Walkaround in Delhi- with my FE2

<p>Not sure if the Nikon FE2 and Nikkor AIS lenses qualify as classic camera equipment, so I may be bending forum rules with this posting!<br>

The images below were all made during the winter of 2009-10 in Delhi, India. This was a project of sorts and I went out Sunday mornings to photograph many of the medieval monuments that dot Delhi.<br>

I chose to use B&W film because it complemented the subject and because conditions in Delhi are usually hazy (from the pollution) and so colors are washed out, and the light can vary from the dramatic (winter fog, morning light) to just plain harsh.<br>

I used the said FE2 with Nikkors 24mm f/2.8 AIS, 50mm f/1.8 AIS and 105mm f/2.5 AI for all images. The films were Fuji Neopan SS (at EI 80), Ilford PAN 400 (at EI 200) and expired Agfa APX 400 (at EI 200); all home-developed in D-76 1:1. I may add that I received a lot of good advice on fine tuning my developing technique on the p.net B&W Film and Dev forum. For a very few images, an orange filter was used to darken the skies.<br>

Finally, all images were shot handheld because Delhi has its very own *tripod police* whose sole responsibility is to bust tripod-happy photogs.<br>

Here are some of the results:<br>

1. “Its Full of Stars”<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4855837558_714ff29cee.jpg" alt="" width="366" height="500" /><br>

2. Sunrise through trees, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4855214935_75b61b73e0.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /><br>

3. Humayuns Tomb, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4855214363_bfef585060.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /><br>

4. Doorway, Lodi Gardens, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4855216789_a0032373b2.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /><br>

5. First Light, Lodi Gardens, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4855215053_71607fd0ca.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /><br>

6. Sunrise through Trees (II), Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4855835068_5f27155b78.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /><br>

7. The Break-Up, Lodi Gardens, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4855216271_c6e33f3ae8.jpg" alt="" width="357" height="500" /><br>

8. Duckies, Lodi Gardens, Delhi<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4855216005_059686435f.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /></p>

<p>You know what? These are the most beautiful photographs I've ever seen in this forum.<br>

From composition and light to proper using of the tool, You are a supreme photographer.<br>

Thank You!<br>

<em> Maciek Stankiewicz </em></p>

<p>Nice work, and certainly the FE and it's variants qualify as "classic".</p>

<p>Exceptional photography. You should be pleased. By the way, what are the 'tripod police'?<br>

Arthur</p>

<p>Exceptional photography. You should be pleased. By the way, what are the 'tripod police'?<br>

Arthur</p>

<p>Nope, the FE2 can't be a classic <em>manual </em>camera, according to some loud voices on this forum, because it depends on a battery to operate!</p>

<p>Well, not totally on a battery. You can set "B" and X sync to fire without a battery. I think I posted some FE-2 photos here about a year and a half ago. I used the classic 50mm f2 AI Nikkor.</p>

<p>Arun - lovely work. I especially like First Light - did you do any PP (burning and dodging etc.) or is that the Delhi haze? Either ways, I like it.</p>

<p>As for the FE2 - as far as I'm concerned the only rule you violated was not posting a picture of the rig. We're camera porn junkies around here.</p>

<p>Love the haze pictures; excellent work, true to the environment in Delhi. Post some more. Thanks, sp.</p>

<p>Really beautiful photos.</p>

<p>"First light", "break-up", and "ducks" are best in my opinion, but all are excellent.</p>

<p>"Ducks" is a near-perfect composition. It would be a fine choice for photo.net Picture of the Week.</p>

<p>Nice work A, and welcome.</p>

<blockquote>

<p> certainly the FE and it's variants qualify as "classic"</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Quite and those lenses are classics as well.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>the FE2 can't be a classic <em>manual </em>camera, according to some loud voices on this forum, because it depends on a battery to operate.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Technically speaking the camera <em>does</em> operate manually at 1/250 and B. Many old vintage cameras have only one or two shutter speeds. This camera uses film, manually focused lenses and can take pictures without battery power. </p>

