Shooting Film on Summer Vacation!

This past August I had a lovely opportunity to spend an entire week with loved ones in beautiful Ocean City, New Jersey. You might think that my day-to-day vocation of working/shooting film and producing The Film Photography Podcast had me a wee-bit burnt out on shooting film – no way!

The trip away from the studio was an excellent opportunity to shoot some new-to-me film stocks and some cameras I have yet to handle. Here are a few examples of the images I shot.

Top shot: Since discovering the "mother lode" of 1980s Debonair 120 film cameras back in 2012 and launching the "Get a Debonair" campaign on The FPP, I've yet to see a disappointing shot! Here's little Ollie the Japanese Chin shot on Kodak Hawkeye Traffic Surveillance film! 

above: What's a worthy successor to the discontinued Kodak Plus-X? The little known Eastman Double-X 5222! It's a motion picture film that easy to shoot and has a gorgeous look!

above: Night shot of The Strand ( www.moorlynfamilytheatre.org/history.html ) on Fuji IT-N 35mm film. Holding steady(!) shooting iso 6!!!! The awesome Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens certainly helped to keep things steady. Lens mounted on the new-to-me Canon EOS Rebel Ti

Above: Another image using the unusual Fuji IT-N asa 6 film. The film was designed to be a dupe film. Always fun results when run through my camera! Surf's Up! (7th Street Surf Shop - www.7thstreetsurfshop.com/)

One of the most exciting things for me is testing unusual and rare film stocks. Here the Ocean City NJ beach at golden hour shot on the Ukrainian Astrum Color 125. The film has a great yet offbeat palette of color. Scans great and always a tad grindy! 

Check out the iTunes Radio Show I produce and host - The Film Photography Podcast - http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Shooting Eastman Double-X Negative Film 5222!

It's always a blast to get my hands on a new-to-me film stock, especially if it's something special! Enter Eastman Double-X Negative Film 5222 - designed for general production use outdoors and in the studio, in dim light, and anywhere you need greater depth of field without increased illumination. This high-speed camera negative film has excellent image-structure characteristics.

There are a growing number of still shooters using motion picture film in their still cameras - specially Eastman Double-X as it can be developed in traditional BW chemistry and the film has no "rem jet" layer that has been an issue with the Vision color motion picture films.

According to Project Double X online, "...it is the look of Double-X that makes it that little bit special and with users exposing it at and beyond its designed exposure index and in various developers, the images it produces are beautifully rich in tones and clarity.
Motion picture films using the Eastman B&W film stock  include: Schindler's List (1993), Memento (2000), Kafka (1991), I'm Not There (2007).

The opening black and white scene of the James Bond film, Casino Royale (2006) was shot on Double-X. The English Cinematographer, Phil Méheux, BSC, talked about the scene, in 2006, for the magazine of the American Society of Cinematographers." - http://www.project-double-x.org

Get some for your still film camera! - http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/35mm-fpp-cinema-xx-bw-single-roll

 

I host The Film Photography Podcast! The internet radio show for people who LOVE FILM!!!
http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Above images © Michael Raso / Shot on Canon EOS Rebel G 35mm SLR camera / 40mm EF f2.8 Pancake Lens
 

Post Apocalyptic Mall

A morning at Englishtown Flea Market with the FPP Jersey Boys. ( www.englishtownauction.com/ ). I told the boys, "If the world ended, this is what the Mall would look like for any survivors!"

This bargain hunter's paradise of today dates back to 1929. Originating as a meeting place for farmers to buy, trade and sell livestock, farm equipment and produce.

Today, Englishtown Auction Sales, the largest of its kind and the perfect place to find vintage camera gear

above: Marl Dalzell on the prowl for used photo and music gear. He finds a Stumpf Fiddle. below: John Fedele, Dane Johnson and Mark ready to feast at Bubbas’ Barbikyu. Bubbas' is a lunch wagon at the Englishtown flea market.  ( John is holding Mark's end-of-the-world instrument - The Stumpf Fiddle!)

Hear the Stumpf Fiddle! - http://www.foglizard.com/thesmoovesailors/audio/wilhelm_fart_060413.mp3

photos by Michael Raso
Canon T50
Tamron 28 – 70mm f3.5 FD lens
Lucky BW Aerial Spy Film - Fuji Neopan 400 (and other stocks)
More film fun at The Film Photography Podcast - filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Polaroid Portrait - Fred Shafer

Since 1976!, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Fred Shafer, owner of Taste of Dawn health food store in Butler, NJ, holding a pack of fresh, organic coffee.

The doors of Taste of Dawn were opened on December 4th, 1976, with an intention of bringing wholesome natural and organic foods and herbs to the community of Butler, NJ USA.
Today our selection has expanded into the realms of truly holistic and organic supplements, skin care, aromatherapy, cleaning supplies and more.

