My Archives: June 2003

Saturday, June 14, 2003

The biggest differences between Kodak's HIE infrared film and the Maco IR 820c have been the speed and anti-halation layer. Kodak's lack of this layer allows light to pass through the film and reflect off the pressure plate. This reflected light re-exposes the film and creates the delicious glowing highlights which have become almost an IR trademark.

When Kodak discontinued production of HIE in any size other than 35mm, the only game in town for LF infrared photography was Maco's 820c. It's a lot slower, and I do mean a *lot* slower... maybe around 3 with a #87 filter, and a blistering 6 with a Hoya R72 filter. It also has an anti-halation layer. This is fine if you want super sharp and precise images but it also kills the chance for glowing highlights.

Apparently the folks at Maco became aware of the artistic photo community's love of the Kodak type glow and are now offering a new version of their IR film. This new film, Aura 820c, is made without the anti-halation layer and will supposedly provide a glow similar to Kodak HIE. The film's still slow as molasses but I may pry my wallet open and get a box.

Posted by coldmarble @ 07:47 AM ET [Link] [blab]

Friday, June 13, 2003

One of my favorite alt-process sites, alternativephotography.com, has started a new showcase to promote the use of alternative processes as a medium. I wish Malin luck in organizing this and will be scrounging through my alt-process prints to decide on one or two to send along for the project. It sounds like a fine way to spread the word about this tiny corner of the photo world, introducing these printing techniques to a wider audience and maybe inspiring some more photographers to try using alt-process for their own images.

You may be familiar with cross-processing, the development of slide film using color print chemistry. The same name is appplied to a different technique for Polaroid film. In the Polaroid version, which only works for the larger formats such as 8x10 or 20x24, color negative and black and white positive materials are run through the print processor. This results in a wonderful sepia tone image, known in the Polaroid world as "Chocolate." You can see some fine examples in a series of figure studies by John Casado. Figure studies and chocolate... what's not to like?

Posted by coldmarble @ 12:15 PM ET [Link] [blab]

Thursday, June 12, 2003

Always curious as to some of the search terms which lead here. No, this isn't a listing of silly or obnoxious ways in which people found this place, more of a following the same path and seeing what else turns up.

Soviet War Photography

Ghost Towns

Photographer to the Tsar

Doris Mitch - Datura and Darkness series

Posted by coldmarble @ 03:38 PM ET [Link] [blab]

Monday, June 9, 2003

I held some hope for a bit of photoplay this past weekend but the weather gods had other plans. Saturday was literally a washout, with more rain than I've seen fall in quite sometime. That's saying something given the amount of precipitation we've had here in the past month or so. Most of the newly sprouted seedlings in the garden were under water, the saturated soil unable to absorb another drop.

Sunday's forecast afternoon sun never appeared, with low gray clouds all day long. At least the rain tapered off a bit, with only a few spattering showers. My brother's sister-in-law has been quite ill for some months now and we'd planned to take my neices out for the afternoon to give the family a break. There weren't many options for a wet day other than the mall and a movie, so after an hour or so of having arms pulled off by a lunging six-year-old whenever we passed a toy store, it was off to Finding Nemo. The artwork and animation were quite well done, with a few scenes being quite beautiful. If you haven't been dragged to see it yet, do yourself a favor and stay for the credits.

The sun's poking out a bit, now that it's Monday and back to work. The forecast for next weekend doesn't look promising but you never know. One day of warm sunny weekend would be a treat. It's early enough in the week that I'll keep hoping.

Posted by coldmarble @ 10:02 AM ET [Link] [blab]

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