Develop. - Develop. - [The Journey]

RISE AGAIN.
[July 30, 2023]

Set up my camera to get better accustomed to the tripod, the camera movements, and to work on focusing. Charley was my assistant.

LOST THE BATTLE; NOT THE WAR.
[June 25, 2023]

Now that I have the essentials to my large format kit, I packed up all my gear and, with Don, took a venture out to Slate Run Metro Park to take my very first ever 4x5 photographs! I was excited!

And how did it go? Well.....let's just say it didn't go very well. I had a lot of difficulty getting the camera onto the tripod, it was tricky juggling all the components in my bag, and I could not focus for the life of me! I could get a horizontal line in focus but nothing else and it was very frustrating! I didn't want to waste the money on film that I knew wouldn't turn out the way I want so after two attempts (who have yet to be developed), I packed up my bag and went home to research a little more about a large format camera!

I lost the June 25th Battle of Slate Run.

I haven't lost the war on learning large format!

NEARLY THERE.
[June 24, 2023]

Getting SO CLOSE! My tripod arrived but needed a new release plate. Once that came in, I had difficulty getting it to work and discovered that the base plate on my camera had not been drilled entirely, therefore the threading wasn't as it should be for the release plate to be screwed in. Contacted Intrepid and they sent a replacement base plate. That has arrived. The tripod has arrived. I purchased film today.

I'm nearly there!

RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN MY JOURNEY INTO LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY.
[May 27, 2023]

LARGE FORMAT FLUFF 'N STUFF

☑   CAMERA
☑   CAMERA BAG
☑ LENS
⬜ TRIPOD
⬜ TRIPOD HEAD
⬜ CAMERA WRAP
☑    DARK CLOTH
☑ PINHOLE LENS
⬜ 4x5 ENLARGER KIT
☑ LENS BOARDS- Copal #0, #1, #3
☑ FRESNEL SCREEN
☑ REPLACEMENT GROUND GLASS
☑ HALF FRAME DARK SLIDE
⬜ 35mm NEGATIVE CARRIER
⬜ 120 NEGATIVE CARRIER
⬜ SHEET FILM
☑ CHANGING TENT
☑ FOCUSING LOUPE
☑ CABLE SHUTTER RELEASE CABLE
☑ GROUND GLASS PROTECTOR
☑ PADDED EQUIPMENT WRAP
⬜ FILTERS
⬜ FILTER POUCH
☑   FILM HOLDERS
⬜ ARCHIVAL STORAGE
⬜ FILM PROCESSING TANK
⬜ SPOT LIGHT METER
☑   EMPTY FILM BOXES
☑ LOG
☑   NOTEBOOK
☑   PENS
☑   POUCH FOR FILM HOLDERS/BAGGIES

Before, back in March, I only had 4 things ticked off the list. Now, I've purchased nearly all that I need to get me started. I'm going to wait a bit on a light meter and try to either use an app on my cellphone or my dslr's light meter at the beginning. I'm also waiting on anything I need to convert my Intrepid 4x5 camera into an enlarger because I don't officially have a darkroom. I plan to use Midwest Photo's darkroom rental at the beginning of my journey.

Speaking of my Intrepid 4x5 camera, take a look at this beauty!

It came May 17th. I didn't realize at first that I needed something called a spanner wrench to attach the lens to the lens board properly so once that was purchased and received I've been able to set it up, play around with the various rise/fall/tilt/shift/focus settings. I got a small pouch for my focusing loupe to sit in, and I figured out the configuration of my camera bag. All I truly need now is 1) a tripod and 2) sheet film.

I'm so close!

I think I'll be purchasing a Bogen 3236 Tripod with a 3047 head since the Ries J100 and J250 head are well out of my price range. Looking to make that purchase tonight!

So very close!

WORLDWIDE PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY DAY 2023.
[April 30, 2023]

The last Sunday in April is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day! This year, I remained local in an attempt to make some images with wooden cigar boxes. Together with Don, Alex, Candy, and Willie, we participated in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2023.

PINHOLE PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
[April 7th and April 8th, 2023]

First, the important news: MY 4x5 CAMERA HAS BEEN ORDERED!!! My journey into large format is almost upon us!

Also almost upon us is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day which falls on the last Sunday in April of every year; this year on April 30th. Don and I went to Pickerington Ponds to get in some pinhole photography practice. I used my wooden cigar box pinhole camera - but placed it on a tripod for the first time! (Can you tell I want to be in large format mode already???)

And today I developed them!

And into the dark(room) I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

I liked 5 of my six - not too bad. Here are the final results:

KEEP YOUR PIN UP.
[March 31, 2023]

According to the ODJFS eManuals, Hero Pay payments for eligible individuals will begin April 2023. POTENTIALLY ONE DAY AWAY!!! The “hero pay” program was set up to give bonuses to private sector employees who had to work during the pandemic (like my daycare worker self or as I prefer "early childhood educator.") It is thanks to this program that I can soon begin my journey into large format photography.

