Oxford: glass dry plate portrait

Written by Nasir Hamid on March 1st, 2024

Here is my first portrait on dry glass plate. I found a box of old Ilford FP4 glass dry plates at home and have no idea when I bought them. The box doesn’t have an expiry date on it. As luck would have it they’re the correct size  (2.5 x 3.5 inches) to fit the Mamiya Press plate holders I’ve got but so far have been unable to make use of. This portrait of another fellow photographer during his visit to Oxford was made last weekend in Radcliffe Square. I don’t know him but I enjoyed chatting about photography with him as I set up the shot. I’m very pleased with this result (it has a vintage feel to it) and look forward to making more portraits with the remaining glass plates. The emulsion is very fragile when wet and you can see it lifted along the right hand side.

[Tech info:] Mamiya Press Super 23, 100/2.8 lens (at f4), FP4 glass dry plate exposed at ISO 10, developed in Rodinal 1+25. (Thanks to Nicholas Middleton for his inspiration and blog posts full of info about using old glass plates).

20240224_MUnivPress_23_100-2.8_FP4_Rodinal_1-25_web

 

Oxford: Xenotar lens test

Written by Nasir Hamid on December 27th, 2023

Some shots from yesterday when I was testing a Schneider Xenotar lens I recently picked up. Very overcast flat light but the results are OK.

[Tech info:] Chamonix 45F2, 135/3.5 Xenotar lens (yellow filter apart from the portrait), Fomapan 100 @ ISO 64, developed in ID-11 1+1 for 10m 30s.

20231226_Chamonix_135-Xenotar_Foma100_ID11_1-1_02_web 20231226_Chamonix_135-Xenotar_Foma100_ID11_1-1_01_web 20231226_Chamonix_135-Xenotar_Foma100_ID11_1-1_05_web 20231226_Chamonix_135-Xenotar_Foma100_ID11_1-1_03_web

 

Oxford: graduation day 2023

Written by Nasir Hamid on October 10th, 2023

Graduation day, end of September. I was channeling some Diane Arbus with my C330f and fill-flash on a sunny day – a combo I haven’t tried before. The flash was a small Rollei model without any power setting. I think it worked quite well overall. The low perspective is from using a waist level finder – not an obvious choice with a wide-angle lens when photographing people but it helped to include some architecture in the background.

20230923_Grad_C330_FP4_XT-3_001_web 20230923_Grad_C330_FP4_XT-3_002_web20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_008_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_007_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_006_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_005_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_004_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_003_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_002_web 20230923_Graduation_C330_FP4_XT-3_001_web

 

Oxford: portraits by the river

Written by Nasir Hamid on October 4th, 2023

A few portraits made by the river to test a lens I’ve had for a while. Aperture used for these was f8-f8.5.

[Tech info:] Chamonix 45F2, 10 inch f6.3 Kodak Commercial Ektar lens, yellow filter, Fomapan 200 film @ ISO 100, developed in Adox XT-3 stock for 6 mins.

20230921_Chamonix_10in-Comm-Ektar_Foma200_XT-3_003_web 20230921_Chamonix_10in-Comm-Ektar_Foma200_XT-3_002_web 20230921_Chamonix_10in-Comm-Ektar_Foma200_XT-3_001_web

 

Oxford: flooding in Hinksey

Written by Nasir Hamid on September 20th, 2023

There was some flooding in Hinksey back in January and here are a few pictures from that time which I made during my lunch break. I had spotted the gravel mounds the previous week and was waiting for appropriate light and a dramatic sky to photograph them in.

[Tech info:] Pentax 645NII, 45-85mm lens, Ilford HP5 developed in Kodak HC110 1+31.

20230119_Gravel_Hinksey_P645NII_45-85_HP5_HC110B_007_web 20230119_Gravel_Hinksey_P645NII_45-85_HP5_HC110B_009_web 20230119_Gravel_Hinksey_P645NII_45-85_HP5_HC110B_015_web

 

Oxford: Misty morning

Written by Nasir Hamid on September 19th, 2023

Some misty morning shots from April this year. I have photographed this location with various different cameras but this was the first time with a wider format. I feel 6×12 worked perfectly for these shots.

[Tech info]: Wista 5×4, 90mm Schneider lens, Ilford FP4+ developed in Adox XT-3 stock.

20230422_6x12_90mm_FP4_XT-3_stock_07_web20230422_6x12_90mm_FP4_XT-3_stock_01_web20230422_6x12_90mm_FP4_XT-3_stock_06_web20230422_6x12_90mm_FP4_XT-3_stock_02_web

 

Gear: Rolleiflex SL66 & 125mm f2.5 Leitz lens

Written by Nasir Hamid on September 18th, 2023

Recently I came across an interesting lens I was curious to try out – a Leitz 125mm f2.5 modified for use on a Rolleiflex SL66. The lens was originally designed for use on a 35mm format system but amazingly it covers 6×6 without any issues. The previous owner carried out the modification and it’s very nicely done. Here are the first test shots from a photowalk with a photographer mate of mine.

