What's in Your Camera Bag? No. 5

by Kyle White

I first fell in love with film photography last year when I first tested my father’s 1974 Canon Ftb. The photos turned out so close to what I originally envisioned that I was hooked! I’ve been testing and growing with film photography ever since.  I recently had a small shoot in downtown Salt Lake City and used the following equipment:

·         -Nikon F100 w/ 85mm f.18 lens

·         -Mamiya RZ67 w/ Polaroid Film Back

·         -Polaroid SX-70 – Sonar OneStep

The Nikon F100 has been my bread and butter ever since I decided to get a little more serious with shooting film. It’s a wonderful 35mm SLR that has simple functions that give you great control over your shots. I especially like the multiple exposures function in order to take double exposures.  One thing I don’t like about it is that the battery dies really quickly after showing “half full”. I have since got used to conserving battery by removing the battery casing after each use.  The 85mm 1.8 lens produces amazing results that have even been mistaken for medium format sometimes.  I mainly use manual focus, but it’s nice every now and then to have the autofocus function. It’s perfect for portraits.

 The Mamiya RZ67 is such an awesome and versatile tool.  I love the interchangeable back and use it to mostly shoot Fuji Polaroid film lately. It’s so fun and addictive to shoot polaroids! I highly recommend it.  The fact that everything is manual with the RZ67, helps me compose and take time to think about all facets in order to make a better shot. The only bad part about the RZ67, or “Bessie” as I call it, is how heavy it is. The weight is fine though because it makes it feel like a real art machine every time I hold it. When that shutters fires, you can really feel it.

 

 

Speaking of Polaroids, the SX-70 is a fun little machine that’s easy to take anywhere. The great thing to me about the SX-70 is that you’re able to have a little more control over things like focus and brightness when shooting Polaroid film.  Even with those extra controls though, you can’t fully predict how the Polaroid going to turn out; but then again that’s why it’s so great! The imperfections make it something that you couldn't plan on, and that what makes it beautiful. This shot was taken with expired film.

 Along with those cameras in my bag, I usually carry things like extra film, a reflector, lens pen, and a gorilla pod just in case.

No matter what cameras or equipment I use, I love that film photography is a medium that allows me to create something that feels more like a little piece of art. Thanks to everyone who has supported me in this endeavor so far. The best shots are yet to come!

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Thank you Kyle for writing this article! Give him some love,

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Copy Right 2013

Analog Revival

June Film DIY

Once again, this week's film DIY comes from our friends at Photojojo! We love their creative ideas.

Make A Film Canister Bracelet

Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3

What’s your photo sign? Black and white? Maybe you’re a die-hard Fuji fan. Or it’s Kodak Portra that really makes you swoon.

This DIY film canister bracelet will tell your new photo friends what your favorites are! They won’t even have to ask.

With a little plying, you’ll be able to recycle your film canisters into jelly-worthy cuffs.

We can see it now. New friendships blooming over your shared love of grain!

Make A Film Canister Bracelet

p.s. Having trouble finding time to learn more about photography in your packed scheddy? Check out our pals at the New York Institute of Photography! They have primo classes you can take from anywhere on your own time.

WHY IT’S COOL:

Sports fans have their favorite jerseys, music junkies have their favorite band-tee from that epic tour, and photogs have…camera straps?

We all love to show our pride for our favorite things in life, and this film canister bangle is a great way to do just that.

It’s super simple and customizable. Whether you’re a diehard black & white fan ready to ditch your color vision, or a slide film lover who isn’t willing to wear a shirt that’s a transparency, this film bangle is an awesome way to show off your favorite film.

INGREDIENTS:

• Two Empty Film Canisters
• A Can Opener
• Pliers
• Super glue or other effective adhesive
• A ruler or straight edge

STEP 1: POPPING THE ENDS OFF THE CANISTER

Take your can opener and use it to pull off each end of the canister. It might take a little bit of force, but try to be gentle in order to keep the canister in good condition.

STEP 2: SPREAD THE CANISTER OUT

Now that you have the ends off of the canister, spread it flat. The canister might kink or dent if you pull it too quickly or strongly, so be nice!