For now, while I wait for the money to be deposited so I can purchase my 4x5 camera, a pin of a large format camera for my large format camera bag will have to do.

BUILDING MY 4x5 KIT.
[March 25, 2023]

I'm excited! I've been working toward building my 4x5 kit! Little by little I've been researching items and purchasing a few along the way to try and save myself from being shocked and appalled at how expensive a large format photography hobby is going to be. Regardless, it's too late. I'm past the point of no return.

My current purchases:

I stopped by two local photography stores here in Columbus, Ohio: Midwest Photography and World of Photography to check out their large format selection as well as to see what tripods they had. I didn't plan to purchase my lens, but something showed me the light. :)

My bag came in the mail too today! And I ordered a large format camera pin for the bag, as well as my dark cloth.

Here's my current supply list, Some I won't need to purchase for my starter kit and can put on hold a little while:

LARGE FORMAT FLUFF 'N STUFF

⬜ CAMERA
☑ CAMERA BAG
☑ LENS
⬜ TRIPOD
⬜ TRIPOD HEAD
⬜ CAMERA WRAP
☑ DARK CLOTH
⬜ PINHOLE LENS
⬜ 4x5 ENLARGER KIT
⬜ LENS BOARDS- Copal #0
⬜ FRESNEL SCREEN
⬜ REPLACEMENT GROUND GLASS
⬜ HALF FRAME DARK SLIDE
⬜ 35mm NEGATIVE CARRIER
⬜ 120 NEGATIVE CARRIER
⬜ SHEET FILM
⬜ CHANGING TENT
⬜ FOCUSING LOUPE
⬜ CABLE SHUTTER RELEASE CABLE
⬜ GROUND GLASS PROTECTOR
⬜ PADDED EQUIPMENT WRAP
⬜ FILTERS
⬜ FILTER POUCH
⬜ FILM HOLDERS
⬜ ARCHIVAL STORAGE
⬜ FILM PROCESSING TANK
⬜ SPOT LIGHT METER -
☑ EMPTY FILM BOXES
⬜ LOG
⬜ NOTEBOOK
⬜ PENS
⬜ POUCH FOR FILM HOLDERS/BAGGIES

Awaiting the deposit of my Hero Pay initiative (a bonus to private sector employees who had to work during the pandemic) to hit my bank account before making additional purchases.

DEVELOP AN INTEREST.
[March 10, 2023]

"Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate."

What better way to dive back into a hobby than to spark some motivation through the inspiration of others? Don and I took a road trip to Portsmouth, Ohio to the Ohio Southern Museum to see their Emulsion exhibit. I knew that it would center on film photography but what I didn't realize is that it's focus rested on two topics that are at the top of my current interests; 1) alternative processes and 2) 4x5 cameras.

Here's an article from the Portsmouth Daily Times that discusses the exhibit:
https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/2023/01/19/emulsion-opening-at-somacc/

Alternative processes is what I am most looking forward to exploring as I get back into film photography. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to have been introduced to so many various types of photography and I look forward to relearning them and perfecting the process; whichever I happen to be exploring at the time.

I've got some plans, but I'm not yet sure which will be the first to execute:

1) Pinhole photography
- I've purchased photo paper (to act as my film), developer, stop bath, and fixative. I have found some wooden cigar boxes that have previously been made into cameras. I have the power point presentation of notes on pinhole photography. Before April 30th, I plan to practice taking some photographs!
- I've registered a group for Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day (Fox Glen WPPD) and hope to recruit possibly Don, my mom, Alex, and his girlfriend Sydney to be participants with me on April 30, 2023.
- I'm hoping to, sometime this Summer, conduct a pinhole photography workshop for my photography club. I've already contacted some local cigar shops about obtaining some more wooden cigar boxes and I have the PowerPoint presentation ready! I also have the paper and chemicals and meet soon to discuss when a good time might be to try and hold it.

2) Re-imagine my old negatives
- First, I need to find my old 35mm negatives. I've found some, but not the large notebook I know so many are stored in.
- I want to take 2 rolls of black and white film focusing on texture, then develop them.
- Once finished, I'd like to do some double exposures with some of my old negatives and the new textured ones.

3) Create my own double exposure film
- A brand named Revolog created a film called Tesla BW which "added unexpected lightning bolts to your image. You won't know where, but you'll definitely get struck!" Unfortunately, it is sold out on every website I have tried.
- However, there is good news! I believe if I purchase something called a Tesla Coil, I can take a roll of film of the 'lightning bolt' and then wind the film back in, before taking the roll again; creating my own double exposure film and getting the very same effect that the Tesla BW film had. Perhaps this is even the way they created the film.

