Two Rolls With: Holga 120

Holga 120 (plastic fantastic) + 2x Kodak T-Max 400 (expired 2003)

Ted Forbes’ Photo assignments are a set of challenges designed to improve creative thinking. Mostly by providing a theme or some sort of restrictions. This time it’s based on the Holga:

• no Autofocus and no Viewfinder
• f8 only
• fixed shutter speed (1/30 or 1/60)
• fixed ISO (100 or 400)

The Video:

 

Since I actually own a Holga and had not shot it in years, I finally used it again. There were also two rolls of 15+ year old expired b/w film, that I had no idea what to do with for years. And I also had a little bit of ID-11 developer left, that wasn’t enough for a 1+3 development ratio, so I had to guess times for a 1+4 mix.

Not worrying too much about anything felt really good. Am I framing the scene correctly? No idea! Is the exposure good? Probably not! Can I do anything about it? Nope! Are the leaves in focus? Who knows, I sure don’t.

Using the 6 x 4,5 mask gave me some more images per roll (16 instead of 12). I think it also reduced vignetting on the long sides of the photo. And I’m super in love with the format of 6 x 4,5.

All in all it was really a fun experience. I bet the Holga will return one day.

Leipzig, Germany – Oct / Nov 2018

 

 

Shop Talk

Holga 120 GCFM (cheap glas instead of cheap plastic lens)
2x Kodak T-Max 400 (expired 2003 / 120 Medium Format)
Developed in ID-11 (1+4 with guessed time, development table only had 1+3)
Scanned with Epson V550
Postprocessing in Lightroom

Roll #56 – Rollei Retro 80S

Rollei Retro 80S (120 Medium Format)

Since the start of 2017, I’m having to deal with family issues, that drain the energy out of me. Lately it’s getting really hard to be motivated to do anything at all. That’s why there weren’t that many updates in the last weeks / months.

I’ve rewatched Zack Arias’ Transform short film a couple of days ago and will make an effort to still *make* something. In the meanwhile here are some shots of me trying out one of Rollei’s high silver films. I really really liked the 80S and will try the 400S next.

Leipzig, Germany – July / August 2017

Shop Talk

Medium format (120), black/white, roll film, 12 exposures (6×6), ISO 80

Yashica Mat 124G (Yashinon 3,5/80 mm lens) + Rollei Retro 80S
Film bought for 4,75 EUR (~ $5.60) via macodirect.
Developed in R09 (Rodinal) 1+50.
Scanned with Epson Perfection V550.

Roll #51 – Lomography Earl Grey 100

Lomography Earl Grey 100 (120 Medium Format), without packaging

Now that the sun is showing its face more often, all the ISO 100 films can creep out of the fridge again. And now that I’m getting closer to the finish line of 52 rolls, I can feel the urge to start into a sprint.

Balancing a somewhat strict schedule – posting every sunday – with going somewhere to shoot some actually interesting photos often fails. Good work takes time (and more than one roll of film).

I haven’t really decided on what to do with the blog, once I reached the original goal. I might continue, but with a slower pace. I might concentrate more on long term projects and use it as some sort of project diary. I might mix both. I might do none. For the moment I’ll focus on the finish line and sprint.

Leipzig–Reudnitz, Germany / April 2017

Shop Talk

Medium format (120), black and white, roll film, 12 exposures (6×6), ISO 100.
Film has a blueish base and is believed to be repackaged Fomapan 100.

Pentacon Six TL + Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 80mm/f2.8 + Lomography Earl Grey 100
Film bought in 2015 for ~5,35 EUR via Film Photography Project Store.
Self-Developed (A49) @ Mühlstraße e.V. Community Darkroom.
Scanned with Epson Perfection V550.

[Update] Kodak BW400CN

Kodak BW400CN (expired 02/2008)

After shooting so many different film stocks it’s difficult to fit shooting something new into the normal shooting process. After so much testing I start to gravitate towards certain films. But there’s still a huge pile of rolls I haven’t shot yet. Guess I’ll slowly go through them one by one.

I already shot Kodak BW400CN in medium format. This is an 35mm add-on. Following the “+1 stop for every decade of expiration”-rule I exposed the role as ISO 200 and developed normally. Not sure how it was stored, but the quality suffered quite a bit.

Leipzig, Germany – Oct 2016

Shop Talk

35mm, “color negativ” b/w film, ISO 400, 36 exposures, expired 02/2008

Nikon F80/N80 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8D + Kodak BW400CN @ ISO 200
Film sponsored by Kathleen’s Mom – thanks!
Developed with Rollei C-41 Kit by myself.
Scanned with Epson Perfection V550.

Week #17 – Kodak Hawkeye 400

Kodak Hawkeye Super Color 400 (in reused cartridge)

Kodak Hawkeye is an ISO 400 traffic surveillance color film. Some call it “Ektar 400“, but look for yourself.

Leipzig, Germany – March + April + May 2015

Autosave-File vom d-lab2/3 der AgfaPhoto GmbH

Shop-Talk:

35mm, color negative film, hand rolled, 24 exposures, ISO 400. No markings of any kind on film, no manufacturer, no numbers, nothing!

Nikon F80/N80 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G + Kodak Hawkeye Super Color 400 (shot at ISO 300 and 400).
Film bought for ~8 EUR via Film Photography Project Store.
Developed and scanned by Foto Schröter (Riesa, Germany).