My Workflow
Some time ago I came across a question that a fellow photographer posted on Twitter. It simply asked about the pros and cons of scanning your own 35mm or 120 film at home. The replies were a mild mix, as is so often the case on twitter, ranging from “it’s easy and saves you money, and you have control” to “unbearable and takes too much time to learn”.
Some time ago I came across a question that a fellow photographer posted on Twitter. It simply asked about the pros and cons of scanning your own 35mm or 120 film at home. The replies were a mild mix, as is so often the case on twitter, ranging from “it’s easy and saves you money, and you have control” to “unbearable and takes too much time to learn”.
Rather than joining the conversation, the tweet did animate me to type up a couple of words summarizing my workflow. At the end of the day it’s my workflow that works best for me and there is no guarantee that it will work for you.
So here we go…
I. Develop
B&W - I develop most of my B&W film at home. For developer I use Kodak chemicals, either D76 or XTOL, and for stop bath and fixer I use Ilford. To get the correct developing time I use the “Massive Dev” app. It allows for all kinds of film/developer and push/pull combinations and always give you the exact time for each step.
C41/E6 - I drop off all of my C41/E6 film at a professional lab. I’ve tried different color kits; however, I find it too cumbersome to control the temperature and get consistent results. Don’t get me wrong, you can get consistent and good results at home; however, I need to spend more time experimenting before I am confident to develop color at home more frequently. For lab development I always ask for uncut negatives, makes the batch scanning process a lot easier. Here in NY I use Bleeker Digital Solutions. I’ve tried another lab on the UWS; however, didn’t have the greatest experience with them.
II. Scan
I’ve tried and had several scanners in the past - Epson V600 for 120 and Pakon for 35mm for example. I recently sold both of them and settled for the PrimeFilm XA. I only have one camera and one lens, and I only work with 35mm film, so the PrimeFilm XA is the perfect fit for my 35mm work.
The Pakon is a great scanner; however, the PrimeFilm XA beats it on many levels.
For software I’ve settled on Silverfast 8.8 Ai Studio. There’s a ton of other software out there; however, after a lot of experimenting I’ve concluded that Silverfast works best for me as it allows me to batch scan (read I load the film, walk away and come back when done) B&W, C41 and E6 film, and get consistent results with little tweaks post scanning. The “studio” version also allows me to calibrate the scanner and set up different profiles for slide film.
IV. Print
I am “religious” about printing my work. I don’t get the big blown up prints all the time, but I do get proof prints of pretty much all my photos. For proof prints I use Richard Photlab - great quality, quick and affordable.
If I need a larger print (for client work), I use Tribeca Printworks here in New York. Again, great quality, customer service and affordability is what makes them great.
From time to time I also print some of my work the old traditional way in a darkroom. I have a full darkroom setup (Beseler 23c iii) and my bathroom easily converts into a full blown darkroom at night.
So what are the pros and cons then? Well, here they are from my viewpoint…
It does save you money; however, only in the long run as there is an initial investment that you need to make for the scanner and software. Process and scan costs about $20 to $30 per roll. After about 30 rolls of film that you develop and/or scan at home you break even, then you start saving money.
It does take time to learn, a lot of time if you want consistent results. There’s a lot of experimenting that I had to do in order to find the right developer, lab, scanner, software and post scan tweaks. However, once you’ve nailed these steps it’s a breeze from that point forward
Is it unbearable? Yes, whenever you mess up one of the steps. Wrong or expired photo chemicals and your memories on film are gone forever. One wrong scan setting and you have to restart.
Can you get consistent results and have control over your photos? Absolutely; however, it takes a lot of time and practice to get there.
The only way way you will find out is giving it a try. Just because it worked or didn’t work for someone, doesn’t mean it will hold true for you.
Texas on Ektachrome
A totally random collection of photos I made on a recent trip to Texas (Houston, Dallas and Austin). All photos made on the new Ektachrome film. Developed at Bleeker Digital Solutions here in NYC and scanned at home.
A totally random collection of photos that I made on a recent trip to Texas (Houston, Dallas and Austin).
All photos were made on the new Ektachrome film, most of them in bright daylight without a ND filter. Film developed at Bleeker Digital Solutions here in NYC and scanned at home. I also finally calibrated my scanner for Ektachrome, makes scanning a breeze.
Coney Island On Ektachrome
Here are a couple of (test) photos that I took during a day-trip to Coney Island. My first roll of Ektachrome. Enjoy! I am pleased with the results and the film / photos turned out exactly as expected. Some of them have that color pop vintage feel.
