Rural TN

AlanLichty

Moderator
I like the way you positioned the horizon in this shot with these clouds. They hijack the rural setting below as the dominant subject and it works really well in this scene.
 

Jon Buffington

Well-Known Member
Thank you Jim and Alan. My wife and I like to take country drives and I always have a camera loaded with film along. We came around a bend in the road and this setting lay before me, I knew I had to stop and capture it. :)
 

Jim Dockery

Well-Known Member
I sure like the scene and composition, although I might crop a bit off the top. I'm afraid I don't get the attraction of going through the hassle of film at this point though, but I never mastered B&W film and finally gave up to shoot only slides. How did you scan this? Make a print, or negative brought into PS? Is this a straight version without PS post? The contrast seems muted and there is a fair amount of grain, which my digital conditioned sensibilities balks at.
 

Jon Buffington

Well-Known Member
I sure like the scene and composition, although I might crop a bit off the top. I'm afraid I don't get the attraction of going through the hassle of film at this point though, but I never mastered B&W film and finally gave up to shoot only slides. How did you scan this? Make a print, or negative brought into PS? Is this a straight version without PS post? The contrast seems muted and there is a fair amount of grain, which my digital conditioned sensibilities balks at.
I enjoy the process of film, the tactile experience...the whole kit and kaboodle if you will. I posted a blog on this a couple years ago so I will link here later to better explain myself. I prefer film and enjoy the process of 35mm photography. Film renders very differently than a linear digital file. Highlights build contrast where digital builds contrast in the shadows. I like grain (vs noise with digi sensors) and if I mind, I shoot tmx100 or can go up in formats. I develop at home, scan on a Kodak Pakon f135+ lab scanner. I can scan a whole roll in 3 minutes. In fact, my workflow is quicker with film!

I have some different crops of this as I took different images but in the end, with primes, you get what you get. I had this back and the lens attached on it.

Edit to add: Jim, here is my relfections posted back in 2016 that may explain it better. The next link is just interesting to see why some people still shoot film ;)

http://jpbuffington.com/?p=129

http://jpbuffington.com/?p=167
 
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Jim Dockery

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the links and explanation Jon. I do understand the enjoyment of the process, and of course to each their own way, whatever makes you happy. After a number of years using a color darkroom I was glad to leave the darkness and chemical stink behind when when digital printers came of age.
 

Jon Buffington

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the links and explanation Jon. I do understand the enjoyment of the process, and of course to each their own way, whatever makes you happy. After a number of years using a color darkroom I was glad to leave the darkness and chemical stink behind when when digital printers came of age.
Don't get me wrong, I still shoot digital :) Just enjoy my hybrid process and much prefer traditional B&W vs. digital. But horse for courses and your right, shoot what makes you happy!
 

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
What's interesting, I had picked up a couple of old film cameras, and I shot one for National Camera Day back a few months ago. And while I had no desire to go back to film after switching to digital years ago, I found it was kind of fun to shoot film again. I think part of it is the mystery of it. Without instant feedback, developing and printing the film almost becomes like Christmas and opening a present. It was an enjoyable experience which surprised me. So I plan to shoot more film occasionally.
 

Jon Buffington

Well-Known Member
That's definitely part of it for me, Jim :) That delayed gratification. Whatever keeps someone out making images and enjoying themselves.
 
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