film capture should be very excited about…I know I am!

Available April 09.

Press Release Link

Viva la Revolution! – Stephen