| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kat |
Posted - 04/10/2006 : 20:32:59
I am a first year member and am enjoying each and every meeting I attend.I have taken away something new each meeting and appreciate very much the members who are doing these wonderful presentations and sharing their knowledge.However I am a film user and I am feeling like I am one of the only ones.Some of the meetings I have felt are geared towards our digital members.I realize there is lots to be learned technically which applies to both and as I said I do take away advice each and every meeting.I was wondering if the digital members, who I know have come from film could share some of the more technical things with people like myself who really need to know the basics of taking a great picture.I know I am in the company of some very accomplished photographers and I feel privleged to learn from you all. |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kat |
Posted - 05/08/2006 : 20:35:24
Hi Ricko-thanks for the great information I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me.I do not have an epson printer currently but I will try your other developing suggestions to see if I can improve my photos. Kat |
| ricko |
Posted - 05/03/2006 : 11:55:02
Hi Kat, B+W printing is very hard to get right. I have had great success with C-41 B+W films, but I have had to do my own printing to make it work. The next time you take a film for developing and have prints made, ask that they be printed on B+W paper. This is important to avoid a colour cast. You might also try having the prints made on matte paper if possible.
Trying to do your own printing is a much better idea, and not very hard if you have an Epson printer. Some tips to help you after scanning: first convert your file to greyscale in Photoshop or whatever program you use (this eliminates any colour cast); next you might try increasing the contrast a little unless you were using a B+W filter on your camera at the time you took the photo; lastly if it is possible to set your printer to "Black Only" do it ...... there will be people who tell you you cannot get good results this way ...... they are wrong! You can get get good results without doing this, but it involves downloading profiles for the ink and paper you use and it can become quite complex.
I would suggest you only make prints of the images you really like, because ink and paper are expensive. I use only Epson ink and Epson "Heavyweight Matte" paper, but if you experiment a little you will find a combo that works for you. A good reference to help you is a book called " The Epson Comlete Guide to Digital Printing" by Rob Sheppard.
Good luck Kat. |
| Kat |
Posted - 04/23/2006 : 19:30:38
Thanks Len and Kevin for your replies I look forward to your feedback in the film section.Great idea KevinM to start a new thread!I will have lots of questions... |
| KevinM |
Posted - 04/22/2006 : 15:46:48
After writing my long winded thing above - I gave this issue some more thought - we have a whole bunch of members with long time experience in the film world. So I am going to try and start a new topic under the heading "Film Photography". Hopefully people with film questions will post them there. Hopefully - people with film tips will also post there.
We will see where this one goes.
Kevin
KevinM |
| KevinM |
Posted - 04/22/2006 : 10:14:28
Hi folks - although I gave a presentation on making and showing Digital Slide Shows on your TV using your DVD player - I am both a film and digital user. Primarily for economic reasons, but also for sheer convenience.
This will be a bit long winded but I will cover how I got to where I am today.
I got into photography around age 12 or 13 using both my Mom and Dad's old 35mm cameras with fold out lenses. I quickly started to do darkroom work and at age 17 I bought my first 35mm SLR camera - a Canon AT-1 which is still going today. Over the years I built up a system of lenses and also acquired my father-in-law's Canon AE-1 and his lens system when he upgraded to a fully auto Nikon 35mm. Along the way I acquired a Mamiya 645. Also I have owned a number of 35mm point and shoot pocket cameras. My most recent 35 is a Canon A-1 SureShot underwater camera. I love it.
During the early days of digital I looked into it, and what others were doing - and decided digital was nowhere near where I figured it could tempt me.
Shortly after moving back to Ontario in the fall of 2000 I began getting my images scanned onto CD at the time of development. Now I was able to play with both colour and black and white right on my computer and not have to go through the process of setting up and tearing down a darkroom to do my own printing (with a wife and four kids finding space and time for darkroom work was not very successful). Because I was shooting more often - in one year alone I spent over $500 getting images burned onto CDs. This justified the cost of my buying a film scanner. I love it.
