Portrait

...now browsing by category

 

Oxford: Intrepid 10×8 street portraits – part 1

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2022

The Intrepid 10×8 is the lightest 10×8 camera I own and after you add the weight of a lens, film holders, tripod, light meter, dark cloth, loupe and rucksack it’s on the limit of what I can comfortably cycle with. Here are the street portraits I made on my first trip into town with this kit. On the first shot I used a little front swing to bring both people into focus – the first time I’ve done this.

[Tech info:] Intrepid 10×8, 300mm f6.3 Komura lens, Fomapan 100 (expired), developed in HC110 1+63 for 10mins.

20220819_Intrepid_Broad-St_300mm_Komura_Fomapan100_HC110_001_web 20220819_Intrepid_Broad-St_300mm_Komura_Fomapan100_HC110_002_web 20220819_Intrepid_Broad-St_300mm_Komura_Fomapan100_HC110_003_web

Oxford: Graflex Super D street portraits – part 1

Monday, August 22nd, 2022

After the focus issues I was having with my Gowlandflex I decided to take my Graflex Super D into town after work to use it for some more large format portraits. The benefit is I’m able to cycle with the Super D in a rucksack, my Gowlandflex is too large to fit into any rucksack I currently own. The lens I used was designed for aerial photography during WWII and is uncoated which gives a low contrast almost dreamy look which I like.
[Tech info:] Graflex Super D, 8 inch Pentac lens, Ilford HP5 (expired), developed in Kodak HC110 1+31 for 6 mins.

20220815_Broad-Street_Oxford_SuperD_Pentac_HP5_HC110B_05_web 20220815_Nicola_Rad-Sq_SuperD_Pentac_HP5_HC110_06_web 20220815_Broad-Street_Oxford_SuperD_Pentac_Acros_HC110B_02_web 20220815_Broad-Street_Oxford_SuperD_Pentac_HP5_HC110B_08_web 20220815_Broad-Street_Oxford_SuperD_Pentac_HP5_HC110B_04_web 20220815_Broad-Street_Oxford_SuperD_Pentac_HP5_HC110B_07_webSuperD

Oxford: Gowlandflex street portraits – part 1

Sunday, August 21st, 2022

Here are some street portraits from the first trips out with my Gowlandflex large format TLR camera on a Saturday and Sunday morning in Oxford. The camera is a beast and attracted a fair bit of attention. I enjoyed chatting with people and making their portraits – something I haven’t done for a couple of years.

The mirror calibration was completely wrong when I received this camera so I replaced the springs to lower the mirror by 2.5mm. This is the first time I’ve used it properly and it looks like I need to re-check the calibration because most of these shots are front focussed but overall I’m pleased with the results. A couple of the shots have some strange light leaks which might be from the film holder not being seated properly. Further investigation needed.

[Tech info:] Gowlandflex TLR, 180/4.5 Voigtlander Heliar lens, Ilford HP5 & Funi Across 100 film (expired), developed in Kodak HC110 1+31 for 6 mins.

20220813_Bus-Driver_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_01_web 20220813_Gowlandflex_Oxford_HP5_HC110B_01_web 20220813_Gowlandflex_Oxford_HP5_HC110B_03_web 20220813_Radcliffe-Square_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_02_web 20220813_Radcliffe-Square_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_03_web 20220814_Broad-Street_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_05_web 20220815_Andrew_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_10_web 20220815_Broad-Street_Gowlandflex_HP5_HC110B_09_web

20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_Acros_HC110B_01_web 20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_Acros_HC110B_02_web 20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_Acros_HC110B_03_web 20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_HP5_HC110B_01_web 20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_HP5_HC110B_02_web 20220814_Gowlandflex_Oxford_HP5_HC110B_05_web52282473538_b15170863a_c

Oxford: BMX Jam 2022

Wednesday, August 10th, 2022

It’s been 10 years since I first photographed at my local skatepark. When I mentioned this to a friend of mine he kindly tipped me off about a BMX Jam which was taking place there the following weekend. Despite the heatwave at the time, I ventured along and made some portraits.

[Tech info:] Pentax 67, 105/2.4 lens, Fuji Acros 100 (expired), developed in HC110 1+31.

20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_01_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_02_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_03_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_04_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_05_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_06_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_07_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_08_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110-B_09_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_01_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_02_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_03_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_07_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_08_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_09_web 20220806_BMX-Jam_P67_Acros_HC110B_10_web

Oxford: Giffords Circus 2019 – part 2

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020

A year ago this week Giffords Circus came to University Parks here in Oxford and I went along to photograph some of the performers behind the scenes as I have done the past few years. On the first day of their performance I take along photographs from the previous year to give to the returning performers. Sadly due to the COVID-19 global pandemic Giffords aren’t performing this year which is a real shame. Hopefully they’ll be back in 2021.

[Tech info:] Fuji GW690, Fuji 400H (expired), Noritsu scans.

20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_1_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_2_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_3_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_4_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_5_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_6_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_7_web 20190620_Giffords_Circus_Fuji_6x9_400H_8_web

Endeavour 7: FILM 3 – part 5

Wednesday, February 26th, 2020

Behind the scenes during filming of Endeavour 7 | FILM 3 in Merton college, Oxford at the end of October, 2019. These shots are from two different days that the crew spent in Merton College making good use of the lovely grounds and some of the rooms (second unit also filmed a brief scene on Merton Street). Fortunately we had nice weather the whole time, dry but very cold.

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F, Zeiss Planar, Fuji 400H (expired), Noritsu scans.

