Technique & Approach #18 - ND Filter - Comparison

A while back I arose before sparrow fart and headed off to the coast at Sandgate/ Shorncliffe. 

Unfiltered - Aperture priority f/8 (ish), 100 speed Ilford, 28mm (manual focus set to infinity)

Variable ND +9 - full manual - f/8, 30sec, 100 speed Ilford, 28mm (manual focus set to infinity)

Either photo has it's own qualities. Both are the same setting, the only difference is the use of an ND filter. Blocking out more light allowing for a much longer shutter duration, the result? Blurred lines. Drama, a cinematic look, I guess. The extreme vignetting comes also from the ND filter and wide angle lens. Both photos are straight from developer / scanner.

A tripod and cable release was used for both and is highly recommended in low light and especially when doing long exposures (< 1/20th). Manfrotto is my preferred brand.

Shot Ilford 100, Canon A1, Sigma 28mm.

Purchased from BH Photo Video New York. They stock a range of photographic accessories. Including filters, film, tripods, etc.

Technique & Approach #17 - bwXX

Excerpt from Cinestill.com

"CineStill bwXX is a high speed, classic black & white film emulsion, with an EI of 250 under daylight and 200 under tungsten lighting. Recommended development in Kodak D-96 developer, but is compatible will all black and white film developers.

Double-x is a classic black and white film stock left relatively unchanged since it's release in 1959 for still and motion picture use. Some of the movies using the classic Eastman double-x film stock (5222) include: Schindler's List (1993), Memento (2000), Kafka (1991), Casino Royale (2006), I'm Not There (2007), and many many more.

Kodak no longer offers this wonderful still stock to the still photography community so CineStill Film has decided to release and distribute it under their label. This is a limited run (only 2000 rolls available) sold out fast, but if all goes well it will become a regularly stocked CineStill Film's emulsion.

CineStill bwXX is an excellent choice for those looking for a classic film stock to fill the void left by the discontinuation of it's wonderful sister films, Kodak Plus-x (discontinued in 2010) and TXP320.

36 exposures professionally spooled into high quality 135 Non Dx-Coded Cartridges"

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My first roll and let me just one word "wow". Such mood, such rich mono tones. Shooting a mixture of street, portrait and architecture. Blown away by the results. Certainly has a unique look to any other black and white film I've shot. Very contrasty and certainly works well for portraits coupled with a bright lens, such as my Canon 50mm f/1.4. Shadows are a bit low in limited light, but this can be manipulated in either develop or print / photoshop edit. I generally choose to leave the editing out. Only in rare circumstances will I edit my work. And of course like the other 2 cinestill films, 50D and 800T, bwXX has that unique halation effect, a sort of glow in certain light. 

I'm still looking at getting an anamorphic lens, which I believe will the icing on the cake with these films. 

Wheel, Southbank Brisbane

Wheel, Southbank Brisbane

Wheel, Southbank Brisbane reflected off of the Cultural Centre

For portraits

Canon 50mm f/1.4 love the dropout on this lens. 

Technique & Approach #16

Let's talk filters. I finally got myself a red colour filter for some wonderful black and whites. It basically makes them pop or adds more contrast by filtering certain lightrays. And a variable ND (neutral density) filter, which essentially blocks light and allows for either wide apertures (for dreamy bokeh portraits) or long exposures both of which in full sun.

ND +9, approximately 15sec exposure. 50mm

Red filter only with 50mm

ND +9, 50mm