Old door

Starting up a new small series on old doors.

Tri-x in Diafine, Rolleiflex

Rock of Solutré

We have been walking on the top of the Rock of Solutré a sunday afternoon with my family. 

All shot were taken on Ilford Pan-F plus with my Rolleiflex, souped in Diafine.

The Rock of Solutré (French: Roche de Solutré), is a limestone escarpment 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Mâcon overlooking the commune of Solutré-Pouilly and an iconic site of the Saône-et-Loire, in the south of the Bourgogne in France. Protected by the French law on sites classés and currently at the heart of a Grand Site National operation, it draws its fame severally as a rare geological phenomenon of the region, as a prehistoric site of the eponymous Solutrean paleolithic culture, and for the natural environment which it summit provides, the pelouse calciole grassland of Mâcon, with its distinctive flora and fauna. Occupied by man for at least 55,000 years, it is also the cradle of the Pouilly-Fuissé wine appellation. It has attracted media coverage since the 1980s when French President François Mitterrand started to make ritual ascents of the peak once per year.

Wikipedia

Early landscapes

During my way to the office, passing by the "Dombes" an area in the Ain departement, full of small lakes.

Rolleiflex - Pan-f plus - Diafine

Abbey of Cluny

Last week, i had the pleasure to have my family with me for some days.

We have been visiting quickly the Abbey of Cluny which is located in the South of Burgundy. The monument are very beautiful and we regret to do not have enough time to visit the whole place. Unfortunately, we regret also the cold welcome from the receptionist.

i took some shots with my beloved Rolleiflex. Tri-x souped in Diafine. Will add more photos later.

A walk in Chaley

Last sunday, we decide to go for a walk along the Albarine River, in the Bugey valley. We took together some pictures of our balade. Those pictures are the ones from our second roll through the rolleiflex. Pan-F Plus in Diafine for 3'15 in bath A & 3'15 in bath B. Shot at ISO50.

Along the walk, we perceived a building at the end of the path.

Is there any life here ?

Stop !

 

The "Petit Restaurant" is closed now...

High flight over the Alps

The Mountains of the Alps

Shot through the windows. I was flying back home to Amsterdam, at 5.00 am over the Alps. An impressive view.

Tri-X in Diafine, Rollei 35 SE

Couples

From my holydays in my hometown, Albi, Tarn, in the south west of France.

Mtei Express

Mtei Express

On the way from Kilosa to Bongo City (Dar El Salam). This is the bus which do the trip Arusha to Dodoma and then Dodoma to Arusha everyday. A small stop on the side of the road to buy water, vegetables etc..

Tanzania 2012
Tri-X & Rollei 35 - Guessed exposure

Happiness

Happiness

An happiness moment frozen through the lens :)

T-Max400 within Diafine - Olympus OM10 Zuiko 28mm

May Day Manifest

One of my first manifest, covered personally with my beloved R3a and 1 roll of tri-x.

International Workers' Day (also known as May Day) is a celebration of the international labour movement. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries and celebrated unofficially in many other countries.

More information on wikipedia about May Day

     

     

     

     

     

     

Forbidden area

I took the opportunity few weeks ago to explore a forbidden zone. It was the biggest labyrinth that i went inside. You can get lost for days.

I tried to get a consistant workflow with those snapshots. First time that i look at the negs i realize that it was a place which could be the perfect environement for recording a new star wars

Kodak Tri-x - Diafine
Bessa R3a, nokton 40mm

 

Playing with Semflex

I found two remaining rolls of pan F+ at home... So, i decide to test again the Semflex with it and some Diafine.

This is the slowest film i have ever used and it was the fastest dev that i have ever made (shot this morning at 7:00, dev during lunch time)!

I still dream of a rolleiflex, but, what, for 1/40 of the price of the rolleiflex, it's ok. I love it.

For who doesn't know, Semflex was made by a french company called SEM. The one that i have is a T950 with a SOM Berthiot 75mm f:4.5. More information on this web page (fr)

Shot at 80 isos, 1/25 @ f:5.6
Scan from negs with epson 4490

Meuuuhhhh !

Au marché

First attempt with diafine. here it is the results. Not excellent but not so bad. I have to note that Diafine works very well with an hybrid workflow, between, it's ok for scanning.

Grain is here but what ? It's at 1250 isos. I admit, i love grain, perfection is not for me.

Scan with epson scan, little adjustment of contrast & levels in photoshop.

Bessa R3a
Nokton 40mm
Tri-X@1250 isos, Diafine 3'A & 3'B

Mixing & labelling Diafine

Following my first post about Diafine Presentation & introduction here is the next step: mixing & labelling.

The Diafine that i found last time was for one quart which is litteraly 0.946353 Liter (let's say 0.95 L).

Water T°: 29°C

Next step: first dev with a Tri-x ! Plan to do it this week-end.

Diafine Two-bath developer

Dear friends,

A month ago, i just discover diafine products. As a curious, i decided to give a try. On the paper (o let's say on the web), diafine seems the ideal solution for me. Why ? Just because:

• I don't shoot so often
• Nowadays, i essentially do street
• A roll can stay for two weeks in my camera before to get burned completely
• Usually during a roll:
• I will start it in daylight
• I will want to finish on the streets by night.
• I have one camera always with me. 

And, so, why diafine ? Diafine is a two bath developer. Bath A and bath B, that's it. From what i have understood, diafine seems very tolerant, and very easy to use. 

So i bought a box, luckily found in one of the last photographic shop of my region which supply darkroom equipment). 

Then, i just give a look on the internet and found some very useful information:

• Diafine a b&w developer from Tim Layton. Thanks to him !
• The technical file of Diafine & Acufine (which come from the same manufacturer)

I will be back very soon with my first test. Let's see what will come out of it.

Note: After looking at the box, i realize that i have two containers to make one quart each. So, for people like me, who are not use with quart and others measurements, here it is the conversion :

1 quart = 0.946 Liter

See you soon for the test !

If you know about diafine, you are warmly welcome to get it touch with me.

All the best

Romain