ND0 Filter

[nd0me]

#shootitwithfilm #analoguelove #analoguevibes #analogphotography #35mmfilm #filmphotography #filmisnotdead #analogue_people #onfilm #upgradetofilm #worldviewmag #thedaily35mm #the35mmdiary #restorefrombackup #35mm #believeinfilm #boxspeedfeature #theanalogclub #rawphotomag #heylomography

[nd0me]

Film & Night

It's intriguing how life makes us revisit lessons we thought we had learnt. My recent plunge back into film photography and my newfound appreciation for the Nikon F5's robustness was marred only by its weight. This beautiful but bulky beast tipped the scales at a back-breaking 2kg with my heaviest lens, often making me leave it behind in favor of my DSLR. That's when the FM2N entered my life.

This nimble camera, weighing a featherlight 300g, was an absolute joy to work with. It may have been restricted to a 50mm 1.4 lens, but the lightness of the setup filled me with a renewed sense of vigor. However, there was a downside: with a fixed film ISO, I was confined to daytime photography or risked grainy, unusable photos. Considering my work schedule is skewed to the night, I found myself leaning back on my trusty DSLR again. But life had a surprise up its sleeve.

Last evening, while rummaging through my luggage, I discovered a pair of forgotten companions - two flashes! My first instinct was to pair the compact SB400 with the FM2N, but alas, their electronic incompatibility was a setback. The alternative was the hulking SB600. A check with some online forums confirmed it could work with the FM2N. With a shrug and a spark of adventurous spirit, I decided to give it a shot.

Suddenly, I was thrust back into the world of manually setting up a flash. This was a task I had long abandoned in favor of built-in flash and auto modes on my digital gear. With my FM2N mounted with the SB600, I was suddenly the center of attention, drawing curious gazes from people around me. It felt just like the early days with the Zenith TTL and its quirky Soviet flash.

It was back to the basics for me, reading the scene, adjusting the settings, and dealing with the flash's imposing presence. Each captured moment was a balance between the right exposure, perfect timing, and managing not to startle anyone in my vicinity. This was not what I had signed up for, but here I was, trying to master the flash all over again, this time with an old film camera and a more seasoned perspective.

Night photography with film isn't as simple as cranking up the ISO on a DSLR, but this rediscovered tool promised a new horizon of possibilities. My journey with film, flashes, and learning to shoot in the dark is far from over, but with each click and flash, I can see myself getting closer to perfecting the art. From the silent streets of Bali to the vibrant scenes of everyday life, my FM2N, armed with the SB600 flash, is ready to capture it all in its grainy glory.

Stay tuned for the results of this enlightening adventure. Let's hope the images speak louder than the flash itself!

[nd0me]

Todays flex: tropical working space

📍BKK

[nd0me]

Just got pretty good barging on two of those.

I plan to use it to hunt junior personnel in their dreams. 👹👹👹

[nd0me]

This is my favorite photo of last month. Maybe even last few months.

Despite being kinda dark in aesthetics the monochromatic palette with the over whiteness due to flash contributes so cool to general composition. And the pinnacle on top is the photo was done almost randomly.

[nd0me]

Rave kiddo grown

[nd0me]

Todays reflection question was “will I adhere to the rhythm that I have?”.

First thing that I wanted to write was like “at first I need to have one”. Further inspection showed that actually I have one.

It is flaky, but it is present.

I do wake up in the morning and have the routine present to start the day. I do go to gym (whenever I can walk of course 🤕😅 ), I do day planning and make reflections on daily(some times 2day) basis.

More over, thing that I got most proud was that I succeed in restoring rhythm every time it breaks. And Im becoming better and better with it. It takes less and less effort to make it.

This thought gave me a second wind feeling.

It would be better not to break it at all at first glance, but that was false goal. Way to idealistic, suitable only for world that I was taught live in childhood.

As recently discovered quote of Epictetus:

— You become what you give your attention to.