<p>These images are fantastic! Really well done. Due to a recent knee injury, I've been taking a break from large format and have been using my FE2 and 105mm lens again, and I am amazed all over again as to how great this combination is!</p>

<p>Good pictures, Arun. Indeed colours can be washed out if there is haze: but that is not always such a bad thing and B&W film is also affected by haze. I've been in Delhi since 1970, but for an absence of four years, and I am not acquainted with the Tripod Police of whom you speak.</p>

<p>Hi All,<br>

Many thanks for the kind comments, and don’t worry, I do have my head very firmly screwed on to my shoulders :-)<br>

I use the FE2 on manual shutter speeds all the time and it’s my favorite film body, which is funny because I also have an FM2N.Yet I like *having* A-mode (kind of like a comfort-zone thing). And one morning I did run out of juice and had to use M250 and more of my head.<br>

No fancy PP on any of the photos- just converted to grayscale after scanning and the usual curves and USM- the low contrast is because of the haze/fog in the air. I sort of liked the look but I know folks prefer a contrasty ‘deepest black to whitest white’ kind of thing and these images did not go down very well in general with most people I polled.<br>

Re the tripod police- the wardens/guards looking after any monument in Delhi will absolutely not allow a tripod in without a written permit from a specific government authority (the Archaeological Survey of India). This is the case even in a public garden with open entry like the Lodi Gardens. Fast film is my friend.<br>

I do have more images from this project and you can see them on my shared workspace on p.net or on flickr (username a_arun).<br>

Cheers, Arun</p>

<p>I have no problem with the camera here on this forum.</p>

<p>And I do like the pictures very much.</p>

<p>well done, arun. look forward to seeing many more of your posts.</p>

<p>Arun, those are outstanding pictures. You did a fantastic job with those very fine Nikkor lenses. I have an FE2 along with an FM2 and I prefer the FE2 analog meter. </p>

<p>Very nice, thank you. I must go there some day. I doubt I'll be holding a Nikon in my hands, though....</p>

<p><em>"I sort of liked the look but I know folks prefer a contrasty ‘deepest black to whitest white’ kind of thing and these images did not go down very well in general with most people I polled."</em><br>

<br /><strong>Arun, </strong>I endorse your balancing the gray scale to mid-tones. Prior to WWII most photographers, in India, used this mode to make photographs look more like charcoal or graphite art work. Many even used the Sepia tones to cut away the very dark and the very bright tones in the picture. Your pictures exhibit the same subtlety in good style. Keep up the good work and your unique style. sp.</p>

Chiming in here.. indeed excellent work! The Duckies is like one said a near perfect exposure! All are very good! I've experienced the tripod police in the district (DC) and in Paris. These are security folks who thing a tripod could also mount a

machine gun or also create a distraction or hindrance while other Hanky-Panky is going down! I haven't even tried seriously a tripod here in Düsseldorf except on the Rhine where there's a lot of space and little other than skylines and river! Anyway welcome to the Forum and show us your camera and lenses we call it 2camera porn" and it's expected if at all possible to include a shot of the hardware too!! (Filling in for JDM)

<p>Of course the FE2 is a classic...As far as I'm concerned. The purchase of a nice FE2 to keep my FM2n and F4s company resulted in me selling my D300....nice though that was.<br>

I love the images you have taken with yours...and will try to do as well.</p>

<p>Utterly superb photos. I understand a large part of this discussion revolves around the FE2, but I believe these photos would have been just as good with nearly any quality-made camera, whether it be a Nikon, Pentax, Canon, Leica, SLR, rangefinder, or medium format, etc; it's the eye of the photographer that made these excellent photos what they are... nice job, Arun!!</p>

<p>Thanks folks for the kind words.<br>

Although the Nikons remain my main system, I am playing with a Pentax Spotmatic + Super Takumars and hope to have more to share in the coming weeks.<br>

Regards</p>