Insights into my process of digitizing film using cameras, reflecting on my journey from film to digital and the importance of technique over equipment.
film topics
4×5 vs 120 Film for Panoramas: Cost & Convenience Comparison
Discover the advantages of shooting 4×5 film over 120 film for panoramic photography, including cost savings and convenience.
Adapting to Change: Shooting 120 Film in Hasselblad A24 Magazines
This article reviews two rolls of 120 film shot in succession in Hasselblad A12 and A24 film magazines with a 501CM camera and CF 135 lens and Vario-Tube.
Pinhole Photography: 4×5 Field Camera Pin-tography
In this article, I share my approach to crafting images with a 4×5 field camera with interchangeable pinholes attached to a dedicated lens board.
The NONS Instant Back: Bringing Instant Gratification to Your Hasselblad Experience
I’m about to spill the beans on the NONS Instant Back and my beloved Hasselblad 501CM. But before diving into the greatness of instant gratification, let’s take a moment to appreciate the history of instant film and Hasselblad.
Film and Digital with Iconic Hasselblad Cameras
Discover how to balance between film and digital photography using two unique Hasselblad cameras from the V system. Explore the intricate dance between classic and contemporary methods in capturing artistic expression.
Ethical Considerations in Film Photography
Whether using film or digital photography, ethical considerations come into play. This article addresses ethical considerations concerning film photography.
The Film Photographer’s Guide to Managing Fixer Exhaustion
Learn how to monitor the total film surface area your fixer has been used on to prevent exhaustion and discover tips for keeping it clean and free from particles during film processing.
Black & White Film Developing: Stand, Semi-Stand, Standard
This article is about how I process black-and-white films. I choose to hand process my 4×5, 120, and the occasional 135 films. Here, I will share the processing equipment I have used and what I have been using for the past decade.
Digitizing Film Part 3: APS-C, Lightroom, Film Storage, more
I have been digitizing my film at the kitchen table with my very capable Kaiser RS 2 XA Copy Stand, Fujifilm X-Pro3, and Skier Sunray Copy Box. I have learned a few things from doing this and felt it was time for an update.
How To Use The Zone System In Photography
Even though the Zone System is over 80 years-old, it is still relevant today whether shooting modern films or digital capture. This article is for photographers wanting to learn more about the Zone System for their particular workflow. We will look at how the Zone System works with a classic film-to-darkroom workflow, and a hybrid film-to-digital workflow. If you are strictly a digital photographer, you will find a better understanding of what the Zone System can offer you as well.
Pinhole Photography: Perfect Exposure Without Gadgets
A pinhole camera, often called a “camera obscura,” is a lensless camera used for centuries to study light and optics. Today, it is popular in education and art. Photographers craft pinhole cameras from everyday items like cigar boxes and paint cans, or through CNC machining and woodworking. Others opt for ready-made pinholes compatible with existing cameras or those manufactured by others. This timeless device continues to inspire creativity and exploration in the photography world.
Digitizing Film Part 2: Software, Contact Sheets, Bracketing, Stitching, Workflow
I perform a number of tasks while creating image files that include bracketing + blending exposures, and slicing + stitching larger film sizes. Bracketing may not always be necessary, but with the convenience, a digital camera brings to this type of task, it cannot hurt.
4×5 Film Holders: Care & Carry
In photography school, I was taught to use a pastry brush to clean the dust out of my film holders. I still use this technique today, and it works, or I would have changed it to something else long ago. Get a brush like this one and clean out your film holders periodically.
Digitizing Film Part 1: Copy Stands, Film Holders, Medium Format
I often get asked by other photographers how I digitize my film. Explaining the tools and my digitizing process would create too long of a post, so I will start with what tools I use in this post and share my process later. The information I share about the tools I use is not meant to be a commercial for selling these products. If you choose to purchase what I share in this article, I hope it is only after you have done product research. I will not talk in great length about the specifications of a product. Still, I will include the manufacturer’s web address or contact information so you can research the exact specifications.
Black & White Film Clip Testing
A film clip test can reveal if your developer and fixer are in good working order. If you enjoy shooting B&W films and want to learn how to develop your film (see my article on how to develop B&W film here), you should include learning how to do a film clip test. I have listened to photographers over the years say how they lost film to a bad developer (it can happen), or their reusable fixer reached its limit, and they made the mistake of using it one more time, only to find out it was too weak to do the work. If these photographers had only done a simple film clip test before they started the development process, it could have saved them their film and disappointment. This article outlines how I do my film clip tests.
Polaroid 55 P/N: How I Shoot It
Polaroid Type 55 film was designed for large format cameras and was popular among professional photographers and artists. It offered a unique and versatile feature: each exposure produced both a positive print and a high-quality negative. This made it a favorite among photographers who needed an instant print for quick reference and a negative for further processing and enlargement.