STEP 3: FOLD IN THE EDGE

The sides of the canister can be pretty sharp, so we’re going to crimp then in with a set of pliers. This also gives your bangle a little more rigidity so it won’t bend out of shape.

First, take your pliers and fold in the edge along the entire length and on either side. You don’t want to cover up what your canister looks like, so only do this for a thin strip. It should fold in to an angle just past 90 degrees.

STEP 4: PRESS DOWN THE EDGE

Here’s where you need your ruler. The pliers might mark up the canister, so place it on the ruler with the label facing down.

Take your pliers and clamp down on the edge so that it’s nice and flat. Do this along the entire length and on either side.

STEP 5: STICK THEM TOGETHER

Add some super glue or other effective adhesive onto the end of each canister and stick them together. Then, bend them around your wrist so that it’s shaped like a bracelet.

You’re done! Go rock the look.

TAKE IT FURTHER

• Make a belt: use a bunch of canisters to make a canister belt!
• Make a braided bracelet: cut the canisters into snips and try to weave them together!
• Make a charm bracelet: cut the canister into small pieces and make little charms to string together. One for each type of film!
• Make a USB Film Roll: It’s a USB stick inside a film canister!
• Make a Film Roll Magnet: stick those to-do lists on the fridge with your favorite film canisters!

Thank you for reading, and give our friends at Photojojo some love! 

Article by Photojojo

Copyright 2013

Analog Revival

May Film DIY

Happy May everybody! We hope you're enjoying the nice weather, unless you're in MinneSNOWta like us. We saw this article from our friends at Photojojo and had to share it. We hope you enjoy these tips on scanning your own film! All credit for this article goes to Photojojo, we did not write this article.

Film Grains Meet Digital Pixels: A Complete Guide to Scanning Film

Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3

iPhones, and internets, and ion implanters! Oh my!
In this tech-savvy world we can return to 100%-analog-photog-goodness and transform them to digital with some simple scanner-wizardry.
This handy guide will show you how to scan your film, merging all of the sweetest parts of analog with the ease and shareability of digital.
The best part? You don’t have to know a thing about rocket science to follow along.
Learn How to Scan Film!
p.s. Our buddies at Printstagram make some of the bestest Instagram prints we’ve seen! You can make it happen right from your phone.

WHY IT’S COOL:

We all know the benefits of analog photography: slower pace, limited number of frames, and those old cameras are just plain fun to use.
The only downside? Your inner tech maven is crying out for all of those lost shares on Facegram, instabook, and PinTube! Or something like that.
This guide will equip you with the tools to get started on making film grains best friends with digital pixels.

INGREDIENTS:

• Film Scanner (We used a flatbed Epson V600.)
• A computer
• Developed 35mm film
• Dust Blower, Microfiber Cloth, or Anti-Static Brush

FLATBED SCANNERS VS. DEDICATED FILM SCANNERS

There are a few brands of scanners, but they mostly fit into two categories for consumers: flatbed scanners and dedicated film scanners.
This article will be dealing specifically with an Epson V600 flatbed scanner, but many of the techniques will still apply, especially to other flatbeds!
Here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of a flatbed scanner.

• Cost: For the most part, a flatbed is a very reasonable option in terms of price and quality.
• Uses: In addition to being affordable, many flatbeds are able to do both 120 and 35mm, something usually reserved for very expensive dedicated scanners.
• Ability: Flatbed scanners are certainly capable of great results, but a dedicated scanner is always better. After all, that’s what it’s built for!

STEP 1: PREPPING THE FILM

Here’s what we need to do to the film in order to ensure the best scan.
Dust bunnies sound cute, but for scanning, they are not your friend! Use a dust blower, a clean microfiber cloth (Extra emphasis on clean! There’s nothing worse than scratched film), or an anti-static brush to get rid of any dust that may have settled on the negative.
Tips for preventing dust:

• Break Out The White Glove: make sure your working environment is as clean as possible. If there’s no dust in the are to begin with, there won’t be any to go on your film.
• Pre and Post-Scan Storage: Store your negatives in sleeves or binders to keep exposure to open air as infrequent as possible.
• Dust During Drying: If you develop your own film, try to limit either the air flow around your film as it dries or the dust in the environment. Wet film and dust stick better than glue!

