I take my new rig for a spin!

Learning to use a bunch of new stuff- a set of White Lightning strobes, Nikon n90s, Bronica ETRSI, Minolta Flash Meter IV, and backdrop. The limitations of the OM-2 and the GA-645 were starting to feel really obvious at the Koenigsberg shoot, so I sold them and bought this stuff. Lots of very promising results. Here's Andrea, bassist and fellow boat-musician. She's good.

BTW: I'm totally amazed at how well this roll came out. I had the Bronica loaded with this long-discontinued 25asa Agfa film, which I proceeded to expose (accidentally) at 400. A 4-stop push, which no manufacturer bothers to give a deveoping time for, it's so totally off the map. So I just guessed and let it go for 20 minutes or so, and they came out looking really nice- fine grained, lots of shadow detail, nice tonality. The only thing I can find wrong with it is that frame number from the paper back which somehow got transfered onto the image.  

I'm learning a lot from Casey about working with models and conducting a shoot. She really knows her shit. 

I think I'm improving- I look over all the pictures from the shoot and they look nice as a group. Only a few are technically out to lunch, there's good variety but also several variations on similar shots.  

I'm looking at David Bailey a lot, so we'll be seeing a lot of stuff in this vein for some time.  

Casey throws rocks!

We went to the coast this week. I made Casey throw rocks while I took pictures. The new n90s pretty much rocks. Due to the winder you end up burning through a lot more film. Here I'm shooting Fortepan 400 (purchased on a whim from Citizen's) pushed to 1600. I had to guess at the developing time because I couldn't find the info online. Developing your own BW rocks. Should you desire to try it yourself, there's a great tutorial at Chromogenic.net. Go to Digital Truth for a comprehensive database of development times for various films/developers. And go to Freestyle for cheap film! 

The hands came out looking pretty amazing in a lot of these shots. I'm not sure whether Fortepan is supposed to be a real good pushing film, but I like the way these came out. I think I might have overdeveloped them a taste. Not sure.  

She's poorly framed but her windbreaker is exquisite. 

Drill that clown!

Willie looks like he's ordering an gangland-style assasination, but he's really just mentally gearing up for the "Celebrate America" show.  

Extreme close-ups!

Willie Blair. Captured with the Nikon in all his splendor. I plan on using one of these for the poster for my upcoming film, "Goin' Bonkers!"  

Why in the fuck did I choose to post these images first? And why so many? I don't know. They're on the top of the pile, and I don't feel like picking. Leave me alone.  

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First rotation

I just got off the first gruelling 4-week rotation on ye merry sternwheeler, and I'm still sane. Barely. I'm engaged in a massive gear sell-off-and-purchase. I got a set of old White Lightning strobes, I'm selling the Olympus and buying a Nikon n90s, selling the Fuji GA-645 and buying a Bronica ETRS (dirt cheap now that they've been discontinued). I've also started developing my own film, and am very excited about the results. Pictures coming soon.