Critique Welcomed Behind Federal Lines

[Brian Moore]

Pictures from the Battle of Huntington Beach Central Park are still trickling into our newsroom as our weary correspondents make their way slowly north of the Potomac.

Here we see a Federal camp with guard on duty.

Canon F1 and redscale film heavily desaturated.

 

[Jonni Allen]

Hi Brian, Theres a problem with theImage I think.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, @Jonni Allen. Zenfolio, the hosting service for the image, was down for maintenance overnight; I wonder if that's why.

 

[Brian Moore]

@Jonni Allen: Yes,...Zenfolio is back up and the picture is back too. Thanks again, Jonni.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I'd heard that Huntingdon Beach was a war zone, and this proves it!

I do like the treatment Brian - fits so well with the theme

 

[Brian Moore]

I'd heard that Huntingdon Beach was a war zone, and this proves it!

I do like the treatment Brian - fits so well with the theme

Its certainly a war zone on 4th of July and during the US Open Surfing Championships. (I'm sure you heard.)

Thanks for the comments on the fotie, Chris. I also added vignetting for effect. Thanks again.

 

[Pete Askew]

I like effect that desaturating the Redbird has had. Adds to the period feel and it has a slightly etching-like look too.

 

[Brian Moore]

I like effect that desaturating the Redbird has had. Adds to the period feel and it has a slightly etching-like look too.

Thanks, pete. Much appreciated.

 

[Jonni Allen]

Liking the effect Brian. Is it all down to the film or do you do a little post work?

 

[Rense Haveman]

Great shot!

 

[Brian Moore]

Liking the effect Brian. Is it all down to the film or do you do a little post work?

Thanks, Jonni. I understand now that with redscale film you need to give it an extra stop or two. I didn't do that with this image and so it was a pretty deep red in color. I quite liked the image, though, so I desaturated it and added some vignetting to make it seem like an oldie. Thanks again, Jonni.

 

[Brian Moore]

Great shot!

Thank you, Rense. Much appreciated.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

It does have a slight painterly effect for me. A great image Brian, lovely scene and set up and it looks very authentic of the time. They do take these enactments very seriously.
I have also tried to imagine the scene beyond them , such as all the photographers taking pics. Are there many?

 

[Brian Moore]

It does have a slight painterly effect for me. A great image Brian, lovely scene and set up and it looks very authentic of the time. They do take these enactments very seriously.
I have also tried to imagine the scene beyond them , such as all the photographers taking pics. Are there many?

Thank you, Julian. Much appreciated.

As to the photographers, there were lots of people with their cameras. Most had wee digicams but there were quite a few fellows with serious equipment: DSLRs and long lenses. But those things are a turn off for me (unless I'm shooting dance stuff) and so I opted for film (as usual) and a shorter focal length approach (28mm on my Canon F1 and 80mm Yashica TLR). With this equipment I was able to wander around behind both Union and Confederate lines unchallenged by their sentries or pickets. Indeed, I happened to be the only photographer still wandering around recording images after the fighting was done for the day. Thanks again, Julian.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I was thinking the other day that it probably converts to black and white quite well!

 

[Brian Moore]

I was thinking the other day that it probably converts to black and white quite well!

Do you mean the redscale film, Hamish?

By the way, today I intend to roll a color film backwards in order to experiment with redscale a wee bit more. (I want to overexpose it a stop or two to see the effects.)

 

[Hamish Gill]

I do Brian, this was a shot from my recent cross process experience converted straight to b&w, I think it has a lovely contrast to it... I'd guess the effect would be even greater with red scale ...?



Do you have a bulk loader? I've been thinking about getting one...

I reckon a good bit of over exposure would lead to some really interesting results... Especially in some of the lovely weather you have!

 

[Brian Moore]

Is that color film done in B&W chemicals? It looks good!

As to a bulk loader,...no, I don't have one. However, there is a technique for transferring the film in one cassette into an empty cassette backwards so that you are shooting through the film base when you load the cassette into your camera. My local camera shop guy gave me a couple of empty cassettes yesterday so I'm going to give it a try.

 

[Hamish Gill]

No, it's slide film processed in c41 chems then digitally converted to b&w

Here is the straight scan



Can you share said tips & technique with me, I'm keen to give this a go my self!

 

[Brian Moore]

Will do @Hamish Gill.