Travel Photographer of the Year (2011)

[kabuki_mono]

[quote:6d6ccd1665="Succat"]
Kodak BW400CN which I over exposed by 1-stop. [/quote:6d6ccd1665]

That film looks just wow! I bet it's expensive though.

 
[quote:6d6ccd1665="Succat"]I like what you've done so far: it's tidy, well laid out and easy to navigate.

Wordpress is a sophisticated platform, constantly under development, and, if you're serious about using it for your photography, I think it's well worth spending time learning how to drive it.
[/quote:6d6ccd1665]

I understand the basics, a few hours research into just basic editing - ended up being worthwhile as it actually is simpler than what it may seem like at first. But all that html editing that has to be done to edit certain aspects ... it just goes straight over my head.

I mainly use it just to write, but now being back on the road. I thought why not .. might as well upload pics instead of letting them rot on my hard drive.

But for now - simple and basic works. If it gets too complex, the next time I post something or upload anything .. I'll just forget how it was done.

[Succat]

[quote:5c1824aaad="kabuki_mono"]
Kodak BW400CN ... That film looks just wow! I bet it's expensive though.

 [/quote:5c1824aaad]

On today's exchange rate, rolls of 36 x frames = EUR6.38 and 24 x frames = EUR5.22 which may or may not be expensive depending on one's situation; or, as one of my old Russian professors would always remind us — "film is cheap; moments are precious".

This film is well suited for travel photography as it has a wide exposure latitude. Here's an example in this shot that I posted earlier today which was taken inside a "A Girl's Bedroom". You'll notice how the film holds detail in the highlights and right through into the shadows, a difference of around 5-stops.

Another advantage of this film when travelling is that we can change its rating in camera. For example, in dark places where the use of flash is undesirable, or even forbidden (such as inside churches, museums, galleries, and the like) I have achieved quite acceptable results when rating the film at 1600 ISO.

Anyways, digital or film, it's all fun . . . just get the shot!



Succat

[kabuki_mono]

[quote:d3d6dab2a3="Succat"]

rolls of 36 x frames = EUR6.38 and 24 x frames = EUR5.22 [...] or, as one of my old Russian professors would always remind us — "film is cheap; moments are precious".[/quote:d3d6dab2a3]

That's very good price for the quality of the film. Been paying much more for the Ilford film I use.
Excellent quote! [i:d3d6dab2a3]"film is cheap; moments are precious"[/i:d3d6dab2a3]
As a friend of mine always tells me "graffiti is the poor artist who can't afford a canvas" - It's a pretty catch 22 line, but makes me chuckle.

[quote:d3d6dab2a3="Succat"]
Anyways, digital or film, it's all fun . . . just get the shot![/quote:d3d6dab2a3]

Word! one question though ... while on long distance travel, what do you do with your used up film? do you collect them until you reach somewhere where they can be developed? or do you mail them home or something along them lines?

Km

[Succat]

[quote:23ed9b59aa="kabuki_mono"]
Question ... while on long distance travel, what do you do with your used up film? do you collect them until you reach somewhere where they can be developed? or do you mail them home or something along them lines?

[/quote:23ed9b59aa]
I've never had to deal with these issues, [b:23ed9b59aa]Km[/b:23ed9b59aa]. With a few exceptions, all my work is done on commission. On completion of a shoot, the film (and we're only talking about film) comes out of the camera and is either directly handed over to the client or delivered by courier.

My advice to travellers would be to, either (a) develop the film at a trusted local lab as soon after exposure as is practical, or (b) send the film "home" for storage/processing. I don't recommend carrying around exposed film for any length of time.


[quote:23ed9b59aa="kabuki_mono"]
That's very good price for the quality of the (Kodak) film. Been paying much more for the Ilford film I use.

[/quote:23ed9b59aa]
If you liked what I did with the Kodak BW400 — then you're just gonna [i:23ed9b59aa]love[/i:23ed9b59aa] Ilford's equivalent, the XP2-Super 400. This stuff is seriously beautiful: smooth, creamy whites and rich, deep blacks. On today's exchange rate, rolls of 36 x frames = EUR9.84 and 24 x frames = EUR6.95 which slightly more than Kodak's offering.

