dylan barnes | blog

Category: Part of the Process

  • Part of the Process: Kent Miller

    Part of the Process: Kent Miller

    Part of the Process is a series of posts that puts the spotlight on film photographers and DIY film developers.  These features provide unique experiences and perspectives on shooting and developing film while also showcasing diverse talent and film photographers around the globe.  If you are interested in being featured, feel free to contact me!

    Name: Kent Miller

    Location: New York, New York, USA

    Links:

    Website

    What other websites or blogs do you keep up with to feed your photographic interests?

    Casey Neistat, Thomas Heaton, Ben Horne, On Taking Pictures, and Art of Photography.

    What attracted you to film photography? How did you get started/introduced to shooting film? How soon after did you start developing?

    I started shooting film because digital didn’t exist at the time. Processing your film was something you just did. It allowed you to experiment with your art and push things with your own vision. Spending hours in the darkroom in the early years was a different kind of high. Seeing something appear in the developer was a rush and was super exciting.

    Lin Bowman working in her studio, Linhof 5×7, Ilford HP5, 150mm Fujinon-W lens, f6.8 @ 1sec

    What do you like to shoot on a regular basis?

    With large format film, I do a bit of portraiture and land/waterscapes.

    What formats, cameras, and films do you shoot? What do you like about the formats, cameras, films you prefer? 

    5×7, 4×5, 2.25, and 35mm. Right now my go to camera is a Linhof 5×7. I shoot only black and white film. Mostly, I shoot very old stock from the 50’s. I also shoot Ilford FP4 and anything I can get my hands on.

    What types of film do you develop?

    I started with color film. Convinced the world is in color I never thought about anything else. Then a friend and amazing shooter talked me into buying a Monochrome Leica. I fell in love and have been obsessed with black and white since. Going back to film was a product of exploring deeper and deeper into the art. A friend in the family is also a great motivation to move your ass.

    So, now I am only developing black and white films at this time. Some old, some new. Using Kodak D76, R5 monobath and Ilford developers.

    Sam and Alder Zuckerman, Rafters, VT.  Linhof 5×7, Kodak Panchromatic exp. 1958, Schneider Symmar convertible lens at 210, f8 @ 1sec

    What is your development process like now?

    I load my film and paper in the darkroom as much as possible before going out. I take 3-4 different emulsions and papers. Some days, I use paper negatives for more contrast or a unique look to the image, other times I want super sharp and a safe film I know will look great.

    I’ve been working on a portrait project using very old outdated film with great results. It’s just a risk you take to use this film. You just never know how it was stored or handled. So far, so good, though.

    Jeff and Ruben, Rafters, VT. Linhof 5×7, Kodak Panchromatic exp. 1958, Schneider Symmar convertible lens at 210, f6.8 @ 1sec

    I then process using one of three developers I talked about above. I then scan the negatives and pick a best shot to wet scan for digital printing. I plan to print the best shots with platinum/palladium.

    I’m still working on this project so the final prints have not been made yet. I don’t really have any great tricks to offer. I’m not a master printer at all, so I just do the best I can and look to others for life long guidance. Tim Layton is amazing and I pick up anything i can from him. I’m also lucky, My great friend and now brother-in-law in an amazing alternative process guy so he is always a source of inspiration and guidance.

    What’s your processes regarding scanning, enlarging, and/or printing your work?

    Now I develop my film and scan using a wet scanning process for the best results from my Epson V700. The negatives are also contact printed using a platinum / palladium process on watercolor paper. I also print using a digital negative with amazing results.

    Katie Jo Flanagan, Dancer/Performer, White Plains, NY. Linhof 5×7, Ilford HP5, Schneider Symmar convertible lens at 210, f6.8 @ 4sec 

    What equipment are you using to develop your film and why?

    I use many types of processing vessels. Stainless tanks, Patterson tanks and reels for roll film and 4×5.  I also picked up a beautiful tank for 5×7 sheet film made by B&W King in China. Only available through eBay, but it is a work of art in itself. I use trays for some work if I only have a sheet or two to process. I have loaded and messed up film in all the options I use, so no real one way of doing things. I have been using the stainless 5×7 tank for a lot of work lately.

    Jonathan Perry, The Jugglah, Circus Arts, Hacks Point, MD, Linhof 5×7, Ilford HP5, Nikkor-W f8 @ 1/30

    Are you content with where you are now with your shooting and developing? Do you have any future plans or ambitions?

