Expired Polaroid 664 Film - Polaroid 250 - Cheyenne Portraits

After a long 52 weeks, my year-long Roll-A-Week project (seen at Coalesce52) is finally over. It was a great, and sometimes tiring, experience that I'm glad I undertook. I'm equally excited, though, to return some of my attentions to this blog. My hope is to return to a more regular posting schedule here again this year and be able to share a wide selection of film and instant film along the way. I also have a few new goals for the year which hopefully provide me with some great new content to post. Until then though, on to today's photos...

These images, shot with my Polaroid 250 and some expired Polaroid 664, were taken a short while ago while working with a great new Cleveland area model, Cheyenne. I've been interested in getting back to lighting and shooting some simple portrait work in the studio and decided to my own simple crown of flowers for our shoot together. Of course, I shot a bunch of digital and some Kodak Tri-X as well, but today I thought I would share these instant images on their own. Enjoy. 

Impossible Project PX680 Old Gen - Cleveland

A couple weeks ago I woke up early and wandered around downtown Cleveland for an hour or two before work. I was shooting a roll of Ilford HP5 Plus for my Roll-A-Week project but also was carrying around my SX70 Sonar which was loaded with the remains of a pack of Impossible Project's PX680 Old Gen film. I only ended up taking one instant photo while I was out, but I kind of like the way it turned out. 

It's very possible that I will be posting more instant film in the near future as I was just contacted this morning about testing a new product for a company out of Hong Kong. Very random, I know, but hopefully it works out and I have lots of new and exciting stuff to share in the upcoming weeks/months. Stay tuned for that, and, enjoy. 

Expired Polaroid ID Ultraviolet Film - Alexandra

Just a quick post today to share this instant photo from my shoot this past weekend with a newer model in town named Leanne. This was from our first look of the day and I shot this image using my Polaroid 250 and some expired Polaroid ID UV film. If you like this image be sure to keep an eye on the Coalesce52 Blog in the upcoming couple of weeks for the roll of Ilford HP5 Plus that I shot as well. Enjoy. 

Expired Polaroid ID Ultraviolet Film - Photo Walk Portraits

Monday evening after work I joined some folks over in Tremont to do a quick instant photo walk put together by Aperture Photography & Variety. The walk was a put together a little last minute, but, we were lucky enough to be joined by Washington Post and freelance wonder writer Melanie D.G. Kaplan. Melanie was in town working on a story about Ohio's one and only National Park and decided to also do a little story about our area's growth in what she referred to as "the slow photo movement" - a phrase I may just have to steal for my own future use. 

Aside from all that jazz, the walk was fun if not a little less than ideal in terms of weather (I'm now suffering the effects of a wicked cold that can only be the fault of this little walk). As for my photos, I decided to switch it up a little bit after having taken so many photos in the Tremont area over the years and instead focused on shooting some portraits with some of the other members of the photo walk. 

Each of these were taken with a Polaroid Land 250 using some of my expired Polaroid ID Ultraviolet film. As you can see, four straight shots out of this pack of film gave me pretty close to four different results. I imagine the changing temperatures, the different lighting situations and the fact that I never time my developments of this film all contributed to that though. There is one more photo from this set of portraits (a shot I took of Melanie) but in a rare and uncharacteristic move I let her keep the photo before I had a chance to bring it in and scan it. If I'm lucky though... maybe I'll get to see that photo along side her article.

Impossible Project PX70 Color Protection Formula - Food Photography

This past weekend as part of my Roll-A-Week project I came into the studio to work on some tabletop food photography set-ups. I've always been a fan of simple, well-lit food photography and have lately been reading a few different blog posts that highlight some easy available/window light setups and so I thought I'd take an afternoon pretending to be a food photographer. 

Still life and composition is something that I've always explored when shooting instant film, and since it's been so long since I've shot with any of the Impossible Project's films in any serious way it seemed natural to bring along my SX-70 Sonar to shoot each of my setups  alongside my roll of film. The images that I have here today were all taken with the SX-70 and Impossible's PX70 Color Protection Formula instant film. Each was left unshielded out of camera and developed face down in a relatively comfortable temperature (somewhere around 68 degrees fahrenheit). Enjoy.

Impossible Project PX680 Color Protection - Cancun Mexico, Airport

This is the plane we took back from Mexico. That's all, not much else to say about it. Impossible Project's PX 680 Color Protection film with ND pack filter. Shot with lighten/darken about a 1/4 turn to dark. Unshielded out of camera and developed in available light.

Impossible Project PX680 Color Protection - Cancun Mexico, Some Randoms

Of the Impossible Project film that I shot while in Mexico I still have a few random, uncategorized shots that I wanted to share. So, I figured I would just lump these couple together and give them their own post. These were all taken with an SX70 Sonar and Impossible Project's PX 680 Color Protection film. Lighten/Darken was set about 1/4 towards dark, film was unshielded out of camera and left to develop in indirect lighting conditions.