STEP 2:INSERT FILM INTO THE NEGATIVE HOLDER

One of the greatest challenges with scanning is film flatness.
The scanner works a bit like your camera; it focuses on the film to take a “picture” of it. If your film isn’t flat, it’s harder for everything to be in focus. A little curl is manageable.
Place film under a book to flatten unruly negatives, but make sure they’re in a sleeve so they don’t get dusty or scratched.
Each negative holder is a bit different, but here’s how it’s inserted into ours.

STEP 3: PLACE NEGATIVE CARRIER ONTO SCANNER

This one’s as easy as it sounds! Each scanner has a specific orientation for the negative carrier depending on the film type.
On the Epson V600, there’s an “A” on the negative carrier that should line up with the “A” on the side scanner bed.
If your scanner doesn’t have markings, make sure to place the negative carrier under the slot of glass in the top of the scanner.

STEP 4: SCANNING SOFTWARE

This step will also be specific to your scanner. We’re using the included Epson Scan software in Professional Mode.
Here are the main points:

• Make sure to choose the “Film” setting and then the appropriate type: black and white, color negative, or positive
• Choose the resolution: for files that are easy to work with and great for web use, we set ours to 1200 DPI. If you have plenty of space on your harddrive or want to print above an 8×10, scan at a higher resolution to get a larger image
• Don’t forget to switch on Dust Removal to get any spots you missed earlier
• First, hit the preview button and let the scanner generate a preview. At this point you can rotate the photo and mirror the image if the film isn’t oriented correctly.
• Lastly, choose the file format for the scan and you’re good to go! We usually scan ours as jpeg. A TIFF can provide more information, but at the cost of much larger files. If you need to make corrections to a scan it’s a better option, but for many sharing purposes a jpeg is sufficient!

There are a few third party software options for scanning as well, and our favorites are VueScan and Silverfast.
The advantage to these programs is that they offer more customizability and control over the scanning process. Plus, they have some neat tricks such as setting the film stock to try to get the most faithful result. They’re both friends with PC’s and Macs!

STEP 5: FINAL TOUCHES

Once the scan is completed, you have a few choices of where to go next. You can take the scan “as is” and go from there, or import into Photoshop, Lightroom, and other editing programs to make some slight changes.
Sometimes a few tweaks are needed after the fact so that the imagined picture lines up with the actual picture!
Some post-scan adjustments

• Contrast: This is a big one for black and white. Adjust the contrast so that it’s more faithful to the look of the negative
• Color: Sometimes a scan will have a shift in colors or have an overall color cast that’s undesirable. The curves adjustment will be your BFF. Utilize the separate color channels to get the look right.
• Sharpness: Sharpness can be detrimentally affected by the scan. Apply a little unsharp mask or boost the sharpening slider in Lightroom to taste.
• Dust and Scratch Removal: Despite our best efforts, dust can still remain on the negative and sometimes they get scratched as well. An easy way to fix this is to use the healing brush or clone brush in Photoshop.

This isn’t to change the look of the film, but sometimes this information gets skewed in the scan and needs to be returned to the appropriate value.

Copyright 2013

Analog Revival

UPDATES

Hello from Analog Revival!
First off we want to say thank you to everyone that views this blog weekly and has helped us in any way. We have recently reached over 5000 page views which is AMAZING, and all thanks to you people!

Secondly we invite you to join us on facebook! We will be treating out page as a place for people to chat about film related things and also post photos that they want to be seen. We will also be posting photos of our own and ones we find else where!

Thank you again to everyone!

February 2013

Tuck Chaylor:                 

It's the feeling i get when i see/hear it...
                                          By Jacob Stordahl
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Side note from Analog Revival: 
Be safe in the storm everyone! Enjoy a little reading while you're stuck inside.

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                   Some may look at Tuck's work and think, "That's too risque" or "It's too exposed", but there is a very artistic meaning behind his work. Although the presence of nude photographs is there, it is not the focus, nor the only type of work Tuck does (see our top ten below for examples). The meaning behind these shots, and his others as well, is to display beauty in its most natural state. Tuck's work is effortless and simple all tied together with a sense of elegance and beauty. The display of the female body in its natural state, is to show the beauty that we all inherit as human beings. Tuck chooses to display all things with a beautiful and natural display.

