So I finally finished the roll and got the film shots I took at Kawasaki developed. Here is the film vs digital.
I’m not sure if you can see it here (even at a large size) but the film appears to have more depth than the digital shot which just seems flat.
In any case I like the square format a lot more.
Shooting with the Rollei 35 is very hit and miss. The focus is all based on distance. There is a finder but you cannot see the focus through it. And shooting at f/2.8 at night and candid photos at that makes this task even more difficult. So I was surprised to see this shot turn out so sharp.
In an effort to keep a balance between a holiday and taking photos I too my digital camera and a Holga to Nara. Using Brett’s trusty 1000 year old Velvia (that apparently had a speed range between 100 – 1000) I managed to squeeze about 3 semi usable shots out of the roll (not the films fault. Bloody f8 at 100 ASA!)
I’m happy with the result. For some reason I value this a lot more than the 500+ digital shots I took that I have not posted.
As an escape from obligations looming, I packed my messenger back with about 10kg of camera gear including a tripod and set off for an industrial area of Tokyo. I’d been close to the same place a week before trying to figure out the best way to get there. Most of the evening was spent tracking down interesting scenes to shoot. No doubt I’ll be going again at some point in the near future to capitalize on an evening spent cycling a good 50km trying to get pictures.
I took the Hasselblad and the Canon in an attempt to capture atmosphere and get instant gratification and while I’m ok at holding a shot at 4th of a second I didn’t want to do a 50km round trip and risk a shot being blurry, hence the tripod.
While riding around I found myself at the end of a very long walled road with only the guarded entrance to an industrial complex and a very lonely bus stop. With not a soul in sight (except the guard at the end of the road) I set up my tripod in the middle of the road to take a few pictures.
Out of the walls came people to the bus stop. By chance I’d picked probably the only moment in the evening when the bus would arrive.
I’m interested to see how the Hasselblad image turn out.
I leave you with a few more pictures from the outing.
Inspired by one of Jon’s shots (You always give credit. I hate the way people take an idea from somewhere and pretend it’s theirs).
I thought I’d see what happens when you put your panoramic camera in a puddle while it’s raining. I’m going to claim the colour version now before someone rips me off and does it before I’ve developed my film (like it hasn’t already been done a millions times). More to follow at some stage when the film is ready.
This was shot quite a while ago. Not a flattering shot of the model but I like the atmosphere in the shot all the same.
Sometimes the strangest elements all come together in a shot when you least expect them to.
So I managed to visit the Fragments of Tokyo exhibition at M Place in Shinjuku Gyoenmae and have to say I was impressed. Four very different styles of photography and each with a wonderful and different perspective of Tokyo.
If you missed it you’ll have to bug them to put on another show. Below is each members flickr stream although to really do any of these pictures justice you need to see them printed. It was really a different and exciting experience to see them printed and presented as a series. Congratulations to the four of you.
Toshiya Watanabe
Dairou Koga
Thomas Orand
Jon Ellis
I’ve kept this exhibition pretty close to my chest thus far. I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. It’s a very large group art selling festival (for want of a better description) which I’ve somehow managed to get myself involved in.
Despite it having a very department store like feel I have to say I’m enjoying the experience. The range of people that travel past the exhibits every day is staggering.
The other thing that has completely knocked my socks off is the price of some of the work on display. The most expensive piece I found was over $500,000US so there is quite a price range to be had.
I have been lucky enough to be included as one of only 2 photographers to be exhibiting and Mitsukoshi is, for the first time, including photography in their art exhibition (so I guess I should be feeling privileged).
If you have any interest the event is on till the 18th located on the 7th floor of the main Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi store (Mitsukoshimae station on the Ginza line).
As so this is about where I am at the moment. The end of something and the beginning of something else. Here is hoping your journey from one thing to the next is an enriching one.
This shot is one I dug up from the archives again. To be featured in the upcoming update of the 50mm web site which hopefully should launch before the end of the year.
Mt. Mitake on the final leg of a rather good walk. Taken some time ago.
