"My experience was probably pretty similar to other people who discover the Mahoning. First, I was taken by how this place seemed trapped in amber. There was little about it that seemed to have kept up with the times. I didn’t grow up going to drive-ins, but it felt like stepping back into my childhood. With the exception of the cars, it could well have been the 70s… could have even been the 50s for that matter. Everything seemed in place, and yet out of time."
Happy Birthday, Kodak Tri-X
Kodak Tri-X, as a concept, has been around since the 1940's when it was a 200 ISO b&w sheet film. Because it was their first fast film, when Kodak released the 400 ISO roll film version, the Tri-X name was maintained. Just like Kodak TMAX P3200 revolutionized low light photography in 1989, Tri-X was an... Continue Reading →
What is a Snapshot?
It's what we call a photograph that appears to be made with little consideration for the tenants of imaging and principles of design. Voigtländer has a lens named after it. It's usually proceeded by the word "quick." What is really meant when we call something a "snapshot?" I started thinking about this because, when I... Continue Reading →
Lens Hoods for the Leica Summitar
I touched on this topic a little bit in a previous blog about hoods for various LTM lenses entitled Throwing Shade, but I wanted to drill down on lens hood options for the Leitz 50mm f2 Summitar. As previously stated, I think that earlier Leitz lenses require a hood in many circumstances to perform their... Continue Reading →
One Photographer’s Experience; The Frederick Maryland March for Justice
It's a little after 10pm on Friday, June 5 2020. My negatives are hanging in a nearby window to dry and my shoes are still sopping wet too. Today was the Frederick March for Justice, one of innumerable nationwide demonstrations in honor of George Floyd. A storm front began lingering around the area Thursday afternoon... Continue Reading →
We Choose to Go to the Moon; David Burnett @ the Leica Store DC
This past Friday, the Leica Store DC hosted a gallery opening for famed photojournalist David Burnett's Apollo XI 50th anniversary photo series, We Choose to Go to the Moon. Though the astronauts made it to the Moon in 1969, my wife and I barely made it to DC! We were about 40 minutes late but... Continue Reading →
Paterson Film Developing Tank Review
Instead of reviewing yet another needless classic camera, I wanted to talk about products that will actually help our photography while still indulging our universal fixation on gear; developing tanks. If you are interested in developing your own film or have been doing it for decades, hopefully you find this review useful in some far... Continue Reading →
Salute the Grain; The Passing of Peter Lindbergh
It was announced today that b&w fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh has passed away at age 74. I'll leave the detailed articles of his storied career for the big publications to cover and encourage all portrait shooters to seek them out! But speaking as a grainy black and white film photographer, I wanted to share some... Continue Reading →
Downtown Frederick Art Icons Get Hitched!
This spring, I had the pleasure of photographing one of the most fun and inspiring, weddings I've photographed. Downtown Frederick, Maryland art icons Kayleigh Montgomery and Chris Morris were engaged to be married, and of all the amazing analog shooters in the area, I was fortunate enough to be tapped to cover their festive occasion.... Continue Reading →
Wedding Receptions on Film; No Flash, No Automation
Say what you will about wedding photography but few other gigs will allow you to party with beautiful people without having to even know a single dance move. My wife and I are freelance wedding photographers. She shoots digital and I shoot on b&w 35mm film. I use vintage, all manual cameras and lenses and... Continue Reading →