I’ve been on a “slide trip” lately. It all began back in June while vacationing in San Francisco. I shot a roll of expired Fujichrome Provia 400X - rest in peace. I only had one roll, rest were expired Portra 400NC, and the results blew me away.
I am not the biggest color film fan. The majority of my work is black and white, mainly so I can develop and print (darkroom) at home. Also, Kodak Portra 400 and Fuji Provia 400, or any other C41 films for that matter, are all great films; however, they only work in certain locations/situations for me. In New York, for example, Kodak Portra 400 isn’t my cup of tea. I’ve seen great results from other photographers, but I am not a big fan of it for my NY photos.
On to slide…. I purchased a couple rolls of Provia 100 and used them throughout the summer here in NY. The results were stunning; New York plus perfect summer sunshine pops on slide film.
Summer is long gone and Kodak finally released / reintroduced Kodak Ektachrome E100. Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyways), I had to have a few rolls to try out the new stock.
Here are a couple of (test) photos that I took during a day-trip to Coney Island. My first roll of Ektachrome. Enjoy! I am pleased with the results and the film / photos turned out exactly as expected. Some of them have that color pop vintage feel.
Film developed at a local lab here in NY and then scanned at home. Keep in mind that I haven’t calibrated my scanner yet for Ektachrome; calibration targets are on the way. I didn’t do any color correction, only applied sharpness, exposure and crop edits. Some photos were also taken with ND filter on my lens. The light wasn’t the greatest either that day. (Ok, enough with the excuses)
NEWLK 5.0
Ray's photowalks are always a lot of fun and great opportunity to catch-up with old friends, and to form new friendships. This edition of NEWLK was no different.
It's been a while, five months to be exact, since my last blog entry. I somehow got caught up in work and completely neglected my blog and photography. Perfect opportunity to restart and share photos from my recent trip up to Cape Cod / Nantucket, participating in Ray's NEWLK #5.0. Ray's photowalks are always a lot of fun and great opportunity to catch-up with old friends, and to form new friendships. This edition of NEWLK was no different. The weather didn't play along; however, we didn't let the weather ruin our fun.
It was my mom's first time this far up north in New England, so we did a little detour on the way back and spent two extra days in Boston.
All photos taken with the Leica MP and Kodak Tri-X 400. Film developed and scanned by Richard Photolab.
Make sure to also check out:
Against the Grain - Episode 005
Today with Thomas - Episode 22 and Episode 23
Nantucket
Cape Cod
Boston
Berlin Reloaded
The benefit of visiting a city or place that I've been to before is that there is no pressure to go sightseeing and work down a list of major tourist attractions. I can be spontaneous and just wander around, something I did on this trip.
As you may recall, a year ago I went to Berlin as part of my annual Christmas trip. Smitten with the city I decided to go back to Berlin this past Christmas (2016).
I've been to Berlin countless times. I remember visiting Berlin as a small boy, back when it was still divided into East and West. I stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate and tortured my parents with endless questions, trying to understand why we couldn't walk through the gate to the other side and why heavily armed police was guarding it.
Years later, in my teenage years and the heydays of techno, I went back every summer to attend one of the world's largest techno parades (search for Love Parade). Luckily only a few photos of that time exists and it was before the days of digital cameras and social media.
Some parts of Berlin have changed dramatically and for the better, but similar to New York it is the odd/unique parts of the city that I am most attracted to and enjoy visiting.
The benefit of visiting a city or place that I've been to before is that there is no pressure to go sightseeing and work down a list of major tourist attractions. I can be spontaneous and just wander around, something I did on this trip. Below are a few photos from my recent visit to Berlin. For reference I have included details where to find these spots.
All photos were developed by MeinFilmLab in Germany.
Street Art
Friedrichstrasse
Central-Kino, Rosenthalerstrasse 39
Hackesche Hoefe
Rosenthalerstrasse 40-41
Sophienkirche
Grosse Hamburger Strasse 29-30
This church is located in the Eastern part of Berlin. We stumbled upon this little gem while heading for dinner at Shiso Burger, a hip burger place that a friend of ours recommended and that is located in Auguststrasse a few feet away. Berlin has quite a few churches; however, this particular church was the one where on September 13, 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. held a second sermon during his short trip to East Berlin.
A great summary of Dr. King's visit to Berlin is available here.
Friedrichstadt-Palast
Friedrichstrasse 107
Berlin by Night
Brandenburg Gate
Reichstag
Kanzleramt
Thanksgiving à Paris
Whoever does not visit Paris regularly will never really be elegant. -Honoré de Balzac
“Whoever does not visit Paris regularly will never really be elegant.”
A few photos from my Thanksgiving getaway to Paris. All photos made with the Leica MP and Hasselblad Xpan on Kodak Tri-x. Filmed developed and scanned at home.
High (Up) in N.Y.C.
Sometimes you have to be spontaneous and just go for it without thinking about it for too long. That's exactly how I felt about a week ago (Saturday 8/27). "It" in this case was booking a spot on a door-less New York City helicopter ride with FlyNYON.
Sometimes you have to be spontaneous and just go for it without thinking about it for too long. That's exactly how I felt about a week ago (Saturday 8/27). "It" in this case was booking a spot on a door-less New York City helicopter ride with FlyNYON.
I've been on helicopters before (Grand Canyon flyover and on other occasions); however, FlyNYON promises the ultimate helicopter experience - a ride on a helicopter with no doors. As you can imagine, access to a helicopter with no doors is a photographers dream, and an even bigger one if it involves New York City.
Not sure what triggered it. One minute I was talking to my fellow photog friend Ray who decided to buy one of my NYC prints, and then the next minute, out of the blue, I decided to check if FlyNYON had any available seats. A couple of clicks and forms and before you know it I had a seat booked on the 7pm flight the next day (Sunday).
I picked 7pm on purpose. Shooting film means I need light, but at the same time I also wanted to capture the light of the buildings, the switch from natural to artificial light in the city. Sunset was scheduled for 7:30pm on Sunday, so a 7pm take-off and 30 minute trip time meant that I would have enough natural light, as well as the buildings lit.
The rest of the evening I spent researching the topic "taking photos out of helicopters". I've taken plenty photos in the streets of New York City, and plenty photos from top of the Empire State Building, One WTC and Top of the Rock. However, taking photos out of a moving helicopter is a different "beast". I also revisited fellow photog Riley Joseph's New York helicopter experience .
In the spirit of sharing, following is a list of the equipment and settings that I used, and a few tips.
My equipment and camera settings:
Hasselblad Xpan, 45mm lens and Cinestill 800 film; lens at f/4 and shutter at 1/125
Leica M-A, Summicron 35 and Cinestill 800 film; lens at f/2 and shutter at 1/125
Leica MP, Summicron 50 and Kodak Portra 800 film; lens f/2 and shutter at 1/125
Metering:
I didn't bother metering during the flight. I metered about 30 minutes before the flight using my incident light meter, as well as right before take-off using the spot meter of the MP.
A couple of quick tips in case you plan on going on a similar helicopter ride, whether it is in New York or some other city:
Go "wide", both lens and aperture. See above, I took all my photos at f2 and my lenses ranged from 35mm to 50mm max. Being on a helicopter with no doors means high winds and vibrations that you have to battle with. I doubt you want to stick a 300mm lens out of the helicopter. Good luck holding it steady and getting sharp photos.
You don't need the fastest shutter speed, 2 or 3 times the lens' focal length is enough. I took all my photos at 1/125.
Learn how to focus your lens manually. In some cases it doesn't really matter anyways, just turn off autofocus and set your lens to infinity.
If you shoot film, use 800 ISO film and take advantage of the film's latitude. Flying around sunset time also means that light will vanish quickly.
Know your camera and lens, as well as settings by heart. This way you can switch quickly up there. You don't have a lot of time and in some cases you only get a certain viewpoint/perspective once and only for a few seconds.
Know what you want to take a picture of before take-off and know the layout of the city.
Try not to lean against anything in the helicopter to avoid/reduce motion blur in your photos from vibrations.
Limit the items that you plan to take. Any loose items, i.e. lens caps, lens hood and filters, are a "no no". All items that you take must be secured. I took three cameras with me and quite frankly it was one too many. Two cameras should be enough for film shooters and I dare to say that one camera with a decent 24mm to 70mm is enough if you use digital.
Once in a while put the camera down and enjoy the view.
All photos developed and scanned (Noritsu) by Richard Photo Lab. Amazing 24h turnaround by the lab.
Harzer Schmallspurbahnen
"Warum in die Ferne schweifen? Sieh, das Gute liegt so nah." - Based on "Erinnerung" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Warum in die Ferne schweifen? Sieh, das Gute liegt so nah.”
When I was a teenager and talked about my upcoming travel plans, my grandmother sometimes responded with the above words. A rough translation is "Why look into the distance? See, the good is so close" (thanks Google translator). The words are based on a poem by Goethe called "Erinnerung". Recently, when I went on a day-trip during my visit to Germany, the words popped up in my mind and left me with a smile.
I grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Halle (Saale), a city in the southern part of Saxony-Anhalt. Halle is primarily known for being the native town of Georg Friedrich Haendel, a famous baroque composer, and salt harvesting in its early days. Close to Halle, a short drive away, is a mountain range called Harz, Northern Germany's highest mountain range. The highest peak/elevation of the Harz mountain range is called Brocken (~3,747 ft).
Both the Harz mountain range and Brocken are great places for hiking and family trips. I recall going on family trips multiple times during my childhood, both with my parents as well as other family members. The part that I liked the most about vacationing there were the day-trips aboard the Harzer Schmallspurbahnen (Harz Narrow Gauge Railway), a steam train network stretching through parts of the Harz mountain range. This past December, when I went home to Germany and the village I grew up in, I couldn't resist going on a day-trip to the Harz mountain range and jump aboard the steam train for a trip up to the peak of the Brocken.
Our trip aboard the steam train started in Wernigerode, a small town in the Harz foothills. We arrived early in the moring, around 8 am, at the train station. In the distance we could already hear the steam train slowly approaching that station. Needless to say, I must have stood there with the biggest grin and my eyes wide open. The trip from Wernigerode to the peak of the Brocken took about 2 hours.
Slowly the steam locomotive made its way up the mountain to the peak, passing small villages and through the forest. Along the route the steam train made frequent stops for servicing and re-fill of the water tanks; a great opportunity to take photos. When we arrived at the peak of the mountain, it was wrapped in fog and high winds made it challenging to walk around. We had planned on exploring the views from the peak, but we headed straight for shelter at a small restaurant instead. After a short lunch break we boarded the train for our return trip back to Wernigerode.
The trip aboard the steam train brought back many childhood memories, and years later it was still the same fun and excitement to ride aboard the train.
Below are a few impressions (photos). All black and white photos were taken with the Leica MP and Zeiss Sonnar 1,5/50 lens on Kodak Tri-x 400 film. All color photos were taken with the Hasselblad 500C and Zeiss 2,8/80 lens on Fuji Pro400H. All photos were developed and scanned by Mein Film Lab.
Hamburg
For me, no visit to Germany is complete without a visit to Hamburg. Whilst I was not born in Hamburg, it is my favorite city in Germany and one of the few places that I make absolutely sure I stop by whenever I fly back home to Germany. When asked by friends or strangers which places to visit in Germany, Hamburg is at the top of my list of recommendations.
For me, no visit to Germany is complete without a visit to Hamburg. Whilst I was not born in Hamburg, it is my favorite city in Germany and one of the few places that I make absolutely sure I stop by whenever I fly back home to Germany. When asked by friends or strangers which places to visit in Germany, Hamburg is at the top of my list of recommendations.
Hamburg, or Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg as it is officially named, is a port city that is located in the northern part of Germany, close to the North Sea and by the River Elbe. The city has a vast network of canals, an old historic warehouse district (Speicherstadt) that has been designated as a world heritage site, and an enormous industrial port along with a beautiful harbor promenade. Hamburg is also known for its Reeperbahn district, Europe's largest red-light district, but also the home to many great bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants and galleries. It's the place where the Beatles played for an extended time in Germany in the 60's.
I had previously posted photos made during my visit to Berlin last December, and in this post I am sharing a few photos I made during my four-day visit to Hamburg around New Year's Eve. I took full advantage of my visit and explored the streets of Hamburg with my camera every day. I even got up early on New Year's Day and explored the empty (hung-over) streets of this beautiful city. My mom was my brave travel companion and co-explorer. The temperature in Berlin was mild, almost spring-like, but in Hamburg it was frigid. It was so frigid that we had to stop at one of the souvenir shops and buy a fashionable "Schietwetter" (translated "shit weather") hat for my mom, which she proudly shows off in one of the photos below. However, the frigid temperatures during the day or night were no hurdle and I even ventured out in the middle of the night to capture the beautifully illuminated warehouse district.
All black and white photos were made with the Leica MP and Zeiss Sonnar 1,5/50, or Leica M-A and Summicron 2/35, on Kodak Tri-X 400 film. All color photos were made with the Hasselblad 500c and Zeiss Planar 2,8/80 on Fuji Pro 400H. All photos were processed and scanned by MeinFilmLab in Germany. One of my photos was also featured on the MeinFilmLab selected works in January.
Hamburg by Night
Concours d'Elegance
First held in 1996 the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance is an annual event that takes place in Greenwich, Connecticut. The event kicks off Friday afternoon with a car parade down Greenwich Avenue, and is followed by the Concours Americana and Concours International on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.
First held in 1996 the Greenwich Concours D'Elegance is an annual event that takes place in Greenwich, Connecticut. The event kicks off Friday afternoon with a car parade down Greenwich Avenue, and is followed by the Concours Americana and Concours International at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the event and my third year of attending it (hence the cover photo with the big number 3). I am fortunate enough to live only a 20 minute car ride away and it has also somewhat become an annual event and meet-up with two friends of mine. This year we decided to attend Saturday's Concours Americana which showcases vintage American automobiles and motorcycles. Below is a selection of photos from today's event. My personal favorites were the Chevrolet Chevelle, the Duesenberg and the Merkel motorcycle.
This year I tried to focus more on the details of the automobiles to complement photos I had taken in prior years. Unfortunately, it is challenging to get close, because the automobiles and motorcycles are, understandably, guarded by a security rope. Nonetheless, I tried my best from a safe distance with my 50mm lens and the sun-light was a great partner.
All photos were made with the Leica MP and Summicron 2/50 on Kodak Portra 400. Film was rated at 200. Photos were developed at home using Tetenal C-41 kit (no pulling or pushing), and scanned using the Nexlab Pakon (non-plus).
Chi-city
My last trip to London was only three weeks in the rear-view mirror before it was time again to pack my bags and head to Chicago for a long weekend getaway.
My last trip to London was only three weeks in the rear-view mirror before it was time again to pack my bags and head to Chicago for a long weekend getaway. On my London trip I managed to meet up with my friends Dan and Cara for a quick lunch and a stroll along the Thames river on a rare sunny spring day. We only had a short time together, but luckily the reason for my Chicago trip was to meet up with them again during their visit to the US. Another friend of ours, Greg, joined us as well.
Dan, Greg and I have been friends since the first October weekend back in 2001. The reason I remember the day so vividly is because it was the weekend the three of us, among hundreds of other young and eager students, arrived at our dormitories at university in England. I vividly remember pulling up in my car at university, getting my room info and keys from the porter's office, and then heading to my block and being greeted by these two fellows. We've been friends ever since, through thick and thin, and I am grateful for calling these two my friends. Whenever and wherever we have a chance to meet we try to. We pick up right were we left off the last time.
This time we picked Chicago for our get-together. Unfortunately, Chicago has been in the news a lot because of the weekly violence. Not a week passes without new headlines about the killings and even the New York Times recently ran an article titled "Pleading for Peace in Chicago Amid Fears of a Bloody Summer". During our visit there was no shortage of gun violence and deaths in parts of the city, even a friend of Greg's woke up to her car wrecked Sunday morning because of a police pursuit. Personally I hope Chicago is able to get it under control, because it truly is a beautiful city with wonderful people as we experienced during our stay.
This was my fourth visit to Chicago, so I had no specific agenda and followed the lead of my friends. We stayed at a spacious Airbnb apartment in Logan Square, one of Chicago's neighborhoods in the northwest side and a short car ride from the city center.
On our first day we ventured into the city early in the morning to partake in a 90-minute architecture boat cruise. Chicago is legendary for its architecture and there was no shortage of old and new buildings to admire. I am a fan of art deco and got my fair share of buildings to look at. The afternoon we spent walking around the city center and explored parts of the Magnificent Mile, finished a round of mini-golf at Millennium Park, and stopped by the Buckingham Fountain (title scene Married... with Children).
Exploring Chicago's Logan Square and Bucktown neighborhoods, as well as North Avenue Beach was the theme of Day 2. In total we must have walked 10+ miles that day and we finished our day with a delicious BBQ at Chicago Q.
On our last day we stayed local in Logan Square. I had a late afternoon flight back to New York to catch and didn't want to stress over long queues at O'Hare airport. Late morning Dan, Greg and I went for nice brunch at one of the cafes close by. We just sat there, talked about memories of university life, laughed, and schemed our next get-together somewhere on this globe; a perfect finale to a great weekend.
All photos were made with the Leica MP and Summicron 2/50 on Kodak Tri-X 400. Film was rated at 200. Photos were developed at home using Kodak Xtol developer (no pulling or pushing), and scanned using the Nexlab Pakon (non-plus).
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Londinium MMXVI
London has always had a special place in my heart.
“There’s nowhere else like London. Nothing at all, anywhere.”
London has always had a special place in my heart. I first visited London years (decades) ago in seventh grade during my stay in a small southern town called Christchurch, while attending a three-week intensive English course. I remember being in awe during my first visit. Years later I would return to England to study at Lancaster University and I began my career in London itself in the Covent Garden area. London was then my "home base" for three and a half years before I moved to the New York City metropolitan area.
Needless to say, a lot of my friends from uni still live there or close by. It's been a while since I last had visited London, so it did not taking a lot of convincing when I recently had the chance to go there again for pleasure for a long weekend, and airfares were cheap.
