Planet Randy

5×7 HP5+Fujinon 180mm
XTOL
Scanned

5×7 Ilford HP5+
D-76
Scanned

5×7 Ilford HP5+
D-76
Scanned

5×7 Ilford HP5+
D-76
Scanned

I recently been turned to Fuji-roids and decided to shoot both FP-100C color instant film and the FP-3000B B&W instant film (sadly, now discontinued). After unsuccessfully begging for a holder at LFForum, I succumb to the big auction site and got the Polaroid 405 for their current going rate. Winning the auction made feel ecstatic to start shooting, then it dawned on me that my Wista 45 does not have a Graflok back which these holders require. Another camera that has a Graflok back (e.g. Speed Graphic) would cost me $400 (sheez…). Fortunately, the Wista spring back can really expand; enough to put 2 standard 4×5 holders.

The Polaroid 405 back arrived yesterday and the first thing I did is test fit it to the Wista. Viola! It fits!

Nikkor-W 150mm at F/5.6, 1/15 seconds

Nikkor-W 150mm at F/5.6, 1/15 seconds

Some observations on using the holder and the FP-100C…

Likes:

1) Instant gratification.
2) A negative to play with in the darkroom.
3) Normal lens on a 4×5 is slightly long for this format.
4) I can use my Wista and the lenses I have for it.
5) Polaroid Land Cameras takes these film and they are inexpensive (<$50).
6) At $0.90 a sheet for a PROCESSED positive and negative is cheap.

Don’t likes:

1) Not 4×5 so it has less image info.
2) I have to consciously re-frame for 3.25″x4.25″ format.
3) The big one which I hope I can remedy, it has a blue cast to it and the images are definitely on the cool side. I’m gonna’ have to use it with an 81B or 812 warming filter.

Overall, I’m really late in the game on instant film and wished I had started on this earlier. So far the FP-3000B black and white film are still available and I’m jazzed to test it. Fuji sent the last shipment to the US early this year. I gotta’ stock up before the price makes it unobtainable. After that, FP-100C would likely be on the chopping block next.

Now… what’s an INSTAX?

It’s been 4 months since I poured a plate – this weekend the wife is away and I got to play!

5×7 Al plate
Quinn’s QC
Sawyer’s Developer
KCN
5″ Goerz Dagor, f/6.3 at 18 seconds wide open

5×7 Al plate
Quinn’s QC
Sawyer’s Developer
KCN
5″ Goerz Dagor, f/6.3 at 2 seconds wide open

5×7 Aluminum
OWH
KCN

5×7 Aluminum
OWH
KCN

Tim needed to verify his Fatfish tent, chemistry and new wet plate back for his Deardorff before our photo shoot next week; so we decided to head out to Riverside, CA and shoot The Mission Inn.

I think he has nothing to worry about.

Photo by Tim Scott

The video (avi)  The Mission Inn

5×7 Black Aluminum
10″ A.T. Thompson Petzval
12 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

Here’s this year’s submission to World Wet Plate Day – a close up of the rosette.

I’m really intrigued by my Copper Wheel (Aeonium Sunburst) especially how it renders in collodion.

5×7 Black Aluminum
Nickel Plated Darlot Petzval (~7″, ~f/5)
24 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

I finally did it – my first albumen print from my first glass negative. Many thanks to Monsieur Louis Désiré Blanquart-Evrard. For the longest time I’ve struggled to control the fogging brought on by long exposures and long development. I did not want to do intensification or re-development. It’s quite a balance between exposure and development to get a dense negative.

The Print

Negative density range: 2.14 – 0.64 = 1.50
Albumen: 1.5% sodium chloride with vinegar
Paper: 9×11 Canson Universal Sketch (aka. Crob ‘Art) single coated (float method)
Sensitization: 12% silver nitrate, rod method
Exposure: 5 minutes next time I’ll fire up the NuArc.

I bought a few turn of the century glass negatives from E-bay – we’ll see how those turn out next!

First BGA and I really like the deeper black on these. The weight of the plate gives a substantial feel to it compared to tins. Unfortunately, these guys cost 4 times more than clear glass.

I’m starting to get “iodide holes” – I guess it’s time for silver maintenance.

4×6 BGA
E.H. Hardy Petzval (~9″, f/3.5)
4 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

5×7 CGA
A.T. Thomson Petzval (~9″, ~f/5)
2.5 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

JT Juniper 5x7 Ambro

5×7 CGA
J.H. Dallmeyer No.1a Rectilinear
35 seconds, f/45
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN

The clouds were amazing after the storm passed at JT that brought snow, rain, and gusty winds. Sadly, this is the last image my 1922 Korona 5×7 will make – at least until I can repair the damage from the fall due to a gust of wind. It’s not a high value camera but my grandfather was in his teens when it was made and it broke on my watch. Surprisingly, the lens had no damage.

Merced River View

From Will Dunniway’s Yosemite 2012 Workshop

5×7 CGA

El Capitan

From Will Dunniway’s Yosemite 2012 Workshop

5×7 CGA

9.5″ f/4.5 Aldis No.19
5×7 CGA
1.25 minutes, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN