davemurphyphoto

[davemurphyphoto]

So, yeah, I’m joining the Catholic Church.

Trust me, you are nowhere near as shocked as my friends and family.

This link is to the tumblr I set up to journal about it.

I have no life.  =)

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Trillium grandiflorum forma roseum (Pink Trillium)

16 April 2017

Nikon D610 - 50mm f/6.3 1/320 sec. ISO640

Taken while hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Initial Assessment

I just traded a bunch of gear and a bit of cash for a Nikon D810. So, naturally, now I’m wanting to shoot film and work in the darkroom.

To that end, I repaired my enlarger. It had separated between the light head and the upper bellows. Specifically, the flange that connects to the condenser separated from the bellows above the negative tray. I repaired that and then took stock. There were questions that needed answers.

What do I have?

What do I need?

I have a handful of film cameras. I have a way to process B&W roll film. I have a way to process prints, up to 11x14 anyway, sort of. I can only mix 600ml at a time of individual chemistry. I need 1.6L of dev, stop, and fix for my 8x10 trays. So, 3 batches of 600ml each. I have a Beseler 23C II that can do up to 6x7. I also have a Graflex Graflarger (no, seriously). That little beastie is a lamp and negative holder that mounts to a Graflex (or International Standard) camera back and turns a 4x5 camera into a medium and large format enlarger. I have negative carriers for 35mm, 6x7, 6x12, and 4x5 film.

I need a motherfrakking darkroom. Right now, I load film in the development tank in my bathroom, at night, with all the lights off in the house. For loading the Harman paper, I have a red safe light. But undeveloped film can only be handled in absolute dark. I could really use a print washer. I also need an enlargement easel.

And then there are supplies. Film, paper, chemistry. Chemistry is kind of a pain in the ass. Most chemistry goes bad faster than a bowl of ice cream in the sunshine. Film and paper will keep almost indefinitely in the fridge or freezer. Cooler is better.

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Some of the B&W photos are shot on Harman Direct Positive Papers linked above. I’ve found them to be a bit fickle to work with and I think Harman’s description is a bit optimistic. That said, I really do think this stuff is the bee’s knees.

I’m just learning to work with it and in my 8x10 camera, I have had no luck at all. I’m tending to get process artifacts during the developing. Also, even though you are supposed to be able to load it under a low red light, I think the light may be clouding the paper as I load. My safe light is a 15w and I try to stay at least 4ft away. I may end up trying a card or diffuser to help eliminate the clouding.

The pros are it is pretty easy as far as process goes. Load the holder; make the exposure; process under a red light; stop, fix, and rinse.

The cons are is that it is not cheap. 25 sheets of 4x5 are 29$US and 8x10 is 80$US. The ISO is around 1-3 so it is painfully slow and can be tricky to meter. Exposure times are necessarily slow as well.

I still think it is interesting and worth the effort.

Here is a link to the Technical Sheet.

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Flowers in Front of My Office this Summer

Horseman L45 on Harman Direct Positive Paper

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Flowers - A higher contrast exposure than the one above

Horseman L45 on Harman Direct Positive Paper

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Sinking Creek Covered Bridge - Newport, VA

Horseman L45 on Harman Direct Positive Paper

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Sinking Creek Covered Bridge - Newport, VA

Horseman L45 on Harman Direct Positive Paper

The light colored bars are referred to technically as process artifacts. The clouds I think are caused by light corruption when loading the film holders.

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The trail in this morning up to the AT.

Nikon D610 - 50mm 1/125th sec f/4

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On the AT this morning for the first time in a long time.

Nikon D610 - 50mm 1/160th sec f/4

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On the AT crossing some railroad tracks this morning.

No trains were harmed during the making of this exposure.

Nikon D610 - 50mm 1/100th sec f/5.6

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Country Church - Craig County, VA

Horseman L45 on 4x5 Harman Direct Positive Paper in late morning sun.

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Something old for Halloween.

Shot with a Horseman L45 on 4x5 Harmon Direct Positive Paper under constant light.

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Standard Brief

I put this here as a warehouse of sorts of thoughts, of adventures, of snapshots, and of more serious photography.

At this point do not expect more than random updates and posts. Do not expect me to follow you or to reblog anyone. That is not what this is for.

Maybe this will be the worst blog you have ever seen. Maybe it will be the best. Either way, its good to have you here.