I collect light

A couple of portraits of J from several months back that I never got around to uploading:

This is the fifth year in a row for my "image of the year" post (previous years: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009). It was a quiet year for pictures. I spent some time getting my 4x5 film development back up and running, and finally got my 8x10 Agfa studio camera working, but in all I didn't take many photos. The shot of the Santa Barbara beaches above is probably the best executed of my film attempts this year, so I'm calling it my 2013 image of the year. Close behind is the first shot off of my 8x10 (below). The Bausch & Lomb Plastigmat Portrait Lens renders images in a beautiful softness that I absolutely adore. Jessie was kind enough to sit for this portrait even though I had no idea if my first attempt at 8x10 film development would even work. I think it turned out quite well: For 2014, maybe I'll mange to spend more time with my cameras? Only time will tell...

4x5 Tachihara camera with 135mm lens. 1/2 second at f/8. FP4+ at ISO 125

Jessie at the top of Cold Spring Trail. Tachihara 4x5, FP4+ ISO 125, 90mm ƒ/4.5 CALTAR-II. 1/60s @ f16.

A quick test shot to to see if home developing 8x10 is feasible (it is!). Technical info: Shot on an Agfa/Ansco 8x10 Studio Camera with an 18" (457mm) Bausch & Lomb Plastigmat Portrait Lens. This camera doesn't have a shutter, so it was shot with the lights out and just flash. Lens was wide-open at ƒ/5.6, very small octobox on AB1600 near-minimal power just above and to left of camera. AB800 with 4-foot strip box at minimal power camera right. Triggered by hand (wirelessly). Metered at ƒ/8, but bellows extension needed about 1 stop. Film is FP4+ rated at ISO 125. Developed in Perceptol 1:1 dilution at 68°F for 12m 45s in hand-rotated Jobo 2830 tank.

I recently picked up a (cheap) color filter kit that fit my Cokin P holder, and decided to try shooting the same scene with a variety of filters. I discovered that the effects are more subtle than I expected (perhaps the filters are terrible?) and that they cause much more lens flare (again, maybe more expensive filters would work better?). The first image, with no filter, was shot at ƒ/14 at 1/125s. The rest were shot at ƒ/9 at 1/125. No Filter: Red Filter: Brown Filter: Orange Filter: Blue Filter: Green Filter:

My 150mm 4x5 lens seemed too restrictive for shooting landscapes, so I purchased a "90 F4.5 CALTAR-II" lens from KEH Camera. J took these photos during our outing yesterday. I'm looking forward to getting the film developed!

I recently started shooting my Tachihara 4x5 field camera again. Here's my favorite of several from a couple of weekends ago.

Abstract?

Riding in circles

Lazy-eye

Lazy-eye.

My office this morning.