Taste of Dawn on FaceBook!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Taste-of-Dawn/143382398524

Polaroid Portrait shot by Michael Raso with the Polaroid Impulse camera on American Woods Edition px680 Color Pro film. Wood panel film for your Polaroid Camera!?
Check it out here - http://filmphotographyproject.com/px-680-american-woods-edition-3-pack

Love film?! Check out the Film Photography Podcast internet radio show!!
http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Shooting Expired Ektachrome

Shooting Expired Ektachrome, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Fall 2012 Photo Walk with my Canon T60 shooting Kodak Ektachrome 400HC color slide film (expired 01/1994).

Guessing that this film was stored in a sock drawer at various temperatures throughout the years. Some color shift and lots of added grain. Expired film - Best to over expose your shots 1 f-stop for every decade the film has aged.

Below: More images from the same roll of expired Ektachrome.





Love Film? Check out The Film Photography Project site
http://filmphotographyproject.com/

My photos ob Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraso/

The Ax Man

The Ax Man, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

In late 2012, The Impossible Project (the company that makes new film for your vintage Polaroid camera) introduced American Woods Edition instant film. Traditional Polaroid 600-type film with wooden borders!

Lumberjack Jeff in Butler, NJ
Photo by Michael Raso
Shot with the Polaroid Impulse AF camera on PX 680 Color Pro American Woods Edition - Hard Maple Frame!

Impossible celebrates the woods that built America in this limited edition analog film bundle, featuring frames of (somewhat accurately reproduced facsimiles of) American Hard Maple, Canyon Live Oak and Hickory Nut. Fun! Limited!

Buy a 3- pack HERE !

I host The Film Photography Podcast - an on-line community and internet radio show for people who love film!
http://filmphotographyproject.com

Canon FT - Shutter Curtain Problem

Canon FT - Shutter Curtain Problem, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Use it or Lose It!
Always best to shoot or exercise your camera.

After my trusty Canon FT has been sitting for a year, I decided to take it out for a spin this weekend. Sporting a Canon 19mm FL lens and CVS 400 color print film I hit a snag.

At the higher shutter speeds (1/250th and above) the film curtain was only exposing part of the frame (top shot). The bottom shot was exposed using 1/30th.

Could it be the cold weather, lack of use or both. No such problems in the past.

Flickr member "AgfaPan-25" says -
"If the camera has not been used for a long time the shutter might be a little sticky, and repeatability firing the shutter may sort this out."

More here on the problem from the I Shoot Film flickr group - http://www.flickr.com/groups/ishootfilm/discuss/72157626278592337/
I host The Film Photography Podcast. Tune in - http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

2010 - The Last Year Shooting Kodak Kodachrome

Last days of Kodachrome, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Images from one of my last shoots (June 2010) using Kodak Kodachrome color reversal film. "Kodachrome is a type of color reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1935^. It was one of the first successful color materials and was used for both cinematography and still photography. Because of the widespread transition to digital photography, Kodachrome lost its market share and its manufacturing was discontinued in 2009 and its processing ended in 2010."

An inspired day with Catherine (top page) and Sarina (above). Make-up and hair expertly done by Paige Davis. Images shot on the Canon AE-1 Program 35mm SLR camera / Kodak Kodachrome 64 /  Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. lens. 

Images © 2010 Michael Raso

Love to shoot film? I host The Film Photography Podcast internet radio show!
http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

Kodachrome quote quote from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome

FPP Filmtastic Feast on Polaroid Mini Film

FPP Filmtastic Feast - 3 January 2013, a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

The FPP Gang - Mike, Mat, Leslie, Lauren and the Strudel celebrate FILM in 2013 at Tony's Touch of Italy, Pompton Lakes, NJ.

Polaroid 300 camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini (Rainbow Borders)

Polaroid 300 and the Instax Mini 7s are identical cameras that produce credit card sized instant images. They're available at Target, Walmart and CVS and our very own Film Photography Store On-Line!

What's FPP - Film Photography Podcast - The internet radio show for people who love to shoot film!
filmphotographyproject.com/podcast

FPP 2013 - Listen In

FPP 2013 a photo by Michael Raso - Film Photography Podcast on Flickr.

Film Photography Podcast - Episode 73 – January 1, 2013 is here.


The internet radio show for people who love to shoot film! Ring in the New Year with FPP. Interview with Metropolitan Museum of Art photography curator Mia Fineman regarding Pre-1990 Photo manipulation. Mat’s Available Film List 2013. The amazing Kodak T-Shirt / 35mm SLR camera giveaway, Mark’s uncanny Konilette camera, The Nikon S2 and Lots More.

Love to shoot film? I host The Film Photography Podcast. Check it out. http://filmphotographyproject.com/podcast