W/NW Medium Format Photo of the Month: November 2014

<p>Thank you very much, Roman. Perhaps it's the scanner. I'm using an Epson V750 with custom holders. It could be better but it seems to work well. The scans are much sharper than with the supplied holders. As for subject matter, I hope they produce a sense of stillness and a reminder that beauty can appear in even the most ordinary places.<br>

<br />Those fall colors are amazing, even enviable. The yellow leaves with the blueish fog is classic.<br>

<br /><br />We don't get colors like that here in Central Texas, or if we do it's very localized. There's a place near here called <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/lost-maples">Lost Maples</a>. Virtually all beautiful fall photos of Texas are taken at this location. The joke of it is that it's such a tiny area. You almost have to stand in one spot to get the affect. ;-)</p>

<p>I love Portra, especially pushed a couple of stops. It gets weird and gritty-- a dreamy look. It's a lovely film. However, I have trouble with Ektar. How do you shake off the blue cast of Ektar?</p>

<p>Still working trough my summertime photos backlog, here are couples of shots from Vama Veche, Romania</p><div></div>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Giovanni... superb landscapes!</p>

<p>Jim... can't help but mention I've been to Lost Maples twice while visiting my folks in Fredericksburg, I love it! Unfortunately I've been unable to make it there during the peak color season and have no good photos to show for it. But I have a hat from their souvenir shop that I wear on a daily basis. :)</p>

<p>Thanks Allan!<br>

<br />Some more with same setup:<br>

<a title="Peloponnese by Giovanni Cappai, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8562/15761281696_0cc228fbea.jpg" alt="Peloponnese" width="500" height="375" /></a><br>

<a title="Rio Bridge by Giovanni Cappai, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15818660262_991f38efd2.jpg" alt="Rio Bridge" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>

<p><a title="Helmos, Peloponnese by Giovanni Cappai, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15102835883_dc13b3926e.jpg" alt="Helmos, Peloponnese" width="500" height="375" /></a><br>

<a title="Rock color by Giovanni Cappai, on Flickr" href=" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/15521518688_0d40af2197.jpg" alt="Rock color" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>

<p>That's awesome, Allan. I forgot about your parents being in Fredericksburg. It's such a beautiful part of Texas. It's a big state with a lot of variety: swamp, prairie, desert, deciduous & pine forest, and rugged limestone hills. Texas gets bad mouthed a lot for it's politics but it's a beautiful state in it's own way. The women aren't bad looking either.</p>

<p>Absolutely... in <em>all</em> your points! Also, I'll dig into my "archives" to see if there are any from Lost Maples and post them... an interesting place!</p>

<p>Jim,<br>

I develop it in Rodinal 1:50. Still running test on this film....</p>

<p id="docs-internal-guid-63ce6c99-d4ee-03d6-3d37-4776a3703815" dir="ltr">Jim,</p>

<p dir="ltr">The picture I’ve posted here actually was taken on Ektachrome which is E6 (or slide) film. it’s quite different from Ektar 100. However I’m using Ektar 100 eventually too. I might agree with you that Ektar is not that easy film to use as Portra and it isn’t a general purpose film. It’s more like Velvia - you have to find perfect conditions to unleash its beauty. I have troubles with its bluish cast too. But it’s a fine film and I like it. A couple rules I usually apply toEktar usage: avoid shooting Ektar in overcast day or in midday under cloudless blue sky; alvways use a warm up filter somthing like 81A or 81B; it doesn't like underexposure; the best time to shoot Ektar is early morning or late afternoon hours (so called “Golden Hours”). Try, may be you find your way to this very nice film. Here some shot with Ektar. I’m posting them here basically as scanned so you can see how raw files look like.</p><div></div>

<p>Chasing the last bits of autumn color. Rolleicord III and Velvia at EI 100.</p>

<p><img src="http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj291/Skopar/AutumnYellow3_zps63375839.jpg?t=1416776303" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" /></p>

<p>Ludwig, I was using Rodinal for a while but didn't like how it rendered clouds (too sharp/grainy). Lately I've been having good luck with Pyrocat-HD for Rollei IR 400. I rate it at EI 6. Here are my directions:<br>

Pyrocat-HD (1:1:100) @ 20° @ 19:30 min. w/ very gentle inversions every 3 min. Water stop of three baths lasting thirty seconds each, to prevent pinholes. Then fix, etc.<br /><br />It's just something to try if you feel like using something different. Rodinal has it's perks!</p>

<p>Roman, thanks for elaborating. Ektachrome was discontinued before I took up photography so I easily misread your description. I love slide film. Those golden hour shots on Ektar are something else! The blues in your second attachment are familiar to me. Thank you for the advice. Next time I shoot it I'll be sure to give it lots of light.</p>