Critique Welcomed Atmospheric Cemetery Shot

[Nick Johnson]

Well this is the first image I've posted here so go gentle

I took this from a bunch of pics I shot in the local cemetery as the light was strong but falling. I cherry picked it as it was the best looking negative. I was testing my new old Cosmic 35 (smena 8) if anymore stand out I might add the later on. The Cosmic 35 is a Scale focus viewfinder camera and admittedly I need a bit more practice but I'd like to hear what people think.

Taken on Kentmere 400 and developed in Cafenol

 

[Hamish Gill]

You gotta love the lens flare off cheap Russian glass! The russian lens I picked up at last weeks car boot has exactly the same type of flare as this!
Great shot that I think Nick, the flare is the making of it I think!
I have a cosmic 35 branded smemna 8 knocking about somewhere ... In fact I think my mate Luke has it!

 

[Brian Moore]

Cafenol, eh? I've been thinking of doing a roll in Cafenol. Simply haven't got round to it.

I like the image, Nick. Very moody. But what's up with those light rays? Were they added in PP? (If they're in the neg they're pretty amazing.)

 

[Pete Askew]

I like it as well and the flare really adds something. I like the way the plants are highlighted also. I'd probably try to squeeze the blacks up a tiny touch more though but I'm guessing you preferred this result. How did you scan and process the digital file?

 

[Nick Johnson]

The light rays are on the negative. I'm not that good with post processing. They're caused by what has already been said cheap Russian glass.

I think I'll work on the blacks but chafenol may not be right for this film (kentmere 400) I'll think I'll splash out on something else and see what difference it makes.

As for scanning I use an old canonscan which I've just started experiment with wet mounting my film with. I'm using paraffin to mount with, lightly sprayed on the emulsion side to hold it emulsion side down directly onto the scanner glass and place some Perspex on top to diffuse the light from a craft light I use to back light with. Then just adjust the levels and invert the image. Not perfect by any means but serves my purpose at the minute.

 

[Lesley Jones]

Oooh... I really love this. The title is so true because it is full of atmosphere and I also love the way the plants are highlighted

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Really nice and interesting shot! Well done. Keep em coming...

 

[Nick Johnson]

I'll sure try. I think this may of been a lucky shot though but we'll see. I think I'll try my Cosmic35 at a bit of street shooting next and see what it can do. Its a very quiet camera so I might be able to pull of some close candid's

 

[Hamish Gill]

... wet mounting my film with. I'm using paraffin to mount with, lightly sprayed on the emulsion side to hold it emulsion side down directly onto the scanner glass and place some Perspex on top to diffuse the light from a craft light I use to back light with. Then just adjust the levels and invert the image. Not perfect by any means but serves my purpose at the minute.

Do me a small favour ...
Take a photo of that set up and if you have the time give me a link online to the bits id need to do the same ... It sounds like a very clever set up to me!

 

[Nick Johnson]

Do me a small favour ...
Take a photo of that set up and if you have the time give me a link online to the bits id need to do the same ... It sounds like a very clever set up to me!

I'm using an old canoscan 4200f or something. I've removed the lid as the original backlight had a data connection error or something like it what stopped the scanner working (a common fault by all accounts). With the lid and old back light removed I've never had a problem with this scanner. So I was left with the problem of scanning film as I need them backlighting to get decent contrast and tonality.

It has taken me months of trial and error to crack this. I've had a ridiculous amount of problems with newton rings in the past. But now its not a problem. I read about wet mounting and all the fluids you use and being impatient as I am I couldn't wait for deliveries so I went to the hardware shop an bought 5ltr or paraffin. What we call paraffin is known else where as kerosene. And some of the wet mounting fluids are kerosene based I'm led to believe.

I've tested it on the emulsion side and I've not damaged one negative. I've even left some film mounted for 3days and its still removed easily and was fine. Paraffin is easy to clean up as well as I seem to get away with wiping the film with a lens cloth and its done. No doubt they need a bit of a wash but I'll work on that one at some point.

But anyway here's a couple of pictures


This Pic shows my scanner with the film mounted directly to the glass. The white plastic is actually from the original backlight. I need to source a wider piece for 120film but this does for 35mm. I have tape at both ends to raise it as I sometimes had some excess fluid and it would squeeze across the back of the film causing a stain on the scan.


The whole set up closed down.

A tip for the paraffin, I use a spray bottle from some 1cal cooking spray that I cleaned and filled up with paraffin. I usually give it about 4-5sprays before mounting. You don't get loads of excess on the scanner this way.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Nik that's really interesting (and innovative).

I bought a Better Scanning holder (Custom film holders for Agfa, Microtek, Canon and Epson film scanners.) for the V750 we use in the UK (we have film scanners in Germany) but I have not yet had the chance to try it. When I do, I'll write it up.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Great stuff Nick, thanks for that!
i must give it a go ... I can't scan large negs you see!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

The starburst on the original image is really something - great potential for some dreamy shots I think

 

[Nick Johnson]

The starburst on the original image is really something - great potential for some dreamy shots I think

Definitely one I'm going to have a play with and see what it can do