Isthmus. 2

1. The hill and the lookout platform.

2. The isthmus. One can see the interesting geography clearly from this vantage point.

3. Adventure Bay and Tasman Sea.

4.

5.

6. The vegetation-stabilised sandy slopes where little penguins dig their burrows.

7.

8.

9. Waves.

Adventure bay. A smooth, long stretch of sand that forms one side of the isthmus. Sitting quietly on the beach and forgetting all the stress in life, while resting my mind and enjoying the environment... This is one of the best form of relaxation a person can get, a rare opportunity to dissociate myself from rest of the worries of the world.

~

The photos here are bright and clean, just like the feeling that I want to convey. The sand is bright as snow, the water tranquil and gentle. I want to feel the place's peacefulness and calmness through the photographs, and that's done by making the photographs brighter and less contrasty.

~

A note on shooting with the Bronica: I noticed that it's not the best camera to shoot as you go, mainly due to the hassle of changing film. This is not helped by the fact that I was at this vast stretch of sandy bay with nowhere to put my equipment/ film without getting sand particles in my tools. The gentle breeze also sometimes bring sand with them, so film-changing was made even more challenging. Well, time to splash out on another film back...





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Film | Isthmus. 2
Bronica ETRS, Ilford HP5

Square. 1

Kingston beach, Tasmania. 2013.

First shoot with my Yashica TLR after repairing (here's a shot before repair). Look, pretty good results!





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Film | Square. 1
Yashica Mat-124G, Fujifilm Pro 160NS.

Lines

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

South Burnie jetty.
Burnie, Tasmania. 2013.





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Film | Lines (II)
Bronica ETRS, Kodak Portra 400.

First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (III)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Two very different kinds of photography, action & landscape.

Obviously, this camera, without the motor drive/ vertical grip isn't made for action shots. Also, the focusing is geared for precision rather than speed: the distance scale is spread wide apart, which means that focus can be set accurately, but requires a long throw. I suppose this is necessary in medium format as any slight focusing error will be quite obvious when enlarged.





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Film | First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (III)
Bronica ETRS, Fujifilm Reala 100

First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (II)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Perhaps the only problem I have with the Bronica is the lack of... chemistry. The bond, connection. The X factor that makes me wanna pick it up over and over again everytime I go shooting. Of course, it's not the only camera that I couldn't connect with: my Olympus OM-2N is also another such camera, same as my Minolta Hi-Matic 7s. Perhaps I could learn to love the cameras, or maybe it would grow on me- but not now. Perhaps it's due to the 'feel' or ergonomics of the cameras, I'm not sure. However, the "professionalism" of this Bronica is amazing, sometimes it leaves me in awe because it's just so capable, it feels like it could take on a good beating- or be used as a weapon itself.





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Film | First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (II)
Bronica ETRS, Fujifilm Reala 100, Kodak Portra 400

First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (I)

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2.

3.

4.

When I first received my Bronica ETRS, it was as I expected: big, heavy and clunky in operation. The lens mount is so massive it fills the entire front façade; the mirror slap feels like it can flip the camera over; the lens is huge and heavy; the film back is interchangeable etc. Professional features are everywhere in this camera, it is evident that it has been well thought out and designed for professionals. For instance, the mount on the lens has 4 special small separations/ grooves for each bayonet claw- to negotiate the effect of thermal expansion and contraction (similar to railway tracks). The port for the threaded cable release is not on the shutter button like most 35mm cameras but on the side of the camera body- probably to prevent mechanical blockage of the cable release to the lenses. The lenses all have leaf shutter, which means that flash can sync at all speeds. It's easy to see why this is the wedding photographers' choice of camera, along with the Mamiya 645 (in the good old days anyway).





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Film | First Shoot: Bronica ETRS (I)
Bronica ETRS, Fujifilm Reala 100, Kodak Portra 400

Life Scenes (VIII): Two People

Two friends.





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Film | Life Scenes (VIII): Two People
Nikon FA, Kodak T-Max 100

My First Roll of Film

The first experience is always an exciting one.

1.

I'm a cheapskate. I shoot frame 00.

It was way back in 2009, but I still vividly remember the day when I bought my Nikon FA, I was so excited. As I'm the type of person that does a lot of research before buying something, I already know all the operations of the camera prior to receiving it. So, immediately I popped my 50mm f/1.8 on my new camera and tested the basic operations. 

2.

Coconut trees. Pardon me for the lossy compression.

3.

Fuel prices were skyrocketing in 2009.

Then, it was time to load the film.

4.

天堂鳥，Bird of Paradise. 
(Busy bokeh from 50mm f/1.8.)

What film would you choose for your first try in film photography?

Sensible people would choose an inexpensive colour negative film as their virgin roll, due to negative film's generously wide exposure latitude (or "forgiveness", if you prefer) and relatively cheap developing costs compared to slide films.

5.

Rich colours from Velvia.

But I'm not a sensible person.

6. 

For my first ever roll of film, I used Fujifilm Velvia 50. Yes, you read that correctly. An expensive, slow, demanding and very unforgiving slide film for my first try in film photography in a 30 years old camera that I just bought from a stranger. I must be mad. 

7. 

Penang.

In fact, I didn't know that E-6 processing is SO expensive until I finished shooting the whole roll and went to develop it- it really cost me dearly. I seldom shoot slide film after that, partly due to the price & also the inconvenience- the only photolab that develops slide film is located at a very busy area in the city centre- and I'm sure that I'll get lost before even reaching there. However, when viewed under a light table, slide films give incredibly rich colours and tonality that no print film could ever match.

8.

Looks like a person who'd fallen over.

So here is it. My first ever roll of film.

9. 

My personal favourite: Sunset at Bangsar.

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Film | My First Roll of Film
Nikon FA, Fujifilm Velvia 50