Still-Life Images, 2012

[taulen]

http://taulen.org/diverse/bilder/petzval/chaos2_web2.jpg
Chaos

Fomapan 100, 4x5" and a 5.5" B&L about f3 petzval.

[jcoldslabs]

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic
Kodak Aero-Ektar 178mm f/2.5
Polaroid 100 Chocolate Film (Expired)

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Chocolate%20100%20-%20Magazine%20and%20Table%20%28SMALL%29.jpg

[Jim Cole]

Jonathan,

Unusual vision and well done!

[jcoldslabs]

Thanks, Jim. I wasn't sure if this counted as a 'still life.' I usually think of those as objects purposefully arranged for the sake of a photograph, but I end up taking 'found' pictures all over the house of things just as they are. In this case a magazine hanging off the edge of the dining room table.

Jonathan

P.S Then there is this, found in the kitchen one afternoon as the sun hit the cutting board. Same set-up as above only this one was taken with a little 4.25" B&L projection petzval I'm fond of:

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/100%20Chocolate%20-%20Knife%20on%20Board%20900px.jpg

[MMELVIS]

Ilford HP5 Plus 400 Black and White Film
Developed in Arista Developer
8x10 Camera assembled from parts
300mm f4 Lens wide open with a Frank J Curry 4s Flap Shutter
Scanned on HP-G4050 Custom Tray made for scanning 8x10 film

[bob carnie]

This is the test negative, Image shot on a 8x10 studio centennial camera , solarized negative, lith print. Worked on this yesterday.

[polyglot]

beautiful, Bob. I'd be interested to know how you got blue midtones on the globe only and not the rest of the image.

[bob carnie]

Iron Blue Selenium attacks the dark tones first, bleach sepia for the highlights, gold for the upper midtones.

beautiful, Bob. I'd be interested to know how you got blue midtones on the globe only and not the rest of the image.

[Ramiro Elena]

This is a test I did this morning with a new aerial lens.

Kinoptic Aquilar 260mm ƒ3.5 with a huge red filter.
I used a big packard attached to the front. I am surprised at how sharp it is wide open. Couldn't find much information on the lens. The Vade Mecum says very little about it appart from being a Q15 type (Tessar?)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6641394405_302ede5f42_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/6641394405/)
Kinoptic Aquilar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/6641394405/) por rabato (http://www.flickr.com/people/rabato/), en Flickr

Here's a photo of the lens itself with the filter:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6558709405_eb3bc1aa68.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/6558709405/)
Kinoptic Aquilar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabato/6558709405/) por rabato (http://www.flickr.com/people/rabato/), en Flickr

[ghostcount]

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/Chocolate%20100%20-%20Magazine%20and%20Table%20%28SMALL%29.jpg

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/100%20Chocolate%20-%20Knife%20on%20Board%20900px.jpg

Jonathan,

Wonderful vision.

[jcoldslabs]

Quite a compliment. Thank you for saying so.

J.

[vinny]

bob, that's fantastic!

[Nikola Dulgiarov]

My first collodion plate of the year, and after 4 months of no wet-plate work
CGA 8x10
http://i.minus.com/jOf6ObSFsCt8P.jpg

[bob carnie]

Thanks Vinny

Here are a couple of more from the same day.
Notice the black Mackie line , these are negative solarizations vs the print solarizations I usually do.



bob, that's fantastic!

[Nikola Dulgiarov]

a study of various textiles
collodion 8x10
http://i.minus.com/jbdwSRDpJ67490.jpg

[Sart_S]

Stlll-Life with the 13x18cm, Toyo on Fomapan 100,dev. in D-76 1:2. Tessar 210mm f4.5 lens at f22.Contact,sepia.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sFTCSmAW4uY/Twr9mJb99vI/AAAAAAAAAXs/FuosOlgtgw0/s623/070_13C.jpg

[northcarolinajack]

This is a very small turned bowl given to me for Christmas. From the bottom of the bowl to the top of the lid, that is removal, is 1 ½ inches. The wood is various exotic woods laminated. It is beautiful sitting on the little stand.

Camera – Toyo 45AX with No Name Petzval using only rear element


Jack




www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Harris-Photography/109348465760954

[Marvin d martian]

A couple of takes on a still life from me, not what I would usualy do but needed to shoot somthing :-)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6660386539_8f9c2c261d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvin-d-martian/6660386539/)

and

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6660385553_d57d68af0c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvin-d-martian/6660385553/)

Cheers,
Mart

[cjbroadbent]

8x10 Tonal Retro in HC110.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oOqxPR_9Nnc/TwxJpNNlDpI/AAAAAAAAKpA/FnoJ76Ej2k4/s800/jelloMoulds8x10Heavy2.jpg

[Sart_S]

8x10 Tonal Retro in HC110.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oOqxPR_9Nnc/TwxJpNNlDpI/AAAAAAAAKpA/FnoJ76Ej2k4/s800/jelloMoulds8x10Heavy2.jpg

Great image!!!

[alex from holland]

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/140832893.jpg

Exposure time 14 secs
Black glass ambro
KCN fixer
Dallmeyer 3b at aprox f8
18x24cm
www.collodion-art.blogspot.com

[alex from holland]

8x10 Tonal Retro in HC110.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oOqxPR_9Nnc/TwxJpNNlDpI/AAAAAAAAKpA/FnoJ76Ej2k4/s800/jelloMoulds8x10Heavy2.jpg


BRAVO!

[chassis]

8x10 Tonal Retro in HC110.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oOqxPR_9Nnc/TwxJpNNlDpI/AAAAAAAAKpA/FnoJ76Ej2k4/s800/jelloMoulds8x10Heavy2.jpg

Bravissimo!

[Jim Cole]

8x10 Tonal Retro in HC110.


Christopher,

Another great image. Even if I had access to all the cool stuff that appears in your still-life images (and I wish I did!), I still couldn't provide the consistently wonderful compositions that you do. Thanks for the continuing inspiration. I need it, my muse didn't follow me to Indiana from Flagstaff...

[cjbroadbent]

Thanks all. I've got a box of junk which gets used over and over again.
I'm finding it hard to push the 8x10 negatives up to the level of 'character' that come from digiroids (example from a fujiX100) (https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cg4p08UgwVQ/TwW_OTn6rRI/AAAAAAAAKmY/Wako-8uSCMc/s800/FujBwJpgTm.jpg). This last 8x10 was almost stand developed with HC110 1:64 to get some grit in the mid-tones.
I do love the look of Alex's fish!

[Tom J McDonald]

Alex, that's just great.

[alex from holland]

Thanks Christopher,as an admirer of your work i take that as a great compliment.

Alex

[alex from holland]

Thanks Tom!

[thomassen]

240 mm
4x5 shanghai 100
HC 110 dil H 14 min

[SMBooth]

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/140832893.jpg

Exposure time 14 secs
Black glass ambro
KCN fixer
Dallmeyer 3b at aprox f8
18x24cm
www.collodion-art.blogspot.com

Brilliant....

[stradibarrius]

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/140832893.jpg

Exposure time 14 secs
Black glass ambro
KCN fixer
Dallmeyer 3b at aprox f8
18x24cm
www.collodion-art.blogspot.com

How creative!!! I only wished I could have the vision!

[chrishayton]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6680495751_bb61979c10_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrishayton/6680495751/)
leica 4x5 M4-P (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrishayton/6680495751/) by chrishayton (http://www.flickr.com/people/chrishayton/), on Flickr

Not sure this classifies as still life? Trying out a new scanner (Canon 9900F)

[jcoldslabs]

Not sure if this counts as a still life, but it feels like it should. 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, Kodak Aero-Ektar 178mm f/2.5, Fuji FP-100C pack film (expired).

Shot under fluorescents in the kitchen last week, hence the somewhat sickly color cast.

