Still happy!
After developing some rolls and using film for a bit, I finally put my DSLR on eBay as i did not use it at all (except for these shots, but I could have used my iPhone for that). If I want/need a quick digital picture, then I can always use the iPhone. Should I ever be in the need of a DSLR, then that is no problem because I can just borrow one from my father - so no worries!
I must say that I really enjoy the act of developing and also the thrill of taking a first look at the pictures - especially if it’s been a while before I developed the roll and I don’t know what’s on it :) The only thing I do not like is scanning..that just takes forever and my scanner only scans six negatives at a time :/
On the pictures you can see that i develop on the (small) kitchen table while using my iPhone as timer and Macbook for watching some videos while developing, because 18 minutes (HP5+ pushed to 1600) can be quite long.
Then there are some leftovers + already scanned negs on my desk.
Too tired to write much, but I now have a total of 3 rolls developed and here are the results - well not all of them, but I will post the better ones on my main blog and these are just to celebrate my success ;D
Ilford HP5+ (XTOL 1+1)
Ilford HP5+ pushed to 800 (XTOL 1+1)
And finally Ilford HP5+ pushed to 1600 (XTOL 1+1)
After having some problems with my local drugstore (they charge extra + do not scan b/w film), I decided to do it myself. It took some time before I finally had the time to look up what I need exactly, how to do it and then to order it. So last weekend my scanner arrived and I already have 1 roll scanned (the very first one I shot) and they are now waiting for final editing.
Surprisingly, as I did not get a mail that the package is on its way, the chemicals arrived today while I was at work and I got very excited ;) First I had to make some preparations and look up a few more things before I could get started - and it was a big mess with alle the stuff and mixing and testing how to load the film on the reel, etc. After following the instructions I got from various online resources, I finally got to take a first look at the roll and was really relieved, that it actually looked like properly exposed/developed film :D
At the moment, the film is having some fun time in the shower and I can’t wait to scan it! Although there are only test shots (I didn’t want to risk any photos I would miss if I failed), I am the happiest little film hipster that can’t wait to finally see how the final scanned thing will look like :)
Here are two super cool Instagram pics, enjoy ;)
Tomorrow morning I’ll leave for a short trip to Budapest. I will be there until tuesday and spend the time shooting street and some tourist stuff with my father. As the Kodak Tri-X I ordered has not arrived yet, I had to buy some rolls at a local store - this is more expensive, but I really wanted to shoot film in Budapest. I will bring my DSLR anyway, but it will only serve as backup camera. Sadly Kodak film is kind of hard to get from local dealers here, but this way I get to try out more types of film :)
I also got my first roll back and gladly it’s not all black ;) Actually I’m quite happy with a few shots! I got the exposure wrong a few times, but nothing dramatic. My biggest concern was, that I would have gotten all the exposures wrong and focus would be a mess. I am glad that I was able to check out my first exposures before going to Budapest. Now I feel confident, that I will come home with some usable shots.
Sadly they forgot to scan the negatives, so I have to send it back to them next week and then it will probably be another week before I get them back..
And here, just for the sake of it: My first roll of film - low iPhone quality style.
Look what was in tuesdays mail!
After making myself familiar with the controls, I loaded the first roll of film, made a portrait of my roommate and headed off to the streets. I took a lot of boring shots, because I just started the learning curve, so the first roll barely contains any “real” street shots, but I guess that the first roll won’t be as good anyway :)
So I completed the first roll and now I’m waiting for the results and I am really excited how the results will be. For now I do not plan, to develop the film myself, because I’m not sure how to organize the workflow and how to scan the negatives, but it is definitely something I want to try.
