A 1.4

A few months back I wanted to shoot wide-open so I could garner that bokeh, …oh that all wonderful bokeh. Softness….blandness…..a blur, so as to hint at what the lens might be trying to hide…like a lady eyes; full of mystique. In order to dial into this pent-up desire, I needed not just a fast lens but also a manner in which I could use that lens to my advantage. Hence the first step.

I purchased a set of ND filters…..with stops of 2, 3 & 4 which enables me to attach to my lens to darken the amount of sun hitting. And being in Arizona…..I needed that. Hey, no problem shooting ‘closed’ at F16 in many cases, or F11, or F8, but neither garners that bokeh. With my filters I can now stop down several times enabling me to shoot wider.

At that time I had just one Zuiko under F2 which was my beautiful yet whacky 55mm F1.4 lens. I say whacky since the results were undeniably whacky, with stray light, glares….etc….but with my filters it also provided me with that wonderful, oh such wonderful and desirable bokeh. Simply outstanding. But my 55 has a slight issue with the tip of the lens having been dropped (oh no, not by myself….but purchased with this slight mar), and the ND filters are difficult to attach. They also are 55mm filters.

My remaining Zuikos, of of which I have countless…..all accept a 49mm filter. So I managed to capture a bit of bokeh with my 85mm F2 with ND’s and yes, I did obtain a bit of blur. But nothing whacky….nothing that I would visit my parent’s grave with and show to them.

So today……of all days, and just because…..I purchased a Zuiko F1.4 50mm (step 2) which will accept 49 ND filters. When this bundle arrives, and it will…..even though it is the season for lateness in packages (December), I will attach a #3 or #4 filter (depending on the sunlight) and shoot at 1.4 and be wide open ‘in the day’…... I am looking for that whacky feel, …a bit of bazarreness to it…an eccentric attitude…flaky, freaky, funky and kooky …..

I will dream well tonight….

Film Noir

I really enjoy film noir…. a few months ago I watched a movie called Curtiz… it was a Netflix movie produced in Hungary. A fantastic movie as Curtiz was the producer of Casablanca (Bogie and Bergman) and the movie follows the tumultuous filming of these academy award winner actors . During WW11, Hollywood was under great pressure to put forth their share of propaganda and this film strikes that accordingly. if you watch, I recommend you view both the original Casablanca and this film Curtiz, back to back…a double header.

One, if not….the best thing about the movie was the film noir feel… All Black and White and filmed I believe on original film stock….with ‘oh so delicious ‘ shadows and the video-graphy is simply superb with high contrast shots….dark backgrounds etc.

If you have any familiarity with my shooting style….you have pieced together my strong propensity of a preference that includes high contrast and noise, film grit, darkness etc…

Now where am I going with this? Well recently I received a small package for Czechia and it arrived. This package cost me $100 but well worth it. It is chalked full of expired 2007 Fomapan 35mm film in BW. Oh my…. did I just get to heaven? 20 rolls….yeah….20 rolls of 36 count equals over 700 upcoming shots. Expired film is one of a kind. In fact each roll, each 35mm negative is unique or can be. That is what I am counting on.

A bit of blur or messiness….grit….noise above normal dust…scratches, light leaks….mmmmmmm. Better than **X you say…well, could be. Imperfect bred to perfection.

Now I just have to decide on what ‘upcoming’ project to offer this film stock to? I have several…which one best fits and which lens, which camera…. I love it….

Why Black and White

Why Black and White….. Why only grays and contrast….and white and starkness and shadows and mist, or paleness ….Why Black and white?

Number one….it is the essence of who we are when all is taken away. Leave yourself one day and just scan the world as if in a BW film or image. See what comes thru. Raw emotion, if one looks at faces. Impact, if one looks at objects. Take a photo that has both, and you have eaten away at the outer layers of flesh and have forced the abstract upon all else.

That is what Black and White is…..purity. The bottom line, openness ….. vulnerability. Put color in, and your images become like a frolic down the park…. In fact I might argue, you have a circus with color. You have a playground or a game within an arena.

Number two….Black and white not only is abstractness in the end result, but Black and White makes you, you the photographer; think in a different manner. It isn’t just grabbing a gay shot and then taking it back to your computer to enhance the colors beyond fairness. No sir…..not in Black and White. But there you force yourself to look into a world not normal, for you in your eyes, your human lens…..only see colors. So by forcing yourself to think in Black and White, you begin to change your thought, your view…. You are not just looking at a shot, but you are looking at ‘behind the shot’. What makes that shot, a shot and not just a shot to shoot.

Number three….Sharpness. Yes, I hear you……Black and White can be pencil thin sharp too but no….don’t go down that road. Your eyes are not perfect so why should your images be. Look for blur and I don’t imply bokeh. Look for blur and roughness in the subject or focus. Look for blur because it is natural and abstract at the same time. A good Black and White photo is a stunning representation of reality when not in focus. It is your mind, deep in sleep, or perhaps even barely cognitive. It hasn’t quite put forth the image yet and yet, there it lays.

Number four….Black and White leaves an impression upon others…..a color image just plays with their minds,….teases them. It is peripheral in nature as it never quite is lasting. But now think, please think. Take some of the best photographs you have in your memory. Go back as far as you want….. They have left an impression upon you that nothing in color can equate with.

Number Five….black and white is challenging while color is just ….okay, fun photo….now what? Cameras are set up for color and people just think in color, so why not take it in color. But a challenge is black and white. It isn’t just the focal point you need to be aware of but the entire surroundings. What blends….? what doesn’t…. You should be able to walk down the streets and instinctively be aware of what will work and what won’t. You don’t need that with color. In fact instinct doesn’t even come into the picture in many cases. But with Black and White, without instinct….you have cheap shot….

So there….five reasons….there are more and yes, I will talk more to that. But here are five to represent or to ‘start’ the game….