I had no particular plans or agenda, beside visiting with friends, so I took advantage of the gorgeous sunny weather and set off to explore some old stomping grounds of mine. I spent the last couple of months locked in the office, so I was "thirsting" to grab my camera and walk around to clear my head. I ended up walking about eight miles in total one day and took some photos along the way. I wish I could have met more friends during my stay
All photos developed and scanned at home. Color photos were taken with the Leica MP and Summicron 2/50 on expired Kodak Portra 400 NC. All black and white photos were taken with the Hasselblad Xpan and 45mm lens on Kodak TMax 400.
N.Y.C. - 042316
First weekend in ages without any work or particular plans. What better way to spend a sunny spring day than riding through NYC on my bike and explore? Here are a couple of snapshots I took this weekend in Brooklyn.
First weekend in ages without any work or particular plans. What better way to spend a sunny spring day than riding through NYC on my bike and explore? Here are a couple of snapshots I took over the course of the day. Rode my bike from Grand Central to the East Village where I had breakfast, and then to Brooklyn to watch the Gowanus Grind 8 skate event. The day start of slowly with some rain, but luckily the sun came out in full blast.
b&w. - Kodak Tri-x, Hasselblad Xpan + 40mm lens
c41. - Kodak Portra 400, Leica MP + Summicron 2/50
All photos developed (Xtol, Tetenal C41 kit) and scanned (Pakon) at home. First set of color photos is a bit off. Something was wrong with the developer which resulted in a color shift (blue cast), and I had a tough time fixing it in post processing. Mixed a new batch and second set (subways) came out much better.
We Own The Night
A few snapshots taken from the observation deck at the Empire State Building earlier in the month. All photos were taken with the Leica MP, Zeiss Sonnar and Kodak Tri-X 400.
A few snapshots taken from the observation deck at the Empire State Building earlier in the month. All photos were taken with the Leica MP, Zeiss Sonnar and Kodak Tri-X 400. Majority of the photos are 15 seconds exposures. Developed at home using Xtol and scanned using the Pakon.
Berlin
All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner".
President John F. Kennedy - June 26, 1963
“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’.”
One of my goals for 2016, a new years resolution so to speak, is to get better at blogging and capturing, in words and photos, what I've seen and experienced on my travels. It will take some time, but hopefully you will see a change for the better by the end of the year. To achieve that goal I've decided to take a small black notebook and fountain pen with me on my travels, to take notes throughout the day so I wont forget the small details that made the trip or day special.
My most recent trip was my 2 1/2 weeks trip to Germany for Christmas and New Years. I left on December 18th and flew from JFK via Heathrow to Frankfurt. After a painful and long layover at Heathrow I arrived in Frankfurt. I rented a car and drove up to my mom's place, close to Hanover, to stay for a couple of days before heading to Berlin for a short three day trip on December 23rd.
The drive from Hanover to Berlin was pleasant and uneventful, and I had my share of fun on the Autobahn and pushing the rental car to its limit. I left around 1pm and arrived at the hotel in Berlin late afternoon. After unpacking I spent the evening enjoying a nice snack and a few drinks at the hotel. A bit tired from the drive I decided to take it easy and only walked around for a few minutes that night, enjoying the beautifully lit Christmas tree by the Brandenburg Gate. I snapped a couple of photos before catching an early nights sleep in order to rise early in the morning for some sightseeing.
December 24, 2015 - Christmas Day
I set my alarm for 8 am, right before sunrise. I decided to skip breakfast at the hotel and instead opted for a quick Latte and Pain au Chocolat across the street at Starbucks. I was too eager and excited to get out and explore the streets of Berlin with my cameras. I have to admit, it felt a bit strange to order at Starbucks in German and I almost pulled out my phone to pay with the app. I didn't even take the time to sit down and enjoy my breakfast. With the coffee cup and a small paper bag with my food in my hand I left the store, ready to explore Berlin.
Luckily the hotel, Adlon, is very central and only a few feet away from the Brandenburg Gate, as well as other attractions. The night before I had carefully planned my day and the different sights I wanted to visit. On my list I had the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Strasse unter den Linden, Checkpoint Charlie, and Museumsinsel. It was enough sights for a nice little three hour walk.
I could not have asked for a better day and weather to explore Berlin. Even though it was December, the weather was mild and I walked around the city experiencing a beautiful sunrise and perfect light for photography. The streets were empty, at times spooky, and I didn't have to mind any tourist groups. It seemed as if even locals took the morning off because I barely ran into people on the streets. One by one I worked myself through the list of sights I had planned on visiting.
