Of all the things I know
I understand almost nothing

zondag 27 december 2009

Extinction meter




This year's "CHRISTMAS LECTURE" (ha!) is about extinction meters, because I love them.
Why? Because this is not measuring the light, but looking at it. You can measure weight, but what tells that about beauty? And to me photography is about light and beauty.

And now, nevertheless, the science. Extinction meters can roughly be divided in 2 X 2. Built-in, and loose; and with or without eye-adaptation. Let's have an example of each of them.

The (Tönnies?) Practos pre-WWII from Germany. You should adapt, "standardize" your time. Nothing to calculate: it gives the time/diaphragm combination. Detail: it uses not only Europ.Scheiner, but also the modern DIN/ASA (so: 21 DIN = 100 ASA).

The 1950 Nebro Visual, British Made. Hold it like a digicam, so you can't adapt (well - I do keep a hand above it, to block the sky). And shouldn't, because it's the only one also for indoors! Scale 1-6, and a lot of calculating, weather, filters, Weston, Scheiner, B.S. but no DIN: that was not so "norm" at the time (21 DIN = 80 ASA!).

The built-in 1950 Made in England Agifold meter looks Nebro-made. The calculator turns the other way, only 16-125 Br.Std. (btw this is not the BSI or BS Log) the weather is different and no interior.

The built-in 1950 Made in Germany Paxette meter: Scale 1-12! and you must adapt 20 secs. while looking through it like a viewfinder. No weather, maybe indoors usable. The calculator is on the leather camera-case (which I have not). I printed a few for different film-speeds; easier: scale 8 is f8 at 1/100 on 400ASA film.

Of course there are more, the Diaphot, or that flip-over-the-lens Voigtlaender. I keep looking; still much to learn.

Do I use them? Yes: when used carefully they are remarkably good! But I even want to go a step further: the Johnson Standard Exposure Meter which I use to learn the ultimate: just looking, and knowing what t/d I should use.

Further information from you, dear visitor, will be much appreciated. Happy New Year!

zaterdag 26 december 2009

Stonehenge


This fence is always in the (very) dark - except a few early winter-mornings, when/if the sun is reflected from the window on the opposite. (Complicated...) And on this very bright Boxing Day I was on the right spot with Paxy. (No "banding" today...)

donderdag 24 december 2009

Biking allowed...


...but not over 30 kmh!

1950 Paxette,Roeschlein Pointar 2,8 45mm, extinction-metered.

zondag 20 december 2009

Silent Night


The longest night of the year. So nice. HB/Distagon appr. 40 seconds F8 on APX400S

Russian


Early morning. Vèry early, because I have to play the early mass,
and it is snowing heavily.
With my eyes still shut I drop the Horizon202 on my concrete floor.
But it's a Russian camera! My first was the Lubitel, then came some more, ànd a Zenit, a Quarz and even a Lych - why don't I trust them? I pick her up, load the (wrong! 100 ASA)film and step into the (well... Dutch) blizzard.
#Leise rieselt der Schnee...

zaterdag 19 december 2009

Hasty last-on-film



Snow in the park, very cold fingers, but I like to test a "new" camera contrejour. My neighbour's gift, and not bad at all. 1977 Praktica LTL3, MC Pentacon on floppy (that very thin and clear base) hard Agfa 400S...

vrijdag 18 december 2009

For Kathleen


1916 Ernemann Liliput on Fomapan 100 sheetfilm (old one, from my river Meuse project)

Fortress


1936 KW Pilot.6 Anastigmat 75mm on Agfa 400S

donderdag 17 december 2009

120 Film in 620 Argoflex



Violently ripped the 620 cradle out ( only the full side!! ) and done. 120 Just fits in.

woensdag 16 december 2009

Icerink


Yes, somewhere in this huge building-site they found a place for an icerink (I didn't know the word, but that's what the sign says) and I found the place where you can't see the building-site. Hasselblad 500 C/M with Distagon 60mm because I can handle that with my gloves on. And on my way home the first snow made the fields verdigris - wonderful day.

maandag 14 december 2009

120 Film in 616 Target



You know that I'll put anything in anything. This one was easy: those felt thinghies for under your furniture make a 120 spool 616 size (more or less, as always). 30 Cent a film.

Hi, Em-illi!

zondag 13 december 2009

616 Film


This pre-1967 Verichrome has the same problem as the pre-1968 HPS: loss of sensitivity. And I can't test it further: I had only two, and the first had the film stuck to the back-paper (what a mess). Next: Gevaert Panchromosa 1951 (whatever thàt is...)

Pre-1945 (?) Kodak Brownie Target 616

vrijdag 11 december 2009

woensdag 9 december 2009

Childhood habit...


Prosecco and nice conversation at Bittner's; Aachener Printen, the Retina gets a minor nervous breakdown, glamour at the Königsallee and then it starts to rain. In the tram-car a man looks very nervous, I think he's Polish. When a Schaffner gets in, we both get out.
He's not the only one without a ticket. ;)

1938 Kodak/Nagel Retina on RolleiRetro400S

maandag 7 december 2009

The Taming of the Shrew



Getting there with a scourer, some felt, foam plastic, glue, hope. The 1950 Agifold has very interesting features. An extinction-meter, non-coupled rangefinder and that 90mm 4,5 AGI Anastigmat. Not to mention the way she opens! Probably built by a blacksmith: huge springs and connecting-rods all over the place. (PS: felt and foam are to "slow down" the film to keep it taut.)

zondag 6 december 2009

2nd Advent



It starts to rain, and suddenly I find myself in the church of Overasselt. All 1680 inhabitants seem to be there and they sing Gregorian!




When we step out of this time-machine it still rains, a short visit to the remains of the medieval Antonius-church and then, at home, the Agifold still shows the same problems: scratches and out-of-focus.

zaterdag 5 december 2009

620 HPS again







Well, next summer, maybe. It's 50ASA at the most, needs a lòt of light and contrast. But the information is there, as you can see in the blow-up. (Kodak Duo 6-20 Tessar)
Only 8 minutes (iso 11,5 normal) in Rodinal 1:50

vrijdag 4 december 2009

Stereography


This is the almost perfect subject for 3D: objects at all distances. As I said before: it's not art, but the FUN...! (And the weather was once again great, today)
The RetroAgfa400 is not exactly 400, though. (Nag nag nag...)

donderdag 3 december 2009

620 Film


This is: pre-1968 Ilford HPS 800ASA. Hùh?! With two problems: the adhesive tape dried out, so the film folded itself in the camera. Remedy: sellotape in the darkroom. Second: the seller said: "some background fog" and how right he was... Remedy: I will overexpose and underdevelop the next film (I have also still some very old Tetenal Anti Fog! Let's try that also). I'll keep you informed.