The photo at top is a little boy named Oliver that we kept running into in the resort. Almost always playing with a ball he was difficult to catch on film. As you can see, he's a little blurry from a longer shutter speed and the fact that he is indeed off chasing another ball. The other two photos (middle and bottom) are just a few more skyline/water shots that I took somewhere along the way. The middle photo was taken from the balcony of our room around sunset, and, though I wanted a brighter exposure the setting sun knocked everything down to more of a silhouette. The bottom photo, also taken from our balcony, was shot earlier in the day. Though it's slightly washed out in contrast it does capture the blues rather nicely - a color that I've often had difficulty capturing with Impossible's instant films.

That's about all for today, but, I do have a few Instax photos to post in the near future, and, after the holidays, I'm sure that I'll be getting back some of the 35mm and medium format film that I shot as well. As soon as I do, I'll be sure to share. Enjoy.

Impossible Project PX70 Test Film V4B - Colors From the Greenhouse

Yesterday, via a fun little video project at work, I ended up at Cleveland's Rockefeller Park Greenhouse. Another of those Cleveland hidden gems the Rockefeller Greenhouse sits above Martin Luther King Drive on the east side of downtown and is full of beautiful plants and colors and is definitely worth a visit. While I was there to do some video work, I of course had my SX70 along loaded with Impossible Projects newest PX70 Color Protection film and was able to snag a few shots. Actually... I shot almost an entire pack, but, these are my top four favorites from the day.

Impossible Project PX680 Test Film V4C and... Digital (Gasp!)

Today I have the last of my instant photos from my recent shoot with Hillary. This shot was taken on Impossible Projects PX 680 V4c Test film with an ND pack filter using my trusty SX70. Ligthen/Darken wheel was set about half way to darken, and, the photo was left unshielded out of camera but developed in my pocket away from any light source. Temps were pretty chilly this day so I tried to keep this photo warm, but, I think that may be partially responsible for the blown highlights.

To make up for the partially blown exposure (and because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want) today I'm also sharing some of the digital images from this location. I know it's become a rarity on this site for me to post anything digital, but, I do still shoot digital and see no reason not to share that part of my work here on occasion as well. So, enjoy.

Impossible Project PX70 Test Film V4B - Some Mums in a Toolbox

This morning will have to be a quick update as I am heading out of the office soon to shoot some video. We have had these flowers sitting on the table at home for a while now so I figured I'd see how the new Impossible Project PX70 V4B would render the bright yellow. I wanted to shoot them outside so I laid them in an old wooden toolbox that I have and framed a little grass off to the right. I was hoping to get a little more exposure in the grass so that I could have some brighter greens, but it appears to have metered mostly off the yellows of the flowers. Still, not bad.

Like most recent photos this was taken using an SX70 Sonar with the lighten/darken halfway to dark. The photo was left unshielded out of camera and throughout the development process which was under normal indoor lighting.

Impossible Project PX680 Test Film V4B - 'Roid Week - Buds Barber Shop

Bud's Barber Shop in Edinboro, PA is today's image for Friday, the final day of 'Roid Week. I was hoping to share a few more film types this week but as luck would have it I haven't got to shoot much else this week. As always, though, I will continue to post all of my instant work here - 'Roid Week was fun, but, it's not the only time us die-hards shoot instant film (or any film for that matter). 

This image again was shot with an SX70 using and ND pack filter. The film type is Impossible Project's PX680 V4B test film, and, as great as this film looks the new PX70 V4B opacification test film looks even better. Luckily, I just happened to order 4 packs of it this morning.

Stay tuned for a full write up sometime in the next week or two...

Impossible Project PX680 Test Film V4B - 'Roid Week - Red Scooter

Today's 'Roid Week photo is from Little Italy in Cleveland. This cool little vintage scooter was parked off of the main roads behind an old school that's been converted into artist work space and offices - the perfect opportunity for a quick instant photo.

This image was shot on an SX70 with an ND pack filter using the Impossible Project's PX680 V4B test film. It was left unshielded as it ejected out of camera in full daylight and then left to fully developed in my pocket.

Impossible Project PX70 NIGO - 'Roid Week - Greyhound Station

Photo number two for Wednesday of 'Roid Week. This one shot with an SX70 Sonar using Impossible Project's PX70 NIGO. I just took this little guy over lunch which is reason enough for me to make my second blog post of the day.

You'll also notice that while I pretty much never, ever crop out the border of my Polaroid/Impossible images - I have done so here. Because this is NIGO edition film each frame is a random color. This one just happened to be bright pink and quite distracting (I think anyway) to this particular image. So... Deal with it.

More instant love tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Impossible Project PX680 Test Film V4B - 'Roid Week - Swings

This week is the official 2012 'Roid Week. In the spirit of the event, I will likely be posting a new image everyday (except monday) and will also be trying to keep my write-ups for each day shorter than normal. If you'd like some more info on 'Roid Week 2012 you can check out The Flickr Page or read this informative and fun little newsletter that the Impossible Project put out recently.