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/FP100C%20-%20Stainless%20Handle%20%28Small%29.jpg

[cjbroadbent]

4x5 Ebony with a 135mm Sironar. Tonal Retro 100 in HC110. Single scan.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z6TghiRwmds/TxA2l3u4cwI/AAAAAAAAKsA/Rj1tLOMGfYw/s800/4x5EggBasketSingle.jpg

[Sart_S]

4x5 Ebony with a 135mm Sironar. Tonal Retro 100 in HC110. Single scan.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z6TghiRwmds/TxA2l3u4cwI/AAAAAAAAKsA/Rj1tLOMGfYw/s800/4x5EggBasketSingle.jpg

Nice work!All is very professional!

[Scott Schroeder]

5X7 ambrotype lith print
http://schroederworks.com/Lith/LithBroom001.jpg

[Bazz8]

Shot of 50s/60s smoking table
Cambo sc 5x4 Kamura 210 lens Arista 100 neg:)

[Jay Decker]

http://webpages.charter.net/monkeytumble/DennisWeaver.jpg

Sophomoric Humor & Favorite Christmas Present

5x7 Collodion on Aluminum
Xenar 270/4.5 - Wide Open
Kennewick, WA

[Scott --]

http://www.pbase.com/alex28/image/140832893.jpg

Exposure time 14 secs
Black glass ambro
KCN fixer
Dallmeyer 3b at aprox f8
18x24cm
www.collodion-art.blogspot.com

One of the best things I've ever seen posted here. Technically and creatively brilliant.

[Tony Evans]

Swamp Kauri Carved Boot

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6701843573_40f3bf55de_b.jpg

New-to-me Sinar P, Fujinon NW 180/5.6, FP4+, 2 sec. @ f16.
Rodinal/DDX (1+5+200), 1 Hour Semi-stand, Taco.
V700/BSH Wet scan.

First practice with the Sinar. C&C appreciated.

[cjbroadbent]

The semi-stand is doing great things to the mid-tones. On black though, the boot is flying through the air. Personally, I would like to get some spatial reference.

[Corran]

This is my first still-life using film. Just wanted to try it out since I finally set up a black backdrop and got a flash cable extension.

Details:
Schneider G-Claron 150mm at approx. 1:3 magnification
f/22, 1/125, and a flash at 11 o'clock with a snoot
T-Max 100 developed N-1
Pt/pd toned in PS:

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/0172s.jpg

[cjbroadbent]

4x5 Ebony, 135 Sironar, Tonal Retro 100 in HC110.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OzoaGeZz-0Q/TxVNLhyZCqI/AAAAAAAAKsw/QqGJ1TnendQ/s800/4x5sculleryB.jpg

[Ken Lee]

Aside from the beautiful tones, textures, placement, depth, etc... it's neat to see lemons look like limes.

They are lemons, no ? I presume that's because of the Orthochromatic film. It also renders the leaf in a very handsome way, as though it too is wrought from metal.

[cjbroadbent]

Lemons - used in the scullery to remove the smell from pots. As usual, the digiroid was simpler and came better, see the Safe Haven.

[cjbroadbent]

Another attempt at Tonal Retro in Rodinal one-shot. It does that Dickensian, sooty look you can get from digital.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-27m4gHgcC2I/Txac2JwcLiI/AAAAAAAAKuE/FuC1n8GpqyU/s800/4x5sculleryRodinal.jpg

[Ramiro Elena]

I can't stop looking at it. I'd like to hang it in my kitchen.

I didn't like the way the forks come out under the rag in the previous one.

[cjbroadbent]

Thanks Ramiro, I forgot to say that it was 30 minute stand with a a short couple of rockings. Rodinal was about 1:100 because I pour 1:50 over the prewash.

[Sart_S]

Stlll-Life with the 4x5, Toyo 45C on T-max 100,dev. in 510-Pyro(1:100).Fujinon 135mm.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qYINpT1J0QM/TxmdzmQiUlI/AAAAAAAAAY8/8r1r6pkEV2M/s640/01_FIN_P.jpg

[austin granger]

Old Bottle, Brentwood Street, Portland

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6731479519_e648da4d2c_z.jpg

I found this bottle sticking up out of the mud on the banks of the Columbia River. I have no idea how old it is, but I like the way it has aged. I especially like the barnacle!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/

[cjbroadbent]

4x5 Tonal Retro in Rodinal. 135 Sironar at f8.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cQUaeGRfLds/Tx7XrKghicI/AAAAAAAAKwM/6mCtf6H6fVU/s800/sieves%252526hookTmB.jpg

[Sart_S]

4x5 Tonal Retro in Rodinal. 135 Sironar at f8.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cQUaeGRfLds/Tx7XrKghicI/AAAAAAAAKwM/6mCtf6H6fVU/s800/sieves%252526hookTmB.jpg


Superb! Very well works DOF!

[chassis]

Really cool, Christopher.

[Ken Lee]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/c5a.jpg
Vase and Linen
9" Kershaw Soft Focus Lens (courtesy of Eddie Gunks)
Sinar P, 4x5 HP5+, D-23

[cjbroadbent]

Ken, nice to see a real window at work!

[cjbroadbent]

Still in my Dark Kitchen. Trying to get a handle on reflections with Rodinal stand. 4x5 Tonal Retro with a 135mm Sironar stopped all the way down.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o8A0AaBNkWA/TyBH7GjE_yI/AAAAAAAAKw4/aSSNxhnMPIk/s800/Alu%252526lemonStand4x5Rodinal.jpg

[Tony Evans]

You've got it. Can't improve on perfection. Thankyou.

[mdm]

Ill say. Its beautiful.

[cjbroadbent]

Thanks Sart, Tony and David. There a quite a few annoying defects to correct: shift the glass left, de-emphasize the leaf, sort out a confusion of handles, liberate a corner of the turner. I can't remember how long it 'stood' in Rodinal 1:50, the phone rang.
The problem is that metallic reflections of the source light are way off a reasonable curve. Thats why I've been mixing dark things, a white dishcloth and shiny metal recently; to see if the battle can be won on the negative. I don't particularly like cheating it with tone mapping.

[Ken Lee]

"The problem is that metallic reflections of the source light are way off a reasonable curve."

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/WhiteRoom.jpg

Perhaps the high values are fine, but the low values are too low :)

Perhaps you could try shooting in a room with white walls, a white floor, and a white ceiling.

We can always add contrast, but it can be hard to reduce.

[cjbroadbent]

I'm not a high-key person and I tend to light WYSIWYG and use black gobbos on the sides. I would be lost rebuilding shadows from scratch.
This is what it looks like, with a couple of adjustments from yestersday, plus a long straight tail on the curve to contain the reflections. Just to confuse things, this version is not 'stand' but under-exposed, short development with continuous agitation in Rodinal 1:30.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f1ymC49h7Hg/TyFuZOqXSBI/AAAAAAAAKxQ/57GbhtB0HYs/s800/Alu%252526lemonLite.jpg
Update .... Picasa has vanished, pictures too.

[mdm]

This just looks flat to me. I like the highlight on the lemon and the jug and the queens egg slice. I dont think beautiful and perfect are the same thing. Who would describe Atget as a perfectionist, yet few have produced more beautiful and lasting (in a cultural rather than archival sense) prints. In 200 years time, will a Penn cigarette butt be more valued than an Atget shop front? Not that the Penn has no value as art.

[Tom J McDonald]

Watch out, that lemon's jumping off the screen!
Very nice arrangement CJ.

[mdm]

I must admit its quite nice too.

[Ken Lee]

I'm not a high-key person and I tend to light WYSIWYG and use black gobbos on the sides.

Sorry, I was unclear and my humor was lame. I don't know anything about lights and lighting: I had to Google the word gobbo. :o

[Petzval Paul]

I really like the lighting here. The low-key feel to it that reminds me of something very vintage, like an Henri Le Secq or something. It also has a sort of sober, 'rainy day' atmosphere that I find so attractive. Please keep 'em coming!

