Here are a set of shots made on 5×4 large format film with Lauren. The middle two are from my first shoot with Lauren in some of the dullest and flat overcast light I have ever dared to photograph someone in, the others are from my second shoot (see the Fujiroids I posted a few days ago). I hope there will be more collaborations to come.
The maximum amount of 5×4 sheets I can process at once is six so that’s why I like to shoot them in batches of six. I love how all of these have turned out which is why I can’t choose between them so I decided to post them all. One of my favourite film/developer combo’s for quite a while has been Ilford HP5 developed in Kodak HC110 but recently I’ve been testing out Kodak Xtol and I have to say it’s hard to go wrong with it. I found the secret to mixing Xtol successfully is to use hot water which helps the fine powder dissolve.
[Tech info:] Graflex Speed Graphic, Schneider 180/4.5 (top & bottom), Pentac 8inch/2.9 (middle), Ilford HP5 processed in Kodak Xtol stock for 8.5mins.
These are beautiful! I wish I had the guts to try large format. So great!
Thanks very much. I’d say you need patience more than guts to try large format. Slow things down, check and double check everything you’re doing. It’s pure photography just as the pioneers did it back in the day 🙂
Hey Nasir,
Funnily enough I looked at these on your blog a few weeks ago. Most unlike me I paid no attention to the equipment used. They are stunning, beautiful model and awesome shots. The middle images from the Pentac are all the better given the conditions you describe. Processing and Scanning also top draw.
Cheers. Jason.
Thanks very much, Jason. I’m stunned at how well the Pentac shots came out because the light quality and levels that afternoon were some of the worst I have ever dared photograph in. I guess the moral is to just trust film to do its thing 🙂