6x6 Folder in the Columbia Gorge

<p>Everyone seems to be posting springtime pictures taken with their old classics here. So I decided to take my Franka Solida IIL and a role of Portra 160VC along on a recent hike and post some of the results.</p><div></div>

<p>number two</p><div></div>

<p>There is no rangefinder on the Solida IIL. I'm pleased with how well I guessed the focus on this shot. It's basically like I pictured it in my mind.</p><div></div>

<p>In retrospect, maybe I should have focused this shot more in the distance.</p><div></div>

<p>I apologize for the mediocre quality of these scans. I don't have a MF negative scanner, so I scanned the prints on a flatbed scanner.</p><div></div>

<p>Number seven. Skipping number 6 because I botched the focus (sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, especially with zone focusing).</p><div></div>

<p>If you look carefully at the first picture, you will see two fibrous pieces of dust which got on the negative and shadowed it. Dust has been my nemesis with this camera. Every time I load it, I blow it out with my air duster first. I'm slowly winning the battle. Oddly, it's always<em> looked</em> clean. Looks can be deceiving.</p><div></div>

<p>I am not responsible for the bull's eye composition of this one. I focused the camera, set the aperture and shutter, and handed it to my housemate. The remaining three shots were taken at home to finish the roll; I haven't scanned them yet.</p><div></div>

<p>David, these are terrific. The combination of low contrast , softness of the lens, and the low-saturation of Portra's hues, makes these landscapes look almost painted. They remind me of the backdrops of the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History.<br>

I'm jealous that you take an old folder out to such beautiful country ! What lens is on the Solida ?</p>

<p>I really like the soft look of these images, they seem a bit underexposed though, is this a trait of this type of folder?</p>

<p>Cool, I'm old enough to remember when that highway was the only way.</p>

Excellent. What a great place to be out with a camera. Some of these landscapes are beautiful. I liked Rock Formation and River through the trees also the second shot with the flowers is really good too! Thanks for sharing these with us!

<p>I'm thinking that probably after scanning, you could have messed with the levels a bit to bring those pics up to something more like the tonal range captured on the negs. The scenery and compositions are great, though. </p>

<p>The softness is a trait of my quick and dirty job of scanning, and how I scanned from prints instead of negatives.<br>

Hope to have more time to tinker with scanner settings later, but that won't happen for a while as my life is pretty hectic right now.</p>

<p>Great shots David, nice compositions and beautiful country.</p>