ian_greant

<i>Am I reading the gist of the responses on here correctly - when a film is discontinued the processing is also discontinued? When Kodak stops production of Tech pan they will also stop production of HC-110, D-76 etc? Those who have bragged of still having rolls of Ektar 25 in their freezers should throw it out to make room for pork chops since it can no longer be processed? </i>

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uhhh no, Kodachrome will most likely go the way of the dodo since the K-14 process is rather complicated and not suited (to my knowledge) for small lab use.

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Films like Ektar 25 are C41 process which even if kodak stopped selling premixed chemicals the recipes for C41 are commonly available and you could mix them yourself and process in your own darkroom.

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Same goes for b&w.

hmmm... you've overlightened the left side (his right) of his face too much, it doesn't match the light anymore and looks unnatural.

Another method for matching faces and other things is to use layer masking.

There are tutorials out there if you search around. It's become the digital equal of dodge and burn for me.

Cheers,<div></div>

Shawn,

There have been some good recomendations made above.

Choosing a MF system can be a bit baffling and isn't easily done merely by comparing specs. I thought I was quite ready for a RB67 until I really looked at one and noticed it looked/felt like a mail box (compared to what I was used to)

Personally I use a Rollei TLR for my MF work, I find it an excellent choice for the use you describe, but that doesn't mean you'll like the way it handles. Only way to know is to try some out.

There are a couple shots in my photo.net profile and a bunch more on my web site if you like to look. Working with a waist level viewfinder is a very different experience for portraits and candids. I highly recommend trying it.

Cheers,

oh yeah...

www.51North.com

I still prefer my darkroom but there are times when the digital print is the way to go. (I've got my reasons, fill in yer own if you got 'em)

One of my local labs has the kodak system. Can't remember the name of it but it prints on color paper.. As long as you are calibrated and *they* are calibrated, it cranks out some pretty sweet prints.

For what it costs and the sizes they can do I can't see investing in anything more than a cheapo inkjet.

Cheers,

I don't know what you did to that poor guy but he looked like he could use my help ;)

Contrast might be a bit off. I'm calibrated for my lab, not the web.<div></div>

Calgary too small for Leicas? hmmmm that's a new one on me.

Last week while stocking up on film at the Camera Store I eyeballed the row of used Leicas they had in the case. I didn't do a full inventory but there was an M2, two M4's and an M6 plus a couple more in the row I didn't get a chance to check out.

hmmm don't know if they qualify as the best but... they are far from the worst and are usually the places that get my local $$.

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The Camera Store.. www.thecamerastore.com<br>

Vintage Visuals www.vintagevisuals.com<br>

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Happy shopping!

If'n yer going to be a digital specialist then I'd suggest a photoshop course or two.. Or some serious self study with some of the better books out there.

It's surprising how much work some of the better studios put into their images and how fast their work flow is.

On a slight technical note you might want to consider upgrading your gallery software. Older versions like you are currently using have a well known security flaw.

whoops, no image attachements in this forum.. <p>

OK <a href="http://www.51North.com/henri.html" target="new">rollei bokeh</a>

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'55 Rolleicord, TXP 320 @ 1600, D76

When I first started shooting my 4x5 $6 bucks a shot for E6 (film + processing) seemed like so much money. Now it ain't such a big deal. I'm not any richer I just realize the value of a big piece of film.

As for the scanning/digital work flow.

1) Yes, you can sneak into the game with a much less expensive scanner than with a small format.

2) Maximum size is dependent a lot on your working methods, what printer, and of course, personal expectations. Recently for a client I printed a 24x20 from a 6x7 C41 neg that he felt was the near equal to what he was getting from the darkroom. (Epson 3200 scanner, one of the Kodak large output digital printers)

Michael,

If you don't mind lending me your special drill bit I've got an old van that (if I patch up the other holes) would make a great camera obscura. We could go on tour! ;)

There used to be one or two street shooters in each town. Here in my town there was an article on a couple photographers that worked the streets of Calgary for years before they eventually retired.

Take a photo, hand out a card. Take a photo, hand out a card.

People would come in with the card to view the contact sheet and decide whether they wanted a print or not. Bigger deal when not every one had a camera and especially not everyone had a digital camera.

You'd be best off with a web ordering system. Take the pics, upload them to your web site, they can view the thumbnails and order prints direct from the web site. You'd be even better off if you did it through ofoto as they have a reward program that would pay you for each new customer that orders prints through them.

Darn it... just gave away a great idea. I coulda franchised it!! Streetshootersusa.com Hired photo.netters all across the world I coulda been the Bill Gates of street shooting photographers. I coulda been... ooops, scan is done..

could be underexposed, underdeveloped, not long enough in the weak stop and just to make things really bad... weak fix.

When all else fails, dump it all, start fresh and you'll probably be ok. You can waste a lot of time and film chasing one goblin at a time.