[Photography] WaterColourShade.

TheImpossibleProject PX-70 ISO125 ColorShade FirstFlush film for Polaroid SX-70 Cameras.

Yeah, that would have been far too long for a title, don't you think? So this is my impression of the brand new PX-70 film from TIP. These are the only 3 shots I've taken so far, testing the waters before I brave using in the wild at the weekend (weather dependant).

So here it is, new formula COLOUR film for Polaroid cameras. I cant say I've been waiting for years for this as Im a relative new comer to the world of instant photography - my first ever shots were on PX600 (SilverShade) back in May this year on my wife's old 600 CoolCam. Since then I've acquired a nice SX-70 and a 635cl.. I've shot Time Zero (half a pack as left in the SX-70 when I got it), Artistic TZ, Poalroid 600, Edgecut ATZ, Edgecut 600, PX600 SilverShade FirstFlush and PX100 SilverShade. Each film has been a revelation, different things to remember, different styles that suit them. For me, ATZ has been the most fun as the colours really looked good on the woodland stuff I liked shooting.

Now I have a new film. The ColorShade (hard to type without sticking a 'u' in there) has a really nice blue hue to it, really muted colours and tones too. The exposures I've taken so far benefited from having the lighten/darken dial moved 1/2 way to dark. The paint and the paper were shot like this, and brushes were shot with the dial at its rest position. I prefer the contrast and tones from the slightly darker image. it has been said by people on various photo sites that the film should be rated a lot faster than the ISO (ASA) 125 TIP say it is, more along the lines of ISO 300 maybe. That explains why a touch of underexposure helps out. And therefore popping this stuff in a 600 with some over exposure should work too. I'll try that I think at some point.

So, first impressions are that Im impressed with the tones and "colours" from the film. I would like to see more true colours in later versions of the film; but like SilverShade I do hope we will be able to get this experimental stuff in the future because, as an artistic medium, its good. Fingers crossed for no dramatic fading or "killer crystals" on this stuff - I've lost both packs of PX600 and most of my PX100 to them so far!

[Imported from old photoblog]

[Photography] Now I Just Stare Into The Sun And See Everything I've Done.

Another sunset shot from the Canon 400d. We went to a 1st Wedding Anniversary party for some friends of our who have a farm. Of course I packed a camera or two. This was the choice image of the day, the sun set perfectly behind this tree and the orange glow licked out between the branches at just the right spot. The golden field helped with the colouring and I couldn't have asked for a better sky.

The shot need a few bits done in Photoshop. The sensor on my Canon is getting really dirty and you could see a few blobs of dust on the final image. I also had a small tweak of the levels and a crop as my framing was out.

[Photography] And Now I'm Fine, My Mind Is Clear And Nothing Bad Can Touch Me Here.

I've been loving the Fujifilm Pro120 ISO400 colour film in my Holga recently. I don't know if this summer has had some different level quality, but the tones and colours I'm getting from this film make the Fujifilm Superia 400 look positively muted.

The 2 shots here were taken on Summerleeze beach in Bude Cornwall. Both were taken quickly to try and get no-one in them and no footsteps. I didn't notice the "safe swim area" flags until afterwards. never mind though, as the colours came out as I wanted - nice rich brown/yellow sand and some saturated but Holga-blown sky.

Both these shots made "Explore" on Flickr. I like that.

[Imported from old photoblog]

[Photography] I Have Burned My Tomorrow And I Stand Inside Today.

The Breakwater in Bude, Cornwall.

I've longed for years to get this shot, the Breakwater at sunset. I've seen the Breakwater all my life, different times to day, different times of year. I've seen water rushing over it on a high, stormy tide, I've seen it it sitting in the middle of the sand at low tide. I've walked to the end of it and up the steps.

I've shot it before, just after sunset in May 2009. The sky was pink, blue and purple.

