Tag Archives: Utah

Intersections, Landscapes, My Inner Monet, Personal Vision, The Story

Prelim Discussion of IR-Sensitive B&W Films Part I: SFX-200 and Retro 80S

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I typically use Ilford SFX-200 as my IR-Sensitive film.  When I started, I used it with my darkest red filter:

But now I use my IR-695 filter:

 

Recently I’ve had two IR-sensitive film come my way: Rollei Retro 80S and Washi-Z.  Let’s start with the Rollei film. Because of my positive experience using the 695 filter, I tried this with the Retro 80S.  It resulted in interesting but very high contrast images:

Retro_80S_Cathedral2

Compare this to T-MAX 400 with a Dark Red filter (sorry that’s the film I had in the other Mamiya-7 at the time):

TMAX_400_Cathedral2

Here a direct comparison of the same scene, SFX-200 and Retro 80S, both with the IR-695 filter:

Retro_80S_Cathedral1SFX_Cathedral1

Can you tell which is which? The Retro 80S is the upper image, the SFX-200 is the lower image.  The SFX image preserves the fine high altitude clouds better…..

I have recently read an article on the Retro 80S, where the author only used the dark red filter.    @EMULSIVEfilm also has another recent article comparing Retro 80S and Retro 400S, again both using the dark red filter.  So now I’m going to embark on a set of side by side Retro and SFX images making, using only the dark red filter.  Can’t wait to see what happens……

IR_Filrm_Test_120

Washi-Z discussion coming in Part II.

Architecture, Film Photography Projects, Inspired By Series, Intersections, Landscapes, Personal Vision, Social Commentary, The Story

Inspired By: Bruce Hucko

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Cisco Ghost Town, Near Moab, UT:

Cisco_Gas_Station

Bruce Hucko was the Founder of the Moab Photography Symposium, which ran for 15 years and had its last meeting in 2018.  The results was a wrap up Book containing images from Participants:

MoabBlurbBook

The Featured Image above is one of my book prints.  The others are here below:

 

But more importantly, Bruce worked on local Preservation and Conservation Issues, contributing Photographs and field experiences that were instrumental in the protection of the Bears Ears National Monument, Utah.  This region and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park are now under threat from Fracking and Mining interests.  This prompted a recent Visit to the Grand Staircase and Capitol Reef Parks this past Fall.  We wanted to see them before they were gone……..We start with some scenes from Ruins of the Ancient Ones in New Mexico and Arizona.

 

Aztec Ruins, NM:

Aztec Ruins, NM

 

Pecos Pueblo, NM:

Pecos_Kiva2

Casa Rinconada at Chaco Canyon:

CasaRinconada

 

Sears-Kay Ruins, AZ:

SearsKayRuins

 

And a view from the Cathedral Trail at Capitol Reef:

BuckButte

 

Please Remember the Absolute Necessity of Preserving our Natural Environment.  Give it Some Love!

Happy Valentine’s Day

Inspired By Series, Intersections, Landscapes, Personal Vision, The Story

Inspired By: Clyde Butcher

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For classic B&W landscapes we often think of Ansel Adams.  And for more intimate landscapes, John Sexton.  But those are mostly Western Landscapes.  The East has beautiful scenes that tend to go unloved.  Even Clyde Butcher ventured west for a change-up in is photo scenes. I was supposed to go to the Everglades last Fall, and had hoped to post images from Florida for this Inspiration.  But my illness intervened.  We are still planning our visit with Clyde and stay in one of his cabins.  My photographer’s eye is looking forward to the South Florida Environs.  Check him out here.

Well,  I live where I live, so my inspiration from Clyde Butcher as acknowledged here, comes from his dramatic, sweeping landscapes and how clouds are an important feature of the landscape.  Also, the importance of masterful photography in Conservation and Historical Preservation efforts.

So my Inspiration from the Cathedral Trail Loop in Capitol Reef National Park.  Also environmentally significant because of the threat to open this Park to fracking and mining operations:

Retro80CathedralLoop1

Also a test of the Rollei Retro 80S IR sensitive film……….using a 695 filter.

Retro80CathedralLoop2

Landscapes, Personal Vision, The Story

Grosvenor Arch: Grand Staircase-Escalante

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On a recent road trip back from Phoenix we stopped by the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Capitol Reef National Parks.  Both are currently under threat for oil, gas and mining exploration.  So they would be greatly reduced in size or eliminated by the current Administration.  So see it while you can…….

Here is a really spectacular triple Arch:  The Grosvenor Arch:

GrosvenorArch2

Main view point from the parking lot only shows two of the Arches……

GrosvenorArch3

You have to drive further up the road and Look Back to see the last Arch:

GrosvenorArch1

Landscapes, The Story

Cedar Breaks and No Snow……

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September was my third attempt to visit Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah.  The previous two times I was snowed out (in the summer time mind you!).  Finally made it this past September…..

CedarBreaks1

 

And a little photo Merge Fun!

Cedar_Breaks1

 

Wishing You a Happy Holiday weekend……..I’ve been cooking since 7:00 AM!

Landscapes, Nature

Measuring a Real Win

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What a moment to be on a ‘Best Of’ list……….Film Photography Blogs that You Should Follow.…..  That’s a Real Win, and non-distracting.  I’m on the list, so I don’t have to keep trying to BE on the list.  And I made the list for Blogging Here, not on someone else’s site.

Entanglements

I’ll take that as a sign that Untangling myself from needless social media distraction is right direction.

Architecture, Landscapes, Social Commentary

7 Day Challenge From Twitter

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I was recently Challenged by  to post 7 images, B&W, No explanations and no people.  Similar to the 7 Day Challenge on Facebook in January.  Try Challenging Your Photo Friends…

 

Mine have a common theme, although that is not required.  Can You Guess the Theme?

Architecture, Landscapes

The Moab Photo Symposium Book

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Here are my submissions for the Moab Photo symposium Wrap-up Book:

 

Counter Clockwise, beginning in the Upper Left:

  1. 2007, Arches National Park
  2. 2011, Cisco Ghost Town (Near Moab)
  3. 2017, Buck Canyon, Canyonlands National Park

And my ‘action’ portrait, From Courthouse Wash, Arches National Park.

Johnson_Moab_2013

I’ll post and update when the book comes out…………..