Reflection - The Journey

I found this project quite a short lived one, which took a while to get started. Initially, the idea had been in my mind for a while, and it took a bit of working out what sort of images I wanted to take. 

I found getting hold of the right film a bit of a struggle, as there were so many different types and so many stories of problems with exposure calculation, processing issues, filters to use [and I hadn't at that point even thought about a filter]. Luckily, there is a shop I found in Mansfield that sold the film I wanted, and had plenty in stock. 

Then, once I had the film, I traipsed round Nottingham looking for an IR filter, most shops - even the 'specialist' one - hadn't even heard of IR films, let alone the filters. So, I had to resort to ebay. Unfortunately, the problem with this is that you don't fully know what you are buying, so I ended up with a filter that wouldn't let nearly enough light in. So, I took a half-film of images but none came out. I will take the filter on holiday though, and see if I get any when the days are brighter, on very long exposures. 

I tried out a filter that George has lent me, and took some photos in college, and processed them and they came out well. A lack of IR light maybe, but some effects all the same. 

I had to leave the photography for a while, as we had stuff going on at home, and at work, and on the days that the light was really good, I found myself stuck at Client's offices and when I was able to take photos, it was dull grey days. I got an opening one afternoon, just before I was leaving for college, the sun came out and I took some photos outside and down in the garden. As I left for college - I had about 6 shots left on the film, so I took 3 of the sky across the fields, 2 out of the car window and one as I saw in traffic lights. These 3 over the fields came out really well and I used them for the final images. 

I printed them up using the Fibre paper and Agfa Neutol developer at college. I managed to get a good exposure for the images, and in one evening I managed to get all 3 images printed, even allowing for test strips and spoilt prints [included in the sketchbook]. 

I brought them home and - as they need over 30 minutes of washing to enable proper archiving and to avoid colouring of the paper - I put them in a the bath at home and gave them a good hour's wash. They dried out overnight and during the next day and once dry, I put them under some heavy books to flatten them out a bit. 

I then mounted them onto foam board. I decided to make them more letterbox than 10x8 [which is the size they were printed at] as this lengthened the effect of the horizon. 

I have enjoyed this, and still have plenty of IR film left to use over the next few months. I am planning on doing much more IR photography, and am currently looking into getting the HOYAR72 filter, as it can be used on some digital cameras to replicate the IR effects without any other manipulation. 

Image 22

This was taken from the car window as I waited at the traffic lights on the way to college. I do like the contrasts and the blackness of the trees.

Image 21

This is final image number 3.

Image 20

Final image number 2

Image 19

The first of the pictures that I have decided will be my final 3. The sun was setting and the sky was really red and I thought I'd try and get some shots and see how they came out. I took 3 in quick succession, and tried to expose for the sky and not the trees. I also used a small aperture to try and capture the detail in the clouds. The three shots are in a panoramic style, across the horizon, overlooking a field right outside my house. 

Image 18

Same as picture 12 but with a portrait aspect. Again, I like the flowerpot detail. 

Image 17

Shot of grasses in the foreground, with buildings in the background but focussed close to the camera. I do like this, and would try to up the contrast if I could, to bring the grasses out of the pictures. 

Image 16

Another of grasses with buildings in the background, I quite like this one as I like the fencing on the left hand side. I think the framing is a little out, and the shot could have been composed better if I had turned the camera a little to the left. 

Image 15

Taken from the decking at the end of our garden, this is the Trent and Mersey Canal. 

Image 14

I think this is one of my favourites, with the dustbin and makeshift lid which is weighed down with a brick, and the detail that I have managed to catch in the whole image. I haven't printed this up yet, in the darkroom, but I am looking forward to doing so.

Image 13

Not too keen on this image, it needs more contrast and detail. 

Image 12

I like the central focus of this image, the plant pot on top of the fencepost. I think this image needs more black and if I was printing it, I would try to darken the shot to get better contrasts.

Image 11

This is of grasses in the garden, with the focus on the buildings in the distance. It's a bit too hazy to be used. 

Image 10

Much like the previous shot, it would have been nicer if the background was darker but I really like this shot of the grasses.

Image 9

Image taken in the garden of spring onions in a raised bed. I would have liked the background to have been darker for the onions and wood to stand out more - perhaps some dodging and burning in the dark room/photoshop would be able to bring it alive. 

Image 8

Just another shot taken on the way to the garden. 

Image 7

I took this and the rest of the shots on this film, at 5:15 as I had been waiting for sun for days and suddenly it was there. The sky was showing a remarkable sunset and was very bright. I quite like the atmospherical unsharpness which was due to unaccurate focussing. I should have focussed and then put the filter on but I kept the filter on throughout all these, focussed as well as I could, set the exposure and took the shot. I didn't know how much sun I would get so I had to take these all really quickly. 

Image 6

Just a random indoors shot in the art block. 

Image 5

I really like this one, it is also taken in the art block with little IR light available. I might have to revisit this one by taking the idea somewhere where more IR light is around. 

Image 4

This is a close up of foliage, taken also in the art block. I haven't lightened this, by changing the levels once scanned, as I thought it looked better darker [inspired by John Blakemore's images seen last week]. 

Image 3

Same as Image 2, but with more emphasis on the foliage. The scanner has picked up a water mark on the film, I've left that in the image as it is only a test image and not important. 

Image 2

In this shot, also just trying out the film and filter, I took some shots of plaster of paris 'heads' in the art block, expecting them to come out dark and the foliage to come out light and the opposite happened. I am assuming that the foliage has no IR light to reflect, but the plaster of paris seems to reflect whatever light is available rather well. 

Image 1

This is the first of my successful shots; in that it came out with actual pictures on it. It is taken of the inside of the art block. My previous film with the other filter was totally blank so it was good to get any images at all. 

It is interesting the reflected light that has been captured from the wood that is sitting horizontally from the side of the room to the separating board. I also think the white of the board is nice and clean, even though there can be limited IR light indoors.