The Appalachian Mountains on Film
Hasselblad 500cm ■ Carl Zeiss 100mm f/3.5 ■ Ilford Delta 400
One Roll, One Day - February 2020
Focus on the positives. I tell myself this a lot because it’s very easy to focus on the negatives. And a quality that I appreciate about myself is commitment. If I set out to do something, I stick with it. Now I’m a procrastinator too, so… timelines may shift (5 years to rebuild a motor and get it running, but I did it!).
In 2020 I remain committed to black and white film photography. Starting in the midst of winter has made this easier as North Carolina is a bit dull and moody during the winter months. But, there have been some amazing sunrises and sunsets that have made me grit my teeth.
This this month’s roll, I focused on landscapes as I traveled along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia for work. It was a stormy, foggy mess, which I thought was PERFECT for some rolls of black and white.
Hasselblad 500cm ■ Carl Zeiss 100mm f/3.5 ■ Kodak Tri-X 400
In tow with me was my Hasselblad 500cm with a new (to me) 45° prism, a roll of Ilford Delta 400 and a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400. The prism has changed my mind on the Hasselblad, which at one point was nearly sold. The waist level finder is difficult to focus with so much light bouncing around, and composing with that flipped image is tedious. The prism rights both those wrongs in my mind and allows me to enjoy all that is square with that delicious “ker-thuck” that is the Hasselblad rear curtain.
I’m still feeling my way through the B&W offerings and have been back and forth between Ilford Delta 400 and Kodak Tri-X 400. Tough to gauge here as I only had one back with me so I couldn’t shoot the same scene with each stock. I feel that the contrast is a bit heavier with the Delta 400, but not what I read in other reviews. If you have a strong opinion of these two stocks I’d love to hear them in the comments!
Hasselblad 500cm ■ Carl Zeiss 100mm f/3.5 ■ Ilford Delta 100
It was already late in the day (after 4 pm) and with the storms it was crazy dark. Nearly all these shots were placed on makeshift tripods (logs, railings, rocks, in a tree) with me holding the shutter as I failed to also pack a release cable. So definitely some softness from camera shake on some shots, but still enjoyable.
That blog circle continues, and you won’t be disappointed by a very talented photographer from the West Coast - Jolene Redfern. Her contrast and colors constantly blow my mind, and her latest work does not disappoint. Take a look at her latest work for her February 2020 One Roll One Day.
