Author Topic: Spring flowers love Kodak Ektar (Read 7736 times)

Mojave · « **on:** March 25, 2011, 06:09:08 PM »

Here are some shots I got at the Huntington Library a few weeks ago. I used my Pentax ME Super and a plastic Holga close up lens over my standard lens. This film adds a boost of color to everything it captures. I love it.

Mojave · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2011, 06:09:49 PM »

This shot was used with my homemade loupe lens. The grain is kind of odd. I havent seen grain like that in the Ektar film before but suspect it might be underexposure. Im sure the flowers are more than 2 stops difference in exposure to the shadows behind them so perhaps.

sapata · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2011, 07:08:41 PM »

These colours are mind blowing !!

Love the effect from the Holga lens...

Mojave · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2011, 07:20:37 PM »

Thank you so much Sapata!! I love those cheap Holga lenses. I think they are like 20 bucks US a set and I use two different lenses from two different sets.

Mike (happyforest) · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2011, 07:26:13 PM »

Wow!

The images are beautiful and the colours stunning.

Mike

Suzi Livingstone · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2011, 08:33:59 PM »

Absolutely gorgeous Erin.. love em

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:11:34 PM »

Stunning, Erin.

Francois · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:17:23 PM »

Really nice. Colors are wonderful and the blur is great.
Takes the chill out of Winter.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:22:11 PM »

Beautiful.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #9 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:57:13 PM »

Hey hey! Here they are. Really strong stuff, Erin. I do like me some flower shots and these are really special. Great combo of gear + film + subject matter and extra marks for using my own current 35mm SLR of choice

Late Developer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 25, 2011, 10:08:43 PM »

Those images are just stunning Erin. It's hard to pick a favourite - almost impossible - but I find the the third one down mesmerising. I've tried Ektar once and wasn't too keen - however, I must persevere if results like yours are possible....

astrobeck · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2011, 11:43:57 PM »

I'd say you are rockin' the chromatic aberration of these in a superb way!

And that Ektar seems to really work well with that lens combo!

love em all!

p.s.- and yeah! on the Pentax. It's one of my favorite cams too!

Mojave · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:57:11 AM »

Wow!!! Thank you all so much for all the wonderful comments!!! I love macros and always shot black and white before but then I thought that this spring I would shoot the flowers in color and after seeing what this film did with sunsets, I knew I wanted to try it.

Mojave · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:59:06 AM »

LOL! Ed and Becky, looks like we have a Pentax ME Super trifecta going on. With cameras, not horses.

Mojave · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:59:31 AM »

PHIL!!! You're back? How was your trip?

LT · « **Reply #15 on:** March 26, 2011, 07:15:03 AM »

Fantastic Erin. Very nice indeed.

Miller · « **Reply #16 on:** March 26, 2011, 08:52:51 AM »

Nice images to wake up to....

Rgds

Mlr

Karl · « **Reply #17 on:** March 26, 2011, 10:36:38 AM »

Strong, beautiful, funky too!

gary m · « **Reply #18 on:** March 26, 2011, 01:51:57 PM »

I can almost smell them, good stuff!

Mojave · « **Reply #19 on:** March 26, 2011, 06:00:31 PM »

Thank you all, so much!!!

I tried processing my own color film last night and didnt have much success. It makes me really afraid to try it with the Ektar. I love the color so much, I cant imagine destroying it with my inept attempts at color processing. Just might always have to take the Ektar to a lab.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #20 on:** March 27, 2011, 03:19:49 PM »

Those are awesome shots Erin! Well done. So you just held the close up lens(es) in front of the lens on your camera?

Urban

Mojave · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:39:41 PM »

Thank you so much Urban!

Yeah, I did. Just hold it in front of the standard lens and shoot. I use the 60 and 120 lenses most, and the Diana lens too. It works the same way. Just take it off the body of the Diana cam and hold it over the lens of your own camera.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #22 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:18:51 PM »

You mean the Diana close-up? As much as I don't like LSI I love my Diana+ and this could be a nice addition to my kit as it would serve two purposes ... Thanks Erin.

Urban

Mojave · « **Reply #23 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:23:08 PM »

Actually, I mean the normal Diana lens itself. My friend has one of the Diana close up lenses. I never actually got one so I dont know how that would work but I think it would be worth a try. I dont see why it wouldnt work like the Holga closeup lenses. What I like about the Diana lens itself is that is has a little less distortion than the close up lenses do.

