Digital Darkroom Software Review: Intro

As mentioned a couple of days ago, I’m looking to replace Lightroom (and Photoshop… and Apple) in my photography workflow, and to that end, I’m testing RAW file editing and digital photo softwares to see what my options are.

Before I start posting my results (there’s one already tested and discarded), I thought it might be helpful to describe my requirements and testing process first. That way, I won’t have to repeat myself in every review. Continue reading “Digital Darkroom Software Review: Intro”

Ansco Versapan 125

I loaded the old film into the old camera today, and thought maybe you’d like to see the unboxing…

Do people share unboxings of old, expired black & white film? Well, I guess I do… especially since it’s kinda cool.

So I acquired this film from the bay… $9.95 + shipping. Good deal? Average? Rip off? I don’t know, to be honest. We’ll have to see how the roll turns out. One thing to note: the bottom of the canister was a bit lose, but it seems like the canister is meant to be reusable…. not sure. Hopefully this roll isn’t ruined already.

This box arrived already open, as described in the ebay sale. Allah knows (and maybe the seller) what sorts of things went on with in the 50-odd years since it was produced and canned, purchased, sat on, and ultimately sold to me.

I’m looking forward to running it through the R3.

On to the pics…

As you can see above, Ansco—manufactured by General Aniline & Film Co.— packaged their film in a nice box, and this one in particular expired in March 1968.Ansco Unboxing|14|©JamesECockroft-20150504

 

This one came with a whole sheet of exposure settings for various cameras and environments: there’s the usual Sunny 16 chart; a chart of comparative film speed ratings (125 ASA = 100 Weston = 150 General Electric = 22° DIN); exposure times for different filters; exposure with various flashbulbs and at various guide numbers; advice on electronic flashes, photofloods & reflectorfloods; and developing times for two developers—Hyfinol for 4 minutes; Isodol 1:1 for 5 minutes.

It’s really much more info than anything I’ve ever seen before in a roll of film.Ansco Unboxing|4|©JamesECockroft-20150504

 

And the film came in a groovy metal canister… it’d be interesting to make something out of this, methinks.Ansco Unboxing|10|©JamesECockroft-20150504

 

Open that little canister, and: there’s a nice, all metal, reusable-looking film canister, all full of film ready to be shot:

Ansco Unboxing|12|©JamesECockroft-20150504

 

I expect loads of fun getting this ancient film onto the Patterson reel. May Allah azza wa jall grant me sabr (patience and steadfastness).

So there it is… a nice roll of Ansco Versapan 47 years expired, now finally loaded into the Nikon FG and ready to shoot. Allah knows how long it will take me to shoot through the roll, get it developed, and share my results both with the film and the R3 monobath.

InshaAllah it’ll be fun times.Ansco Unboxing|13|©JamesECockroft-20150504

I’ve been looking around for information on this film, and it’s scant. Ansco stopped making film in the 70s. Some people have fond memories and have done everything from stand development with exhausted D76 to sourcing and mixing up old Ansco developers (like the aforementioned Hyfinol or Isodol); some have tried to develop other Ansco films in normal developers with less than stellar results. God Willing all will go well with the R3 and this roll.

By the way… box and little info sheet reek of old paper… like an old book. MashaAllah.

I better plop some Airborne.

Oh! and I picked up a delayed birthday present to myself… an old, classic Nikon lens. Some famous photographer used it to shoot some famous picture some time.

It’s a beauty. Can you guess what it is?

Maybe I’ll shoot some of the Versapan with it, and tell you more about it then. Maybe I won’t be able to keep my mouth shut. Allahu Alim.

Coming Soon… or Sometime, InshaAllah

Just a head’s up, the blog may go a bit quiet for a bit. I have two projects in mind, both just begun:

First, Adobe’s recent update to Lightroom, while exciting, has me looking at alternatives. Combine that with Apple’s current computer offerings (and the direction their products seem to be heading), I’m looking again at computer alternatives too. So I’m in the process of testing several programs. In the open source, FOSS space: darktable (version 1.4 was already tested on this blog—it’s now at 1.6), RawTherapee, DigiKam, and LightZone; in the closed, paid space: Corel AfterShot Pro 2, Affinity Photo (beta, mac only), and maybe some others, if I find them…

I hope to test one app per week over the coming months, and compare the usability, workflow, and performance to my current Lightroom workflow; only Allah knows how well I’ll do: if you’re interested, stay tuned.

And Second, if you paid attention to my Thirty Six review, you might have noticed something…thirty six focus-exposure|1|©JamesECockroft-20150429In the shot there, you see two Ansco Versapan Film boxes… Inside those boxes are two unexposed rolls of black & white Ansco film that expired in 1968 and that I picked up for a few bucks on ebay. Good times.

I was unsure what to do with these, and was hesitating shooting them, since I don’t really want to spend the money to pick up a new kit of chemicals and bottles, etc. for Black & White developing. Then I came across New55 Film’s R3 Monobath B/W Developer, thanks to a very recent episode of Ted Forbes’s Art of Photography show/podcast. I haven’t seen the episode yet, so if there’s a coupon code in it, I’ll feel a bit chagrined since I just ordered a bottle of developer.

InshaAllah, I’ll load a roll of that old film in the FG tonight or tomorrow, and maybe have a review of the developer and the old film in a month or so.

So stay tuned! There’s some excitement ahead, InshaAllah.

 

Thirty Six… sixth post is the last, methinks

While I claimed earlier that Thirty Six forces users to slow down, that’s exactly what I didn’t do with these… And maybe that’s one of the best things about this app: it’s ideal for short-ish, limited photowalks, and similarly perhaps for specific projects of whatever 12- or 36-shot duration you might have.

It’s a great app, really. Continue reading “Thirty Six… sixth post is the last, methinks”

Thirty Six goes to Maghrib

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who purifies (performs Wudu’) himself in his house and then walks to one of the houses of Allah (mosque) for performing an obligatory Salat, one step of his will wipe out his sins and another step will elevate his rank (in Jannah).”*

I need to take many more steps. Continue reading “Thirty Six goes to Maghrib”

Thirty Six, during and after the rain

Alhamdulillah, April showers have been plentiful this year. And Thirty Six performed admirably with my “Another Day” film stock.

Actually, I think a couple of shots (the square ones) were probably shot with the built-in 400 WC 120 roll.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this app is fun. It forces you to slow down (a bit, maybe), it makes you wait a bit to see what you shot, and the Contact Sheet thing is pretty cool.

If you like the idea and have $1.99, pick it up. Thirty Six is worth it.

Thirty Six gone for a walk

One of the luxuries of getting off work early is being able to take walks with my darling, adorable wife in the mid afternoon.

There’s a new housing development going in across the street where we usually go to walk. I’ve shared some pictures from there before, including one of Hana descending a staircase. Well, same staircase, now with actual walls and whatnot. Continue reading “Thirty Six gone for a walk”