Caffenol CL vs. Kodak HC110 😵

Hello Everyone,

My apologies on the time between posts lately as I’ve just moved to a new place and also got a quick mini-vaca in recently (more on that later) from work

As mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been developing ALL my black and white film with Caffenol (specifically Caffenol CL) in place of all the chemicals I used to use

I mostly shoot Kodak Tri-X, ilford HP5 and also the Lomo Earl Gray films these days. All have been developed in Caffenol mixtures

I was very serious about being happy (also a bit shocked) about the results I was seeing

But is it really as good as I’ve been viewing it or has the romance between this developer and I finally ended?

My Trip to New Orleans with the Holga 120, Leica M2 and M8

Hello everyone!

Not long ago I was fortunate enough to have saved enough $$$ for something I’ve been planning on doing for a long while.

A trip down to the “Big Easy” New Orleans, Louisiana!!

Once I felt comfortable with funds 🙂 I went forward and made reservations for the flight and hotel stay

Now, this trip was not just for vacation, but also to spend some time solely dedicated to photography.

During my planning for the trip, a couple things went through my mind..

The Leica M8 and I

Hi everybody,

Recently I had the opportunity to purchase a used Leica M8 for a reasonable price..well…reasonable by Leica body standards, and in pretty good condition too!

I had never shot a digital rangefinder before, I mean aside from a quick tryout at a photo store I pass by frequently, so I decided to purchase this cam and add to the collection 

I am very excited to put this camera through my regular “street walks exercise” that i usually do with my film cameras most of the time.

Now as many of you know, this was Leicas first attempt at delving into the digital market..so it had its fair share of issues.

Two Film Formats at Once

Hello Everyone!

Been a while i know…i’ve been up and down, left and right and all over the place lately.

Felt it was time for a much needed update 🙂

I recently did a shoot with a friend at his apartment to test out a new lens for my Pentax 645n and also to get more used to shooting in low light conditions.

We agreed that we would use one light source only, dimly lit, so when i would push the film there would be more shadow details.

I also decided to bring along my Leica M2, which i haven’t used in a while and was happy to have out with me.

It was kind of interesting having them both in my hands and switching between the two.

The Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.5 VM Lens

Every Leica shooter (or M mount rangefinder shooter) often dreams of getting their hands on one of those Summilux or Noctilux lenses to put on their camera.

They are of the finest craftsmanship and are legendary for performance and durability. People literally spend insane amounts of money to get one, or even a couple!

Like this will all of a sudden put you in the league of Henri Cartier Bresson or Gary Winogrand or any of those Leica greats we often read about and study

I have even found myself trying to justify selling a limb or every thing I cherish to purchase one lol..

Eco Friendly Kodak XTOL Alternative?

So as many of you have heard (or read) from my previous posts, i’m currently involved in a love affair with Kodak XTOL developer.

Ever since i first mixed my own and viewed the results at 1:1, i was hooked.

You can find more info on my previous post about it HERE

In my beliefs, i think if you are ever interested (or obsessed lol) on a subject you go and research and learn and seek more info..get involved in discussions, read forums, etc..

This has led me to so many projects i’ve taken up on my own that definitely made me a better experienced photographer.

It even helped me to become a part of the sort of photography i felt most comfortable in, this being Street Photography.

Checking out the Voigtlander VC Meter II with Leica M2

Hi Everyone,

Lately i’ve been reading the back and forth conversations (arguments?) between street photographers and the light meters that they prefer (or if they use one at all!)

Particularly those conversations between people who work almost exclusively with Rangefinders cameras, like the Leica M or Canon 7 for example.

My experience with my Leica M2 (as i have mentioned before) has always been without the use of a light meter.

I guess i just like making things more difficult for myself or i just truly didn’t think i was a real “Leica Shooter” if i didn’t know how to meter in my head when i first purchased.

In a way, i still do feel this way..but i’m not against the use of a Light Meter if one chooses to use one.

Results of the Cross Processing Development

Hello Everyone out there in Photography land

Well..the experiment has been completed and the film has been developed, fixed, dried and scanned 🙂

Before i show you the results, let me tell you a little bit of the procedure i went through.

So i had first heard about this tactic through a bored night in some Flickr discussion forums.

Everyone had a routine and posted some pretty good results, so i immediately wanted to take a crack at it.

Back to the Streets: Leica M6

If you’ve been paying attention to photography for the past 20 some odd years, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ve heard about the Leica M6.

It’s great performance and feel on the streets have been talked and debated about for years, and in many people’s eyes it’s considered the best Leica.

I will always hold the Leica M2 close to my heart because of how much it taught me and it’s awesome performance, so i believe that will always be my favorite..but this doesn’t take anything away from the M6. It’s an incredible photographic work of art

I’m not here to tell you that it is the best Leica, i definitely don’t even believe i’m even QUALIFIED to make such a bold statement like that.

All i know is that i haven’t been able to get my hands off of this camera ever since i got it.

Importance of setting goals in Street Photography

I will be the first to admit that i may have an issue with ADD (attention deficit disorder) or anxiety, as well as Obsessive Compulsive (as you can see about how i obsess with photography lol) when it comes to certain things.

To cope with these bouts of EXTREME boredom, and/or just feeling the need to be inspired and keep working, i do my best to think up goals/projects for me to move towards.

Stay busy, stay moving, stay shooting, stay learning,  stay documenting

Soooooo……hence this blog lol