Black & White My very first time using a film camera

My very first time using a film camera · 06:49 PM

This is my first time using/owning a film camera. Here is a collection of photos that I took on my first go round

**Ash** · 08-29-2010, 09:16 PM

Good start with these images - for your very first SLR shots.

You nailed focus reasonably well with those first 2 portraits - especially #2 (that one is delightful

)
The stadium photos would have lended better (IMO) as landscapes as you could fit more of the action in the frame and not have so much negative space that doesn't add to the image all that much.
All the best in your photographic journey.

goddo31 · 08-29-2010, 09:23 PM

Yay for another film user! What film did you use here?
I'm not sure if it's intended, but there appears to be some colour tint to the photos. If you were using a film like Kodak BW400CN (b&W film developed in colour negative chemicals), the colour tint can occur at scanning time if a monochrome or greyscale setting is not selected.

nickthetasmaniac · 08-29-2010, 10:00 PM

Great shots! I particularly like the portrait of the girl and the first football shot (I really like the contrast of like and dark areas).

As goddo31 said, if you're scanning B&W film make sure you either scan as a monochrome or convert it to B&W in PP, otherwise there will be an odd colour caste to the image. With my scanner I've found that I end up with more dynamic range in the image if I scan at monochrome for some reason...

great work!

civiletti · 08-30-2010, 12:48 PM

next stop: tHE zONE sYSTEM

dorkatebluecandy · 08-30-2010, 01:01 PM

Thank you all for your feedback!
In reply to Ash, Thank you so much for the thoughts.
I will definitely keep those in mind.

Also, to goddo31 and nickthetasmaniac,
I believe I was using Kodak BW400CN; however, I didn't scan the photos myself.
I went to a Walgreen's nearby and paid to get them developed and transferred to a CD. The color tint was not on purpose, I guess it was the way they scanned it at Walgreen's.

dorkatebluecandy · 08-30-2010, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by civiletti

next stop: tHE zONE sYSTEM

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Class A · 08-30-2010, 03:37 PM

Very nice effort, Carrie, you have talent!

Originally posted by Ash

The stadium photos would have lended better (IMO) as landscapes as you could fit more of the action in the frame and not have so much negative space that doesn't add to the image all that much.

I think the portrait orientation adds to the image and I like the negative space. I think a landscape orientation would have resulted in a more conventional / boring shot.

Originally posted by dorkatebluecandy

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

He refers to the Zone System described by Ansel Adams. It is a method of getting the exposure right. Your first image looks a bit underexposed but the others look great.

dorkatebluecandy · 08-30-2010, 05:47 PM

Thank You so much Class A. I really appreciate your help.

civiletti · 08-30-2010, 10:30 PM

The zone system is a method in black and white film photography for using exposure and development [the time the film stays in the developing fluid] to adjust the tonal range of the negative. The idea is to get detail in the strongest highlights as well as the darkest shadows, while also producing a negative with as many stops of density as possible. A simplified system is: Expose for the shadows, develop for highlights.

I don't know if Walgreen is capable of adjusting development times, but there should be a photo lab in any middle size city that can. In any event, have fun.

B&W film in a K1000 is a classic way to learn photography, by the way.

BillM · 08-30-2010, 11:01 PM

Hi D, Fun isnt it?
wonder if bleacher stand "vibration" caused a little softness in your longer shots.
nice portraits

dorkatebluecandy · 08-31-2010, 11:58 AM

Thank you so much Civiletti.
It is really nice to get all this great feed back from you all.
I will definitely check around the area and see what labs I can find.

Bill, I definitely think that had something to do with the softness.
It was very difficult to get a good shot due to people and movement.

goddo31 · 08-31-2010, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac

As goddo31 said, if you're scanning B&W film make sure you either scan as a monochrome or convert it to B&W in PP, otherwise there will be an odd colour caste to the image. With my scanner I've found that I end up with more dynamic range in the image if I scan at monochrome for some reason...

great work!

Just to reiterate what Nick said, to remove the tint you can load the images in your photo processing software and desaturate the colour or convery to greyscale.
Getting a slight tint with scans on this film is quite common

civiletti · 08-31-2010, 11:07 PM

The old rule was that with good technique, you could get sharp images at a shutter speed that is the reciprocal of the lens focal length. So, at 250mm, you should shoot at 1/250" or faster, and at 28mm, you should shoot at 1/30" or better. Image stabilization gives about 2 stops more cushion, so 1/8" with a 28mm lens is not unreasonable. Subject movement is another matter, though.

aimes · 09-01-2010, 09:52 AM

LOVE the first stadium shot. love the contrast and the way you filled your frame. i particularily love the the dark sky and the stadium light. great work! yaaay for more film users!

dorkatebluecandy
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by dorkatebluecandy
	Find threads started by dorkatebluecandy
	Find threads in which dorkatebluecandy has posted

08-30-2010, 01:01 PM	#6
dorkatebluecandy New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thank You all! Thank you all for your feedback! In reply to Ash, Thank you so much for the thoughts. I will definitely keep those in mind. Also, to goddo31 and nickthetasmaniac, I believe I was using Kodak BW400CN; however, I didn't scan the photos myself. I went to a Walgreen's nearby and paid to get them developed and transferred to a CD. The color tint was not on purpose, I guess it was the way they scanned it at Walgreen's.