In Mar of '04 my wife's point and shoot Canon (bought in '85) developed some issues so we decided to "test the digital waters" and spent $180 on a Kodak 2 mp point and shoot. I was amazed at the results. It quickly became my camera of choice. When we rented a cottage for a week that summer I took my two SLRs, a set of lenses, my underwater 35; and the digital. I took a grand total of 7 film pictures. I shot over 400 digital. I was totally hooked.
When I went to NB with my two youngest for a week of camping and exploring I took about 7 rolls of film. After shooting digital for a few months I was choked when I went and picked up my films after processing. Lots of dollars to get 7 rolls done. And remember - I do my own film scanning so it was simply process and print 1 copy.
I have been seriously looking into buying a DSLR ever since getting into Digital. I figure to get the body and the lenses I need (want?) I am looking at spending $2000 for a DSLR system. Having a wife and four kids (two in college) this kind of purchase will have to wait for a few years. After watching Martin and Bruce - I decided to look into super-zoom digitals.
This Christmas my wife bought me a Kodak P850. I love it. This camera does so many things. A 36 to 432 mm zoom lens, full auto, semi-auto, full manual; and under $600. And no waiting for the shop to process it. I plug the media card into my reader, download and then head into my darkroom to work. And I have no worries about someone opening the door while the print is in the soup. As with most serious digital shooters I find that I take many, many more photos at any given shoot. I find that because I can instantly review and re-shoot - my work has improved. This high end digital super-zoom in about 95% of the shooting situations I find myself in - can do so much more than my entire line-up of 35mm tools. For the remaining 5% of the situations I can either find a work-around or use my film cameras (which I then scan the negs and still work with on my computer).
Do I ever still use my film cameras? Yes I do! I love taking my underwater camera out to Northwinds and shooting in the clear bay waters. It is also great for canoeing situations where I want the camera ready but it is very likely to get soaked (high risk since electronic cameras are very suscptible to moisture - plus I can replace my old 35mm body for about $150). I am going on a five night canoe trip on a wilderness river in June. I will probably take my SLR and a few lenses and a dozen rolls of film, with one spare battery (the digitals eat batteries and I cannot afford a solar recharger). And sometimes I go to pick up my digital camera to find one of my kids has it and I just have to use film.
My point of view - most of the basic principles of photography - composition, lighting, simpification, exposure etc - apply equally to digital or film. Some things are specific. Post picture taking - the digital darkroom is far simpler, faster, cheaper and cleaner than the chemical darkroom of old (I do miss it though).
My recommendation would be to agree with the above writer about getting your images scaned onto CD and working on the computer - this puts the control in your hands and saves having to explain what you want to a third-party. I would also recommend that you consider buying one of the under $200 digital point and shoots and keeping it with you at all times. I do caution you though that you might find yourself falling in love with the ease and convenience of shooting digital and your 35mm system will then spend most of its time in the closet in the camera bag as mine does (note that I said most of its time and not all of its time).
My fifty cents worth -
Kevin
KevinM |
| lenmarriott |
Posted - 04/21/2006 : 10:39:51
Kat, I too am a film user, not by choice but by circumstance. I have many film cameras and a bag of lenses for them so your lot is my lot. Kind of like having a tiger by the tail, got too much invested to change any time soon:-) To me photography is about the image, not how you got it. See you at the next meeting, we'll compare notes. Best, Len Marriott. |
| Kat |
Posted - 04/20/2006 : 19:10:52
hello fishy fotos- thanks for the encouragement I appreciate your feedback.I will try having my photos processed on to a CD that is something I have not done.I do have a great computer and a decent printer so I should be braver about playing with my photos.I look forward to having a peek at your book. |
| fishy fotos |
Posted - 04/19/2006 : 09:58:09
Hi, Kat - I too am a new member and have enjoyed and benefited from the presentations. Don't be intimidated by Digital since most aspects are the same technics and knowledge. Once you've shot your film and developed it onto a CD for $4.99 processing is complete easy and in your control. I have a good book that promotes the similarities and will bring it to the next meeting so you can borrow it. |
| bayphotoclub |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 22:56:26
Thank you Kat for sharing your feedback with us. I will certainly share your message with the executive... perhaps we could have a 'film only' seminar night to go over the basics?
I think we covered some of this earlier in the year but it is a great topic that I believe can not be 'over done'.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Mike D |