Around noon I arrived back at the hotel and went for a quick stroll to the memorial of the murdered Jews of Europe. The memorial is located right behind the hotel. It's a "sea" of thousands of concrete slabs. I took my time to take it all in and tried capture the sheer magnitude with my camera.
A little after 1pm I took off for a nice leisurely afternoon walk along the "Strasse under den Linden". Our target was the "Berliner Fernsehturm" (TV tower). I still remember when I was a child, standing in long a queue for hours just to get up there and catch a glimpse of the city from high up. How times have changed, I only waited for ten minutes and then we were on our way up. The view was breathtaking. I decided not to take any photos and just enjoy the view. After about 30 minutes I went back down and then headed back to the hotel.
Later in the evening I had a nice family Christmas dinner at "The Grand", a German-French cuisine restaurant close to Alexanderplatz. Luckily the concierge at the Adlon helped out the night before securing a reservation. Service was a bit slow given the amount of people having dinner there that night, however, spending all year in a city where everything is fast paced, New York, I didn't mind at all.
December 25, 2015
The last day in Berlin was all about soaking up some history and culture in the morning. I got up really early, packed all the bags, and after a quick in-room breakfast headed to the Neues Museum (Museumsinsel) to see the Nefertiti bust. You are not allowed to take photos of the bust itself, but I was able to capture a few around the museum. The entire Museumsinsel is filled with different exhibitions and to enjoy it all you certainly need more than just a morning.
When I got back to the hotel early afternoon from the museum visit the car was waiting for us in front of the hotel, all nicely packed and ready to go. A last look around the Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate and then I was off to visit my dad and the village I grew up in.
Stay tuned for more...
All photos developed and scanned by MeinFilmLab. Black&White photos are Kodak Tri-X, colour photos are FujiPro400H.
NYC Graffiti Walk
“Graffiti is art and if art is a crime, please God, forgive me”
— George Lee Quiñones
“Graffiti is art and if art is a crime, please God, forgive me”
I commute daily into New York City from Connecticut, and even on the days that I am off I try to spend as much time as possible in the city. NYC is blank canvas that never stops changing, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. There is always a new place or corner to be explored and it never gets boring. Change is good, but it's sad to see some of NYC's old architecture fading and being replaced with new architecture.
This past Monday, November 23rd, I spent my day off walking around the East Village, Lower East Side and Soho with my camera and captured some of the street art that is all over Lower Manhattan. As mentioned above, NYC keeps changing quickly and graffiti has an even shorter lifespan. Up on the wall one day, gone the next. Some see it as vandalism, I see it as art and something that gives NYC its identity. I've had a fascination with graffiti dating back a long time to my teenager years back in Germany. I even tried it out myself, but saying I had any talent for it would be a huge overstatement.
For years I wondered what sparked my interest in graffiti and New York. All I remembered was a scene from a movie that I watched when I was very young, not even in my teens yet, and back in the days when I lived behind the iron curtain in Halle (Saale) in East Germany. I vaguely remember the movie being about graffiti and hip hop, and that it played in New York City. I must have watched the movie once (back then we didn't have a VCR and there were no repeats), but it had a huge impact on me because for years I would remember a particular scene from the movie.
The scene played in the NYC subway. I remember one of the main characters painting one of the subway cars, an altercation with another character, and the main character being electrocuted by the third rail. For years and years I tried finding the movie, unsuccessfully. Well, I finally figured out the name of the movie. Seeing all the graffiti in the city earlier in the week sparked my curiosity and I did some more research. The movie is called "Beat Street" and it was released back in 1984. Needless to say, I went straight to iTunes and bought the movie. Doing some more research I also found out that the movie was very successful in Germany, both West and East Germany, and it is being credited with introducing the hip hop and graffiti culture in Germany.
I am biased, I am an 80s kid, but if you like movies and documentaries that were filmed back in the days in NYC, I highly recommend "Beat Street", "Wild Style", "Style Wars" and "Deathbowl to Downtown". They are certainly on my Thanksgiving movie list this year.
“Cause each and every time you touch a spray paint can, Michaelangelo’s soul controls your hands”
Locations: East Village, Lower East Side, Soho
Tip: If interested in skateboarding, be sure to check out Shut at 158 Orchard Street, my favorite skateboard shop and a NYC original
Camera: Leica M-A
Lens: Leica Summicron 2/35
Film: Fujifilm Superia 800 and 400
Metering: Film metered at 200
Processing: C-41 press kit
Scanner: Pakon
“Should I die on the train track, like Ramo in Beat Street”
Random night on Tri-X
A few random snapshots taken on a November evening in and around Grand Central Terminal.
