Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

Since 2007

single frame: Angel guiding the way

Jim Grey
12 comments on single frame: Angel guiding the way
1 minute
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Angel guiding the way

Angel guiding the way
Yashica-12
Kodak T-Max 100
2019

As I’ve been learning how to develop black-and-white film at home, I’ve stuck to 120 film and have mostly used my Yashica-12 TLR. The more I use the 12, the more I enjoy it.

I took half an afternoon off because of personal business that found me on Indianapolis’s Far Northside. I brought the 12 along and stopped at a couple favorite places I don’t visit much since I moved to Zionsville. One of them is St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which has lots of lovely scenes to photograph.

I love this little statue of the angel lighting the way and have photographed it several times. The TLR with its peer-down viewfinder easily let me get right down onto its level for a straight-on shot.

I processed this film at home in Rodinal. Everybody says Rodinal brings out the grain, but this looks plenty smooth to me.

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Comments

12 responses to “single frame: Angel guiding the way”

  1. 35mm Film Shootist Avatar
    35mm Film Shootist

    If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think I ever developed a roll of 120, large format, 5×4 in my student days.
    Hopefully tomorrow as I’m stuck at home on sick leave, I will developing my first 120 from a Zeiss Ikon Nettar.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      I started with 120 because I could shoot the roll faster (12 frames vs 24/36 on 35mm) and practice my processing sooner. Once I get it down I’ll add 35mm to my repertoire! Good luck with your 120 processing tomorrow.

      Reply
      1. 35mm Film Shootist Avatar
        35mm Film Shootist

        You always get bulk film 35mm and load only what you need. Years ago, we were only aloud to load 12 exposures at a time!

        Reply
        1. Jim Grey Avatar
          Jim Grey

          I haven’t moved to bulk loading my own 35mm yet. Maybe one day!

          Reply
  2. 35mm Film Shootist Avatar
    35mm Film Shootist

    Jim, I miss the word ‘only’ before 5×4.

    Reply
  3. M.B. Henry Avatar
    M.B. Henry

    Oh wow I love the focus work in this one!

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      Thank you! I opened the lens fairly wide to get a fast shutter speed for shallow depth of field, but I forget the exact settings. I know some photographers who log all of that for every frame but I’m not one of ’em!

      Reply
      1. M.B. Henry Avatar
        M.B. Henry

        I don’t do that either, especially on digital, it’s too hard to keep track of the fifty shots I take to get one good one! :)

        Reply
  4. Mike Connealy Avatar
    Mike Connealy

    Doesn’t get better than that. My favorite combo for medium format for a long time was Acros 100 in Rodinal. I think I’ve just got two rolls left, so I’ll have to look at some alternatives.

    Reply
    1. Jim Grey Avatar
      Jim Grey

      The previous roll I shot and developed in Rodinal was Acros. It was lovely. The T-Max is proving lovely as well. The only thing I might wish for is blacker blacks, I do love inky blacks. But I’m getting good grays across the “spectrum” in Rodinal with both of these films and that’s wonderful.

      I got some flak for choosing Rodinal – “you’ll get golf balls for grain” – but that’s not proving to be true with these modern emulsions. I am curious to try some Tri-X in Rodinal and see what kind of grain I get. I have two rolls in 120 on ice.

      Reply
      1. kevinallan Avatar
        kevinallan

        I have developed TMax 100 in Rodinal in the past and grain was not a problem. However the most grainy images I ever produced were 35mm Tri-X in Rodinal. Medium format Tri-X in Rodinal was gritty but OK if the image suited being gritty.

        Reply
        1. Jim Grey Avatar
          Jim Grey

          Well now I want to see for myself! I must be patient: master 120 developing first, before moving to 35mm! One thing at a time!

          Reply

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