6.03.2012

Oh Dear God, I Need The Latest Camera...

Renee Zellweger. ©1992 Kirk Tuck.

Shot on Kodak Panatomic X, 32 ISO black and white film (no, I did not leave off zeros..) using a 500 Watt Light Bulb shining through a translucent (and battered) 40 inch white umbrella using a Canon FTb camera and a Manually focused 135mm lens. Hand processed film. Enlarger print. No digital post processing.  No digital "enhancement."  How did I ever survive?
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23 comments:

  1. John TaylorJune 3, 2012 at 10:30 PM

    … was that the ƒ3.5 or the ƒ2.5 135 FD? I still have my FTb and a couple of those lovely FD lenses. Along with a recently replaced 135 ƒ2.5 FD i'll be using a 50 ƒ1.4 FD on my future Olympus M43 (yes i've succumbed to the OM-D). Lovely portrait by the way, how ever did we survive indeed!

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    1. Kirk, Photographer/WriterJune 3, 2012 at 10:55 PM

      May have even been a nasty old Vivitar lens. Does it matter?

      Delete
    2. wjl (Wolfgang Lonien)June 3, 2012 at 11:23 PM

      Not a tiny bit!

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    3. Dan FogelJune 4, 2012 at 1:44 PM

      Hey, I still have a 135/2.8 Vivitar (sadly not the close-focus model) in OM mount and it works great. Have used it on Canon DSLR and look forward to using it on a G3 soon.

      Delete
  2. RichardJune 3, 2012 at 11:10 PM

    For me, this is one of your most remarkable portraits. (I have admired this in earlier posts). I never really thought about the camera you used, or the lights or the lens. All I could think about are the beautiful tones, her eyes and those lips! Wow.

    Did I miss something? ISO 32? Yes, Pan X. Nothing quite like it. You processed it in the darkroom? Then it is truly "one of kind" and a precious object d'art. Please treat it with care.

    Photograph as 'precious object?' Interesting thought.

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  3. Martin GJune 3, 2012 at 11:13 PM

    Such a great image. And it's not the kind of camera or kind of film that makes it great but man, I sure miss Pan-X.

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  4. Michael FerronJune 3, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    By far my favorite photographic target of yours. Damn.

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  5. cidereyeJune 4, 2012 at 1:39 AM

    That shot always sticks in my memory. Not because of WHO it is, but HOW it is. Ain't that what photography is supposed to be about after all?

    Going to a country fair today and think I'll give my old F2AS a run out today as you put me in a retro Nikon mood yesterday. Or maybe an OM even? As said, camera doesn't matter one jot.

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  6. hugo solo June 4, 2012 at 2:50 AM

    This guy make most of flickr photographs with a canon 350
    federico erra
    isn´t matter about cameras film or digital.

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    1. Patrick DoddsJune 4, 2012 at 4:21 AM

      Hi Hugo, Federica appears to be a gal but you certainly have a point, she produces stunning pictures.

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    2. hugo solo June 4, 2012 at 12:31 PM

      First sign federico erra and now federica but its a guy.

      Delete
  7. Kirk, Photographer/WriterJune 4, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    I think I'm trying to make the point that what you select to put in front of your camera is the "killer app" of photography and really, nothing else matters.

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  8. AvramJune 4, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    her beautiful eyes and lips come out so well, pops right in front of me, almost like 3D. excellent portrait of a truly beautiful woman!

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  9. Frank GrygierJune 4, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    I think you need to ask Ms.Zellweger to come in for another portrait session. Can't hurt to ask.

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    1. Frank GrygierJune 4, 2012 at 4:02 PM

      OH, If she does agree can I do the the BTS? Just askin!

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  10. Brad BurnhamJune 4, 2012 at 2:24 PM

    I like the follow up idea! It would be fun to see what you would come up with.

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  11. LibbyJune 4, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    Beautiful portrait and the simplicity is wonderful, both in aesthetics and execution.

    The film thing has been eating at me for about the past year as I used to do my own darkroom stuff many years ago. Sold all the gear back 1982 or so when I got a real job and was on the road most of the time. But like many friends who started off as I did, the feeling sort of never goes away. It may go dormant for a long while, but it's always there, lurking. I'm going to do something about it.

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    1. Kirk, Photographer/WriterJune 4, 2012 at 4:42 PM

      Thanks Ohnostudio. The easiest way to get back to film (at least it was for me..) was to buy a beautifully worn Nikon F and a 50mm 1.4 and just start shooting color negative film. I could get it souped and scanned inexpensively and when I felt like I was ready I started shooting black and white again. I spent $149 on the camera and $100 for the lens. Neither is perfect and both work fine. It was an easy commitment back to the path.

      Delete
  12. Matthew MillerJune 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM

    I clicked to enlarge the image and saw dust spots. This image is totally ruined. Sorry.

    (Just kidding; I hope that's obvious!)

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  13. dolanJune 6, 2012 at 4:10 PM

    How did you ever remember the details (film speed, exposure, lighting, etc) so well? Is it fair to assume before EXIF you took notes?

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    1. Kirk, Photographer/WriterJune 6, 2012 at 8:21 PM

      I remember reading the edge print when I went to make a print. That told me what film I used. The rest is just a memory of the step by step working through of the shoot. I always like using continuous light when I use an adjustable soft focus lens so I can fine tune the effect with the aperture. I used that camera and lens combination a lot back then.

      Delete

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