Camera: Leica MP
Lens: Zeiss Sonnar T*1,5/50
Film: Kodak Tri-x metered at 400
Processing: XTOL, pushed one stop
Scan: Pakon
A few random snapshots taken on a November evening in and around Grand Central Terminal.
Camera: Leica MP
Lens: Zeiss Sonnar T*1,5/50
Film: Kodak Tri-x metered at 400
Processing: XTOL, pushed one stop
Scan: Pakon
Shhhh... please do not disturb!
It never fails, right after Labor Day temperatures drop in the tri-state area. Gone are the warm and cozy days of summer. The drop is not extreme, but enough to remind you that the cold fall and winter days are fast approaching, waiting around the corner. The same applies to traffic, gone are the days of easy commutes into NYC.
It never fails, right after Labor Day temperatures drop in the tri-state area. Gone are the warm and cozy days of summer. The drop is not extreme, but enough to remind you that the cold fall and winter days are fast approaching, waiting around the corner. The same applies to traffic, gone are the days of easy commutes into NYC. The streets are jammed again with stressed drivers, school buses, and stop-and-go traffic due to stalled cars, construction or accidents. Leaving only ten minutes later than usual makes all the difference. Luckily sunshine, endless beaches, sanity and relaxation are only a short flight away.
I decided to hop on a plane at JFK on a Thursday morning for a four-day getaway at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. Four hours later I was greeted with cocktails at check-in, and after a few minutes of formalities I wads off to soak up the sun and relax.
Somehow I missed to get away all summer. Work and other projects did their best to keep me bound to the NYC area for the most part of the summer and limited to short trips. To avoid any distraction whatsoever I decided to try my best to completely unplug from the digital world. I left my blackberry, iPhone, iPad and laptop at home. Armed with only a book, my trusted Leica M3 and a couple rolls of Kodak Portra 400 I was ready for some "Shhhh... please do not disturb" time.
The four days that I was out there and during the trip I did notice though how much hotels, airlines and restaurants try to ensure that you can stay connected non-stop. Free or paid WiFi seems to be available everywhere nowadays, even on the beach. What is sad though is that I also noticed multiples couples, young and old, at dinner tables that were glued to their smartphone screens instead of having a conversation with each other, or just taking in the Caribbean atmosphere and scenery. Somehow we need to learn to unplug from the digital world once in a while.
The photos were taken (or made, whatever you prefer) over the course of four days. I didn't venture too far away from the hotel, so all of them are in close proximity. All photos were taken with the Leica M3, Leica Summicron 2/50 Rigid and Kodak Portra 400. The film was rated at 200, and developed at home using the Tetenal C-41 presskit and scanned using the Pakon.
Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Cinestill + Bleach
Bleach bypass, as the name suggests, is simply skipping the bleach step when developing color film using C-41 chemicals. Skipping the bleach step results in higher silver retention in the film, essentially muting the colors and increasing the grain and contrast.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a photo on Cinestill's instagram stream that was developed using a process called "bleach bypass". Curious about the look and process I searched the web and found a couple more examples, as well as a short description of the process.
Bleach bypass, as the name suggests, is simply skipping the bleach step when developing color film using C-41 chemicals. Skipping the bleach step results in higher silver retention in the film, essentially muting the colors and increasing the grain and contrast. Similar to imposing a black and white image on the color image. Results vary depending on the film stock.
I thought I should give it a try using a roll (Cinestill 800T) that I shot in New York City on a September afternoon recently. Here is a summary of my workflow, as well as a few examples...
Home processing steps:
- 3 minutes 30 seconds in developer at 103 F (Tetenal C-41 press kit developer)
- 5 minute wash at 103 F
- 5 minutes in fixer at 103F (Ilford Black & White fixer)
- 5 minute wash
- 1 minute in stabilizer at room temperature (Tetanal C-41 press kit stabilizer)
Scanner:
- Pakon F135 (non-plus)
- Adjustments: Red +12, Green -5, Blue -5 (on average)
Scanning the photos at home was quite painful. The Pakon doesn't have a profile for Cinestill (or Kodak 500T) and the images have a heavy blue cast. Cinestill itself is already a "demanding" film depending on the light conditions and New York City (tall buildings, bright light and shade) doesn't make it any easier. The adjustments that I made, on average, were Red +12, Green -5 and Blue -5, as well as some Brightness and Contrast adjustments. I also tried scanning the photos on the Epson V600, however, there is no negafix profile. I tried a couple random ones, however, no luck. I also tried scanning it as a linear positive and then use ColorPerfect, however, no luck so far. Need to practice my scanning skills a bit more.