I've been wondering about those Holga close up lenses though, and how they might work as a home made lens. Im going to try it out.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #24 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:51:03 PM »

Hm. So how close was the Diana lens to the front element of the other lens. I tried holding it in front of my 50mm f/1.8 lens but there's at least 2cm between the two lenses and I didn't get a sharp image at all. Maybe that just doesn't work?

Urban

Mojave · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2011, 07:04:35 PM »

HAHA!!! You know, I never thought about that Urban, but I do have a plain old filter screwed onto the end of my standard lens and I put the Diana and Holga lenses right on top of that. Let me see what happens if I take that filter lens off. I just never thought about that lens. Its been on there for more than 25 years. I dont even know what kind it is. Its totally clear so I have no idea what it does. I just use it to protect the main lens.

Mojave · « **Reply #26 on:** March 27, 2011, 07:18:49 PM »

As far as I can tell, the little glass skylight filter I have on my standard lens doesnt make any difference. Also, the focus of the standard lens doenst matter either, except in how close you need to get to the subject to get a clear focus. Perhaps you arent getting close enough? Im finding that the Diana lens is about the same as the Holga ML-60 close up lens and when using either, you have to get like an inch away from your subject. The 120 gives you more distance from your subject and is why I use it most.

And on another note, Im going to make another home made lens with the Holga ML-60 and see how that works out for me.

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #27 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:24:18 PM »

You are right. I might try to focus on something closer again. Thanks!

Urban

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2011, 03:56:37 PM »

I tried it this weekend and it worked really well I think. Can't wait to get the film back.

Urban

Mojave · « **Reply #29 on:** April 04, 2011, 04:02:09 PM »

Awesome!!! I cant wait to see!! When do you get the film, and did you shoot color or b&w?

Urban Hafner · « **Reply #30 on:** April 04, 2011, 04:09:50 PM »

It will probably take a while. I'll get it processed on Saturday and pick it up the Saturday after that (the shop closes to early for me to do it otherwise). I'll probably scan it before the other 15+ films that are still in the pile though

I did shoot a cheap ISO 400 drugstore color film and a roll of Ektar. The Ektar is still in the camera though.

Urban

Mojave · « **Reply #31 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:35:17 PM »

I'll be on pins and needles waiting to see!!!

CarlRadford · « **Reply #32 on:** April 04, 2011, 05:38:30 PM »

Stunning - very vibrant!

Mojave · « **Reply #33 on:** April 04, 2011, 06:31:39 PM »

Thank you so much Carl!!! Im editing more. Descanso Gardens is swimming in flowers right now.

chricela · « **Reply #34 on:** April 04, 2011, 06:53:25 PM »

Lovely!

Mojave · « **Reply #35 on:** April 04, 2011, 06:54:41 PM »

Thank you so much Chricel!!!

astrobeck · « **Reply #36 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:31:08 AM »

I tried this as well this past weekend during my jaunt to Texas.

I found some incredible cacti in bloom so I shot a bunch of those.
must admit I have thorn in my "paw" now and one in my knee from crounching a bit too close to the thorns!

I just hope the results are worth it. Will soup all the color tomorrow, fingers crossed they all turn out!

Mojave · « **Reply #37 on:** April 05, 2011, 02:29:15 AM »

Ooh, Awesome!!! I cant wait to see Becky!!!

And I cant tell you how many times I've taken something sharp in the knee to get close enough to get the shot. Works your abs though!

Francois · « **Reply #38 on:** April 05, 2011, 03:08:48 PM »

Quote from: astrobeck on April 05, 2011, 01:31:08 AM

must admit I have thorn in my "paw" now and one in my knee from crounching a bit too close to the thorns!

Ouch!
Reminds me of my cacti loving period...
The only one I really managed to get blooming was the type that makes one big flower that smells like rotting meat... It's supposed to attract flies for pollination but only managed to give it a one way trip to the freezing snow as it was stinking up the house big time

Take care of those thorn wounds... they can get infected.

Mojave · « **Reply #39 on:** April 05, 2011, 03:36:34 PM »

LOL! What a hoot! Thanks for sharing that lovely, but stinky, cactus flower story Francois.