[Mark Sawyer]

Sun going down on my windowsill last night, three wet plates, each about a half hour apart...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/w1s.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/w2s.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/w3s.jpg

Nothing exciting. Maybe if it had pixies... :(

[chassis]

Cool Mark. I like the last one best.

[Leigh]

OK, Mark... Where is she?

Was she bad, and you sent her to bed without her supper (or refused to take her pic)?

- Leigh

[Mark Sawyer]

Cool Mark. I like the last one best.

Thank you; I go back and forth, then think they belong side-by-side...


OK, Mark... Where is she?

Was she bad, and you sent her to bed without her supper (or refused to take her pic)?


And what makes you think I'm the one in charge??? :rolleyes:

[Leigh]

Considering the general demeanor of pixies...

I just __assumed__ that she misbehaved. :D

- Leigh

[cjbroadbent]

Mark, number three, number three, number three.
Super. Evokes emotion.

[Christo.Stankulov]

Sinar F2/Fujinon W 150/5.6/Agfa APX 100/Rodinal 1+25
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6797726233_41fb229d75_b.jpg

[rpalm]

[QUOTE=Christo.Stankulov;840645]Sinar F2/Fujinon W 150/5.6/Agfa APX 100/Rodinal 1+25


Very nice.

r

[cjbroadbent]

Another go with white stuff. 4x5 Retro in Rodinal.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1GhnxacbPxQ/TylnSWTn6tI/AAAAAAAAKx8/7Nk7EYy9QJI/s800/whitePlatesD.jpg

[cjbroadbent]

I don't have a 4x5 portrait lens, so this is this same with a Softar stuck in front.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mNTnLMT9Ddc/TylaLPPbcXI/AAAAAAAAKxg/valvkVz02Vs/s800/whitePlatesB.jpg

[Christo.Stankulov]

Fuji Acros 4x5"@Perceptol
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6805664105_ce6de5f10c_z.jpg

[Christo.Stankulov]

Thank you, Rpalm!

[Preston]

Shanti Guitar and Red Fir

http://www.gildedmoon.com/images/canp/677-1-Web.jpg

--P

[cjbroadbent]

Apologies for #75 and #76. I tried to downsize in situ (picasa) with picnic and lost the links.

[stradibarrius]

This is a 4x5 scanned with my new v700 scanner. Does it look flat?

http://http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7165/6814094123_ee21201075_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/6814094123/) a 5 string violin being constructed (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradibarrius/6814094123/) by Stradibarrius (http://www.flickr.com/people/stradibarrius/), on Flickr

[Jan Pedersen]

Looks good on my monitor. Nice Fiddle :)

[Preston]

Looks good to me, as well. That is a nice fiddle. I have a friend who has a five-string, and it sure sounds sweet.

--P

[Christo.Stankulov]

Apologies for #75 and #76. I tried to downsize in situ (picasa) with picnic and lost the links.

I remember very well the photos:)

[stradibarrius]

Thanks, the 5 string has become my mainstay. Almost 100% of my orders are for 5 strings.
I have tried the Silverfast software that came with the v700 and I am not crazy about it. this is done with Epson scan.

[johnielvis]

rome is burning.....

actually I like that...."fiddle"

ai'nt that as larry calls it a "stradibarius"????? 3 stooges

[Peter Mounier]

That's really nice stradibarrius!
It sounds from your post like you make those. Are those patterns for building it that sit underneath the violin?
One of my friends in the Los Angeles area restores string instruments, and writes condition reports for sales and insurance.
I tried to go down there to shoot his shop but I ended up shooting a couple of violins for his records. Not exactly what had in mind, but I was happy to help him.

Peter

http://www.morrobaygiclee.com/violin.jpg

[stradibarrius]

Thanks Peret....those are the original plans that I modified to accommodate the 5th string. The plans are the 1742 "Cannone" made by Joseph Guarnari "del Gesu".

[Corran]

I didn't know your username was anything more than a reference to Stradivarius, but you actually make them, cool! I work in instrument repair in the summer down here in south GA, you probably know my employer (he's a viola/bass player). Nice photo too!

[cjbroadbent]

Here's a Guarneri (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/26cVS2tis-uQcQX0_XibpdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink) I did for 'Vanity Fair' back when there was 5x7 Ektachrome. On loan from the Scala Museum in Milan. Which Of the Guarneri family, I've no idea.

[chassis]

Very nice Christopher. The style has a professional and attractive consistency with the other work you have shared on this site.

[stradibarrius]

Wow great shot.
Is Randy your boss?

[Shen45]

Shot with a Kodak Anistigmat 6 3/8" from 1939 on Foma 200

[Jim Cole]

Shot with a Kodak Anistigmat 6 3/8" from 1939 on Foma 200

Steve,

A very nice shot and I love the concept, but I would try separating the dark bottom of the cone from the darkness of the table a little more. The soft background is nice. A folded fuzzy, tie-dyed blanket?

[manet]

A lot of awesome shots here
My modest contrib

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/manet/Lampenosign-border.jpg

[cjbroadbent]

Grotty valentine on 4x5 Retro. It stood for 20 minutes in Rodinal and required a nasty looking curve to get it out.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hh81mfYi08s/TzKUSpG2ZAI/AAAAAAAAK2Q/Us14ExMqTA8/s800/4x5ValentineLo.jpg

[LelandRay]

Colt Single Action Army revolver, caliber .45. Shot with a Graphic View II, Nikon 210mm lens on Plus X.

http://www.vangargoyle.com/post/cowboy05final.jpg

[Corran]

Nice tonality on that one.

[gbogatko]

There aren't really "indoor." On the other hand, they're not "landscape."
Both shot in Watchung Reservation, N.J.
Ilford HP-5, RB graflex 4x5 with a Kodak 10".

http://www.bogatko.com/Growth/images/00-Untitled-1-t.jpg

http://www.bogatko.com/Growth/images/00-Untitled-3-t.jpg

Cheers,
George

[cjbroadbent]

At the risk of being boring, I'm posting the last version of my valentine. Dropped the point of view to get more 'stomach' out of the basket, put the card in the shade for more clarity and reduced the stand development for less 'grot'.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KN21oCfbZ4A/TzPk9PaSpwI/AAAAAAAAK24/riPGvyJHkAc/s800/4x5ValentineMB.jpg

[Ramiro Elena]

It is incredible how much a photograph can change with a different perspective. This is more it.

[chassis]

Christopher, another great one. I love the jaunty tilt of the bowl with flour. It would be interesting to know if each of these objects in the image have a personal significance to you, in the sense that you called the image "your valentine". In my own work I try to include elements of a person's personality when I make an image of them or for them.

[Mark Sawyer]

I like both versions, Christopher. As always, lovely composition and lighting, and having worked a while in still life, it's interesting to see the process as someone works their way through an image.

What surprised me in the first version is the amount of what I'm guessing is bromine drag coming off the left side of the wire vessel. I never cared for stand development in Rodinal for just that reason, but in some rare instances, it seems to work in an image, like the one in question.

[cjbroadbent]

I'm very grateful for your response.
Perspective with a shortish lens is quite expressive. A an inch or two changes everything. The bromine drag effect was a surprise. It turned out to be the filament of a plain old light bulb I was using on the background to separate the basket. That was corrected with frost.
Most of the symbols lying around in my recent stuff evoke a ageing spinster harking back to one unforgettable fling. I always have somebody in my head while knocking things together.
Examples:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cg7Hfkj7j2s/TWOPH1DNAiI/AAAAAAAAHB4/OJ1jQqQtnpM/s288/4x5x2negsTM.jpg
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kj6Igxa-AaalMXEgvdv6wdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1WwoaOa4Oz-kQBnCBhPp011DeFwmCPo5nHHJ-sLDnkg?feat=directlink

[Jim Cole]

Hey Christopher,

I wanna see that last one posted bigger. Looks too good for the tiny size.

