DIY!

So, despite my previous thoughts of meeting a deadline and devoting more time here; I did not.  That deadline flowed into another and well... long story short, I'm doing my best.

DIY!  Yes, I've been doing it myself.  Had a few attempts at Caffenol developing of black and white film in the downstairs bathroom.  First with Kodak Tri-X, but with minimal success.  It seems to really achieve the shadows and midtones of the film's emulsion I'd need to order a dog sedative from the UK which well... isn't going to happen.

So, I took DIY even further and decided to start rolling my own rolls of film.  Got a bulk loader and 200ft of expired (2009) Fomapan 100.  Dev'd a test strip this evening and it's drying in the bathroom.  Negative looks a little thin.  Thinking a bit more coffee and the full 15min vs. the 12min. I went with, since I'm stubborn and I know best... sigh.

Looking at getting the DigitLiza for scanning sprocket shots.  Figured out the clicks for the Yashica 44a and may start shooting with it more.  But, w/ this new found information I have images much too close together to fit a bit of tape between them.  Hopefully I'll be able to do the same w/ the Comet.  That one has no click, though, so it may be a bit more difficult.

Have also been looking at new cameras (as this is a horrible horrible addiction and I just can't stop myself).  Thinking the Sharan 135STD pinhole and modifying the image mask to shoot 35mm squares to the sprockets.  And a 127 film folding camera for mas sprocket action.

Getting excited about Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park this month.  Should be lots of people to take pictures of.  Ordered a bunch of street photography books from the library to study up and just immerse myself in the style.

Anywho, back to the heating pad and bed.  My back is creaky tonight.

Busy Busy Busy!

Have been busy of late.  Hustle and bustle and all that.  Got a few rolls of film done since we last spoke.  Will only include a few samples here, but will link to my Lomography.com site at the end.

Samples from black and white:

Here's some from another color roll (fuji 200):

And here's a couple from a DIY redscale roll that Victoria made for me:

Now, on the last two rolls there I'll be rescanning the negatives myself.  I learned something at my local lab this week and that is that their machines (no matter how big, expensive, and fancy) aren't that great.  I may have to go back and scan all my negatives (let's face it, i'm a crazy control freak, i'm going to scan my all of them myself) to see what all is missing.  But, on these last two rolls there's shots cut off and shots completely missing.  So, these were the best i could get out of those.

I learned this from a guy named Jim that works the counter at my Walgreens lab.  He actually was kind enough to let me come behind the counter to see what was going to be scanned.  It was a learning experience.  He was also the first person to participate in my new photo project.  Since the Diana Mini will shoot half frame, I decided to load another roll of Kodak TX-400 and shoot in half again.  But, this will be very specific pictures.  I'll be shooting "mugshot" style shots of people.  So, i'll take a head on shot, then take a profile (turn to your left).  Not sure what I'll gain from this endeavor, but my biggest gain from this will hopefully be mustering the courage to ask others if I can take their picture. 

As promised, here's my lomo homepage.  Also, will be getting an article published through them this week.  More piggies toward my sprocket rocket!