    I’ll never be content with the process as I will never be a master. I’m always learning and trying different things. A lab is not in the cards for sure but you never know about other options. I think youtube or blog type things are more in my future. Mostly just to show the things Im doing so others can offer help or info to push things in different directions.

    Jim and Leroy Bowman, Elizabethtown, PA. Linhof 5×7, Ilford HP5, Nikkor-W f8 @ 1/15

    Have you completed any notable projects or in the process of creating something from the film you have shot and developed?

    My current work is still very new and still in its infantry. I am a commercial photographer in New York City, so I do mostly what clients need. I have yet to show any of this work yet.

    What advice can you give to others who are interested in shooting and developing film but are apprehensive about getting started?

    If you have never shot film, you need to at least run a few rolls through an old camera and see what you think. If you’re searching for something with feeling, texture, and a different look than you get with digital then you may find it in film.

    Michelle Kelly Wurf, Dancer, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Linhof 5×7, Ilford HP5, Nikkor-W f11@1/125

    The cost to give it a try is not all that much, but could be a bit of a process. I would just send out a few rolls to a lab at first and see if you want to take the plunge into the art form that is film. I believe that shooting large format will slow you down and make you think differently. It’s a thought process. It’s just a box with a lens on the front but so many things can and will go wrong. When you get it right you will be amazed at the results. If you have never seen a 4×5, 5×7 or 8×10 chrome you will just sit and stare at it. It is stunning to see!

    ** All the film was developed in D76 straight, 7.5 min@ 70degrees, Agitation was first 30 seconds then 10 seconds every 2 minutes.  The images were scanned on an Epson V700 with a better scanning wet system. **

  • Part of the Process: Caleb Hartman

    Part of the Process: Caleb Hartman

    Part of the Process is a series of posts that puts the spotlight on film photographers and DIY film developers.  These features provide unique experiences and perspectives on shooting and developing film while also showcasing diverse talent and film photographers around the globe.  If you are interested in being featured, feel free to contact me!

    Name: Caleb Hartman

    Location: Spring Hill, Florida, USA

    Links:

    Flickr

    Instagram

    What other websites or blogs do you keep up with to feed your photographic interests?

    Anything and everything really. Japan Camera Hunter has been of interest as of late. But I also tend to regularly check out Negative Feedback, Film Photography’s Podcast, Analogue Talk Podcast, and Flickr for the o Casio al scroll-through.

    What attracted you to film photography? How did you get started/introduced to shooting film? How soon after did you start developing?

    Everything about it really. The intimacy, expression, physical copies, subjectivity, philosophies attributed with, history, grain, methodical approaches, the list goes on. To put it simply, the finished product just feels well-earned. There’s more to the process than simply snapping away. Don’t get me wrong, shooting digital is wonderfully efficient in many ways, but I think there’s something a bit more in-depth and personal to be said about shooting film, and the process behind it. Slow down, step back, think twice, etc.. (for the most part). It’s a very humbling and rewarding experience.

    On a side note, I’m one often to get swept up in the hustle and monotony of everyday life. I feel shooting film has really forced me to slow down, and appreciate life and it’s intricacies a bit more. It’s easy to become detached from everything around you. Kind of another reason I wanted to work with film. Necessities. It’s been a pleasant experience so far.  Minus the tourist comments.

    Truthfully, I’ve always been into photography but never really pursued it; however, a couple of months ago I figured I’d need another hobby, as I often like to stay busy, and powerlifting was just too mentally and physically taxing for me to really focus on my academics at hand. Considering I basically travel around locally for work, I figured why not give photography a go. After keeping up with his blog for some time, I shot Dylan a message and enquired about where and how to start. A month later I was set up with a little Pentax ME Super, and it’s been chill ever since.

    I’d say about a month after I started shooting, I was fortunate enough to come across someone selling about $300 worth of equipment for $30. This included two bulk loaders filled with TMAX, dark room data guides, empty canisters, slide film, a stainless steel tank, a few chemicals, the whole nine yards.