[cjbroadbent]

Jim, I must have posted the argyrotype of this subject before. This version is 4x5 Tmax double scanned. The little old lady and her fling thing.
I'll bore again tonight, I've just done the final final on the valentine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-66QX0CDuISM/SfAxd6uHCNI/AAAAAAAAJLU/MbIyEcCa8P4/s800/double4x5TM.jpg

[Jim Cole]

Jim, I must have posted the argyrotype of this subject before. This version is 4x5 Tmax double scanned. The little old lady and her fling thing.
I'll bore again tonight, I've just done the final final on the valentine.


Christopher,

Thanks for reposting that. As I expected, this is a treat of subject matter, tonality and lighting. My eyes wandered around in this composition for a very long time. This is exceptional, which, of course, is not at all unusual for you.

[Monty McCutchen]

I never tire of coming across your images Christopher, my only nit is that you don't post enough, portraits, still lives more please.

Monty

[cjbroadbent]

More room for a lonely atmosphere. Cleaned up the symbol logic. Just in time to send it off for the 14th. Sorry for hogging.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7IclIH90Hgg/TzUzNhPRWwI/AAAAAAAAK3Y/oL-iXCpOuLk/s800/4x5ValentineFinalA.jpg

[jcoldslabs]

Sometimes drinking your tea becomes secondary when a shaft of light enters the kitchen at just the right angle. By the time I got all the equipment out and made the image I had to boil more water.

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic
Aero-Ektar 178mm f/2.5 wide open
Polaroid type 51 negative (expired)

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/T51-%20Cup%20and%20Steam.jpg

Jonathan

[austin granger]

Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6873641591_6217c157cf_z.jpg

Sung by Bozie Sturdivant at Silent Grove Baptist Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1942. Recorded by Alan Lomax.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/

[Jim Cole]

Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down by Bozie Sturdivant at Silent Grove Baptist Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1942. Recorded by Alan Lomax.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/austingranger/

Boy, I'd love to give that a spin!

[Christo.Stankulov]

Sinar/Fujinon 150
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6878082409_4271e74305_z.jpg

[Christo.Stankulov]

Sinar/Fujinon 150 HC 110 G stand for 1 hour
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6881492381_e630caed88_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6881492359_75ba02dfe0_z.jpg

[cjbroadbent]

Christo, these shoes are interesting for the straight-forward presentation - like the whole Monjo series on your site. Do you use stand stand development to compress the range of tones. Could you do it with light instaid?

[Fred Heming]

5x7 TXP-320
Pyrocat-HD
Zeiss Anastigmat f9/272mm
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6885475925_a79214b279_z.jpg

[chassis]

Nice image Fred. When is dinner? ;)

[Tom J McDonald]

Great Fred. Is that on ice?

[Fred Heming]

I went to a fishery market, bought some fish and crunched ice.
The crunched ice was put in a huge development tray.
I shoot both 5x7 and 11x14. 11x14 had been a hard job.
The ground glass was more than 2 meters above the floor, 60cm under the ceiling.
Focusing and adjustment was really tough.

[Christo.Stankulov]

Christo, these shoes are interesting for the straight-forward presentation - like the whole Monjo series on your site. Do you use stand stand development to compress the range of tones. Could you do it with light instaid?

Hello Christian,
I have used stand development for several reasons. This time because my drum was damaged. Second, because I was alone in home with my baby, so the stand was the easiest way to do two things in a time. And last but not least, I like the sharpness that I achieve with the stand dev. This is a natural light from my window plus a 95cm silver reflector. I don't have flashes. And I am not sure that I can do it with light...
Best Regards,
Christo
P.S. There is no photos of Monjo's shoes on my web.

[Christo.Stankulov]

Sinar/Fujinon 150/Rodinal 1+100 stand
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/6890475515_19cdda8c3d_z.jpg

[mdm]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HKRllD4BE-0/T0AqRu-vikI/AAAAAAAABDo/k5rCdz5OquE/s1600/stilllife.jpg
FP100C, I think it is showing the effects of being stuck to the scanner glass.

[Jim Cole]

FP100C, I think it is showing the effects of being stuck to the scanner glass.

Ooh, I like this one!

[snay1345]

My First attempt at a large format still life. I quickly learned they are not as easy as I thought they would be.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7036/6900621187_62173176a7_z.jpg

[mdm]

Thanks for that, I was really only being a little cheeky. Thats how it was with no effort on my part.

[Domingo A. Siliceo]

Sinar/Fujinon 150 HC 110 G stand for 1 hour
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6881492381_e630caed88_z.jpg




[...]
This is a natural light from my window plus a 95cm silver reflector.
[...]


so you have achieved a great result. Congratulations.

[Christo.Stankulov]

First my apologies to cjbroadbent calling him Christian, insted of Christopher.

@Domingo, muchísimas gracias, me alegro que te haya gustado. Puedes hablarme en castellano ;).

[goamules]

Oooo, Baracuda....Skull found by my wife today. (Name the species and win the title of Zoologist for the Day!) Halfplate collodion.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6906563801_ca301fde13_z.jpg

[matthew blais]

Wild Boar??

[Jim Michael]

Bear?

[LelandRay]

I shot this several years ago but rescanned it last night. Nikon 210, 4x5 Plus X, Graphic View II.

http://www.vangargoyle.com/post/schofield.jpg

[mdm]

Big Foot? Guns like that suggest head issues in their owners. Clinging to boyhood fantasies. Hopefully not acting out violent fantasies.

[LelandRay]

Big Foot? Guns like that suggest head issues in their owners. Clinging to boyhood fantasies. Hopefully not acting out violent fantasies.

I could say something Freudian, but I won't. It's a photograph. Get over it. You're an idiot.

I guess the moderators will slap me with a fine or banishment of some kind, but it's worth it.

[Leigh]

Guns like that suggest head issues in their owner.
And your expertise in psychiatry/psychology derives from ... ???

- Leigh

[Mark Sawyer]

Wild Boar??

Darn close... javelina!

[goamules]

Darn close... javelina!

Ding ding ding! Mark wins, he's Zoologist for the Day!

Oh, and nice Schofield LelandRay, I always liked breaktop revolvers.

[jon.oman]

A still life image from today. This is only my second attempt at this. I found out that my Novatron power pack is toast on its high setting!

http://www.gophotog.org/allphotos/film/medium_photos/LunaDiLuna300ppi.jpg

8x10 Cambo Legend : 300mm Caltar II-N
80 ISO : f11 : 1/125 sec (flash) : Green Latitude x-ray film
D-76, 6-1/4 minutes @ 67 degrees F.

[gbogatko]

Latest from my attic. 8x10 plain green xray film.

Nikkor 240mm
http://www.inluxeditions.com/hidden/Nikkor240.jpg

Wolly Vello 12 inch
http://www.inluxeditions.com/hidden/WollyVello12inch.jpg

George

[Barry Kirsten]

Wonderful, George. Thanks for showing us.

Barry.

[mdm]

Experience. Gun owners are always crazy unless they need to use one for something functional, like euthanase injured animals. I dont want to see guns, see, sometimes I have to actually use one. People who romanticise guns and gun use are idiots.

[Leigh]

And how is a photograph "romanticizing" anything?

Those who choose to apply their own prejudices to innocuous images are idiots.

- Leigh

[Gary Sommer]

I shot this several years ago but rescanned it last night. Nikon 210, 4x5 Plus X, Graphic View II.

http://www.vangargoyle.com/post/schofield.jpg

This is very nice, thanks for posting it.

Gary

[Winger]

I shot this several years ago but rescanned it last night. Nikon 210, 4x5 Plus X, Graphic View II.

http://www.vangargoyle.com/post/schofield.jpg

Not an easy subject to light. Nicely done. If my hubby was here, he'd appreciate the subject (he's a ). The blanket adds a nice touch, too.
Those who don't get it, guns are seen differently in the US and especially guns like this. If it were a photo of a Raven MP-25, I might agree with you (cheap street gun), but this is a well-made piece of machinery.