I have become more resilient in my routines. I have learned to rebuild with ease things that break apart. And the main difference is that they will always break. It is 2-nd law of thermodynamics. Having this practice many times I will be able to restore them with near zero effort. I think - this is resilience.

I start to question of idea of discipline. Is it just deep bound routine ?

[nd0me]

I’d rather be with questions that have no answers, than with answers that you cannot question.

- R. Feynman

[nd0me]

Kodak Color Plus 200 impressions.

In last four months I have entered heavily into the world of film photography.

It started with me buying the dream camera from my childhood.

Nikon F5, seen the Jurassic Park ? There were girl that made a lots of photos on something big and heavy duty looking. Yep that's Nikon's "imported from future" F5. The last professional oriented film camera.

Now they are bargain, took mine for $300 fully working with spare batteries. Compared to prices on fully manual Nikon FM3a($600), elite compact with matrix metering Nikon i35Ti($700) or ultra old FM2 (good condition, $250) that was nobrainer for me. Built like a tank, works like Swiss watch. Nails focus and exposure right on spot, works with all of my lenses. Absolutely perfect except the weight, but I don't mind.

Inspired by purchase I have got myself almost every possible film that I could get in nearest shop to tryout. Starting with local produced(later I learned that those are just repacks of Kodak vision3) and continuing to the famous brands like Kodak, Ilford, Fuji and Agfa.

Week ago I sent to development 6 rolls of film. Lab quick produced everything that was C-41. One of those were the cheapest Kodak film - Color Plus 200.

I wish I didn't expect stellar performance there, but need to admit I was kinda biased to have something interesting following the Kodak Gold 200 warm tones. But... To be true it is film without the character. It is very neutral and little bit washed out emulsion that is rather unimpressive in the modern world of colors that digital can get.

Contrast is okay and there is slightly less saturation then I have expected. Not sure that this one is good for nature photography at all to my taste.

Wondering for cool themes for the pictures I have tried this one also in very low light situations. Like this night shot of me sitting in front of shop.

Yeah, totally missed with the exposure there. 😅

Hard to see, but its me sitting in the left corner and drinking some Coke zero. This shop deserves separate post, as it was my midnight sanctuary of thought for some period of time here.

Regarding human subjects - It works good. Skin tones are correct and there is no unusual color shifts that I have read, so much about.

To conclude: That film is good if just for case when there is no other film available to buy. For me I will try to avoid it since it is better to make a photo on digital for free than to pay for very mediocre experience.

[nd0me]

I hate Sunday morning business meetings :/

[nd0me]

“Mysteries are revealed in the light of reason”

Reading this line makes a thrill down my spine. This flashes back to the times when I was a kiddo playing the Diablo 1 at my mothers office.

Game was, so interesting I could spend hours playing it. Or it just it was few times that I did, but they were, so impressive that counted for days ?

In-ambiguities of the world had always hung on me with great deal of the shadow.

Most often than not, when people agree on something they make some expectations that were not included in the vocal(or written) agreement they made.

Most bitter times come when those unspoken agreements are broke.

Following the lines of the Epictetus  “I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.” I followed.

I cannot do anything about external world being not fair, but I can change how I perceive things.

I have created a trigger for myself for situations when I feel that there is more under the hood of the expectations than is “on the table”. When I feel such situation I just go and bluntly state all the things that I expect form the situation. Yes, it is brute here, but I think it is fair. If other side wants to play uncertainty game and I don’t - why in the end I need to agree to it ? I propose my rules before we start. In case they don’t like it we both stop it.

[nd0me]

All we look for is Prestige.

[nd0me]

[nd0me]

Getting tot business early

[nd0me]

There is such thing as too much coffee.

Also something from way I look tells everyone that I’m first timer.

[nd0me]

[nd0me]

Despite heavy rains and broken coffee machine at favorite place have a great attitude for todays day.

Why is it so? is it from upcoming friends visit or just because I start to harness my life ?