If you are serious about your approach, there are two significant benefits of using a film camera. One is that using a film camera forces you to slow down rather than machine gunning off twenty exposures of the same subject just because you can.  The second benefit, and related to first, is that using a film camera makes your really concentrate on making every frame count, if only because you have a limited amount of exposures at your disposal.  In my opinion, a much better approach than firing off 500 shots during an afternoon.

But here’s the real kicker … combined with the above … if your your heart and mind’s eye are truly open to all the possibilities, using a slow and deliberative approach to “seeing” what’s out there really lets you experience life in a way you don’t normally do.

Think about it. You’re running around during your daily activity, too busy to take notice of what you’re missing. Or you’re stuck inside somewhere, then you go home to other responsibilities or you crash.

Instead of taking your free time and squandering it with missed opportunities, pick up your camera and load it with film.  Now you can think about the discovery awaiting you and get out there! And when you do, you’re going take a deep breath, slow down, and take in your surroundings and those that inhabit them as a meaningful and essential part of the photographic process.  And most importantly you’re going to experience life.

So here are my final thoughts (I really hope this is true!) on this paper. I have been working through the 300 sheets of Fomabrom Variant III VC FB 8×10 I had recently purchased. Thankfully all seems well vs. the Arista EDU Ultra. The two papers really do look the same and if there are any differences they must be very subtle and/or my older eyes can’t detect them.

My final stash of Arista had no issues until the paper slid into the selenium toner … then the emulsion started peeling from the edges per usual. Oh well … Freestyle continues to sell both papers for $99.95, so it’s a no brainer for me as to which one to purchase. Of course you can get the Arista from B&H with free shipping.  This could be important to you, as the shipping from Freestyle is not what I consider inexpensive.

All in all, this has truly been a weird experience. Maybe one of the Zombies I have photographed in Asbury Park placed a curse on my darkroom and my experience is an isolated circumstance. Thankfully even with the edge peeling I have never lost a print. In any case I have found these papers to be just wonderful and they make printing a real joy.

Be grateful we have materials like this to enrich our photographic lives. I am!

Unless you have been hiding under a rock in the photographic world, you have no doubt heard about the great street photographer Vivian Meir, who’s vast amount of previously unknown work in the form of a massive treasure trove of processed negatives and slides and undeveloped rolls of film was discovered by accident 2007.  I think about this from time to time. What if John Maloof had not discovered her life’s work, and what if he didn’t dedicate himself to the herculean task of ensuring that her artistic legacy would be known?  While there were some times Meir was interested in getting her work seen, by and large she appears not to have cared. It seems that is what mattered is that she absolutely loved to photograph.

This has made me think of all the other world class photographers are out there making important images that will most likely never be seen by most of us, or get the rightful recognition they deserve. This reality was driven home when I attended PAX earlier this year. I saw some truly world class work that most will never know about, made by ultra dedicated photographers. They work primarily because of their passion and a rage to do what they love. Unlike much of what is published or shown at galleries today, and of course the incredible amount of junk uploaded to Flickr, there is true art being made everyday by incredibly dedicated photographers. Some are working at their full time jobs and eke out time on weekends, in the early mornings or during lunchtime. Others are retired and now have the time to devote to what they have always loved. Some post their work on personal websites, self-publish work for friends and family, or are completely content to display their work privately on their own walls.

I’m somewhat saddened knowing how many great images must be out there that I will never have the opportunity to see. But I am heartened and inspired just knowing they exist.

It might seem obvious to list a step that says go out and make pictures, but for many it is almost counterintuitive.  That’s because they choose to concentrate on buying and selling gear, have too much gear and become paralyzed, or they are incessant testers and film and or developer changers (which necessitates more testing).

Now that you have determined your proper film speed and film development times, and know how to make a proper proof you have to get out there and make photographs. That’s right. Don’t worry, the camera(s) and lens(s) you have are good enough to make great pictures.  They key is your own ideas, vision and creativity. If you are stuck, think of a project and start working on it. Be open to all that is around you and don’t feel that you have to travel to “interesting” or exotic places in order to think of photographing. I have discussed all of this before, but it bears repeating!

I added something to the name of this step … make sure your exposures are correct. When I was younger, my exposures were often incorrect. The results were not what I wanted, or the negatives required herculean measures to extract a good print. I heard about the Zone System and then read Ansel Adam’s book The Negative.  I couldn’t get it but mercifully found Fred Picker’s Zone System Workshop. Everything soon fell into place and all was well in my photographic world.  If you don’t own this book, it’s worth tracking down.

Key point going forward – if you don’t make correct exposures when you are in the field you have wasted your time with all your testing. The first thing on the road to exposure success is to understand that your meter is dumb and sees the world in grey – 18% grey to be exact.  That’s Zone V in the Zone System.  In the Zone VI Workshop Picker uses the example of making pictures of white and black horses using the recommended meter readings for each one.  Looking at the results, both horses are grey.  Once I saw this it all clicked.  Simple and brilliant!  The point is that aiming at your subject and relying on what your meter says may get you acceptable results but not the fidelity you are seeking in your final print. 

Most Zone System guys will tell you to expose for the shadows, placing your shadow area on Zone III.  In a slight variant Bruce Barnbaum recommends placing shadows at Zone IV for greater shadow detail. 