[LelandRay]

Those who don't get it, guns are seen differently in the US and especially guns like this. If it were a photo of a Raven MP-25, I might agree with you (cheap street gun), but this is a well-made piece of machinery.

I must editorialize a bit. A thing is not an action. No thing acts by itself, and thus it is morally neutral. An actor, on the other hand, has the power of exercising free will and can be held accountable for his actions. Any tool or device can be used for good or evil, and blaming the thing for the consequences is immature at best, and at worst, such a reaction is a sign of some deep seated neurosis. Fanatics are not attractive, and to be honest, I find them a bit frightening. If "romanticizing" a thing as a symbol of an era is some sign of mental illness, then we must go out and lock up every archivist and museum curator on the face of the earth in the interests of public safety and sanity. After that we can start going through the billions of photographs, paintings, sculptures and artifacts which we as a race have collected in order to make sure none of them "romanticize" such things as the Roman Empire or the decadence of the Greeks, who were the first experimenters with the concept of democracy. Then we can burn the novels and history books, and all that poetry will have to go. Tennyson's Light Brigade must never again interfere with our objectivity about the concept of war.

And since 90% of my work involves scantily clad young women, I must sexualize firearms, right? No, I don't do that. I find the combination of chicks and guns quite bothersome.

As to the technical details of the photograph, I had to shoot on a flat table top, so it was necessary to use front tilt to maintain focus and perspective. It helps that the aperture was f45, certainly, but lighting was difficult. I used a 36" softbox above and behind, with white cards on both sides, thus the heavier shadows on the lower sides of the subject.

http://www.vangargoyle.com/post/cowboy05final.jpg

[RPippin]

Thanks for posting info on the "shoot", it's great to see how other photographers handle challenging lighting situations. My "aim" is to learn as much as I can from these post, and this is a great example of still life work I personally find difficult to achieve. I'm also very much against WMD's (Wanking Minuescia Dolts), and pardon my spelling...

[goamules]

LelandRay, I appreciate your well thought out response to the barely coherent comment on your picture.
Now, let's see some more firearms shots....err...pictures! (hopefully we won't get any more idiotic, judgmental, fanatical comments about them).

[LelandRay]

Thanks for posting info on the "shoot", it's great to see how other photographers handle challenging lighting situations. My "aim" is to learn as much as I can from these post, and this is a great example of still life work I personally find difficult to achieve. I'm also very much against WMD's (Wanking Minuescia Dolts), and pardon my spelling...

On reflection, I'm pretty sure I must have used some front swing as well, since the muzzle end was farther away than the butt end. It's been several years ago, so it's hard to remember, and I seldom record anything.

[RPippin]

Thats OK, it's always better to keep the muzzle end pointed away from than the butt end. I don't think I use the front tilt enough, so this gives me a new benchmark to try and hit. One of these days I'll learn to keep better notes, as my memory isn't what it used to be.

[Tom J McDonald]

Leland, in reality, is the hammer a different colour than the rest of the gun?

[Leigh]

First rule of aiming a camera: "Lens closer to subject than film."

The same applies to aiming a gun.

Nice shot of the SA Army. .45 Long Colt or .44-40?

- Leigh

[Leigh]

Leland, in reality, is the hammer a different colour than the rest of the gun?
The hammer on the SA Army was case hardened.

This is a chemical process for hardening steel to a depth of perhaps 0.040" to 0.080". It does not require high heat.
It leaves a random "rainbow" of colors, generally in greens and blues, covering the surface.

Case hardening was only used on parts subject to stress, like the hammer.
The frame, cylinder, ejector rod, and barrel were blued, which produces a uniform deep blue color.

- Leigh

[LelandRay]

Good catch on the hammer, Leigh, though the frame was case hardened as well. This is a "3rd Generation" Colt, and while the hammer IS case hardened, the sides were polished bright, probably for some aesthetic consideration. All the 1st and 2nd Gen guns I've seen had unpolished case hardening. The Schofield hammer is case hardened so you can see the color, while on the Colt you can only see it by looking at the top and back of the hammer.

There won't be any further large format images of firearms, as these are the only ones I have. I spent a day shooting these two with Plus X and with E100SW slide film. Come to think of it, though, I do have a rack full of nice Shiloh Sharps rifles I could "shoot," though I actually do use two of them in BPCR competition.

[Leigh]

OK. Perhaps I was getting my models confused. I haven't seen an SA in person in many decades.

Beautiful piece, and a great photo of it.

Hmmm... Sharps... .50 cal?

- Leigh

[Tom J McDonald]

Thanks guys.

I prefer the look and shape of the second pistol, but LOVE the handle on the first. If you could combine the two, it'd be perfect.

Tom.

[LelandRay]

Hmmm... Sharps... .50 cal?

- Leigh

I have six of them: A Model 1874 Sporter #3 in 45-70 fitted with a 6x Malcolm scope; an 1874 45-90 Sporter #1 with long range tang sight; a Model 1863 .54-caliber military musket; Model 1863 .54-caliber cavalry carbine; Model 1874 Saddle Rifle in 50-70 Government, and a Model 1874 Sporter #3 in .50-2 1/2 (50-90) with Winchester B4 4x scope. I have pictures of all of them, but mostly for documentary purposes, though I think I could come up with something using the 4x5 format. Been thinking about it anyway.

[Leigh]

Wow. That's a nice collection!

I've never encountered the .50-90 load. With that scope I bet it was a buffalo gun.

I think there was a .50-110 Sharps. The cartridge looks more like a shotgun shell.

Thanks.

- Leigh

[LelandRay]

Leigh, the 50-110 is just another loading of the 50-90. The caliber+powder charge designation did not come from Sharps, but from Winchester, when they began loading it commercially. The original was a paper patched bullet of 473 grains over about 100 grains of powder.

The buff hunters used open sights, as they hunted from moderate ranges. I added a period style scope for the simple reason that I have lousy vision.

[Wes Stewart]

That SA is a thing of beauty, and you captured it nicely.

[Leigh]

Cool, Leland. Thanks for the info.

I was never really into bp except to pour it down the muzzle. :D

Thanks.

- Leigh

[sly]

mdm, Americans don't understand that their passion/reverence/obsession/ with guns is disturbing and kinda scary to non-Americans. (Maybe for some residents of the USA as well.) I've not done a search, but I bet most if not all the photos of guns or other weapons on this site are by Americans. Certainly watching Antiques Road Show weapons of various kinds show up much more often on the American version than the English one.
It's their culture. It's not going to change. Cultural standards vary widely. Our own culture always seems like the norm. I'm very glad I was born on this side of the line.

[Jim Cole]

I'm back to trying still-life photos after a long break.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6922313605_e9b7e028be_b.jpg

[jcoldslabs]

Jim,

That's great. I'm impressed with you folks who artfully arrange stuff for your photos. I have not got the hang of that yet.

Here's a shot from tonight in quite the opposite vein--pure unordered chaos. No tabletop items were moved in the making of this photograph.

Kodak 2D 8x10
10" A.T. Thompson magic lantern f/4.5 Petzval (likely a rebranded Darlot)
Kodak Low Contrast Aerial Duplicating Film
One minute exposure at E.I. 1.5
HC-110 dil. D, 5 minutes in a rotary drum @ 68F deg.

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/SO-277%20-%20Dining%20Room%20Table%20SMALL.jpg

Jonathan

[LelandRay]

Jim,

That's great. I'm impressed with you folks who artfully arrange stuff for your photos. I have not got the hang of that yet.

Here's a shot from tonight in quite the opposite vein--pure unordered chaos. No tabletop items were moved in the making of this photograph.

Kodak 2D 8x10
10" A.T. Thompson magic lantern f/4.5 Petzval (likely a rebranded Darlot)
Kodak Low Contrast Aerial Duplicating Film
One minute exposure at E.I. 1.5
HC-110 dil. D, 5 minutes in a rotary drum @ 68F deg.

