20081230


I gots me a Graflex field camera!*

I won a bid on a 1950s Graflex Peacemaker Crown Graphic 4x5 field camera!!

..for under $70 bucks!!!

And even with shipping and insurance it's only a few cents over $100.

It's a full kit including the camera, large metal case, 10 film holders, a flash bulb lamp (no flash bulbs included), an assortment of cable and air release cords, and original manuals/literature. And it all appears to be in really good condition.

But there is some significant risk: the seller stated outright that the item(s) are being sold "as is". He/she photographed everything pretty thoroughly, but doesn't know cameras/photography and didn't photograph the camera open. so, i don't know the condition of the more vital parts like the lens, bellows, track guides, etc. I don't even have a guarantee that there is even a lens...

But judging on all the other images, I'm going to make an ass-out-of-u-and-me that there's a lens tucked safely inside (that probably hasn't seen the light of day in decades). It'll most likely be a 135mm f/4.7 Graflex Optar lens or 127mm f/4.7 Kodak Ektar lens (this model's factory lenses ranged from a 90mm wide-angle to 162 short-telephoto).

Worst case scenario: it's a scam and the camera's completely thrashed/gutted, I could still sell the film holders and accessories separately and make back my money.

So, granted nothing's hatched yet, and I'm already counting the hell out of these eggs.. but DAMN I'm excited!

Item number: 120355274690

*image and info ganked from graflex.org


On The Set


On the set

Observing a Sunbrella fabric conceptual advertisement shoot with Mike Carroll Photography, who just happen to be the photographer Jessica Seawell interned with.

Nikon D300
Nikon AF 17-35mm f/2.8 ED lens
Shot from the hip.

Post CoOp Dinner and Drinks


Post CoOp Drinks

Post CoOp Drinks*

Post CoOp Dinner

Post CoOp Drinks

Post CoOp Drinks*

Post CoOp Dinner

Post CoOp Drinks**

Post CoOp Drinks*

Post CoOp Dinner

Post CoOp Drinks

Post CoOp Drinks**

*-photo taken by Ivan
**-photo taken by Danial


It's the end of fall semester and the end of the first 8-week CoOp internship for the Commercial Photography students. So, some photokids and myself went out on Tate St in Greensboro at El Carreton and New York Pizza II for food, drinks, and camera passing.

Nikon D300
Nikon AF 17-35mm f/2.8 ED lens
Nikon SB800 Speedlite flash
Cactus V2s wireless flash triggers


Poll Party


poll party

poll party

poll party

poll party

poll party

These kids get scandalous.

..all the better to photograph.

Nikon D300
Nikon AF 17-35mm f/2.8 ED lens
Nikon SB800 Speedlite flash w/ Quantum powerpack
Canon 430EX Speedlite flash
Cactus V2s wireless flash triggers


[self critique: I really need to work on avoiding flare..]


20081210


Star Fragments

Eruption

Splash

I've been looking for an excuse to capture some sparks with a macro lens since seeing Skink74's "The sparks begin to fly" series.

So when I needed to cut some metal rebar today, I grabbed Bryan's Nikon D2x, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens, and a floor stand for a little help.

The sparks are created with a Dremel tool and cut-off wheel tip. I set the Interval Timer in the D2x to take an image every second for several dozen frames and started shooting.

Nikon D2x
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens
Adobe Lightroom


Xpro Sod Farm


The Curvature of the Earth

to water everywhere

The Curvature of the Earth

Location scouting at Super Sod sod farm in Angier, NC. One of Bryan's clients needs a model shot in an open green field... in mid December.

Nikon F2
Nikon Ai 16mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
Kodak Elitechrome 160T
-C-41 cross process


20081207

Hitler rants about the D3x


A hilarious video for gearheads, Nikonians, or any other photo nerd.



Originally posted on Youtube by cndlpwr, I discovered it on the JMG-Galleries blog.

20081206

A less than ideal method..


LQ and Gina's

LQ and Gina's

LQ and Gina's

LQ and Gina's

LQ and Gina's

LQ and Gina's
2008-11-22

Nikon F2
Nikon Ai 16mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
Nikon Non-Ai 50mm f/1.4 lens
Ilford XP2 Super 400 35mm film
(expired) Kodak Gold 200 35mm film
Nikon SB-19 flash
Cactus V2s wireless flash triggers


I ran out of time while scanning negatives at school, so during a little bit of down time on internship, I decided to try a little idea..

I typically scan 35mm film photos on a Nikon Coolscan V ED. I wanted to see what I could do with a very basic (and somewhat halfass) light-table/copy-stand setup.

I used a small softbox under a translucent panel to act as a light table, a tripod and boom with a C-stand acted as my copy stand, and scrap matte board was used to cut down on glare/fogging.

The results are sketchy at best, due to several issues: the translucent panel was rather dirty and scratched. I did not set-up or use any kind of negative holder, so the negatives are not held flat against the panel. I set my focus and macro ratio (>1:1), but neither the C-stand nor tripod had any sort of geared rise/fall, so adjusting/repositioning the negatives was difficult. And many of the negatives themselves were poorly exposed making a less-than-ideal control/subject for this little experiment.

I made my "scans" with a Nikon D3 and Nikon AF 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. I edited the images through Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS2. The black and white negatives cameout with a far lower contrast than desired. The C-41 processed XP2 has a red-ish purple base that becomes a cool cyan blue when inverted. I left the color in most as a style choice. The color negatives were also low contrast. And color was very hard to control. The inverted Kodak Gold 200 had a very blue cast. But the film was expired, color balanced for daylight, but shot under tungsten, and many were very under exposed. Also, I was unable to use dust cleaning, sharpening, grain and color adjustment features that come standard with Nikon Coolscan and other film scanning software.

In the end, I like the results. Because of the dust and scratches, along with the rough edges and distortion.

There was one positive result: Many of the very underexposed negative were virtually unsalvageable using the Nikon Coolscan V ED because of its automatic analog gain adjustment. Those negatives came out far better using my DIY method.

Setup shots:

a less than ideal method

a less than ideal method

I hope I never run out of party pictures.


LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's Place

LQ and Gina's
2008-11-22

Nikon F2
Nikon Ai 16mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
Nikon Non-Ai 50mm f/1.4 lens
Ilford XP2 Super 400 35mm film
(expired) Kodak Gold 200 35mm film
Nikon SB-19 flash
Cactus V2s wireless flash triggers

20081130

Gboro Party


Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

Gboro Party

I love shooting parties on film, but damn if digital isn't faster...

Canon Rebel XT
F-to-EOS adapter
Nikon Ai 16mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 USM IS lens
Canon 430EX Speedlite flash
DIY softbox
Canon off-camera hotshoe cord
Vivitar 285HV flash x 2
Cactus V2s wireless flash triggers
Adobe Lightroom post processing