08-30-2010, 01:05 PM	#7
dorkatebluecandy New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 10 Original Poster	Help Originally posted by civiletti next stop: tHE zONE sYSTEM I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

08-31-2010, 11:58 AM	#12
dorkatebluecandy New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 10 Original Poster	You all are wonderful! Thank you so much Civiletti. It is really nice to get all this great feed back from you all. I will definitely check around the area and see what labs I can find. Bill, I definitely think that had something to do with the softness. It was very difficult to get a good shot due to people and movement.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
favourite film camera and other film cameras?	k100d	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	54	03-25-2009 09:13 PM
K1000 first time film user	jezza323	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	4	03-19-2009 08:06 AM
First time with B&W Film	miniheli	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	9	11-11-2008 02:23 PM
long time since I last posted some b&w film shot with k-1000	gratefulbruce	Post Your Photos!	0	08-07-2008 10:21 AM
Considering film for the first time...	R.ticle One	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	34	03-23-2008 11:14 PM

08-29-2010, 09:16 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Good start with these images - for your very first SLR shots. You nailed focus reasonably well with those first 2 portraits - especially #2 (that one is delightful ) The stadium photos would have lended better (IMO) as landscapes as you could fit more of the action in the frame and not have so much negative space that doesn't add to the image all that much. All the best in your photographic journey.

08-29-2010, 09:23 PM	#3
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Yay for another film user! What film did you use here? I'm not sure if it's intended, but there appears to be some colour tint to the photos. If you were using a film like Kodak BW400CN (b&W film developed in colour negative chemicals), the colour tint can occur at scanning time if a monochrome or greyscale setting is not selected.

08-29-2010, 10:00 PM	#4
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Great shots! I particularly like the portrait of the girl and the first football shot (I really like the contrast of like and dark areas). As goddo31 said, if you're scanning B&W film make sure you either scan as a monochrome or convert it to B&W in PP, otherwise there will be an odd colour caste to the image. With my scanner I've found that I end up with more dynamic range in the image if I scan at monochrome for some reason... great work!

08-30-2010, 12:48 PM	#5
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	next stop: tHE zONE sYSTEM

08-30-2010, 03:37 PM	#8
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Very nice effort, Carrie, you have talent! Originally posted by Ash The stadium photos would have lended better (IMO) as landscapes as you could fit more of the action in the frame and not have so much negative space that doesn't add to the image all that much. I think the portrait orientation adds to the image and I like the negative space. I think a landscape orientation would have resulted in a more conventional / boring shot. Originally posted by dorkatebluecandy I'm not sure I understand what you mean. He refers to the Zone System described by Ansel Adams. It is a method of getting the exposure right. Your first image looks a bit underexposed but the others look great.

08-30-2010, 05:47 PM	#9
dorkatebluecandy New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thank You so much Class A. I really appreciate your help.

08-30-2010, 10:30 PM	#10
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	The zone system is a method in black and white film photography for using exposure and development [the time the film stays in the developing fluid] to adjust the tonal range of the negative. The idea is to get detail in the strongest highlights as well as the darkest shadows, while also producing a negative with as many stops of density as possible. A simplified system is: Expose for the shadows, develop for highlights. I don't know if Walgreen is capable of adjusting development times, but there should be a photo lab in any middle size city that can. In any event, have fun. B&W film in a K1000 is a classic way to learn photography, by the way.

08-30-2010, 11:01 PM	#11
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	Hi D, Fun isnt it? wonder if bleacher stand "vibration" caused a little softness in your longer shots. nice portraits

08-31-2010, 11:00 PM	#13
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac As goddo31 said, if you're scanning B&W film make sure you either scan as a monochrome or convert it to B&W in PP, otherwise there will be an odd colour caste to the image. With my scanner I've found that I end up with more dynamic range in the image if I scan at monochrome for some reason... great work! Just to reiterate what Nick said, to remove the tint you can load the images in your photo processing software and desaturate the colour or convery to greyscale. Getting a slight tint with scans on this film is quite common

08-31-2010, 11:07 PM	#14
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	The old rule was that with good technique, you could get sharp images at a shutter speed that is the reciprocal of the lens focal length. So, at 250mm, you should shoot at 1/250" or faster, and at 28mm, you should shoot at 1/30" or better. Image stabilization gives about 2 stops more cushion, so 1/8" with a 28mm lens is not unreasonable. Subject movement is another matter, though.

09-01-2010, 09:52 AM	#15
aimes Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 3	LOVE the first stadium shot. love the contrast and the way you filled your frame. i particularily love the the dark sky and the stadium light. great work! yaaay for more film users!