But this was the first time I've seen the sunset behind it over the Atlantic. My Dad and I had originally planned to drive to Widemouth and get some sunset shots from the top of the cliffs there, but as we drove through the town we saw the orange glow along the canal and decided to stop there instead. So glad we did, Im really happy with this image. I shot the sunset of loads of cameras and set-ups. Digital wide-angle, digital ultra-wide, film slr, cross processed film... even on Polaroid Blue as featured in my previous update. This was the one I was happy with the most though.

The sunset was nice and slow and gave the clouds time to drift slowly in and out of the scene. The seagull sitting on the pole stayed there until the last light had gone and we had stopped taking photos and then flew off.

[Imported from old photoblog]

[Photography] Coaxing The Shadows Back To Let The Sun’s Light Shine On Through.

So this is Polaroid Blue film. Its packfilm (or peelapart, depending on which school of thought you are) meaning that its not like the integral stuff people are used to with the Polaroid name. You have to take the shot, pull the film out, leave it for some time and them peel the positive from the negative, and it is awesome fun to use.

Even more fun when it is like the Blue film. You see, the blue film is meant to be monochromatic film, but you will notice that within the blue colour cast you can see hints of greens, browns and reds.



Take the sunset shot above. That was taken looking towards the breakwater in Bude, Cornwall. As soon as I saw what the film did, I knew I wanted to capture a sunset with it. It came out exactly as I wanted it to.

I've also noticed that the hints of other colours come through more if you leave the film longer between taking it out and peeling it. Of course, that means richer blues if you peel it quickly. Sometimes you cant help but peel it right away; other times there is no way you can peel it (out on Bodmin Moor for example) so you have to leave it until you get home. its part of the charm of the film.



[Imported from old photoblog]

[Photography] While Down Below The Trees, Bathed In Cool Breeze.

Finally got round to shooting some PX100 on my SX-70. I missed out on the FirstFlush but managed to get some of the early second version from a UK retailer (who I wont be using again - too slow). I had used the PX600 on an old 600 CoolCam and I loved the results, so expected even better from PX100 in the better SX-70. But I found it really hard to work with. I didn't help myself by forgetting to take along something to shield the shot from the sun with, so I had to resort to pulling it out quickly and shoving it in my back pocket, which worked to some extent but it was a hot day and the contact with my body gave all the shots a red hue which faded over the course of a few hours.

Beside all that, I managed to get 4 shots that I thought were "keeper" on a trip to Pinch Hill with my Dad. Pinch is in Marhamchurch, Cornwall; just of the A39 as you travel north towards Bude. I've walked round there loads with my parents as it is one of the places they walk their dog. Lovely place with a high hill on one side and a great stream at the bottom of the valley. All the trees were in full leaf in the height of summer and the place was so peaceful. I also fired off some Polaroid Blue on the Land 100 and some digital shots. There might have been some 35mm film and Holga stuff too but I cant remember!

I've got no more Px100 left now as I used the pack up. Not sure if I'm going to get any more as I've got 2 packs of PX600 and I prefer using it in the 600 camera.

[Imported from old photoblog]

[Photography] Rise the Ghosts Of War.

A series of photos from the old abandoned RAF base at Davdistow in Cornwall. The main focus of these shots is the old Control Tower that sits at the top of the main runaway. There are some smaller buildings at the other end that I will explore next time I'm down that way.

The RAF base at Davidstow was created in 1942 and closed in 1945. After, it was used for a short period as a racing circuit, hosting a few minor non-championship Formula 1 races in the 50s. Today it is common land, generally consumed within the overall Bodmin Moor area. The runways are still there but in bad condition and are now home to ponies and sheep.

The interior is covered in garffiti from various people at various times (I spotted tags marked as English, French and Argentinian). Most of the ground floor is covered in sheep droppings and wool where the local sheep have sheltered.

Upstairs is more clean and more open to the elements. There is a stunning view, from what I can assume was the main control room, out over Bodmin to Rough Tor and Brown Willy.

I only took shots on the Polaroid SX-70 and the Canon 400D as it was too windy to bother about getting other cameras out. Even then, I only took a single shot on the SX-70. The Canon shots are with the Sigma 10-20 ultrawide lens.

[Imported from old photoblog]