    Needless to say, I loaded up quite a few rolls and shot all of them within the next week or so. I figured since I was storing up so much film and already had half of the equipment needed to develop the film, I might as well do a bit of research on the developing process. Ordered some chemicals a week or two later, as the ones I had received were shot, and gave it a try. I think the developing process really sealed the deal for me. I mean, not only is it relatively cost efficient, but there’s something about pulling the film off of the reel and seeing the finished product that blows you away, every time.

    What do you like to shoot on a regular basis?

    Pictures of my dog. Dogs are the best. No, I’m kidding. … sort of. Anything and everything really. If it catches my eye, I’ll shoot it. I’d like to delve into street photography a bit more, but it’s not really feasible where I’m from. Rural town, pastures, and a church on every corner, the same rhythmic patterns. You know what I’m talking about. It’s not all bad though, I guess. Ultimately, I’d like to move to a more populated place.

    What formats, cameras, and films do you shoot? What do you like about the formats, cameras, films you prefer? 

    35mm strictly, at the moment. I have a Pentax ME Super, and a Canon AE-1. I’m slowly delving into the wonderful abyss that is film photography though.

    What types of film do you develop?

    C-41 and black and white. I’ve been meaning to jump into E6 though just for the experience, as I have a bunch of slide film laying around. All in due time.

    Tell us about your first experiences in developing your own film.  How did you muster the courage to give it a shot? What resources did you use?

    YouTube, Massive Dev charts, a few forums, and the “Develop” app. My first attempt at developing film went pretty well, actually. I think the biggest struggle for me initially was making sure the temperatures for the developer and fixer were correct (shooting B&W at the time). Also, making sure everything was easily accessible and ready to be used. Everything went fairly smoothly though, despite the fact of how daunting it seemed at the start.

    What’s your processes regarding scanning, enlarging, and/or printing your work?

    I currently scan the negs straight through with an EPSON V300. It’s not the best, but for $15 it gets the job done. I think it is good for generally sharing with the world. I’d like to dive into enlarging and printing sometime in the near future too, as it seems pretty awesome.

    What equipment are you using to develop your film and why?

    Literally the budget basics. The “Develop!” app, Massive Dev charts, polyethylene terephthalate bottles, a stainless steel tank, thermometer, funnel, and a bathroom that doubles as a darkroom by sealing the frame. B&W chemicals consist of Kodak D-76, and Ilford Rapid Fixer. Water is used as the stop Bath.

    For color negative film, I use FPP’s C-41 Unicolor press kit. Simple, efficient, cost-effective.

    Are you content with where you are now with your shooting and developing? Do you have any future plans or ambitions?

    Never. The urge to improve is ever-present. I’ll finish developing a roll, get the negatives scanned in, and be like “Damn these are cool, but they could be better.” Ever since I’ve started shooting, I’ve seen a bit of improvement in the composition and such of each roll, though.

    Developing still remains somewhat of a mystery to me, truthfully. I think it may just be an experience thing, though. I actually realized I had been over-developing my film recently. But over-developed, under-developed, art is in the eye of the beholder, right? So there’s been a lot of play in the developing times and temperatures lately. Learning the boundaries, what’s appealing, so on and so forth.

    A zine would be cool! So would opening some small-time “developing lab.” Id imagine these things are a bit down the road, though.

    Have you completed any notable projects or in the process of creating something from the film you have shot and developed? 

    Nothing, yet. I’ve got some personal project ideas floating around, but nothing set in stone yet.

    What advice can you give to others who are interested in shooting and developing film but are apprehensive about getting started?

    Give it a go. Seriously.

  • Part of the Process: Alex Bolen

    Part of the Process: Alex Bolen

    Part of the Process is a series of posts that puts the spotlight on film photographers and DIY film developers.  These features provide unique experiences and perspectives on shooting and developing film while also showcasing diverse talent and film photographers around the globe.  If you are interested in being featured, feel free to contact me!

    Name: Alex Bolen

    Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

    Links:

    Website

    Instagram

    Flickr

    What other websites or blogs do you keep up with to feed your photographic interests?

    Negative Feedback, Instagram, Flickr, and other Facebook groups.

    What attracted you to film photography? How did you get started/introduced to shooting film? How soon after did you start developing?

    I went to school for filmmaking which introduced me to 35mm cinema cameras. I wanted to replicate the look of cinema so I picked up shooting 35mm photos. Since then, I’ve expanded to shooting medium and large format as well.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    What do you like to shoot on a regular basis?