Jonathan

I happen to love unordered chaos photos. Using light and composition you've created a photograph from what would otherwise have been an excuse for your wife to complain to you about the "mess." Context is everything.

[jcoldslabs]

Leland,

Thanks. I do, too. Luckily my wife doesn't complain too much about the mess as long as it gets cleaned up once in a while, like when guests are coming over or we need to eat at the table! She does throw up her hands when she tries to clean it herself because all she ends up doing is picking up pieces of photo gear and saying, "Where does this go?"

Jonathan

[cjbroadbent]

... you folks who artfully arrange stuff for your photos ...
It's more like fitting things together in the few possible spaces that the light allows - like words in a poem. Synthesis - cutting the words down to essentials and getting to the point.
You've got the hang if it - there's order in that chaos.

[jcoldslabs]

I didn't mean to sound flippant about the arranging of objects for still life. It is indeed an art form to decide what goes where and why. Making those decisions intimidates me and so most all of my still life images are "as found" around the house.

Jonathan

[Bill Poole]

Workspace X 2.

I guess these are still life images -- not sure what else to call them.
I had one piece of 5X7 FP4 left and in a holder. The lens is a Fuji 150.

http://www.poolephotography.com/Public-Galleries/5X7-B/i-Jx2fmZn/0/M/2012010604-M.jpg


I then swapped the 5X7 back off the 'dorf and installed the 4X5 back. Same camera location and lens. This is TXP

http://www.poolephotography.com/Public-Galleries/5X7-B/i-5JPdpLk/0/M/2012010601-M.jpg

Both developed in Rodinal 1:25. I think I like the 4X5 better. And yes, this is pretty much the way this space would look on any given day. I did move the piece of white matte board so it would kick some fill from the lamp up onto the side of the Hasselblad. (Although I now notice that some other stuff got shifted between exposures.) Also, I closed the blinds on the windows to the left to cut down the brightness.

If others are moved to share images of their work area or studio (I don't have one of those) I would love to see.

Bill

[rjbuzzclick]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6937240899_17231b891b.jpg

[Roger Cole]

Big Foot? Guns like that suggest head issues in their owners. Clinging to boyhood fantasies. Hopefully not acting out violent fantasies.

A new record - someone made my ignore list in one single irritating asinine post.

As we used to say on Usenet when someone dropped into a killfile, *plonk*


I could say something Freudian, but I won't. It's a photograph. Get over it. You're an idiot.

I guess the moderators will slap me with a fine or banishment of some kind, but it's worth it.

I doubt it. They're pretty reasonable around here. Anyway, I'll offer my praise as a consolation prize.


Ding ding ding! Mark wins, he's Zoologist for the Day!

Oh, and nice Schofield LelandRay, I always liked breaktop revolvers.

+1

[LelandRay]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6937240899_17231b891b.jpg

Patron: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"

Waiter: "Keep your voice down, sir, we don't have enough to go around."

Patron: "Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?"

Waiter: Looks carefully and says, "I believe it's the backstroke, sir."

Patron: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"

Waiter: "That's funny. I thought we used them all in the raisin bread."

Interesting shot, photographically, but I couldn't help myself with the other comments. Must be an ad for Denny's, huh? :-)

[rjbuzzclick]

Patron: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"

Waiter: "Keep your voice down, sir, we don't have enough to go around."

Patron: "Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup?"

Waiter: Looks carefully and says, "I believe it's the backstroke, sir."

Patron: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"

Waiter: "That's funny. I thought we used them all in the raisin bread."

Interesting shot, photographically, but I couldn't help myself with the other comments. Must be an ad for Denny's, huh? :-)

Very good sir, thank you! :)

[BarryS]

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1360/experimentno7.jpg

Experiment No. 7
Wet Plate Collodion

[Roger Cole]

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1360/experimentno7.jpg

Experiment No. 7
Wet Plate Collodion

Love it!

[Mark Sawyer]

Radish in the window! :)
No. 2 (13.5 inch) Vitax @ f/8, collodion on aluminum, 5x6 inch
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/radishs.jpg

[John Conway]

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1360/experimentno7.jpg

Experiment No. 7
Wet Plate Collodion

Very interesting and creative. I have a friend that runs an antique shop,she sells a lot of little skulls and bones and old taxidermy pieces. I'm curious. What are they? Or should I say,what were they?

[gbogatko]

Taken with a Taylor-Cooke lens -- in awful shape with lots of flare.
Wide open. Efke 100 in D76 1:1 stand dev for 1 hour.

http://www.inluxeditions.com/hidden/Taylor-ross-flowers.jpg

[gbogatko]

Re-discovering the Fujinon SF 250 lens.
HP5 in PMK.
http://www.inluxeditions.com/hidden/Fuji-closeup.jpg

[Chris Strobel]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3649/3484889370_a7bb7668f5_o.jpg

Shen-Hao 4x5, Nikkor W 150mm, Type 55, Epson 4990 Scan

[BarryS]

Thanks Roger and John. I'd love to visit your friend's shop if my path takes me nearby. These are Vervet monkey skulls--I like them because they're not quite human.


Very interesting and creative. I have a friend that runs an antique shop,she sells a lot of little skulls and bones and old taxidermy pieces. I'm curious. What are they? Or should I say,what were they?

[gbogatko]

That's stunning.

[gbogatko]

>>Shen-Hao 4x5, Nikkor W 150mm, Type 55, Epson 4990 Scan
That's stunning.

[Chris Strobel]

>>Shen-Hao 4x5, Nikkor W 150mm, Type 55, Epson 4990 Scan
That's stunning.

Thanks for the kind words :)

[Chris Strobel]

One more in the same theme

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3305/3484272473_1b2f1fbfd6_o.jpg

Calumet C-1, 300mm Rodenstock Apo Siranon-N, fp4+, PMK, Epson 4990

[Shutter]

http://artbase.jagatee.net/kundendaten/large%20format%20forum/img016.jpg

360mm Symmar-S
Fomapan 400
8x10

[manet]

Yea, excellent series !

[Corran]

The still-life threads are always so great and inspiring, I get kind of intimidated. I want to try my hand though. So here is something I shot tonight, a picture of my "ax."

Schneider 150mm APO, about 2:1 I think, and developed N+1.5. One light to the right. Heavy front and rear tilts:

http://www.oceanstarproductions.com/photosharing/0196s.jpg

[Christo.Stankulov]

Sinar F2/Fujinon W 150/5.6/320TXP@640 asa, HC110 D
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6813729798_835d24e35a_z.jpg

[Christo.Stankulov]

320TXP@640 HC 110 D

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6818853816_bec2dacb70_z.jpg

[Sart_S]

Stlll-Life with the 9x12cm, Toyo 45C on Fomapan 100,dev. in 510-Pyro 1:100. Dagor 210mm lens.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_h_SYeMqdBw/T1r1OtdDYuI/AAAAAAAAAZg/ZpOyYXgxhKM/s640/01_ND.jpg

[Sart_S]

Stlll-Life with the 9x12cm, Toyo 45C on Fomapan 100,dev. in 510-Pyro 1:100. Lens Fujinon 150/6,3(Tessar) .

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vsLL_QEEP00/T1tOYOaB3iI/AAAAAAAAAZo/XS3IR49YukM/s640/01_Fuji.jpg

[polyglot]

Hi all. I never did "get" still life, never really saw the point until I found a couple of photos on LFPF that inspired me to have a try. Therefore, seeking your honest critiques on the following...

First of all, something a bit safe:
http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/img/2012/01/21/display.jpg (http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/index.php?id=2012/01/21&full)

More interestingly, I got to spend a couple hours in my grandmother's abandoned house (she died about 2.5 years ago); found a few things that haven't been claimed yet.
The Cards:
http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/img/2012/01/29a/display.jpg (http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/index.php?id=2012/01/29a&full)
Watching Over:
http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/img/2012/01/29b/display.jpg (http://www.brodie-tyrrell.org/pad/index.php?id=2012/01/29b&full)


(all shots are Toyo 45A, 150mm, Fomapan 100, EI50, D76 1+1/Jobo).