I probably wouldn't recommend this film as being quite so well suited for travel photography because (despite their blurb) it's difficult to expose correctly and most labs process it wrong. That said, it's well worth experimenting with, especially for portraiture. Here's a tip: rate the film in camera at 320 ISO, not the 400 as marked on the box.


[quote:23ed9b59aa]
"graffiti is the poor artist who can't afford a canvas"

[/quote:23ed9b59aa]

Love it !!!



Succat

[kabuki_mono]

[quote:94309da64b="Succat"]
I've never had to deal with these issues [...] My advice to travellers would be to, either (a) develop the film at a trusted local lab as soon after exposure as is practical, or (b) send the film "home" for storage/processing. I don't recommend carrying around exposed film for any length of time[/quote:94309da64b]
That makes sense, it does make it a nuisance for long distance travelling though as; if 35mm wasn't an expensive enough hobby ([i:94309da64b]unless[/i:94309da64b] one has or has access to a dark room) but the added cost of film and it's developing [b:94309da64b]or[/b:94309da64b] the postage to send it back "home" - seem to be a very big negative in my opinion (for [i:94309da64b]non professional[/i:94309da64b] photographers like myself) regardless of the superb quality they guarantee, and of course that beautiful feel when you snap a shot and manually have to set up the next one ... just in case anything does catch your eye and you have to be quick on the trigger.


[quote:94309da64b="Succat"]
If you liked what I did with the Kodak BW400 — then you're just gonna [i:94309da64b]love[/i:94309da64b] Ilford's equivalent, the XP2-Super 400. This stuff is seriously beautiful: smooth, creamy whites and rich, deep blacks. [/quote:94309da64b]

Oh...It's from Kodak, that's why I couldn't find any .. I was asking for it under Ilford's name ...
The XP2-Super 400 that's what I've been using! It's C41 so there's no trouble developing it, as it can be done in the same machines that develop color (I'm sure you're well aware of this though) and yes! it's picture is [b:94309da64b]superb[/b:94309da64b] and not too expensive, €6 I was quoted in a shop today, where I was paying seven poinds in England (well worth it either way) - but I decided I'm not bringing my 35mm. I'm tight on space and as much as I hate leaving it behind, for this trip my digital one does the job just as well (that's probably an over-statement, takes good photos for being a ten pound piece of crap though. )and isn't as bulky nor expensive (in the long run) as my 35mm - [i:94309da64b] It shall be missed though![/i:94309da64b]



Must run though - I head out tomorrow!

Km

[kabuki_mono]

`e´

Superd shot [b:76a77bc74f]Succat[/b:76a77bc74f]!

[Succat]

 
Thank you for your kind and generous comment, [b:9f73af3d6f]Km[/b:9f73af3d6f] . . .

I'm blessed to have skills which support my wander lust. The woman shown there wanted some photos for her boyfriend and I needed to replace some gear. Everyone was happy!

The image was captured on Kodak T-Max 400 which is a true B&W film. To obtain that contrasty affect, a technique known as [i:9f73af3d6f]pull-push[/i:9f73af3d6f] was used whereby I underexposed the shot by 2-stops and then over processed the film by 2-stops.

A better example of what can be achieved using that technique (its affect) is shown in this shot of a nun doing needle work ― "Service of God" ― one in a series of a documentary photo-essay I did of life in a convent.

These days, most of my work is shot digitally, and so I take every opportunity that presents itself to shoot on film because of the immense satisfaction it offers for creative control in-camera.

Have you done any travel photography using true B&W film?
 

[kabuki_mono]

[quote:edf303c5e2="Succat"] 
"Service of God" [/quote:edf303c5e2] -Wonderful! it looks so sinister but at the same time so contradictory ... in the sense ... a nun wouldn't be sinister ... or would she!?

[quote:edf303c5e2="Succat"] 
Have you done any travel photography using true B&W film?
 [/quote:edf303c5e2]

I have. I've got 50+ photos I took when I was living in Liverpool - only thing is I never had access to a scanner to upload any of them anywhere, nor am I at 'home' anymore. So they will probably fill up with dust in some wardrobe until one day I come back and bring them out of their dark prison.

Km