    I mainly shoot portraits, street, and lifestyle, but when traveling I love taking landscape photos.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    What formats, cameras, and films do you shoot? What do you like about the formats, cameras, films you prefer? 

    Large Format: Sinar 4×5

    Medium Format: Mamiya RB67

    35mm: Nikon 35ti, Canon AE1

    Instant: Polaroid Landcamera 340

    Film: HP5 @ 400 & 800, Lomography 400 & 800, Portra 400, Fuji FP100c

    What types of film do you develop?

    C41 and black and white.

    Tell us about your first experiences in developing your own film.  How did you muster the courage to give it a shot? What resources did you use?

    The first time I developed film was kind of a whirlwind. I didn’t know much about it, but since all my local shops closed down, I wanted to be able to do it myself. I gave a half-hearted Google search on how to do it, picked up some used supplies on eBay and set up shop in my dad’s dental lab. I followed the steps laid out in a Youtube video and to my surprise, I pulled out my film and found images on it. Half amazed and half confused that I did everything correctly, I quickly bought a bigger developing tank and have been doing all of my own film ever since.

    Minolta 140EX // Lomography Color 400
    What is your development process like now?

    My current process starts with my loading all of my film onto reels in my darkroom after shooting and placing them in the developing tanks. I find it much easier to change film in a darkroom than a changing bag. My hands don’t get all sweaty and I have much more space to work.

    From here I bring them over to my dad’s dental lab where I keep all of my developing chemicals and supplies. I follow a pretty standard developing process and do a final rinse with distilled water and Photo-Flo to make sure my negatives are squeaky clean.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    After my film is dry, I load them into protective sleeves and scan them in on my Epson V600. After I have digital files I run them through Lightroom where I remove dust, tweak colors, and add a little contrast.

    My process is pretty straight forward and “by the books.” Although I am quite lazy with developing times and my schedule is a bit sloppy, everything tends to turn out okay.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    What’s your processes regarding scanning, enlarging, and/or printing your work?

    I built a darkroom in my studio for around $400 about a year ago. I started shooting a lot of black and white and found a couple darkroom bundles on Craigslist for cheap that had everything I needed. I’ve been printing my own 35mm black and white since then and have been enjoying the process immensely. There’s something surreal about doing everything from taking the actual photo, to developing, to printing it and holding a final product in my hands.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    What equipment are you using to develop your film and why?

    I use a Paterson tank with Kodak D-76 developer for my black and white and Unicolor chemicals for C41. Honestly, I just bought what had the best reviews on Amazon and haven’t looked back since, haha. They’ve both worked swimmingly and I don’t feel as though I need to improve on a well oiled system as of right now.

    Canon AF35ML // Agfa Vista 200
    Are you content with where you are now with your shooting and developing? Do you have any future plans or ambitions?

    I don’t think I’m ever content with any art venture. There’s always something more – something new that I want to try or accomplish. This year I’d love to release a very limited run zine or book with some of my work, as well as try to put on an exhibition of my landscapes I plan on taking this summer. Other than that, I just plan on exploring some new locations and trying out some new films.

    Minolta 140EX // Lomography Color 400
    Have you completed any notable projects or in the process of creating something from the film you have shot and developed? 

    Photography is still just a hobby for me at the moment and I haven’t really looked to do anything beyond taking photos for my own enjoyment. I recently just finished up a collaborative zine with a small film pod I’m a part of on Instagram (Space Pod), and this summer I’m looking to take some 4×5 landscapes of Northern Michigan to sell out of my uncle’s art gallery.

    Other than that, I enjoy sharing my photos with friends via Instagram.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
    What advice can you give to others who are interested in shooting and developing film but are apprehensive about getting started?

    To everyone interested in shooting/developing film but are apprehensive – GO DO IT! It’s a very strange leap and is going to take a lot of trial and error, but the beauty of the art is that it’s all about the journey along the way. You’ll learn a ton and really get to see life through a different perspective. Sure, it costs a little money, but it’s worth it. Money’s just a tool – so use it on something that’s going to build your character and leave a legacy.

    Nikon 35ti // Lomography Color 400
  • Part of the Process: Tom Allen

    Part of the Process: Tom Allen

    Part of the Process is a series of posts that puts the spotlight on film photographers and DIY film developers.  These features provide unique experiences and perspectives on shooting and developing film while also showcasing diverse talent and film photographers around the globe.  If you are interested in being featured, feel free to contact me!

