Dan's blog about Photography and things

These are night series that I've done with medium format film.  Night shooting on BW film can be very technical in terms of film development.  I choose to shoot film at night because it does a better job of keeping the highlights and shadows. For you older film shooters out there, you might know what I'm talking about when I say, "expose for the shadows and develop for the highlights".  Does anybody remember that mantra?... Anybody? Hasselblad 500cm 80 2.8 CF TMX 100. Pull process. The detail in the moon lit sky still has texture.  What that means in this case is, when you shoot, overexpose the film so you can get some density on the shadowy areas, and when you develop the film, do it in a way to keep the highlight from being too bright. Hasselblad 500cm 80 2.8 CF TMX 100. Pull process. I was surprised to see the trees to the mid right. Pull processing allows that.  When it comes to exposing, how do you meter at night?  You have to use the most un...

I was looking back at some images that I've done in the past, both in large format and smaller formats and I did notice that I enjoy photographing dead trees.  Maybe its the fact that they're horizontal while the alive ones are vertical?  Or they're symbols of cyclic nature of life? Anyway, I see quiet beauty in the decaying trunks and branches. Fuji x-100 I used my Fuji x-100.  It's a great camera that is small with great optics and sensor.  I opted for this because I'm getting old and carrying around a large format 4x5 camera does not look too appetizing anymore.  But If I get enough motivation to pursue this project further, I may have to do it.  Fuji x-100 I have sympathy for these trees that get hung up as they're falling. They can't rest laying down.  Here is another one.  Fuji x-100 Fuji x-100 Fuji x-100 Did some coloring in Light Room. I could've went to cooler tones to get the mood of 'death' but instead I went warm with more s...