Portraits

Last week I told you what I don’t consider myself good at photographically. Well it’s not that I’m good at portraits either but I like them the most. I would probably run a mile from a model in a studio. I prefer spontaneous shots a little more candid. I like outdoors shots but anywhere will do.

The shot above is of my best mate here in Norway. The snow is acting as the worlds best reflector and we were at an old cabin taking a break from snowshoeing.

I took my Hasselblad with me This is the first shot off the roll.
Rollei 80s in Caffenol C-L using Stand development Here’s the Recipe

Washing soda (Stabil) 16gr/l
Vitamin C (Santa maria) 10 gr/l
Potassium Bromide 1gr/l
Instant Coffee 40gr/l
Inversions for the 1st minute and then left to stand for 49mins
Stop and fix as usual
More details on Caffenol here

if you want to try caffenol you can read more here

Landscape

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

Now I’ll admit that Landscape shots are not what I’m good at. Those nice shots you see on chocolate boxes are great. With mine you’d have to give the chocolates away free. I have a mate who takes the most stunning landscapes. We live in Norway so it can’t be that hard..can it? Well for me I’ve never cracked the code properly. I’ve read all the hints and tips, all the composition guides, waited for the light to be dramatic, and come home with nothing too exciting. I think Landscape is just not my thing.

However having said that I do get the occasional shot that is worth a second glance like this one of the Sand buried church in the North of Denmark. Taken in late afternoon with my Nikon D800 and 24-70 lens then tweaked in Silver Efex Pro2.

I’ll just have to keep practicing :0)

That Moment

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

I called this post “That Moment” I actually call the picture “Emily Laughs.”

Let me explain. Some of you may have read my blog already. If not here is a story. The Nikon D700 had just hit the market. A mate had one and it was the “all-singing-all-dancing” camera at that time. I nearly purchased one. I just happened to start reading about Leica and the M6. That’s what I wanted my dream camera from the 80’s. I then found out they had a new Leica MP an all manual do it yourself total contrast to the Nikon. What I knew best then was film. I chose the Leica. Then the feelings of “Have I done the right thing?” started to worm their way into my head. To make a long story short when I saw this picture, It was that moment I knew I had made the right choice.

Leica MP

Summicron 50 mm f2.0 Ver III (Now sold)

Film Ilford XP2 at 400 ASA

Natural light.

A Policeman’s Lot…

Black And White Photography, David

I’ve let my lighter side win me over yet once more.

Back in the Eighties I was on a visit to London. I was on my way to visit “Grays of Westminster” For those that don’t know It’s a Nikon only camera shop. On my way there, my way was blocked by police making a human cordon for a Miners demo march. I mingled with all the press photographers raised my Nikon FM2 shouted “oi ” and this Policeman turned around and looked at me as if to say “I got your number sonny Jim!” However what makes the shot for me is where he has is hands.

Camera Nikon FM2

Lens Nikon E 100mm F2.8

Film Ilford XP2.

scanned from paper copy and adjusted with Silver Efex Pro 2

Six-Pack Dreams

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

I’ve tried a little humour for this weeks post. My previous shots have been a little on the darker side. This shot is cropped on the righthand side I once read somewhere that if it is cropped it’s not a street shot. I don’t abide by such rules, It’s my image I’ll do as I please. I Still I think it made for a nice shot and tells a story. What do you think?

If You Go Down To The Woods Today…

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

These two Chevys reside at the edge of the woods on my Brother-in-Laws farm. They are restoration projects waiting to happen . No doubt they will get the treatment they deserve soon as he is in the process of building a gas station with period pieces on a plot by the outbuildings. I hope he completes it at some point. It would be a shame to see these vehicles go to waste.

Camera :Leica M9P

Lens : Summilux 35mm f1.4 asph.

Post : Silver Efex Pro 2 and a little PS.

“He Was Nothing But A Pawn.”

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

The winters here in the frozen north are long and dark. I don’t ski so I have to think of things to occupy my mind. This is a little table top fun with my Hasselblad 203FE with the Carl Zeiss 80mm F2.8 FE mounted on an 32E extension tube. Taken on my fav black and white film Rollei 80s stand developed in Caffenol for 50 mins at 20℃ with agitation for only the first minute and then left to rest in a water bath for 49mins.

Here’s the Recipe
Make one litre
Washing soda (Stabil) 16gr/l
Vitamin C (Santa maria) 10 gr/l
Potassium Bromide 1gr/l
Instant Coffee 40gr/l
Inversions for the 1st minute and then left to stand for 49mins
Stop and fix as usual
More details on Caffenol here
davidapw.wordpress.com/caffenol/

The Reluctant Urban Explorer

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

When I posted my first guest post here at Monochromia I said that I did a little UrbEx. Let me explain.

It all started with me seeing some shots from a local abandoned psychiatric hospital. They were taken by a mate, also a photographer who lives almost as a neighbour to the building. He invited me along on a shoot and it scared the hell out of me. That is why I don’t do this kind of thing too often. My disposition is on the nervous side. When I do this kind of shoot I just have to concentrate so hard that it’s mentally exhausting. If I stop to think where I am, I’d run, and run fast. It’s a horror film waiting to happen. However after a few days I just want to do it again. It’s a strange kind of drug, if that’s not too strong a word for it. At least I got a few good shots before It all got a bit too much for me 🙂

Camera:- Leica MP

Lens: – Nikkor 20mm f2.8 manual focus lens on a Novoflex LeiNik adaptor.

Film: – Ilford Xp2 at ISO 400 exposure about a quarter of a second.

The Reader

Black And White Photography, David, Photography

The title should read “Never think you are finished for the day.”

The picture above, “The Reader” is an example of that. I’d spent the morning taking pictures while on a visit to the city of Bergen here in Norway. The weather was cloudy and it was raining, which will come as no surprise to people that live in Norway.

I’d kind of given up for the day after taking some lackluster shots while walking the streets. I was looking forward to lunch. We ended up at a restaurant famous for its Fish soup. While waiting for our order (It was lunchtime and the place was busy) I noticed a lady sitting by the window reading. The light was perfect. I slowly raised my Leica MP and shot off a couple of frames of Ilford XP2 between the shoulders of my friends sitting opposite me.

The result…well you can judge for yourselves.

So, as I said never think you are finished for the day 🙂

Talking to the Priest

Black And White Photography, David

This shot is one of my very latest. People are what really fascinate me. I’m a lazy photographer and I just stand in one place while the family shops and wait for the world to pass by my lens. However owning a Leica will not turn you into Henri Cartier Bresson overnight, I’ve miles of film and hundreds of digital images to prove it. However if you work at it, occasionally some magic happens, like this shot. I love the body language, and the facial expression of this lady talking to the local priest. Taken in Chios, Greece where I spent my summer holidays this year.

Thanks for stopping by 🙂

More of my images can be seen at – My Photographic World