Blog by Michael Raso For the last 6 months I’ve been shooting almost exclusively with Polaroid Automatic Land Cameras. I’ve been blogging , pod casting and making videos about this wonderful series of cameras, so I’m not surprised that I’m now getting e-mails about camera problems. I’d like to share an e-mail exchange with you. Perhaps it’ll help you with your Polaroid Automatic Land Camera! Hi, ... [Read More]
How-To or What is
Make Your Own Silver Gelatin Prints!
When you take a picture on black and white film, light is permeating layers of sensitized silver, physically altering the structure of the silver and thereby capturing the image. Through development, the light-struck silver develops as black for highlight values and becomes increasingly more transparent for shadow values. To get a positive image, one must either scan the film and reverse the image ... [Read More]
Why Are My Prints Flat and Grainy?
Did you ever shoot a roll of film and have it come back from the lab “flat and grainy” looking? Is it your camera, the lens, the film, the lab? Here’s FPP’s Mat Marrash with the low-down on this common problem. 1. The Lens - Many older, pre-1940's older, lenses had no protective coatings to reduce internal reflections from UV light. This typically resulted in dreamier and lower ... [Read More]
Push Processing Film (400–3200 asa)
We received an e-mail from FPP listener Carlos about how to shoot when you intend on "push processing." For those who do not know about "push processing," check out the Wikipedia page here. Carlos' letter: So let's say I shoot with the intent of push processing the film (400 - 3200 for example). 1. You underexpose by 3 stops, right? If no, then what kind of exposure adjustments do you ... [Read More]
What is ISO?
Below is an e-mail from Keith in Los Angeles about ISO. ISO is the film speed. More about ISO can be read here at the Wikipedia. Below is Keith's letter with Mat Marrash's response. - Michael Raso Hi guys, I've been listening to your Film Photography Podcast since... YESTERDAY. And I'm on episode six at the moment. Last night, I spent about 5 hours listening to your guys' first 3 episodes. ... [Read More]
How to Make a Monster (on Ektachrome)
My day-to-day job for the last 15 years has been spent producing and marketing low-budget movies to the US home video market. The daily grind is rewarded anytime I can get away from my desk and into the studio for hands-on filmmaking or photography. This was the case in early December when I had the opportunity to collaborate on the poster art for our upcoming DVD release of Chris LaMartina’s ... [Read More]