for Wastefulspace….. ;)
X-processed fuji film, shot at an abandoned Sanatarium/converted nursing home/police training building. You can see in the first hallway shot, I “color corrected”. X-processing gives a definite different feel to things, the contrast gets wicked out of control though, I’m not really sure it’s worth “wasting” the film to experiment, but one never knows what they’ll like if they never try, right?
click images to enlarge
Ovation TV, a cable art channel, will be running a week long schedule of photography related programs and documentaries. I’ve seen some of the shows before, and have already set the DVR to record the episodes so I don’t miss anything. Check it out if you can, here’s the programming schedule.
Along the same vein of ramblings, I’d like to add I watched the movie Infamous a couple weeks ago and was really taken by the cinematography. The movie itself is about Truman Capote’s writing of In Cold Blood, shot partly on the Kansas plains, the compostitions and visual elements are simple clean and elegant. Some of the other movies I’ve seen that appeal to me visually, Road to Perdition, Shawshank Redemption, and Platoon. If anyone would like to suggest visually appealing or photography related programming, I’d love to hear them.
Completely unhappy with the results of my initial shoot, I made my way back to the Transport for Christ Chapel at the truck stop. I thought the rain would make for some interesting contrast and armed with a serious camera, perhaps get better results.
It’s funny, when you get back to the basics of photography and apply some discipline, how things seem to work better. First of all, I looked at my viewfinder, rather than merely through it. This kept distractions like odd street lamps and other bright objects from making it to the final negative. Though there is always room for improvement, I have to say at this point, I’m pleased with the results. I liked the shot of raindrops on the lens, how they took on the shape of my aperture blades, but not sure how long I’ll like it, or if I’ll think it’s too cheesy later on.
Upon examing my negatives on the light table, I see how much “bounce” I had in my camera from the bad foam where the mirror flips up. It’s most noticable in the close-up shots, here, the 24hr drive-thru sign, and the coffee cup in the other set of images. I did use the MLU function of the camera in a couple of shots, but the freezing temps rushed me into not fiddling with it much. I have since scavenged some foam here at work, and replaced the foam myself. I haven’t shot with it yet, but just tripping the shutter, it’s much quieter now, so some of the vibration should be reduced.
I intended to shoot my interiors and portraits of the Missionary, but he is ill, and seriously so from what info I gathered. He was a kind and patient man, who indulged me all my questions, both informative and on a personal, spiritual basis. My thoughts are with him and his family as he recovers. 
Mudflaps
Rear of the chapel on a rainy night.
Drive thru McDonald’s or church?; what a choice.
Chapel rig
John 3:16 and God orbs
I had a near film developing disaster last evening. My fixer was apparently bad, so when I pulled my film from the tank, it had not cleared, leaving the thick purple film emulsion still intact. I didn’t think much about it til I called every camera store in town to discover no one sells b&w chemistry anymore. All was not lost though; I met Tricia at the university campus and fixed the film. Thankfully it cleared the film and I was happy as a clam.
I’m excited to share my first bit of “street photography”, as in I was brave enough to point my Nikon at another living being. I shot the images after my walk around town in the rain after a gallery opening. I was frozen and hungry, and since I’ve always wanted to take pictures in a Waffle House at 3am, that is where I headed. Granted, it wasn’t 3am, but it was still night and the mood could be the same regardless what the clock read.
I’m disappointed my images around the capital building didn’t turn out, but that was completely my fault for not exposing the film right. I was happy a shot of a cello in a music store window turned out ok (save the damn headlight streams from passing cars!). However, I think it was worth the sore throat I got from standing in the rain. I shot with my Nikon and 50mm lens, which I love because it’s such a fast lens and the camera fits my hand like a glove and we have such history. Ok, enough rambling I suppose.
Nothing really interesting to say tonight, however I’m happy to report I’ve bagged another roll of film. This time though I shot with my Nikon F3 and 50mm lens, what a sweet combo it is; didn’t even realize how much I missed shooting with it til now.
Here’s one I shot a few weeks ago with the Great Wall, a cheap Chinese medium format SLR. I haven’t got anything to show off its gorgeous bokeh, but if you google some images for it, you’ll see what I mean. Or better yet, check out Tammy’s blog, she has some amazing shots with it.