Today's photo is from this past weekend and it is of the Swings at Waldameer Park in Erie PA. Shot on an SX70 using an ND pack filter this photo was taken using the Impossible Projects PX680 V4B test film and was left unshielded as it ejected out of camera in full daylight and then left to fully developed in my pocket. These swings in particular might look familiar from one of my more popular photos from last year that you can check out here.

That's all for today, but, come back for more instant fun tomorrow.

Fuji FP-3000B45 - Graflex Crown Graphic 4x5 - Orange Lillies

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be presented with the opportunity to purchase two boxes of expired Polaroid Type 57  4x5 sheet film for my Graflex Crown Graphic. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck with the film thus far.


Last night I tested two more sheets of the 3000 ISO rated instant film, and, thus far each has come out black. I'm unsure if it's a film problem, camera problem or a problem with my polaroid back. I've even tested with a longer exposure on my last shot to see if it would have any effect but it didn't appear to. The chemicals seem to be coming out of their pods, but no image is developing. I have yet to break into the second box of film to see if I have any better luck. If anyone out there has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear them.


That being said, after spending the time setting up a shot to test with, I thought it would be a waste to walk away frustrated. So, I shot two sheets of Ilford Delta 400 and then fired off the last shot of Fuji FP-3000B45 that I still had loaded in my other polaroid back. Happily, I ended up with this beautiful shot of these Orange Lilies that valiantly sacrificed their lives to come inside for a photo-op. 


One other small detail of note - you might notice that this is my first image with the Crown Graphic in the portrait arrangement. Finally, after a few months of frustration and stupidity, I have realized that I do in fact have another location on the Crown Graphic body to attach my tripod plate, which, allows me to shoot vertically. In my defense though, the little guy was hiding under the leather handle that I have never used. Needless to say, that strap has been removed for the time being...

Fuji FP-100C45 - Crown Graphic 4x5 - Creative light around the house

Last night I had a little more time to work with my new Crown Graphic after work. I did quickly get a chance to take a shot outside before the light faded entirely, but for the most part I was working in my dining room. The scene was definitely something to behold considering I didn't take any lights home with me. So, like I've done a time or two before, I pulled lamps from all different rooms to put together a couple different lighting setups.


The photo at top was lit with one of those cheap pole lamps you can get from target or Walmart (like this, but all plastic). The lower arm used as a key light causing a bit of the shadow you see, and the top lamp just bouncing into the ceiling for fill. It was still a longer exposure, but it worked out pretty well. The benefit of this lamp was the ability to mix my light temperatures - the key being a compact florescent (close to daylight) and the fill a regular tungsten. The combination of those two and all the other ambient light bouncing around the room seems to be what gave the photo it's washed out, almost sepia toned, color.

This second photo, an old(ish) coffee advertisement clock, was shot with a single light source. With the rest of the lights in the room off, I used one of those "paper shade lamps" which you can see there in the specular highlight in the glass of the clock. The light source here was completely tungsten which, with the daylight balance of the Fuji FP-100c45, shifted the color of the image more towards an orange/yellow tone. This shot also displays the extent of a close up for this camera/lens combo.


And, for good measure, here is that photo I mentioned at the top of the post that I was able to shoot outside before the light faded and before the cold ran me back inside. 

This ship, the Buffalo, has been parked in this shipyard in the Flats for a few weeks now for maintenance. It always amazes me the size of boat that is able to maneuver through this small area of the Flats and I've been wanting to get a shot of this one for quite some time now as it can normally be seen rolling down the river once or twice a week. I overexposed this image a bit more than I would have liked, but with the temperatures outside and the development time resulting from those temps I would have had to stick around for quite a while to see what my results were in order to shoot an adjusted photo.


In any event, I think I will be shooting more with this film/camera this upcoming weekend and I'll post some of those images early next week.

Fuji Instax - w/Ashley K

As I mentioned a few posts ago, my last shoot with Ashley was the first time that I got to mess around with a Fuji Instax (since she was kind enough to bring hers). Personally, I was a bit skeptical. I don't know if it was the fact that this is supposedly the current instant technology, or if it's because the camera looks like a giant toy, or even just the fact that I'm a huge fan of vintage Polaroid cameras and the Impossible Project's films, but I was skeptical none the less. After a little tinkering though, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of some of the images.

The colors are pretty true and using the camera is about as easy as it gets. There are a few different controls that give you a little bit of control over different aspects of the shot (lighten, darken, flash on or off, etc). I was surprised to find that I actually preferred the flash on with this camera. Shooting mainly Polaroid cameras with Impossible film I almost exclusively shoot without flash. I've always found that it washes out the image or gives terrible flat light. The flash on the Instax, however, really did add some punch to the photos. Used in combination with the "lighten" setting I was able to get a very Terry Richardson type of look - something like the two images below.

Overall, I kinda like the camera. It's fun to use and I got some cool shots from it. I don't know that I'll be getting one for myself anytime soon, but given the chance I would definitely shoot with one again.