FILM PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo walk with La Mer Nordique - September 2021
A few weeks ago I posted images from the old roadside restaurant & motel in Brännebrona, Sweden. Then the images where digital but now I’ve got the scans back from the lab! So here are the results :) For me film does it almost every time. The overexposed Portra looks amazing and adds another dimension to the image.
All images shot on Hasselblad 500CM // Carl Zeiss 80mm 2.8 CF // Kodak Portra 400
Scans by Carmencita Film Lab on the Fuji Frontier SP3000 (slightly edited by me, but more on that in my next journal entry).
Inspired by those of you that manage to do an entire 365, meaning one photo a day for a year, I’m now doing a similar project over the summer. I have done this once before. That time it was one camera, one lens, one film (Leica M7, 50 summicron, Tri-X). This time it’s a mix of both film and digital but still in black & white. It’s something poetic about that with suits my style for this project. What do I photograph? It could be just a certain light, a detail in my surroundings or something else that summons up the day I had.
The gear I’m using this summer is still the Leica M7, 50mm summicron V4, Tri-X metered for the shadows and pushed one stop in development. Scanned by Carmencita Film Lab on the Fuji Frontier 3000. On the digital side I’m using the Fujifilm X-pro2. A camera I just got and that really helps me in getting the imagery I want. It’s almost as simple to use as the M7. I turn off the LCD screen and focus manually. Initially I used the X-pro1. A lighter camera, which I like, but with inferior evf. So that made me upgrade. But still the pro1 is a great camera in many ways. The lens is the phenomenal Mitakon speedmaster 35mm 0.95. About a 50 1.4 in 35mm terms and has a really nice micro contrast and 3D separation. Bokeh? Melting :)
For post processing I use Mastin Labs Kodak Everyday Original and the Tri-X preset. Just two clicks, one for the preset and one for “All soft”. Then maybe adjust the exposure a bit. That’s it. Another favourite among presets are Rebecca Lily presets. I use her SET V for b&w.
Working like this gets me the consistency I’m after with my photography. I can work seamless between film and digital and enjoy both worlds. I will do the entire post after the summer when all is developed. But I will update images to this post as we go along.
Here’s another part of my on going city guide over Gothenburg. This time covering Haga, an old part of town from around 1800. There are some of the old buildings left making it a very charming place, filled with shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Back in the days mostly workers lived here with really low standards. Worth a visit I think! Look for the largest cinnamon bun in the city when it’s time for a fika.
The same goes for 2:a långgatan, or the Long Streets. Such an inspirational place, much like Berlin, with it’s unique character. Here you’ll find cool shops, pubs and restaurants. Tattoo artists and Gro, my favourite barber shop. And even some red light district-ish strip clubs. Not my cup of tea though!
All shots taken with Hasselblad 500CM & 80mm 2.8 Carl Zeiss // Portra 400 // Leica M2 & 50mm Summicron // Tri-X //
Scans by Carmencita Film Lab