An alternative and easy method is to hold a grey card (Zone V) in front of you, take a meter reading of it and set you shutter speed and aperture accordingly. Everything in the scene will fall into place.

My method is to do one of two things. When I am in a fast moving situation such as when making candid photographs, I take a reading of the palm of my hand, making sure there are now shadows falling upon it and open up one stop to Zone VI from what the meter says (Zone V), because Caucasian skin is Zone VI.  Then I keep making pictures without checking the light until it changes. Fast and easy and no need to carry a grey card! If I am making a photograph of a non-moving subject, e.g., a building, or landscape scene, I take a reading of the brightest portion of what I am photographing, open up three stops to Zone VIII and make the photograph. Also fast and easy, and the heart of Fred Picker’s Maximum Printable Density (MPD) user-friendly variation of the Zone System. Note for all serious Zone System photographers: I only use Normal development times and don’t worry about making exposures for Plus and Minus development. I agree with Picker that changes in paper contrasts obviate this, but for others this may be a useful procedure.

Once you have done your testing, and feel confident in your ability to make good exposures you are on your way. A simple reading of the palm of your hand/grey card or use Picker’s MPD system depending on the situation takes much less time and thought, allowing you to concentrate more on the picture itself. It certainly works that way for me!

Unfortunately, many photographers treat the Zone System as a religion that takes serious and ongoing study to unlock its many mysteries. There have been weeklong workshops focused exclusively on the intricacies of the Zone System and for many it became akin to cult worship.  The point of the Zone System is to make sense of sensitometry and apply it in order to make properly exposed negatives that developed correctly enable expressive prints. Nothing more; nothing less! The key is to find an easy and understandable way to incorporate its principles in support of your work.

Now that we have got all this out of the way, go out and make some damn good pictures!

I had so much fun at Asbury Park’s annual Zombie Walk last year that I had to return to its boardwalk again this weekend. Last time out I had met some fairly bizarre and fun people while managing to make some real keepers. It was truly a great day and when I got home I put it on my calendar for this year.

This time I brought my Leica M2 and M3 coupled with 35mm and 50mm lenses just like I did last year. I have used a 50mm, or near 50mm (e.g., an 80mm lens for 6X7) format equivalent for the vast majority of photographs I have made over the years. But last year I surprised myself when I made an equal number of photographs with the 35mm lens. So what happened this time out? Operating in very close quarters with a fast moving crowd I ended up using only my M2 and 35mm lens. That’s right … the M3 and its 50mm Summicron never left the camera bag!  A new first for me, and two days later I still don’t feel guilty at all!  The tiny 35mm Summaron mounted on my M2 was exactly the right tool for the job.  Why try to put a round peg into a square hole if you don’t need to?  I didn’t because I had the 35mm lens with me!

The 50mm will always be my primary lens, but if there isn’t enough room to step back a few feet, why be a bozo and miss a great picture?  Be prepared. It may be a long time before I use the 35mm again, but I will have it with me … just in case.

On Saturday I drove downtown to Center City Philadelphia to participate in a walking tour conducted by Hidden City Philadelphia. The walk focused on Philadelphia’s Lost Jewish Quarter. The tour was wonderful and our guide Jerry Silverman was fantastic!

Before I left home I restocked my camera bag with film, put it in the car with an extra bottle of water and off I went. Walking to the meeting location I realized I hadn’t loaded my camera so I sat down on a stoop in front of an old row house and grabbed a roll of Tri-X. Now all ready to go!  Everyone introduced themselves and we started our walk. As usual, I had a small spiral notebook with me, whose written pages could be torn out and transferred to my main notebook. I always carry some kind of notebook or pad with me so I can jot down whatever I think is important and not forget it. You should too!

I brought my camera with me, because I bring my camera with me. I thought there would be ample opportunities to make photographs while also taking good notes in support of a project idea I have.  But something curious happened … I never took my camera out of the bag! I kept taking notes as we walked from one interesting location to the next, passing many photographic opportunities. I just never had the desire to make a photograph. Even after the tour was over and I decided to do some further exploration … nothing. Strange … perhaps. Bad idea … upon reflection, I don’t think so. Instead of worrying about getting a good picture while trying to learn something that I could apply to something larger, I decided to just relax, enjoy myself and take it all in. I could, and most definitely will be back when my full concentration will be on making photographs. In fact I know that the part of Philadelphia I saw, while geographically compact, will take multiple visits to properly explore.

I don’t want you to think that I would have passed up an opportunity to make a picture of something earthshattering or not capture a moment of time that would never repeat itself. I would not!

Knowing I would be back, just listening and taking in what I was seeing without any pressure to produce was extremely liberating … and relaxing too. I had a great time!  But I must come back, and soon, or this was just a pleasant day trip.

So perhaps it’s a good idea sometimes to conduct “photo recon” as the objective and enjoy the experience for what it is. No pressure. If you want, you can bring your camera with you just in case. But don’t feel guilty if it never leaves its bag.  I didn’t feel that way at all and have pages of notes and ideas to work on in support what I think will be many wonderful outings. All in all, a nice way to spend a beautiful fall day. Not to do all the time … just every once in a while.