Slide Film Batch
Josh Harmon
Dusk over Mt Tamalpais
Pretending to be an adult during the week and working a 9 to 5 job has given my love of film and photography a giant boost. Most likely because my free time is now so confined I want to maximize what of it I have. For this reason I have decided to shoot and then process a bunch of slide film. I ended up ordering 5 rolls of 120 Fuji Velvia to complement the jumble of expired 35mm Fuji Provia 400x and tungsten films I've accumulated over the past 4 years.
Path to Juniper Campground
On the trail down from Twin Peaks
Last weekend I had finally shot through the fresh Velvia and decided to begin processing. Transparency film, process E-6, is a touch more complex than C-41 with another step required. Beyond that additional step the time and temperature tolerances are much lower. Any variance in either results in too dark or light chromes. For the most part the film I've processed has come out fine.
Along Marsh Creek Road in the rolling hills
The first few rolls are from a sunset shoot on Mt Diablo where I was playing around with a warming filter. I shot two rolls that evening in an attempt to capture the summer warmth and serendipitous feelings of a gentle dusk.
The next roll was from a long hike on the Clayton side of Mt Diablo. I ended shooting the roll after the best light had slipped away but still came away with a couple of nice frames.
The fourth roll was shot in unincorporated Contra Costa County along Marsh Creek road toward Brentwood. I had been meaning to shoot his location for a long time and finally made my way out. The light was just plain weird, as it was diffused by fires from up north. Very much a warm glow of light.
The last roll, which I've been posting around Instagram, was from an impromptu skate shoot in Half Moon Bay. My boss was hosting a summer work party in the area. I wanted to come early and tour around for good photos. Well everything ended up being extremely crowded and I relegated to pulling over to kill time. I then drove past a lone half pipe in an empty lot adjacent to Highway One.
There were a few skaters hanging out. I loaded up that last roll of Fuji Velvia 50 in my Bronica ETRs, put a polarizer on to keep my exposure at 1/500 at f/2.8, and approached the skaters. They ended up being super chill and very willing for me to take a few shots of them. I ended up blowing through the 15 shots I had pretty quick. The skate lifestyle and vibe is just so awesome, and that was what I focussed on in my shots.
This ended up being one of those rare shoots where everything just goes right. My exposures were spot on, the colors just right, and the compositions spot on. The classic 90s vibe I was attempting worked out.
The only rolls I have left to process are a hodgepodge of that 35mm Provia 400x that were shot over the past year or two. I am excited and very curious as to what those rolls have on them!
More to come, as well as a future post about my recent foray into instant photography!