20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_01_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_03_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_04_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_06_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_07_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_11_web 20191027_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_12_web 20191028_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_01_web 20191028_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_04_web 20191028_Endeavour_S7E3_Merton_2.8F_400H_08_web

 

Oxford: lunch break photo walk around Worcester College

Saturday, December 21st, 2019

First test roll with a 40mm wide-angle lens I recently picked up for my Bronica SQ-A. I’ve had the lens for a while but I needed some dry weather during my lunch break to test it out. The lens is very wide and allows close focusing which I like. The interior shot of Worcester College chapel was an 8 second exposure which is the slowest shutter speed on the camera. I can see that being very useful in some situations. The roll of Ilford Pan F I used expired in 2007 so I rated it at ISO 25. Even though slow films are meant to lose sensitivity over time slower than faster emulsions Pan F tends to suffer quite badly for a film with a box speed of ISO 50. Not a problem on this occasion because I wanted to use the 40mm lens fairly wide open. I’m pleased with the results from this lens and it’s a keeper.

[Tech info:] Bronica SQ-A, 40mm Zenzanon lens, Ilford Pan F (expired), developed in XTOL 1+1.

20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_001_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_002_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_003_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_004_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_005_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_006_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_007_web 20191209_Worcester-College_SQA_40mm_PANF_Xtol_008_web

Endeavour 7: FILM 3 – part 4

Tuesday, December 17th, 2019

These shots were from the final day of filming on Endeavour 7 | FILM 3 at the studio that has some of the interior sets. Along with Anton Lesser we have Steve (standby carpenter) and Grant (third assistant director). For some unknown reason there is a mottling on the film which I haven’t experienced before. I developed this roll exactly the same as hundreds of others previously so I can’t work out how this was caused during development. More shots to come after UK broadcast.

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F, Zeiss Planar, Ilford Delta 400 developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4.

bright_web

20191120_NDVRS7E3_Brights-office_2.8F_Delta400_DDX_001_web 20191120_NDVRS7E3_Brights-office_2.8F_Delta400_DDX_002_web

Oxford: instant film promo shoot

Monday, November 18th, 2019

I was recently asked to make a promo shot for a new band called Transmission From Nowhere to coincide with the release of their new CD. One of the band members is a fellow film photographer and suggested doing the shoot on the now illusive Fuji FP-3000B instant b&w film which I was more than happy to do. I’ve got a range of cameras that can use this film but I decided on my Mamiya RB67 because I have a sliding back for it that allows two different exposures next to each other on the same print which results in a diptych.

We used the whole pack of film for the shoot – a whopping 10 shots – and I can’t begin to tell you how much fun it was. All double exposures were done in camera. No batteries and no squinting at LED screens required.

[Tech info:] Mamiya RB67, 127mm lens, Fuji FP-3000B instant b&w film (expired).

IMG_1277_900px tfn-in-studio-900px

Oxford: Giffords Circus 2019

Friday, September 20th, 2019

Giffords Circus came to Oxford on their 2019 tour and I went along to do some photography as I have done in previous years. It’s always nice to see familiar faces there and some new ones too. For these shots I used a Fuji 6×9 rangefinder camera which has a 90/3.5 lens that is not interchangeable. It’s a hulk of a camera but I really like the large viewfinder and the 3:2 aspect ratio of the frame compared to 6×7. The 90mm isn’t really a portrait lens so I tend to go a little wider than just head and shoulders.

[Tech info:] Fuji GW690, Fuji 400H (expired) film, Noritsu scans.

Oxford: 10×8 photography

Saturday, September 14th, 2019

For the longest time I have wanted to take my 10×8 camera into town to do some large format photography and recently I finally managed to do it on a Saturday morning. Even though I only took one lens – the smallest and lightest I have that is suitable for 10×8 photography – the combined weight of the camera, tripod and film holders is more than my back can comfortably handle so I have to drag the camera around with a foldable hand cart which works really well. I took with me both Ilford Delta 100 b&w film and Fuji Velvia 100F transparency film. Below are a couple of shots made with the Delta 100, I’ve processed the Velvia and the shots turned out very nicely but I haven’t scanned them yet. The group shot of the Zappi’s Cycling Club was very impromptu – I was photographing the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street when I was approached by one of the cyclists about photographing them with my big camera.

[Tech info:] 10×8 field camera, Nikon 210mm f5.6 lens, Delta 100 film (expired), developed in Ilford DD-X with a Jobo processor.

20190914_Taylorian_10x8_Delta100_DDX_web 20190914_Zappis_10x8_210mm_Delta100_DDX_web

 

10x8-camera_web

Day for night: Endeavour 7, FILM 1 – part 3

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019

On the August Bank Holiday this year, hottest day of the year so far, the Endeavour crew were hard at work at an undisclosed location and I was fortunate enough to spend the day with them – needless to say it was a scorcher on set. I can only share a few images to avoid spoilers but plenty of others will follow after this episode is broadcast. This was the first time I’d used Lomography 800 film in 120 format and because the sun was setting the light level in the shade was low so I rated the film at ISO 1280 and had it pushed one stop by the lab.

[Tech info:] Rolleiflex 2.8F Zeiss Planar, Lomography 800 film, ISO 1280, pushed 1 stop in development, Noritsu scans.

20190826_Endeavour_S7E1_House_2.8F_Lomo-800_01_web 20190826_Endeavour_S7E1_House_2.8F_Lomo-800_02_web 20190826_Endeavour_S7E1_House_2.8F_Lomo-800_03_web 20190826_Endeavour_S7E1_House_2.8F_Lomo-800_06_web