Volume No. 8 -- Post No. 4 -- Trying Kodak TMax 100

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is my go to film. For me, it’s hard to beat that contrast and grain.  It gives that extra special edgy look that I love and reminds me of Anton Corbijn’s music photography from the 80s shot on Tri-X 400.

However, I’m wanting more tonal range from my 4x5 photography.  It such a big juicy negative. I feel like I should be getting more tonal range.  I tried Ilford Delta 100 Pro with great results in 35mm, but I couldn’t find it locally in 4x5 sheets in packs less than 100.  I couldn’t justify buying $150 worth of film to experiment with.  So, Kodak TMAX 100 to the rescue in a 10-sheet pack.

The above photo is TMAX 100 taken with my 35mm Canonete QL17 III rangefinder.  Feels like a success.  The sun is blown out, but otherwise there’s information throughout the tonal range.  The grain is minimal and yet the low contrast still feels sharp.

I bought 10 sheets of 4x5 TMAX 100.  I’m

anxious to try it!

Volume No.8 -- Post No. 3 -- Large Format 4 x 5

Aloha!

Me and my 4x5

I've been working with a Camulet 4 x 5 large format camera.  It's been a lot of fun and frustrating all at the same time.  I won't be the first one to say this, but film photography slows the process down.  Well... large format photography nearly stops it!  Using a 4x5 camera is glacially slow!

First off, you have to load your film holders.  I have two that hold 2 4"x5" sheets of film.  This requires opening a lightproof double lidded box (similar to Russian dolls) in a dark bag and sliding one sheet of film in each side.  So far, I've double loaded twice.  Meaning that I put two sheets on side of the holder.  When this happens, I lose a shot in the field since there's no way to tell until you transfer the sheets of film into the developing tank.

Now that you have film holders ready, you have to compose a shot while viewing it reversed and upside down.  I can ride any roller coaster, fly in helicopters, and read in the back seat of a car without getting seasick.  For whatever reason, moving the scene while looking at the reversed image disorients me and makes me feel a bit ill.

Once you're happy with the potential image, you need to take multiple light meter readings.  Right now my method is to find something I want to be white, metering on that, and then adjusting the f/stop up three.  (Was that the zone system explained in a single sentence)?

Last check to make sure the scene hasn't changed or that you're okay with what has moved in or out in the last 15 minutes since you decided to shoot this particular location.  Remove the dark slide and trigger the shutter.  

It's a very involved process.  At this point for me, it feels like the opposite of Henri Cartier-Bresson's decisive moment.  I'm sure I will get the hang of it and start making good photographs with it.  

Below is my favorite image so far.  I'm using Ilford HP5 Plus 400 speed film.  The old lens I'm using has a minimum shutter speed of 125th of second.  The film is too fast and the shutter is too slow for most shots in full sun.  I'm going to try Ilford Delta 100 Pro or Kodak Tmax 100 next to get more flexibility with the light and really take advantage of the giant negative! 

Waiʻana, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

It’s amazing how much is captured by 4x5 film. I have to scan the two halves of the negative separately and then stitch them together in photoshop.

See more at my Instagram @aloha_dave 

Volume No.8 -- Post No. 2 -- Nikonos III Underwater Film Camera

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Electric Beach

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop 

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

 Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

 Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

 Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

 Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Mākaha Beach

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Mānana Falls

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Mānana Falls

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Mānana Falls

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop 

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5 Pushed 1 Stop 

Anahulu Stream

Ilford HP5

Anahulu Stream

Ilford HP5

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5

Electric Beach

Ilford HP5

Mālaekahana

Ilford HP5

Mālaekahana

Ilford HP5

Mālaekahana

Ilford HP5

Mālaekahana

Ilford HP5

Mālaekahana

Ilford HP5

Kalihi Channel Beach

Ilford Delta 100

Kalihi Channel

Ilford Delta 100

Hoʻola Mokauea Island
Ilford Delta 100

Mākaha Beach

Ilford FP4

Mākaha Beach

Ilford FP4

Mākaha Beach

Ilford FP4

Mākaha Beach

Ilford FP4

Waikīkī Walls

Ilford FP4

Waikīkī Walls

Ilford FP4

Waikīkī Walls

Ilford FP4

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5

Pūpūkea

Ilford HP5

Volume No.7 -- Post No. 8 -- ILFORD DELTA 100 (I really like it!)

I recently tried ILFORD Delta 100 Pro film and love it.  I really like the fine grain.  The photos below were developed using Kodak Xtol at 1:1.  I'm going to try ILFORD Perceptol fine grain developer to see if I get even less grain.  It's not that I don't like grain.  You can't like film photography without liking grain.  I just want less grain for now...

Waikikik (The Other Hawaiian Prince)

Waikiki alley

One of my Princesses at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (Waikiki)

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach

Nu'uanu Reservoir

Nu'uanu Reservoir

Nu'uanu Reservoir

Nu'uanu Stream

Nu'uanu Reservoir