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     We interviewed Tuck about his work and opinions about film, here are his reply's...

 Q: What was your first film camera?

 A:I'm sure I had quite a few different film cameras as a child, but the firstfilm camera i purchased for myself would be my Diana F+.  It's a fun little camera.

Q:When did you start considering yourself a photographer?

 A:  I've only recently become comfortable andconfident in the work i produce.  I wouldsay about 6 months prior to this interview.

Q:What do you think are the advantages of film?

 A:  To me there's something about film you can'tget from a digital camera.  It's kind oflike comparing vinyl records to mp3s. They both are amazing in their own way, but there's something aboutanalog that I just moves me.  It's thefeeling i get when i see/hear it.  Plus ithink it takes a bit more skill to create unique and artistic photos on filmversus the digital stuff you can do in photoshop.

Q:Why do you choose to shoot mainly portraits?

 A:I'm not really a very social person.  Idon't do well in big crowds and I don't have a lot of friends, but I stillcrave that connection with people. Shooting portraits gives me a 2 to 3 hour window to connect one on onewith another person.  I like that.  I need that in my life. 

Q:What is the reason and argument behind (what some might consider) risquéportraits?

 A:haha. I live in a small town where there's a church on just about every streetcorner.  A lot of people around here arereally negative when it comes to nudity. I've actually had someone call my work pornography.  I'm just really inspired by the femaleform.  I'm very much influenced bymemories.  I remember once waking up nextto this girl and the sun was coming through the window and highlighting her exposedskin.  The sun traced every curve in away that was so beautiful to me.  I tryreally hard to capture that feeling in my photographs. I think seeing skin isvery important to getting that feeling. I don't think that nudity or sexuality is anything to be ashamed of.

Q:If you could only shoot with one of your film cameras for the rest of yourlife, which would you pick?

 A:Hands down, My Olympus OM-10.  My batterylife last forever, my negatives/photos will outlive me, and It takes the mosthonest photos.  An amazing photographerby the name of Coach Moon (http://coachmoon.tumblr.com) influenced my decisionto purchase this camera and buy the manual adapter for it.  Coach has inspired me more than any otherphotographer out there. 

Q:Do you have a favorite brand of film?

 A:Not really... haha I'm not too picky about what brand of film i shootwith.  I love Impossible Project PX 600Silver Shade Black Frame, Fuji Instax mini & wide, Lomography's Lady Grey,and as far as 35mm film, I'm not too picky. I buy a lot of expired film (it's cheap and can be unpredictable sometimes)

Q:What are the pros and cons of film?

 A:Pros:  there's honesty in film,  It's raw, and as i mentioned before thenegatives will be around after my life expires and that it has a different feelto it.

Cons:  unless you're shooting instant, there's alittle bit of waiting time between taking the shot and seeing the shot andevery shot cost you a little money.

Q:How about the pros and cons of digital?

 A:Pros: Instant gratification. It gives you the chance to see if your photos areexactly the way you want them. Endless possibilities in photoshop.

Cons:I'm not sure if there are any real cons to digital.  I guess the one thing i don't like aboutdigital is the fact that damn near anyone can pick up a digital camera, put itin auto, and take a good photo without knowing anything about their camera.

Q:Are there any tips you would like to give to anyone starting in photography?

 A:I think that if you're wanting to get into photography then you should learnabout your camera, learn about proper lighting, and good composition and afteryou learn all the "rules" to photography take and throw that shitaway and just shoot.  Have fun withit.  Just don't be afraid to makemistakes.  Take photos that make youhappy.

"here'sto all the artists who know their work is just a drop in the ocean, but do itanyway"  P.O.S.

Iwould like to add that I'm not a purist by any means.  I love film and I love digital. I shoot a lotof digital and instant film simply because I like instant gratification. 

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     Also, here is a list of his film equipment he uses...

Canon T1i 

OlympusOM-10

MamiyaC3

FujiInstax mini

Sigma17-70mm 2.8-4.5

Olympuszuiko 50mm 1.4

adapter to fit my olympus lens on my canon

Here are our top ten photos from Tuck

 

Check out Tuck's sites and give him some love

Tumblr                           Society 6

 Thanks for reading this month's interview. See you next month.

As always, get out and shoot.