gwpics Posted June 25, 2016 Share #1 Posted June 25, 2016 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Yesterday I published a fairly lengthy piece on my blog explaining why I was shooting film again after 14 years of shooting digital. Some may find it an interesting read. Here is the link to it: https://gerrywalden.wordpress.com. Comments are always welcome. Gerry Edited June 25, 2016 by gwpics 11 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Hi gwpics, Take a look here Why film?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
too old to care Posted June 25, 2016 Share #2 Posted June 25, 2016 Well written, and wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 25, 2016 Share #3 Posted June 25, 2016 Thank you for the pleasant blog article. Eventually you might want to leave C41 to experience 'real' film, however I must admit that very much of film has changed. For example, Tri-X of the Seventies is gone. I might be old-age blinded but I cannot get the results today that I got back then with simple D-76, 1:1. Welcome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted June 25, 2016 Thank you for the pleasant blog article. Eventually you might want to leave C41 to experience 'real' film, however I must admit that very much of film has changed. For example, Tri-X of the Seventies is gone. I might be old-age blinded but I cannot get the results today that I got back then with simple D-76, 1:1. Welcome! Thanks for looking and for you kind comments. You may be right, and sat on a shelf just above my head are 5 rolls of Tri-X and one of Ilford Delta 400, but as I hope you can see I get good results with the Fuji Neopan 400CN. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted June 25, 2016 Well written, and wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing. Thank you very much for your very kind comment. I must say that your screen name is far politer than what I usually say! Gerry 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted June 26, 2016 Share #6 Posted June 26, 2016 Thank you for your article. I still shoot digital but this is why I got myself an M7 (and R7 and bought back the Contax T3 I never should have sold). For B&W I use BW400CN for the same reason you shoot Neopan, for colo. Lovely tonal range ,back blacks, and minimal grain). There is a simplicity (but not immediacy or convenience) of the whole film workflow that I really enjoy. I also seem to concern myself more with the subject and less with technical perfection when shooting film. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 26, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted June 26, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you for your article. I still shoot digital but this is why I got myself an M7 (and R7 and bought back the Contax T3 I never should have sold). For B&W I use BW400CN for the same reason you shoot Neopan, for colo. Lovely tonal range ,back blacks, and minimal grain). There is a simplicity (but not immediacy or convenience) of the whole film workflow that I really enjoy. I also seem to concern myself more with the subject and less with technical perfection when shooting film. Mark Thanks for your comments about my blog which I appreciate. I used to shoot the Kodak film but ( hope this does not come as too much of a shock to you) it has not been manufactured for some years now. I have also tried Ilford XP2 but I din't like it, although there is a more recent formulation as XP2 Super which I have not tried. It is 20% dearer though, and as I am happy with the Fuji version I will stick where I am. Interestingly the Fuji in Europe is manufactured in the Ilford factory but (I am given to understand) to a different formulation to the Ilford film. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EoinC Posted June 27, 2016 Share #8 Posted June 27, 2016 Thank you, Gerry. As Mark notes, Kodak BW400CN is a very good C41 film. Although no longer made, it is still readily available in many places, and, at least in my experience, doesn't suffer with age. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted June 27, 2016 Thank you, Gerry. As Mark notes, Kodak BW400CN is a very good C41 film. Although no longer made, it is still readily available in many places, and, at least in my experience, doesn't suffer with age. I agree. I have used it quite a lot in my pre-digital days but as it is now discontinued I have decided to stick with the Fuji which is very similar and which I am very happy with. I first switched to C-41 b&w film back around the mid-90s when I had some film affected by x-rays on a flight, and decided that I would get my film processed before I bought it home. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 27, 2016 Share #10 Posted June 27, 2016 (edited) Put my post aside. I do not scan film. If a film image evinces something remarkable in a wet-print, I am happy. I do regret that my skill in scanning the prints is deficient. The monitor never really works for me. My fault, perhaps, certainly. Edited June 27, 2016 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted June 27, 2016 Share #11 Posted June 27, 2016 Thank you, Gerry, for a very enjoyable read and some beautiful images to savour. Did you / would you ever think about shooting on a Monochrom before you returned to the analogue world? I think it would have suited your style down to the ground. Regardless; thank you for sharing your thoughts, experiences and images with us. Philip. