Portrait
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Saturday, April 7th, 2012
After the photo session with Hai Lin and my Aero Ektar setup (here) went so well I arranged to do another session a couple of days later because the late afternoon light was really nice and I wanted to test out a different camera, this time a medium format one that was more portable and faster to use than my 5×4 Speed Graphic. I shot a roll of colour film as well as b&w but I haven’t processed it yet.
[Tech info:] Mamiya RZ67 with 110mm and 250mm lenses on Kodak Tri-X film. Processed in Kodak HC110, dilution B (1:31) for 7:30 at 20c. Processed and scanned by me.
Looking towards the sun with the shadow from the Bridge of Sighs
Looking towards the Clarendon Building
I like the shadow on the ground and how much detail there is in this shot despite Hai Lin being backlit
The sun was starting to get quite low at this point
I really like the vintage look and feel of this image. It feels like a movie still or promo shot to me.
Posted in film, Oxford, Photo shoot, Portrait | 2 Responses »
Tags: 110mm, black&white, hc110, oxford, portraits, RZ67, Tri-X
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
On the day I made these images of the Oxford Women’s Rugby team I had originally intended to photograph some of the varsity trampolining but sometimes things don’t go to plan when photography is involved. To freeze fast movement such as trampolining you need lots of light for photography so that you can use a fast shutter speed. The lighting in the main hall at the Iffley Road sports centre wasn’t bright enough for the film I was using so I took along a couple of flashes to give me the extra light I needed. I was aware that the flashes might be distracting so I planned on only using them during the warm up session before the actual competition started but I only managed to fire the flash once to test it before I was told that it was too dangerous, hence no pictures for me. What a shame.
That led me to venture out to the women’s rugby which was quite exciting although the Oxford second team got beaten by Cambridge by quite a large margin (I’ll post those shots when I can find them). The images below are the of the first time (I think) who played later in the day. It was a great atmosphere at the end of the day as the sun was setting and the cup got passed around. A little earlier I tried to get some shots of the women’s hockey team but there wasn’t enough time before the match started. Hopefully another time I’ll get another chance.
Thanks go to Simon Griffin at the sports centre for his help and support with my photography throughout the varsity competition. I’m hoping to carry on with more photography of the sports men and women that use the facility in the future.
[Tech info:] Mamiya RZ67 camera and 110mm lens loaded with Kodak Tri-X 400 film, processed in Kodak HC110 dilution b (1:31) by me.
A proud smile says it all
Cup winners
On the run
Spectators
Drinks on sale
This guy was on the field to congratulate the winners. I missed the men's match earlier.
On my cycle ride home I passed this gentleman on Meadow Lane so I stopped him for a portrait. He seemed surprised but was very gracious to agree.
Posted in film, People, Portrait, Sport | No Responses »
Monday, March 26th, 2012
Following on from my previous of experiments with my Aero Ektar lens, here are a couple more shots with the same camera/lens combination from a test shoot I did with Hai Lin during my lunch break in Oxford. I first met Hai Lin during the launch party of Oxford Fashion Week 2011 and since then we have photographed together a handful of times. I have to say that Hai Lin is one of the nicest people I’ve collaborated with, totally reliable, easy to get along with and she always arrives ready to shoot with no fuss.
Working with a large format camera is not something that is particularly fast so it helps to be working with someone that is patient. The other key ingredient required from your subject when photographing them with an Aero Ektar lens is an ability to stay perfectly still because the depth of focus when using the lens wide-open is around an inch so a tiny bit of movement either way would mean an out of focus shot. Not a problem for Hai Lin.
I’ve enjoyed using the Aero Ektar lens and with spring finally here with lots of sunny weather I hope to use it some more.
[Tech info:] Speed Graphic 5×4 camera with Kodak Aero lens shot wide-open at f2.5 on Kodak Tri-X 320, processed in Kodak HC110 dilution b (1:31).
The key signature of the Aero Ektar is the lovely bokeh (blurry background).
We had to wait a couple of minutes for clouds to pass so the sun would cast some shadows.
Posted in film, Oxford, Portrait | 6 Responses »
Tags: 5x4, black&white, hc110, oxford, portraits, Tri-X
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
These are the remaining images that I made during my first visit to the Oxford v Cambridge Varsity 2012 at the Iffley Road sports centre. Still to come are some images I made the following weekend of Rugby so stay tuned.
[Tech info:] Mamiya RZ67 loaded with Kodak Tri-X film, processed in Kodak HC110 dilution b (1:31).
Netball team member
Netball team member
Badminton team member
Badminton spectator
Powerlifter (available light only)
Powerlifter (ambient light only)
Powerlifter (ambient light only). The far corner is where I made the portrait shots.
Athletics track spectators
Posted in film, Oxford, Portrait | No Responses »
Tags: 110mm, hc110, oxford, portraits, RZ67, sport, Tri-X
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012
Here are the portraits of the Cambridge powerlifting team that I made at the Oxford v Cambridge Varsity 2012 competition. At least I think they’re all from Cambridge, I didn’t ask. The last portrait is a friend of the Oxford team who had come to help out and give some support.
[Tech info:] Mamiya RZ67 and 110mm lens with Fomapan 200 film, processed in Rodinal 1:50. The last portrait is on Fuji Acros 100 film.
Alex Katsis
Calvin
Chris White (the dark line down the middle seems to be a fault in the film emulsion.)
Wil Solano
Alp Notghi
Max Frenzel
Oliver Gam
Portrait 8 (Oxford)
Posted in film, Oxford, Portrait | No Responses »
Tags: 110mm, acros, black&white, fomapan, portraits, rodinal, RZ67
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
Shortly before I photographed the Oxford Powerlifting team I caught the start of the Taekwon-do in the Oxford v Cambridge 2012 Varsity competition. I didn’t have much time so I only managed to photograph three members of the Oxford team, the other two portraits below are of spectators. I made these portraits off to the side of where the fighting was taking place and unfortunately I couldn’t find a clear section of wall to use as a background.
[Tech info:] Mamiya RZ67 and 110mm lens with Fuji Acros 100 film, processed in Kodak HC110 (dilution b) 1:31.
Fighter #1
Fighter #2
Fighter #3
Joram helping me test my lighting
A cool looking spectator that I thought would make a good portrait.
Posted in film, Oxford, Portrait | 2 Responses »
Tags: 110mm, black&white, hc110, oxford, portraits, RZ67, sport
Monday, March 5th, 2012
When I went to see the powerlifting during the Oxford V Cambridge Varsity competition my main intention was to make portraits of some of the guys. There was something about the light and ambience of the building where the competition was being held that made me think of old vintage photographs of wrestlers and strongmen. The walls looked like black boards that I remember from school and there was a nice pattern made by chalk dust all over. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to use it as a background for my portraits. Fortunately I was able to set up my camera in a corner that was out of the way of the guys as they warmed up before the competition.
I made portraits of both sides, Oxford and Cambridge but I feel it’s only right to post some of the Oxford portraits first, not least because the first three guys below all won. I’m really pleased with how all of my powerlifting images turned out and I’m hoping to carry on with some documentary style photography during future training sessions if I can get permission.
[Tech info:] First two portraits were on Fuji Acros 100 film, processed in Kodak HC110 B (1:31), last two portraits were on Fomapan 200 processed in Rodinal 1:50. My camera was a Mamiya RZ67 with 110mm lens.
Jamie van Reijendam
Richard Stebbing
Geoffrey Lynn
Alex Robinson
Posted in film, Oxford, People, Portrait | No Responses »
Tags: 110mm, acros, black&white, fomapan, hc110, oxford, rodinal, RZ67, sport
