Author Topic: Havana (Read 4278 times)

Blaxton · « **on:** January 28, 2014, 04:01:18 AM »

In another thread, I found myself going on about the merits of developing in Rodinal 1:100 with regular agitation, just as if I knew about which I was writing. It made me go downstairs and develop some rolls of Tri-x I shot in Havana last week to see for myself what it might look like. OK. I like the even range of mid-tones and reasonable grain. I may keep doing this for a while.

Bryan · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2014, 05:35:56 AM »

Great photos Blaxton, I've always wanted to go to Havana. Can you give more details on your process like how much agitation and how long you developed for? I've been doing stand developing in 1-100 Rodinal for 1hour with one agitation after about 30 minutes with pretty good results for a rookie.

This-is-damion · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2014, 08:17:53 AM »

More havana shots please!

I've been there a couple of times and loved it.

Late Developer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2014, 12:51:49 PM »

Lara and I are hoping to get over there this year. These are lovely shots - especially the one with the spectacles wearing pooch.

As Damion said.....more please!!

This-is-damion · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2014, 03:33:36 PM »

if you do go..make you sure you stop by the capitolo and get your picture taken by this guy.. he was there in 2005 & 2009

street photographer by This-is-rice, on Flickr

like this!

pinhole 1 by This-is-rice, on Flickr

Blaxton · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:08:19 PM »

Damion,

I was looking for someone like this to take a group photo of my band--no luck. You would think, in a place where it is easier to hitch a ride in a 48 Plymouth than it is to connect to the internet, that film photography would continue. Not so, unfortunately. Mobile phones are in every pocket. I did see a large and amazing show of vintage b&w prints on the walls at la Casa de las Americas. It seemed as though all the great socially-aware photographers were represented--Hine, Modotti, Salgado, et al--and the prints were beautiful.

This-is-damion · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:20:53 PM »

Good to see the embargo is working well!!!

We had a few nights in the Park central. I spent a lovely hour or so chatting with a few Americans who go there every year, via canada, to enjoy the cigars! Plus the local market in Varadero was packed full of fruit... all with "product of america" stickers on.

Blaxton · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:47:35 PM »

Bryan,

I started using Rodinal because I saw some work, posted here on Filmwasters, that had been stand-developed. I thought that I could do this. Unfortunately, the first results of my attempts were so horrible that I didn't persist. Instead I reverted to my usual gentle inversion-twist agitation technique, constantly for the first 30 seconds and then once every 30 seconds for the full time (this in Rodinal 1:100). I clear the developer in water (not stop bath) then fix, wash, use fixer remover and wash again before rinsing in photo-flo, sponging and hanging to dry. In the winter here, it is so dry in the house that the films dry too quickly and don't lie flat. This is not a problem in the enlarger but my flatbed scanner racks are not strong enough to hold the negatives flat. As a result, the scanner washes out the edges of the negatives. Other than that, I am reasonably happy with the results, especially when the subject is high contrast.

Here are two more taken last week in Havana. This taps me out. (I spent more time in Havana with a trombone in hand than a camera.) It seems as though others might have Cuba images to post here...

Bryan · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:51:08 PM »

Thanks Blaxton. So you agitate it every 30 seconds for a full hour?

Blaxton · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:57:49 PM »

Bryan,

I use as a starting point the times listed here:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php

I develop Tri-x in Rodinal 1:100 for twenty minutes, generally. In this case, I developed 10% less because some of the shots on the roll (not Cuban) were taken with a flash and I wanted to ease off the contrast a bit.

Matt

Indofunk · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2014, 05:17:46 PM »

Wait, did you say trombone? We should start a horn section

Those are really great pictures, and I look forward to experimenting more with Tri-X in Rodinal (processed a roll last night in 1:50, haven't scanned it yet). And also I am fascinated with Cuba! Hopefully I'll go sometime this year with hookstrapped (so much for the embargo indeed!). Keep the pictures coming! Can we turn this into the official FW Cuba thread?

This-is-damion · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2014, 06:07:41 PM »

Wall Montage -View large or original size. by This-is-rice, on Flickr

patria o muerte by This-is-rice, on Flickr

Homeland or die!

Andrea. · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2014, 06:10:11 PM »

Cuba. Lovely shots.
The predictable old car shot from me. Cienfuegos - at night. 2007

Lamp-post for a tripod [Fidel would be proud of me] with a Voigtlander Bessa 6x9

This-is-damion · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2014, 07:08:15 PM »

I went to Cienfuegos and got absolutely drenched in a thunderstorm and then followed it up with the worst toilet experience of my life followed by a many-hour drive back to Havana.

Indofunk · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2014, 07:14:36 PM »

Quote from: This-is-damion on January 28, 2014, 07:08:15 PM

I went to Cienfuegos and got absolutely drenched in a thunderstorm and then followed it up with the worst toilet experience of my life followed by a many-hour drive back to Havana.

If you think you're dissuading me from visiting Cuba, it's not working

Viva Cuba libre!

Bryan · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2014, 07:54:31 PM »

Quote from: Andrea. on January 28, 2014, 06:10:11 PM

Cuba. Lovely shots.
The predictable old car shot from me. Cienfuegos - at night. 2007

Lamp-post for a tripod [Fidel would be proud of me] with a Voigtlander Bessa 6x9

If you told me that picture was taken 50 years ago I would totally believe you, love it!

astrobeck · « **Reply #16 on:** January 28, 2014, 08:00:52 PM »

I can't get enough of these!
Cuba is high on my list pf places to go...

Blaxton, did i Miss what camera? These are gorgeous, love the doggies!

Becky

Nigel · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2014, 08:08:14 PM »

Not Havana I'm afraid. I've recently been trying the Rodinal Spezial for Tri-X, which is apparently more suited to higher ISO films (unless it's the grain you're looking for of course) and I really like it.

Blaxton · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2014, 08:11:30 PM »

Becky,

I had an Olympus OM1 and 50mm lens with me. I thought that it would blend in but, as I mentioned above, everyone else seemed to be taking pictures with telephones.

Echoing Bryan: being in Havana is many, many things, including having the feeling, constantly, that one is on the set of a 1950s film noir. The music, now that's another thing altogether.

Matt

Blaxton · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2014, 03:44:41 PM »

Nigel,

I like those two--very smooth and I don't see grain. I'm not familiar with Rodinal Spezial. Might it be Rodinal with an extra dose of sodium sulfite?

Matt

Indofunk · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2014, 04:05:24 PM »

Quote from: blaxton on January 29, 2014, 03:44:41 PM

Nigel,

I like those two--very smooth and I don't see grain. I'm not familiar with Rodinal Spezial. Might it be Rodinal with an extra dose of sodium sulfite?

Matt

I'm totally going to buy some for when my standard Rodinal runs out. http://www.freestylephoto.biz/9721-Compard-R09-Spezial-Film-Developer-120-ml-Agfa-Rodinal-Special-Formula

This-is-damion · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2014, 08:06:18 AM »

Quote from: blaxton on January 28, 2014, 04:08:19 PM

I did see a large and amazing show of vintage b&w prints on the walls at la Casa de las Americas. It seemed as though all the great socially-aware photographers were represented--Hine, Modotti, Salgado, et al--and the prints were beautiful.

Just remebered when we were there - there were some decent B&W prints on display in the Plaza Vieja (also a great camera obscura there) I seem to recall they were by well known photographers... should have written it down really.

Plaza Vieja - Havana by This-is-rice, on Flickr

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Author Topic: Havana (Read 4278 times)