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted June 27, 2016 Put this post aside. I do not scan film. If a film image evinces something remarkable in a wet-print, I am happy. I do regret that my skill in scanning the prints is deficient. The monitor never really works for me. My fault, perhaps. I am afraid to say that I have absolutely no wish to ever do a wet print again in my life! When I cleared the darkroom out I was also put off by the way that the fumes had eaten into the metal window fittings. I am very happy in my office where I can see the birds and squirrels playing in the garden. Gerry 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 27, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted June 27, 2016 Thank you, Gerry, for a very enjoyable read and some beautiful images to savour. Did you / would you ever think about shooting on a Monochrom before you returned to the analogue world? I think it would have suited your style down to the ground. Regardless; thank you for sharing your thoughts, experiences and images with us. Philip. Philip Firstly thanks you for your very kind comments. I have a friend in Barcelona (Lluis Ripol) and other friends who shoot with the Monochrom and the results they get are superb so the answer is a resounding YES but I am afraid that finances will not stretch that far, and now I am not earning from my photography they are not likely to. However, if you want to donate one, or start a crowd-funding campaign on my behalf then I would not say no!!! BTW, Lluis has returned to doing some of his wonderful street work on film because he likes the feel of it despite having a Monochrom. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted June 30, 2016 Share #14 Posted June 30, 2016 Yesterday I published a fairly lengthy piece on my blog explaining why I was shooting film again after 14 years of shooting digital. Some may find it an interesting read. Here is the link to it: https://gerrywalden.wordpress.com. Comments are always welcome. Gerry A good article... after many years with the M8 and then a short affair with the M-E, I'm back shooting film via a double M6 set up. With a Pakon scanner in my workflow, film works for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted June 30, 2016 A good article... after many years with the M8 and then a short affair with the M-E, I'm back shooting film via a double M6 set up. With a Pakon scanner in my workflow, film works for me. I have just had a film image taken on the M7 published in a story on the National geographic website. Shot on 1 June, published today. For me that justifies my decision. Thanks for commenting, and happy shooting, Gerry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted June 30, 2016 Share #16 Posted June 30, 2016 Congratulations! While this is nothing but a happy snap of my wife and child, I do not think a digital image would be as pleasing. Keep up the good work, and do post the link to your NG photo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted June 30, 2016 Congratulations! While this is nothing but a happy snap of my wife and child, I do not think a digital image would be as pleasing. Keep up the good work, and do post the link to your NG photo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Shiva that is a great family portrait. My image is elsewhere on the Forum at http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/261546-new-forest-pony-sales/?p=3061204 Best wishes from rainy Southampton Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denys Posted June 30, 2016 Share #18 Posted June 30, 2016 Lovely work! Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts and images. I remember reading very early in my interest in photography that the best way to learn is to make mistakes - that meant burning film. Nowadays I only shoot digital. I HOPE the very low cost of digital allows me to make more mistakes, hence learn more, but maybe not. I am certainly taking more snaps than I would if I was shooting Tri-X at £9 per roll, plus processing and printing. I'm also aware of the argument that if I was shooting Tri-X, I may concentrate that bit more before releasing the shutter.. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwpics Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted June 30, 2016 Lovely work! Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts and images. I remember reading very early in my interest in photography that the best way to learn is to make mistakes - that meant burning film. Nowadays I only shoot digital. I HOPE the very low cost of digital allows me to make more mistakes, hence learn more, but maybe not. I am certainly taking more snaps than I would if I was shooting Tri-X at £9 per roll, plus processing and printing. I'm also aware of the argument that if I was shooting Tri-X, I may concentrate that bit more before releasing the shutter.. Thanks for commenting Denys. As I said, I shoot Fuji Neopan 400CN which costs £5 a roll through Calumet, and processing is cheapish through most d&p labs on the High Street. It is a good idea to warn them that, although it is a C41 film it is b&w or an inexperienced lab tech may freak out. Most places will transfer it to disk of you don't have a scanner. Gerry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denys Posted June 30, 2016 Share #20 Posted June 30, 2016 Thanks for commenting Denys. As I said, I shoot Fuji Neopan 400CN which costs £5 a roll through Calumet, and processing is cheapish through most d&p labs on the High Street. It is a good idea to warn them that, although it is a C41 film it is b&w or an inexperienced lab tech may freak out. Most places will transfer it to disk of you don't have a scanner. Gerry Yes - I suppose better value for money: more mistakes, more learning! That said, I just saw your comment about getting an image published on the National Geographic website..so I guess we are worlds apart (if you pardon the pun) in ability :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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