enboe Posted May 18, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted May 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) This summer I will be vacationing in Orlando (no surprises there) and will be visiting the new Harry Potter Diagon Alley. From the preview press pictures on the web, it seems to be a cross between what's shown in the movies and what I envision older sections of London would look like today. This just screams B&W to me. My quandary, what is the best imaging option to capture the mood of old London alleys? Opinions, and maybe even samples, from folks who have shot street scenes in the alleys of London would be sincerely appreciated. Â Options: Â M240/CMOS M9/CCD Monochrom M8.2 Infrared B&W (using vintage Leica IR filter) M7 + Tri-X Â Thank you. Â P.S. Extra credit if a particular lens stood out for some reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 18, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted May 18, 2014 I think any if those will deliver great black and whites. MM is probably at the top of the list, but if you want the ability to shoot color as well then maybe the M9 or M240 with SilverEfex will be great as well. Â Â Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 19, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted May 19, 2014 Eric, Â Return to the 1920s when all life was in black and white. (I know this because I've seen footage taken at the time.) Â Seriously though I support Simon's advice. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted May 19, 2014 Share #4 Â Posted May 19, 2014 Tri x AT ISO 200, DEVELOP 80% of normal. Lots of nice shadow detail. Much less grain than normal development. Film is a hassle with air travel. Â MM, tripod and HDR will also do it. Learn to process so it looks normal. Â If you want best possible grain, 240 or mm. I have no way to compare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 20, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted May 20, 2014 If you were convinced about only using B&W wouldn't the question be redundant? You would use the MM or M7 without needing to ask. Â So as you do ask I'm not convinced you are convinced, so the M240 plus Silver Efex at home for when you get back. You can then at least placate the family with the odd colour picture while you follow your creative urge by converting the best images to B&W. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted May 20, 2014 Author Share #6 Â Posted May 20, 2014 Steve, Â I wish to offer a clarification. I am sold on B&W for the subject. Each of the capture options listed has a different set of objective characteristics, grain/noise, spectral response (which I can tailor with filters), and dynamic range. Different combinations of these objective characteristics result in different subjective feels. Which is best to capture the feel of old London? Â Thanks for the dialog. Â Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted May 20, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted May 20, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's a vacation, sounds like a family vacation, take color and convert to BW when you get home. You can even do that quite well with Portra if you are intent on using film. Otherwise that the M9 or M240 and enjoy. Great thing about digital processing, even with film after scanned, is there is no need to limit oneself beforehand. Years from now it will be the snaps of the family you will be looking at not the artistic shots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted May 20, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted May 20, 2014 I like the creative thought of using black and white. I would choose MM, but agree with others that if this is a one camera trip, I'd use a color capable camera and then convert to B+W. You could always carry the MM on the day that you're at Universal. Â However, here's some things to bear in mind from a Floridian! 1. It's really hot here in the summer, so I'd recommend keeping kit to a minimum and choose your favorite body/lens combo and stick with it for the day. If you go back to lodging and want to change, that's the time. Don't cart a bag with a bunch of lenses or an extra body if you can avoid it... Â 2. It's really hot here in the summer, so whoever you shoot in Diagon Alley, while the Alley may look old English, the tourists certainly won't. And they will be everywhere, in every shot... Â 3. It's really hot here in the summer, so enjoy and STAY HYDRATED, sun exposure and headache/fatigue don't good photos make! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted May 20, 2014 Share #9  Posted May 20, 2014 MM, without question Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/227294-options-for-bw-share-your-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=2593661'>More sharing options...
billo101 Posted May 20, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted May 20, 2014 MM for B&W, M8 for IR B&W. Â B Â Â Inviato da mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garysamson Posted May 20, 2014 Share #11 Â Posted May 20, 2014 Please consider the M7 and Tri-X film and processing the negatives in Rodinal (Adonal). You can use the M9 or M240 for family vacation photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share #12 Â Posted May 21, 2014 John, Â You've captured the atmosphere I envisioned. Great work! Â May I inquire about a few of the parameters you used? Any on-lens filtration? Any special post-processing software tools? Â Thanks again for posting. Â Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted May 21, 2014 Share #13  Posted May 21, 2014 John, You've captured the atmosphere I envisioned. Great work!  May I inquire about a few of the parameters you used? Any on-lens filtration? Any special post-processing software tools?  Thanks again for posting.  Eric  Thanks for your kind words Eric.  All were taken on an MM with either 35 'Lux FLE or 28 Elmarit Asph lenses, no filters. Post processing in LR5, with a tweak to clarity and if needed, exposure (I shoot the MM at -0.3).  Then into Silver Efex Pro and further tweaks with structure, silver toning etc. Here's one more for good measure. Enjoy your trip!   Regards Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/227294-options-for-bw-share-your-thoughts/?do=findComment&comment=2594023'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.