4) Entering into the world of Large Format Photography
- I should be getting some extra money from work come April and while it maybe could be put to better use, I'm determined to buy a 4x5 camera with it and some accessories needed to get started into the world of Large Format Photography.
- I'm looking to buy the Intrepid Camera 4x5.

DEVELOPMENT.
[February 26, 2023]

My official re-entry into film photography began on January 20, 2023. Perhaps I got the itch after not being able to life life as freely as one would like for the past four years ever since COVID-19 hit the world. Or perhaps it was the near twenty-year hiatus that I took from photography.

While film photography hadn't changed, my understanding of it might have. I already equate my cartoon alter ego to being the ever forgetful Dory from Finding Nemo, so venturing back into the world of analog photography seemed daunting.

What better way to revisit something, than with a refresher course. A local photography store, Midwest Photo, had an Introduction to Film course which I missed, but did not think I needed anyway, and I signed up for the two courses that followed: Black and White Film Developing and Black and White Darkroom Printing. These were both led by Mat Marrash and I could not recommend them more highly. Not only did the information in the classes jog my memory, but they were beneficial when I had some questions that furthered my understanding as well.

I began my journey with a trip to Franklin Park Conservatory. I unfortunately wasn't able to find my favorite film camera, my Nikon FM10, but I was able to find my first film camera, my Nikon N60. I didn't have the camera I wanted, I didn't have the lens I wanted, I knew the photographs I was taking were going to be under-exposed, but I made the best of it.

The very next day was my Black and White Film Developing course. I developed my film a little longer to try and compensate for the underexposure. They turned out pretty well! It had been nearly two decades since I developed my own film and I loved all the same!

February 4, 2023 was my Black and White Darkroom Printing course. We made a contact sheet of our negatives, as well as made two prints.

I am now filled with plans and goals for analog photography. Much of it is to learn more and experiment more, and eventually, perfect more.

PHOTOGRAPHY PLANS
♡   Double Exposure
♡   Photograms
♡   Solarization
♡   Distressed Negatives
♡   Pinhole Camera
♡   Infared Photography
♡   Mixed Media/Paint
♡   Cyanotypes
♡   Anthotypes
♡   Emulsion Transfers/Emulsion Lifts
♡   Film Soup
♡   Large Format Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY GOALS
♡   Color Film Photography (Community Darkroom of Akron)
♡   Color Print Processing (Community Darkroom of Akron)
♡   Additional Classes - Manifest, Community Darkroom of Akron, Cleveland Print
   Room, Midwest Photo, Ohio State University, Indianapolis Art Center
♡   Home Darkroom
♡   Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day
♡   Pinhole Photography Workshop
♡   Purchase Large Format Camera (4x5 Intrepid)

REDEVELOP A PASSION.
[February 25, 2023]

A lot of little things have led up to this moment.

My journey in photography began in high school where I took Black and White Film Photography. There, I gained a comprehensive overview - in pinhole cameras, film developing, printing, learning the camera and exposure triangle, photograms, solarizations, color slides, van dykes, cyanotypes, polaroid transfers, salt prints, and experimenting with liquid light. I would frequently spend extra time in the darkroom during homeroom/resource time or stay some days after school.

I continued my analog photography journey in college - taking Black and White Film Photography, Alternative Processes, and Large Format Photography (4x5).

Eventually, I converted the laundry room at the house into a darkroom but by the time I was toward the end of my college career for elementary education and my son was born, processing my own film and making my own prints fell into the shadows.

I still enjoyed photography, but I became a bystander to it all. I took many photos, but had the film and prints processed at the local drugstore. Then the digital boom happened and everyone had a digital camera. I didn't want to spend too much money on a digital camera, and perhaps I didn't even realize that DSLRs existed, but I was late to the game to join the digital world with any sort of camera that took a decent photo. Digital was more convenient than film photography, but it left me wanting more.

I eventually got a better camera, I got better lenses, and a year ago I took a Photoshop course to learn more post-editing of my digital images. It still left me wanting more.

There are so many reasons to love photography but one that hits me often is the creative aspect - the unknown - that "I-don't-know-what-I'm-going-to-get" sort of creation.

I participated in some pinhole camera workshops and within the last month, took a refresher course on developing film and making prints. I reconnected with an old, long-lost friend.

I want to make pinhole photographs again, experiment with alternative processes, develop my own film, process my own prints. I want to learn more. I want to venture into 4x5 large format photography.

I have redeveloped my passion for photography and I'm bringing it back into the light.

Click here to view some of my earlier work:
https://kristenmpothdb85.myportfolio.com/early-works