[theBDT]

Hi all. I never did "get" still life, never really saw the point until I found a couple of photos on LFPF that inspired me to have a try. Therefore, seeking your honest critiques on the following...
...

The first one is the strongest "as-is" in my opinion. The last one has the best concept, but I'm not feeling your composition. I don't have much of an opinion one way or another about the middle one.

[Ramiro Elena]

The first one is the strongest "as-is" in my opinion. The last one has the best concept, but I'm not feeling your composition. I don't have much of an opinion one way or another about the middle one.

I agree. Nice detail and composition in the first. Good dof too. I would have tried to make the bottle vertical perhaps... but that's just personal.
The other two could make a very interesting project, not sure I see it in large format. Maybe 120. Just saying... talking... :)

[polyglot]

Thanks. I agree that the first one is most visually compelling (I actually had some lighting to apply) but IMHO it suffers from the "but why bother" problem I have with most still life. I'll be going back to the house soon; see if I can get something better next time.

[cjbroadbent]

... it suffers from the "but why bother" problem I have with most still life....
There's not much 'as-is' landscape photography. It takes time to get the camera into the right place at the right time.
Likewise for 'as-is' still-life photography. It takes time to get the stuff into the right place.
I'm not alone in believing that photography requires a pretty strong feeling of intention (or bother). The light must feel right, the structure must feel right even if the intention is hidden, and the idea must show through. Your grandmother shots sprang to life only when I read the text and the intention. That shouldn't be necessary.
And I'm sure that if you fought with the whisky shot for an hour or so you could get some light and structure into the thing and turn it from an as-is into an as-you-would hope-to find-it. Not much different from walking an hour up the hills for a landscape.
I often do preliminary digiroids because if the shot doesn't look so good on digi, it is not going to look any better on large format.

[Christo.Stankulov]

320TXP@640 asa, HC110 D, Fujinon/Sinar
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6834540888_270f419f2e_z.jpg

[mdm]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E5AP4fswiZU/T2E9uz589RI/AAAAAAAABEw/I4x4Ch-n290/s1600/mugs.jpg
5x7 Delta 100 in Pyrocat M 2:2:100, 21cm Heliar @f16

[mdm]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhEg4Kwzwnk/T3JPDvCsWvI/AAAAAAAABF4/3VBsTQDufw4/s1600/klite2.jpg
5x7 Delta 100, Pyrocat M 2:2:100, 240mm Ronar

[jcoldslabs]

Morning Tea. Polaroid 665 P/N film (expired).

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/665 - Morning Tea.jpg

____________________________________________________

Jonathan

[SergeiR]

4x5 Efke 50, 150mm/5.6 Xenar, Rodinal 1+100 (finally forced myself to try it with Jobo),
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6118/7022729229_52f0479a70_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7022729229/)
Its all about luck (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7022729229/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[gbogatko]

Practice, practice, practice.
71011

[SergeiR]

4x5 Ilford 400, 210mm Symmar. Tilt, swing.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/7028584991_231e3005a2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7028584991/)
Apples and knife (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/7028584991/) by Sergei Rodionov (http://www.flickr.com/people/sergeistudio/), on Flickr

[polyglot]

Interesting* choice of direction for the knife - clearly makes them "someone else's apples".




* by which I do not mean 'wrong'.

[SergeiR]

hmm.. subliminal message.. ;) I was just looking for a bit of reflection in blade and using it as wee reflector.. But you right. There is something to be said when knife is not really offered to viewer. Creates distance. Meditate on this i shall.. (c) Yoda ;)

[Peter Yeti]

Sergei,

First of all, I like your work. It's nicely balanced and the line of the knife guides the view very well. Second, I pledge guilty of shooting offensive stills myself. Are we both traumatized and need to protect our apples? Or am I afraid anyone could steal my beautiful copper pots from the image? I think we have to consult Dr. Freud.:-)


71097


Sorry for the poor quality, shot this only to test a new film.

Peter

[Leigh]

hmm.. subliminal message.. ;) I was just looking for a bit of reflection in blade and using it as wee reflector.
Protectionism... "Stay away from my apples!" :D

- Leigh

[Bush]

pottery vase

71202

[jon.oman]

pottery vase

71202

Very nice, it has an organic feel to it.

[manet]

Wow, nice !

[Peter Yeti]

Very beautiful! I love this "Japanese feel" of this very clear composition.

[rpalm]

http://palm.bz/4x5/cooke/wbaseballs.jpg

Baseballs
4x5, cooke 8inch, delta 100

[stradibarrius]

Wow very simple and elegant!
Egg in a Glass; Seneca No. 9 5x7; Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Series IIIa, 6-7/8 in. Foc; 1 second @ f/16, Arista.edu 100

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7037631393_ecc792dfca_c.jpg

IMO Nobuo Satoh (1926-2005)

[Ken Lee]

http://www.kenleegallery.com/images/forum/l99a.jpg
Vase and Linen No. 4
Tachihara Field Camera, 200mm Nikkor M
4x5 HP5+, Pyrocat HDC

Sorry to show the same scene for the Nth time: it has become a test subject for me. Here I have used an incident meter in the shadows, and given a much longer exposure than in the past. I like the results.

[mvanderaa]

First image post here on the forum.
Not totally satisfied with the composition - couldn't get the octopus to stay put. (It kept slouching into one big blob.)

71313

Ebony 45SU
210 Heliar @ f/16
Ilford Delta 100

[mlatterich]

Superb use of light, shadows and DoF!



http://palm.bz/4x5/cooke/wbaseballs.jpg

Baseballs
4x5, cooke 8inch, delta 100

[Peter Yeti]

First image post here on the forum.
Not totally satisfied with the composition - couldn't get the octopus to stay put. (It kept slouching into one big blob.)

Ebony 45SU
210 Heliar @ f/16
Ilford Delta 100

I like your idea and lighting. Reminds me of old dutch vanitas paintings. The clam (or whatever it is) on the right looks a little lonely and yes, the octopus doesn't seem to enjoy the sitting.:) Just thinking out loud, may be fixing it into shape and putting it in the freezer for awhile may help? Or did it serve as dinner already...?

[mvanderaa]

I like your idea and lighting. Reminds me of old dutch vanitas paintings. The clam (or whatever it is) on the right looks a little lonely and yes, the octopus doesn't seem to enjoy the sitting.:) Just thinking out loud, may be fixing it into shape and putting it in the freezer for awhile may help? Or did it serve as dinner already...?

Peter: Thanks for the thoughts... your idea is a good one. I hadn't thought about freezing it into shape! I still have it (in my freezer.) I will have to thaw it out, try to prop it into an interesting shape and then freeze it again. Thanks for the idea - I'll give it a try.

[rpalm]

mlatterich, Thank you!

r


Superb use of light, shadows and DoF!

[jcoldslabs]

Water jugs on the kitchen floor.

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, Kodak Aero-Ektar 178mm, expired Polaroid type 664

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/664---Gallons.jpg
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jonathan

[SergeiR]

First image post here on the forum.
Not totally satisfied with the composition - couldn't get the octopus to stay put. (It kept slouching into one big blob.)


Well.. at least skull was staying where it was put.. :P

(try to shoot for side reflection next time you do any kind of glass stuff.. it will look better and give shape definition)

[Iga]

71375

[Iga]

71376

[Harley Goldman]

Beautiful! Wonderful light, use of highlights and negative space. Excellent work.