    Name: Tom Allen

    Location: Suffolk, England

    Links:

    Instagram

    What other websites or blogs do you keep up with to feed your photographic interests?

    Magnum Photos, Japan Camera Hunter, The Phoblographer, Wasteoffilm and anyone I find inspiring on Instagram.

    What attracted you to film photography? How did you get started/introduced to shooting film? How soon after did you start developing?

    I got interested in film photography when my dad found his Olympus and gave it to me to play around with after I had been shooting digitally for a year or two. I didn’t love it at first, but for whatever reason I kept shooting and now I’m completely taken with film and use it for all my shooting. I was shooting film for about a year before buying my own developing equipment because I realised it would be cheaper to learn than to keep sending to a lab.

    Olympus OM2 + 50mm f1.4 on Ilford HP5

     

    What do you like to shoot on a regular basis?

    I like taking inspiring from all different areas, but documentary, portraiture, and landscape are the three areas I find most captivating and they are the three styles I shoot the most.

    Olympus OM2 + 50mm again on HP5 @800

    What formats, cameras, and films do you shoot? What do you like about the formats, cameras, films you prefer? 

    I use a 35mm Olympus OM2n and a 50mm f/1.4 that belonged to my dad.  It’s not very expensive online, but the images are beautiful and it’s smaller and more compact than most film SLRs.

    Olympus OM2 + Zuiko 50mm f1.4 on Fuji C200

    I also shoot 120mm film with a Yashica 635.  Again, not very expensive and it’s certainly no Rolleiflex, but the images are still very sharp and very pleasing to my eye at least.

    Yashica 635 + 80mm f3.5 on Portra 400

    What types of film do you develop?

    I develop B&W film myself but have never developed C41 or E6.

    Tell us about your first experiences in developing your own film.  How did you muster the courage to give it a shot? What resources did you use?

    I knew the basics from Youtube tutorials, and had my first experience through school, which went surprisingly well. After that, I bought a Paterson kit and started developing in my kitchen. I’m a very cautious person, so I planned my first attempts meticulously.  That has now become habit and so far I haven’t ruined a roll of film (thank goodness!).

    Yashica 635 + 80mm on Ilford FP4

    What is your development process like now?

    I develop my film in my kitchen using times from Massive Dev Chart with all my lovely brand-loyal Ilford chemicals.  Then, I scan them with a little-bit-outdated-but-does-the-job Epson V330 scanner. After that, I choose which negatives, if any, I want to print and then I get to work printing. I test strip, dodge, burn and all that until I am happy with what I see. I then stash them away so my photography tutor can’t see them and persuade me to use them for my school work, and finally mount them in a sketchbook.

    Olympus OM2 + Zuiko 50mm f1.4 on Ilford HP5

    What’s your processes regarding scanning, enlarging, and/or printing your work?

    I scan my film at home for use on social media, but printing in the darkroom is my absolute favourite way to ‘finish’ the image.  It’s also my favourite part of the film process. Don’t get me wrong, the scans are useful and nice to have, but the satisfaction of making a print, the look, the process, and the experience of it is really special and I don’t feel like I’ve truly captured an image until I take the time to print it.

    I know that can sound really artsy and pretentious, and that side to film photography gets on my nerves, but printing is a lot of fun and I wouldn’t enjoy photography as much without it.

    Yashica 635 + 80mm on Tri-X

    What equipment are you using to develop your film and why?

    I use Paterson tanks and reels and a changing bag because that seemed the most available brand, nothing really to do with loyalty. Brand loyalty does come into play with my chemicals because I am an Ilford user, down to being a student who lives in England where Ilford is based so can get it way way cheaper than something like Tri-X (Not to mention I like the look of Ilford’s film!). So I use Ilford ID-11 (after a brief affair with Rodinal) in a 5 litre jerry can, and then Ilfostop and Ilford Fix, too. The darkroom I use has Fotospeed developer, stop and fix for printing which work perfectly well when paired with Ilford Multigrade paper.

    Yashica 635 + 80mm on Ilford HP5

    Are you content with where you are now with your shooting and developing? Do you have any future plans or ambitions?

