By Johnny Martyr You might have noticed that all your favorite film bloggers are closing out the year with a list of their top three film cameras of 2022. Though I'm late out of the gate, I didn't want to be left out! I figured there's still time to make a contribution to this fun... Continue Reading →
On Shooting, Scanning & Editing a Recent Portrait Session
by Johnny Martyr Photography is all about combining the right light, lens, film and developer to convey the emotions that you want to evoke. One of my recent favorite combinations is a bright scene with my 1979 Leitz 50mm "Tiger Paw" Summicron, Kodak Tri-X at box speed and HC110b. It's sort of an over generalized... Continue Reading →
Postcards
by Johnny Martyr Ever since I was a young art student visiting museums on class field trips, I enjoyed buying postcards that depicted the work of my favorite artists. Most people cannot afford original prints of famous photographs, and who really wants to display large prints that are anything less than original? Small postcard sized... Continue Reading →
How To Deal with Problems from Your Film Lab
Recently, a fellow film photographer posted a hastily-taken snapshot of an envelope of loose negatives. They stated that a well-known and well regarded lab had scratched all their negatives. It wasn't clear if the problem was just how the negatives were packaged, causing a potential for scratches or how bad the scratches, if any, were.... Continue Reading →
Photographers Photographing Photographers
My wife and I operate a small local photography business and we often joke about the sad fact that we are out taking other families' portraits so often that we never take any of our own. The walls of our house are filled with memorable candids that Stephanie and I have taken of our kids... Continue Reading →
Talking about the New Leica Film Camera – With Dan Tamarkin & Jason Nicholson
Regardless of if you own a Leica, own 50 Leica's, wish you owned a Leica or don't give a shit about Leica cameras, the prolific camera maker's recent announcement of a new film camera is important news for the film, and maybe even the photography community as a whole. Last year, I published an article... Continue Reading →
Oil On the Aperture Blades
I thought it might be useful to do a blog about a lens that I just sold on eBay this week. It was a Nikkor 135mm 2.8 AIS that I'd owned and used fairly sparingly for probably around 15 years. It was a useful lens but nothing I was ever in love with, hence the... Continue Reading →
Rapid Firing With Manual 35mm Cameras
"I guess I've shot about 40,000 negatives and of these I have about 800 pictures I like." - Harry Callahan One of the major differences in the way that I see digital and film photographers approach each medium is how rapidly we shoot. A common mantra among film shooters is "I shoot film because it... Continue Reading →
Twins Are Even Better
If you're in the market for another camera but already have one that you love, my recommendation is simple. Get another copy of what you're happy with. Get a twin. When camera shopping, a common urge is to explore and try different things. And this is a good urge to have; it indicates curiosity and... Continue Reading →
Little Camera, Big Money
Leica Camera Number 105 - Leitz Photographica Auction, LEICA CAMERA CLASSICS Everyone else is making money from Leica Number 105 so I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring for a few bucks too. Hey! Before you read any further, like and subscribe as they say! 😉 Don't know what I'm talking about? Last... Continue Reading →