Egg in a Glass; Seneca No. 9 5x7; Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Cooke Anastigmat Series IIIa, 6-7/8 in. Foc; 1 second @ f/16, Arista.edu 100

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7037631393_ecc792dfca_c.jpg

IMO Nobuo Satoh (1926-2005)

[mvanderaa]

Well.. at least skull was staying where it was put.. :P

(try to shoot for side reflection next time you do any kind of glass stuff.. it will look better and give shape definition)

Hi Sergei: Thank you for your help. I'd like to understand your suggestion a little better... Would you recommend moving the light source to 90 degrees? I had the light at about 45 (at camera right) and only used one. If I moved the light to 90 degrees I would think I'd also need to add a fill (at camera left) but think I might add more bad reflections. Any additional tips you have on shooting glass would be helpful. Thanks!

[goamules]

Radishes sprouting at Mark's house. 8x10 contact print, FP4. Comments welcome!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/7046405167_6c0d6cc64c_b.jpg

[SergeiR]

Hi Sergei: Thank you for your help. I'd like to understand your suggestion a little better... Would you recommend moving the light source to 90 degrees? I had the light at about 45 (at camera right) and only used one. If I moved the light to 90 degrees I would think I'd also need to add a fill (at camera left) but think I might add more bad reflections. Any additional tips you have on shooting glass would be helpful. Thanks!


Oy.. :) easier to show.. here is sample setup (one of many possible) ones. (not in LF, so only links).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/3988150809/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/3988150761/in/photostream

Basically in order to get nicer specular highlights you need to make your source enormous in apparent size. Easiest way to do it in typical house - use something as scrim, or bounce already diffused light fro the wall . Bouncing is not very good mainly b/c it spills everywhere, but in a pinch it works ;). And flag rest of scene - like yourself with camera, so you won't get reflected in surfaces ;).

As of sides - generally all the reflective things easier to shoot when you got light from side, and darkness in center - b/c you can hide your camera in that darkness ;)Plus in case of glass - it makes form pop up and not hide.

Other way is to use background to show contour of the glass, by throwing most of light behind glass and not a the glass.

[mvanderaa]

Oy.. :) easier to show.. here is sample setup (one of many possible) ones. (not in LF, so only links).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/3988150809/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sergeistudio/3988150761/in/photostream

Basically in order to get nicer specular highlights you need to make your source enormous in apparent size. Easiest way to do it in typical house - use something as scrim, or bounce already diffused light fro the wall . Bouncing is not very good mainly b/c it spills everywhere, but in a pinch it works ;). And flag rest of scene - like yourself with camera, so you won't get reflected in surfaces ;).

As of sides - generally all the reflective things easier to shoot when you got light from side, and darkness in center - b/c you can hide your camera in that darkness ;)Plus in case of glass - it makes form pop up and not hide.

Other way is to use background to show contour of the glass, by throwing most of light behind glass and not a the glass.

Thanks for taking the time to help, Sergei. I will give it another go!

[kiteboy]

This is one of my first attempts at still life - surprised at how much dust there is on a dark cloth!

Wista 45, Symmar S 120mm. Rolei Retro 100 Tonal - f32 15 seconds. Rodinal 1;50 13 minutes.

Critique welcome

Andrew

71450

[SergeiR]

Thanks for taking the time to help, Sergei. I will give it another go!
You are most welcome. If you really want to study this stuff more - try to get copy of Light: Science and Magic, no matter which edition. Its pretty much best book out there talking about basics of light in photography, and not in uber boring way ;)

[jcoldslabs]

There was some discussion a while back about knives pointing at the viewer instead of away. Here's one in the former camp with a sort of sinister feel, taken in my kitchen on a cutting board one afternoon. The old Polaroid film solarized the background quite a bit.

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, Kodak Aero Ektar, expired Polaroid type 665

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/665---Knife-on-Board.jpg
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jonathan

[Mark Sawyer]

Radishes sprouting at Mark's house. 8x10 contact print, FP4. Comments welcome!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/7046405167_6c0d6cc64c_b.jpg

I know that lens! "For those who do not find a demand for extremely sharp portraits or who do not want sharp focus", it's a "happy compromise", says the manufacturer. "At full opening it produces a negative firm enough in quality to suit anyone, yet soft enough to eliminate considerable retouching. It is free from halation and double lines."

But I think I see some halos! :rolleyes:

[goamules]

I know that lens! "For those who do not find a demand for extremely sharp portraits or who do not want sharp focus", it's a "happy compromise", says the manufacturer. "At full opening it produces a negative firm enough in quality to suit anyone, yet soft enough to eliminate considerable retouching. It is free from halation and double lines."

But I think I see some halos! :rolleyes:

Yeah, it's hard to believe the advertising 100 years ago wasn't precisely, absolutely accurate! I think I'm going to like this lens. What's there not to like about a 16", F3.5 portrait lens? But I need two large kids or a winch to lift it onto the camera. I think the Varium is a keeper.

[David Brunell]

There was some discussion a while back about knives pointing at the viewer instead of away. Here's one in the former camp with a sort of sinister feel, taken in my kitchen on a cutting board one afternoon. The old Polaroid film solarized the background quite a bit.

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, Kodak Aero Ektar, expired Polaroid type 665

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/665---Knife-on-Board.jpg


_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Jonathan


Nice, I like the feel of this one!

[jcoldslabs]

Thanks, David. I might wait for this light to come back and try a more conscious arrangement with proper 4x5 film.

Jonathan

[jcoldslabs]

Our key bowl by the front door. If you're thinking that I never lose my keys because I have a bowl to put them in, think again!

4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, B&L 4.25" Cinephor, long expired T-Max 100

http://www.kolstad.us/ebay/4x5---T-Max-100---Key-Bowl.jpg

Jonathan

[Emil Schildt]

I like to make still's with no apparent meaning..

Silly Stills.

Here are three..

All painted with light. All negatives manipulated with tape/bleach/scratching...

http://www.apug.org/gallery1/files/4/8/8/7/still_525337.jpg

and

http://www.apug.org/gallery1/files/4/8/8/7/still-engel.jpg

and finally

http://www.apug.org/gallery1/files/4/8/8/7/still-kylling.jpg

Just for the fun of it....

[rpalm]

Very inspiring, you should do a book.

I'd buy it.

r

[mono]

He already has out a book ;-)

[rpalm]

info please

r

[Denise Dognini]

Kodak 2D - Schneider Symmar 210 MC - Fomapan 100

Negative scan (I wish I could show it with in a higher resolution, but the file would be huge...)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7064334307_4c781e1829_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisedognini/7064334307/)
Em casa 15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisedognini/7064334307/) por Denise Dognini (http://www.flickr.com/people/denisedognini/), no Flickr

[Emil Schildt]

info please

r

look here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3000622

[sdwfx]

71375

That is so good and well-executed.

[cjbroadbent]

Kodak 2D - Schneider Symmar 210 MC - Fomapan 100

Negative scan (I wish I could show it with in a higher resolution, but the file would be huge...)


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7064334307_4c781e1829_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisedognini/7064334307/)
Em casa 15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/denisedognini/7064334307/) por Denise Dognini (http://www.flickr.com/people/denisedognini/), no Flickr

Pretty strong. Well done!

[Denise Dognini]

Pretty strong. Well done!

Thank you!

[rpalm]

look here:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3000622


Thanx!
It's on it's way, anxious to see it.

r

[Mark Sawyer]

boo...

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Owen21k/boos.jpg

[Old-N-Feeble]

Mark... I never had 1/10th of your creativity. Makes me quite envious...

[mdm]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_L_A-1IRTA/T4ZAhxLIgYI/AAAAAAAABI4/6egbFsTQNps/s1600/shoes.jpg
4x5 Portra 160, 135mm Sironar S
Time for a run.

[rpalm]

mdm, that's great!“

[Mark Sawyer]

Mark... I never had 1/10th of your creativity. Makes me quite envious...

Thank you! I am unworthy...


I'm trying to figure out if I should call it a self-portrait, or just "the Jawbone of an Ass". Same thing either way, I suppose...