    I’m pretty content for now I think.  My main focus is to put together some kind of body of work that I’m really happy with. Maybe in the future I’ll look at publishing and perhaps expanding on my developing and learning colour printing or something like that, if I can find the opportunity to do so.

    Yashica 635 + 80mm on Fuji 400h

    Have you completed any notable projects or in the process of creating something from the film you have shot and developed? Feel free to give a solid summary of each project.

    I’m currently working on a documentary project focused around a Victorian seaside town near where I live because of it’s strange mixture of run-down areas and up-market posh middle-class places crammed in next to each other, which I find really interesting. Alongside that, tomorrow (from the day of writing this) I’m going to shoot the first part of a portrait project on film in the studio which I was inspired to do after coming across the work of Alvin Langdon Coburn and Irving Penn.

    Olympus OM2 + Zuiko 50mm f1.4 and Ilford HP5 @1600

    What advice can you give to others who are interested in shooting and developing film but are apprehensive about getting started?

    I would definitely say just go for it, if you’re worried about getting it right, you’ll never know until you try, so why hold yourself back? And there’s always the friendly internet to help when you’re stuck. If you’re worried about cost, then there are always loopholes and hacks you can find.  You don’t need the best of the best equipment.  Look on eBay for good deals and find what works for you.

    My final piece of advice (not that this is unique) would be to make yourself an amazing Spotify playlist for when you’re printing!

  • Part of the Process: Colin Staehle-Lantelme

    Part of the Process: Colin Staehle-Lantelme

    Part of the Process is a series of posts that puts the spotlight on film photographers and DIY film developers.  These features provide unique experiences and perspectives on shooting and developing film while also showcasing diverse talent and film photographers around the globe.  If you are interested in being featured, feel free to contact me!

    Name: Colin Staehle-Lantelme

    Location: Naples, Florida, USA

    Links:

    Website

    Instagram

    What other websites or blogs do you keep up with to feed your photographic interests?

    Usually just YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook but i do like to try and find websites of full bodies of work.

    What attracted you to film photography? How did you get started/introduced to shooting film? How soon after did you start developing?

    Honestly the mixture of a really bad break up and a tab of LSD is what kickstarted my passion for film. My roommate at the time had the day off from school and knew I was having a bad time dealing with the break up and offered to trip with me. Before we left our apartment I grabbed my Nikkormat at the last second (first time i used it in about 4 years).

    I remember looking through the viewfinder and saying one of two phrases the entire day “It’s going to look like this” or “that could be a shoegaze album cover”. I got the roll back from the lab a week later and every shot was perfect. Since then, photography has been therapy for me. Soon after that day, I signed up for this community darkroom class in Orlando and continued to rent out the darkroom months after.

    Olympus XA2
    Agfa APX 400

    What do you like to shoot on a regular basis?

    Growing up in the fashion industry I’ve always been drawn to fashion photography. But I do love shooting skateboarding and musicians as well. I always take a few portraits of all my subjects as well.

    Whenever I go to shoot a new client, I usually treat the shoot like we are just hanging out.  I try to have some introspective conversations, make their thoughts stimulating.  It usually makes the shoot a little smoother and brings more emotion into the model. I usually get a bowl of ramen with them after the shoot, too.

    Nikkormat EL
    50mm f/1.2
    Ilford HP5+

    What formats, cameras, and films do you shoot? What do you like about the formats, cameras, films you prefer? 

    For 35mm I shoot with a Leica M6 and an Olympus XA2. I recently switched from digital to exclusively film for my professional work.  The M6 just offers me a feeling of complete reliability. I used to shoot on a Nikkormat EL and it used to be a nightmare.  I’ve had to refund clients because of that camera. The Olympus is great for my more “experimental” projects as a lot of my work is inspired by psychedelics so the XA just offers something simple and durable for me . All I have to do is focus on composition and hit the shutter.

    Leica M6
    Voigtlander 35mm F/1.4
    Kodak Tri-X 400

    For medium format, I use a Hasselblad 500C/M. That was my dream camera since I started shooting (almost eleven years now). It’s what my cousin, Brian Lantelme, (who is a massive drive in my work) used in the 70’s and 80’s when he was shooting the Transgender and Drag community in New York City. Other than the camera being a flawless machine, and the 6×6 format somewhat forcing me to push my composition boundaries, choosing this camera was mostly cathartic.

