Steamtown

[ddp]

Took a visit out to Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA with William (Lambroving) last week...some nice stuff out in the yards to shoot.

Portra 160NC & VC
MP, 35 'Lux Aspherical, 90 'Cron APO Asph & Noctilux

Thanks for looking.

[hamey]

Lovely shots Dan.

It proves how good film is, and certainly think that digital images off the M8 will be NO better. Lol.

Hail the King (Film)

Cheers.

[elansprint72]

Dan,
Really excellent set, although the neglect is rather sad. Take a can of rust-preventer next time you go.

wrt Ken's comment, for me it's not about the medium of recording, it's about the skill of the guy operating the tool. I'm sure that if I were at this location, I would not come away with shots as well seen as this, film or digi.

[jmr]

Dan,

great, crisp images; lovely colour and tone too.

[larry]

Dan,

The textures, shapes, shadows and compositions make a nice set of abstractions. And I second Ken's comments about film.

Larry

[abrewer]

Hi Dan.

Thanks for posting this terrific series. The colors and textures intermingled with the shapes and forms of the close-ups are tremendously entertaining. And the quality of the images, as pointed out already, is superb.

Excellent!

Thanks.

Allan

[lambroving]

Dan,

You got my shot (#4) before the kids came! Damn!!! After looking at yours, not sure I'll bother to get mine processed. Mine were more of an overview while you put the Nocti on the details. That light was tough... Particularly like that last one.

Pete,

There are loads of restored cars and engines on this site. Dan finds peeling paint more interesting... Since you never listen to me, I'll let Dan explain how no digicam can capture that last one..., (and few camera/lens combos either), and a few of the others. Dan uses a Nikon Dx2 full-time at work. In my experience, the tool has a GREAT influence on the outcome, regardless of the skill, vision, "eye" of the photographer. Dan can speak to that point as well, since photography is his "day job" and he holds a degree in photography and fine arts...

Steamtown National Historic Site - Steamtown's Locomotives and Cars (U.S. National Park Service)

[Peyton Hoge]

I really like the last one!!

[ddp]

Thanks all for looking, and the comments.

Regarding the film vs. digital debate - I will use the last shot as an example, since William pointed that one out. Film was Kodak Portra 160VC, lens was the 35 Summilux Apsherical. That lens is a recent acquisition, one that I do not regret. My 35 Summicron asph was nice, but this.....wow. In any case - this image, and a number of the others I shot that day have detail in places that would have been rendered differently in a digital format. This is not to say that digital would have been an unacceptable choice here, it's more a statement that film lends a more pleasing look. In the deeper shadows, or low light levels - digital files tend to get a bit noisy, much like a video camera when one pushes the gain up to +9db or so. Film can hold the details a bit better, and has a more velvety look.

As William stated, I do work with Nikon DSLR's - so the differences in glass play a part in things as well. The Leica stuff is just outrageous...and for me, the combination of film & the glass is hard to beat (at least for my own personal work.) At work, it's sooner than later and film is a memory here.

[azzo]

All images are nicely captured. A very entertaining set, with lovely colour and detail. Well Done Dan.

Best Azzo

[wbesz]

A colorful series Dan, and I particularly like the second last shot (..the tunnel ).

[fotografr]

Every shot is first rate as far as I'm concerned. Beautifully executed series and really nice use of light. If I can get picture quality like this from the M8 (if I ever get my hands on one), I'll be thrilled.

[martinop]

Excellent series. Like the subject matter + the colors and crispness.

[beramos]

Excellent series. I prefer the las shot for its superb composition and hreat light. I like it much Dan.

[ddp]

Thanks again guys!

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by lambroving

Since you never listen to me, I'll let Dan explain how no digicam can capture that last one..., (and few camera/lens combos either)

Sorry William, but that is complete and utter tosh. Any 35mm camera or digital SLR could take a shot similar to that. 50mm lens at f2.8 should be just about be right.

Which is not to take anything away from an excellent photograph and photographer.

[andybarton]

The last two hit the right buttons for me, Dan.

Do you do your own scanning?

[elansprint72]

William,
Perhaps you should have really read Ken's comment and my own properly before shooting from the hip in that condescending tone you use when you disagree with someone else's opinion. I am actually a very big fan of film, it's just that my preference is for B&W in a size larger than cine film.

Dan,
Thanks for your learned insight into this shoot, your set, as I said before is, .....imho(!) excellent; thanks for showing them and I hope that you have some more to post.

[kamilsukun]

Dan,

Thanks for sharing these excellent images.

[fotografr]

This digital vs film thing can really stir up some passions, so at the risk of starting another of those long debates I'd like to express my opinion that a shot like the last one really can't, at this point, be made with any digital camera. In part, this is because the 35 lux ASPH has a very unique fingerprint and the only digital cameras it can be used on are the RD-1, which produces images with a very recognizable digital smoothness, and the M8, which isn't readily available in reliable form yet. Also, as Dan pointed out, film and digital captures treat shadow areas completely differently, and I've yet to see any digital image that has the texture of film. Programs that add grain get close, but nothing has duplicated it yet. The same is true for the Nocti shots. There's just no way that look can be duplicated with any digital camera right now.