Update #5

This is a quick update video about what has been happening around Fitzwater Photography the last few weeks. I also give some shout-outs to some local businesses that we've been trying to support. My plan is to do one of these every Friday.

Ferrania Success

I finally had some success shooting FILM Ferrania P30 Alpha film. To get decent results I ended up over-exposing the images between 1/2 a stop and 2 stops. About one stop of over-exposure yielded the best results. I developed it the same way I had developed the other three rolls I had already shot - 6 minutes in HC-110 dilution b(or twice the time in E). I still plan to develop my last roll of Alpha in FPP 76 which is the Film Photography Project's version of Kodak's D76. I am really thrilled that I finally got a roll of this film that worked out though. 

Hanging with My Quarantine Buddies

....at the studio.

TMax 400 on Bikes

My friend Taylor gave me a big box of film that he had found at an estate sale a little while back. I've posted a few blogs with the color film but with the 'Stay at Home' order I've jumped into some of the black & white film since I can develop it at home. Being a big fan of Tri-X I never had a reason to try out TMax 400 - until I had a free box of it! I shot the roll over three bicycle rides and then developed it in HC-110 dilution b for 6 minutes. This isn't a recommended way to develop TMax but it is what I have and these were mostly snapshots anyways. I was really happy with the results - the age of the film and developer probably led to extra graininess and increased contrast but that is something I don't mind at all for images like this.

Roger Riviere Vids

With the Stay at Home order I've had the time to work on a number of projects. Below is one of those - a new series of videos about my bicycles. I go through the broader history of the bike as well as the personal history of my specific model. 

Below is a video from Easter Sunday in the music video style I've been doing for a number of years.

Bonfire & Distance

On Saturday Erin and I had a bonfire at her house. It felt like I was going to back of the beginning of my career - photos of friends, long exposures of the fire, and some light painting - basically playing around with my camera and just trying things for fun. I know a few people are going to have a problem with this gathering... we kept our distance, no one went in the house, and everything was wiped down. I personally haven't gone in a store, seen my family or gathered with more than a couple people since March 10th. The point to me that is if everyone does their best we flatten the curve. As I ride my bike around I see lots of gathering of teens and people being way to close(and total idiots) in the park. It is frustrating. But I'm not taking it upon myself to lecture people where their line should be. I'm doing a lot and have lost almost all my business but I'm not going to claim to be perfect. I have seen some businesses and individuals just paying lip service to all of this...they will have to answer for themselves when things go wrong and their customers, friends and families end up sick.

Back to the photos...

Third Time Isn't the Charm

I took the opportunity offered to Ferrania Kickstarter supporters to buy five rolls of P30 Alpha at 5 bucks a piece. I have now shot three of the rolls but I've spaced them out and shot them in such unique situation that I didn't realize that I was messing up the development. I did try a different method this time but I would simply say that using Kodak HC-110 is not a good idea with this film. Again, the contrast was through the roof. I used dilution H this time at twelve minutes. As you'll see the few images I posted are way to contrasty. I made a video about it which is at the bottom of the blog. You can also see my other two rolls here and here - though it worth noting that I now know it was my development that was off - not the setting or situations.

New Angles

I was looking for a close spot to film an ending to a video I had been working on and I found it right across the street from The Studio. This is one of those three walled enclosures for dumpsters - but the Ponderosa has been abandoned as long as I can remember so it is clean in there...and it had the shade I needed to film some close-ups of my GoPro. The light was really cool and I decided to take a few photos too. I also got a new perspective on my building.