The Darkroom: general photography posts and discussion

[D4ndrews]

This is a good place to start -

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS in 10 MINUTES

EDIT: Just realized that the ISO section is a little different for you if you’re shooting with film.

[Thinbullet]

I shot film well into my 20s (being born in 1977), but never 120. Also, I have never developed my own film.

Here’s what I’ve found re developing:

Ilford have a bunch of videos on developing black and white film. There are loads of YouTube videos re colour developing.

Ilford black and white film is also well regarded.

Start with faster film (eg 400 is a good start).

[AitchCeeGee]

Smarter Every Day is so good

[alightpainter]

Ive been eyeing Pentax 67 for a while. I love 120.

My advice for all film shooters is to overexpose by at least a stop (i usually just rate it a stop slower ie 400 rated at 320).

spot metering is the best for getting your subject exposed properly.

Enjoy the process, the unknown and be happy with 2-4 good shots per roll. You’re not going to be happy with every frame. THats okay.

[D4ndrews]

Couple of sunset shots from the desert tonight - no edits done on these yet, just JPEG’s using the Fuji velvia film simulation. Vapor trail kind of fucked with my shot.

[Douger23]

Does anyone have any advice for editing iPhone pictures? I’ve got a decent back catalog taken while I was golfing and not bringing a camera with me that I wouldn’t mind touching up/making a touch nicer.

[jsg_nado]

If you want to do it on your phone, I like the snapseed app but I have android. Not sure if iPhone version exists/is as good

[SK777]

Easiest method I’ve found:

The standard iPhone/iPad photos app has come a long way in tweaking photos and using their magic wand “auto” setting is my default for quick edits:

For more detailed edits:

I’m still using the SnapSeed app which is now owned by Google I believe but I’ve been using it for at least 8 years. I think Google doesn’t do a lot with it and it’s been buggy at times.

More details on Snapseed hidden in link below:

Snapseed

Basically I can setup standard “Looks” and then just edit those using the “View Edits” button at top after applying.

One of the settings I use the most for any outdoor shots is “HDR Scape”. And then the ability to paint your edits on using that “View Edits” is key to only applying changes to the sections you want.

Below are a few screenshots of the app settings for reference

I know Adobe has some good apps out there as well and they can probably edit quicker and better but I’m a creature of habit and have tried a lot of other apps but always come back to Snapseed

[SK777]

@jsg_nado

snapseed app

Pointingspiderman.gif

One other thing, if you have a tablet/iPad and an Apple pen then it really makes editing easy. I do use my iPad and pen on Landscape stuff with snapseed but for basic edits I just use my phone

[TTrentC]

I use Lightroom with some of my photos, especially if I shoot in RAW on the iPhone.

[Thinbullet]

The beast has arrived.

[alightpainter]

I should note to the group here, i have a handful of film cameras that i cannot and do not use as much as i should. This seems like a good enough group of dudes/dudettes that I would be happy to ship them to anyone who wants to try it out. All i would ask is that you pay for shipping (both ways from California) and you can use them for a few months.

If this is at all interesting to people, ill compile some “packages” and post a sign up sheet with information.

Let me know.

[jsg_nado]

@Thinbullet

The beast has arrived.

[Thinbullet]

There she is. Next to my XT-3 for comparison.

[D4ndrews]

That’s not a camera that’s a weapon

[BigHapaPump]

[Thinbullet]

Knowledge acquired! I developed a film!

[D4ndrews]

A few more from the desert. Not the most interesting shots but you work with what you got. Actually got lucky with the sky I think.

[Thinbullet]

Anyone looking to develop their own 120 film, here’s another tip:

• since the developing reels have to be loaded in complete darkness (usually in a developing bag) the Patterson reel is a nightmare for newbies with fat fingers due to the tiny loading flanges (see the Patterson reel on the left below). Apparently this is fine on 35 mm film because it is less likely to buckle when loading due to how narrow the film is, but it’s a real issue with 120 film. The reel on the right has very large flanges which are easy to find in the dark, easy to determine which way the film needs to be loaded (from the squared off end of the flange) and was a dream to load. It is a Kaiser film reel.

• A similar large-flanged reel is available in the US made by Arista.

Both the Kaiser reel and the Arista reels fit in standard Patterson tanks.

[Thinbullet]

Some photos from my first few rolls of film on the Pentax 67. All taken using the famous 105mm f2.4 using Ilford HP5+ iso 400 film. Developed using Ilford DDX and digitised with a Canon 60mm f2.8 macro adapted to my Fujifilm X-T3 on Skier Sunray copy box and stand.