    Olympus XA2
    Agfa APX 400

    I recently got into instant photography which i use a Polaroid 450 Land camera. I just love the feeling of showing a client a shot during a shoot. Especially with the beautiful colors Fujifilm FP-100c has to offer. My standard film used to be Ilford’s HP5+ and Fujifilm Pro400H but since the announcement of Kodak’s Ektachrome making a return and the rumors of Kodachrome coming back, I felt obligated to give Kodak all my money. I primarily shoot with Tri-X400 and Provia 400 now.

    What types of film do you develop?

    Mostly black and white.

    Nikkormat EL
    50mm f/1.2
    Ilford HP5+

    Tell us about your first experiences in developing your own film.  How did you muster the courage to give it a shot? What resources did you use?

    My teacher, Peter Schryer, walked me through the process. It was a euphoric experience, between the sounds of the flickering lights and the ac unit kicking on and off, and the smells of the chemicals, it became nirvana. I was probably listening to Velvet Underground or My Bloody Valentine (my usual go to darkroom soundtrack).

    Just the feeling of being able to create photos from start to finish was very rewarding. Honestly the best advice i can give is be patient, explore different techniques, and play good music (makes the development time seem not as long).

    Hasselblad 500C/M
    60mm f/3.5
    Ilford HP5+

    What is your development process like now?

    So I always start with picking music, usually some sort of shoegaze. I pour my chemicals then start loading my development tanks. During the rinse phase, I always smoke a cigarette to time my cycle. For enlarging, I usually make a base print of all the pictures i want to enlarge, dry them, then make my notes for cropping, dodging and burning. Then work on my final prints.

    What’s your processes regarding scanning, enlarging, and/or printing your work?

    I actually scan every roll and create a contact sheet for each roll. I enlarge my own images as well.

    What equipment are you using to develop your film and why?

    For my enlarger, I use a Besseler 67SC with a Rodogon 80mm lens, Paterson tanks, Epson V500 scanner, and just various old odds and ends. About 90% of my darkroom was purchased through a good friend of mine named Michael who owns Kiwi Camera Services in Winter Park, Fl. He gave me a killer deal on everything, and is still providing insight and little gifts here and there. Last I was there for a gallery showing, he gave me a vintage bottle of retouching ink. He’s the man! For chemicals, I use all Kodak powder solutions, D-76 for developer.

    Nikkormat EL
    50mm f/1.2
    Ilford HP5+

    Are you content with where you are now with your shooting and developing? Do you have any future plans or ambitions?

    I’m never content with my work, which is what pushes me to continue. I love that I found something I can completely obsess about and constantly learn from. I’m actually moving to Denver to peruse a career in journalism, for both the writing and photography aspects. I used to be a literature major, so writing as been a big part of my life.

    Have you completed any notable projects or in the process of creating something from the film you have shot and developed? Feel free to give a solid summary of each project.

    I’ve done a lot of personal projects and commissioned work, but my favorite project was shooting Tampa Pro 2017. One of my friends started a blog/zine called SR50 in Orlando and he offered me the job. It was 3 days of partying with the heroes of my adolescence.  I got portraits of professional skaters like Jamie Thomas, Torry Pudwil, Lizard King and Geoff Rowley (tons more, too). Being able to just sit on the ramps and get the shots I actually wanted was so surreal. I actually had a spot in a gallery with some of my enlargements from Tampa Pro.

    Leica M6
    Voigtlander 35mm F/1.4
    Kodak Tri-X 400

    While i was living in Orlando, I shot one of Aesop Rock’s shows. My homie, DJ Zone, who did the scratching on his newest album, got me photo passes last minute. I got to the venue like three hours early and tried to sneak in. I saw Rob Sonic outside smoking a cigarette and I decided to try and talk to him I asked him “Hey, you with the Social?”  He replied, “Nah man.” I said, “Damn I am just trying to see my homie Patrick.” He replied with “Oh, you’re Zone’s homie? Come with me, I’m Bobby, if anyone gives you shit, tell them Bobby sent you.” It was a wild experience.

    Nikkormat EL
    50mm f/1.2
    Ilford HP5+
    Nikkormat EL
    50mm f/1.2
    Ilford HP5+

    What advice can you give to others who are interested in shooting and developing film but are apprehensive about getting started?

    Just dive in!  It’s a rewarding experience. Find a cheap camera and never leave it at home.