[Tech info]: Rolleiflex SL66, 125mm f2.5 Leitz lens, shots 1-3 Ilford FP4, the rest are Ilford HP5, developed in Adox XT-3 stock.

20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_FP4_XT-3_003_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_FP4_XT-3_005_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_FP4_XT-3_006_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_01_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_04_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_05_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_06_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_009_web 20230902_SL66_125mmf2.5-Leitz_HP5_XT-3_010_web

 

Oxford: 10×8 portraits

Written by Nasir Hamid on September 17th, 2023

We’ve had some unusually warm weather for mid September recently so I decided to make the most of the evenings after work this week and took a 10×8 camera out along the tow path to make some portraits. It’s been quite a while since I’ve taken a 10×8 camera out, mainly because of the weight, but this time it was a lot easier because I used a trolley to transport my gear. It worked extremely well and I look forward to making more trips out when the weather is suitable. Thank you to everyone who stopped for a chat and a portrait.

[Tech info]: Shots 1-4 Kodak Commercial 10×8, 10inch Wide Field Ektar lens. Shots 5 & 6 Intrepid 10×8, 240mm Schneider lens. Shanghai GP3 100 (expired 2014), rated ISO 50, developed in Kodak HC110 1+31 for 8 mins.

20230915_Kodak_Commercial_10x8_10inch_Wide-Field_Shanghai_HC110B_04_web 20230915_Kodak_Commercial_10x8_10inch_Wide-Field_Shanghai_HC110B_03_web 20230915_Kodak_Commercial_10x8_10inch_Wide-Field_Shanghai_HC110B_02_web 20230915_Kodak_Commercial_10x8_10inch_Wide-Field_Shanghai_HC110B_01_web 20230914_Intrepid_240mm_Shanghai_HC110B_03_web 20230914_Intrepid_240mm_Shanghai_HC110B_02_web

 

Endeavour 7: FILM 3 – part 8

Written by Nasir Hamid on March 5th, 2023

Behind the scenes photography during filming of Endeavour 7 | FILM 3 in Oxford, October 2019. These pictures are long overdue and I apologise to the SA’s in these pictures who have been waiting patiently to see them, especially the man holding the newspaper who I frequently saw on subsequent series of Endeavour and every time I would promise the pictures would be posted. I got there in the end!

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F, TMAX 400 @ ISO 800, developed in TMAX developer 1+4.

20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2.8F_TMAX400-800_001_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2.8F_TMAX400-800_004_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2.8F_TMAX400-800_005_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2.8F_TMAX400-800_006_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2.8F_TMAX400-800_007_web20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_2

 

Endeavour 9: FILM 1 – part 3

Written by Nasir Hamid on March 3rd, 2023

Behind the scenes during filming of Endeavour 9 | FILM 1 in Oxford, May 2022. I used a few different rolls of film through my Rolleiflex at this location because there were quite a few different setups which gave me enough time without too much of a rush.

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F, Kodak Tri-X film developed in HC-110 dilution B.

20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_01_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_03_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_04_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_05_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_06_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_08_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_10_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New-College_2.8F_Tri-X_HC110_11_web

 

Endeavour 9: FILM 1 – part 2

Written by Nasir Hamid on March 2nd, 2023

Behind the scenes photography during filming of Endeavour 9 | FILM 1 in Oxford, May 2022. The location was New College fellows garden which isn’t within the main New College grounds but tucked away on the opposite side of New College Lane.
[Tech info:] Leica M6, 50/2 Voigtlander Nokton and 75/1.8 Voigtlander lenses. Ilford FP4 film developed in HC110 1+31, Pakon scans.

20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_28_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_21_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_26_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_16_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_07_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_05_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_00_web 20220523_Endeavour_S9E1_New_College_M6_FP4_HC110_01_web

 

Endeavour 9: FILM 1 – part 1

Written by Nasir Hamid on March 1st, 2023

Behind the scenes photography during filming of Endeavour 9 | FILM 1 in Oxford, May 2022. This was in the fellows garden of New College, a location previously used when Endeavour chases a pickpocket out onto New College Lane in series 7. I was excited to see a Polaroid SX70 camera being used in this scene and it was fully functioning. The props guy was too young to have seen one of these cameras before so I explained how to operate it and loaded a fresh pack of film for him.

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F, Fuji Pro 400H film, Fuji Frontier scans.

Max grid