Katia @ Paris

I decided to analyse my shots not, explain why I kept them, what I could have done better. I'll also put some that did not make the cut and explain why. This is all from a Mamiya RZ67II with TMax film and the 110m 2.8.

By the way, I learned that Neopan 400 is dead... it made me sad, it was a great film.

Thanks to the lovely Katia.

A diptych for a change: I tried to play with the change of distance on the same pose. Both shots are spot on focus, perfectly exposed (natural light) and could be self sufficient, but it's worth the attempt. I regret the dark stuff on her back on the right, I might photoshop that in the end.

Same shot as a stand alone for comparison. 

This is a pose I used a lot but not with the models hands placed like that. I wish her eyes were a little more open, and light a little more focused on her face / chest, but white wall makes the room light very even. Appart from that, it is sensual without being gross, so I kept it.

The original left picture on the diptych, uncropped.

I like this because of the 3 layers: black, skin, gray. Also it implies nudity but we don't really see it. Here also I wish I had the eyes looking up or a little more opened, but at the same time they look a little tripy like this.

A pose I used and abused: full nude with nothing showing, emphasis on the face. Nailed it technically yet I wish the room was significantly darker that the skin.

Inspiration: Arnaud Legrand

Paris based photographer, 32 yo (could be me but no, he isn't). I don't know much about the man, I just found a series on DeviantArt that in my opinion is at the level of the best of the best.

All are 35mm film, Tri X (my favorite black and white film)

Here is his site, and here are the shots:

Oldies, last ones

Seriously, I find so much stuff. As much as I don't have time to shoot anything these days, I used to shoot so much I didn't have time to process my images...then they got lost in time like tears in the rain (never miss an opportunities to quote Blade Runner).

Anyway, here is some more. Always medium format film (Mamiya RZ67), in that case some hardcore very low light condition and ISO 3200 film.

Some oldies

One of the rewards of sorting your hard drive :) Back when I was essentially just doing female portraits.

Sofia @ Rome & Capri

K. @ Dublin

Mamiya RZ67 & 645, Nikon FE with me screwing up removing the film :)

Personal shots, more 50mm 1.2 AIS

Nikon 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S with acros 100 film and a Nikon FE. It is indeed hard to focus wide open (see 4th picture) but when you manage, results can be superb. Can't wait to see how it'll perform on a D800.

First 2 shots at F2.0

At F1.2

At F4

Inspiration: Wyatt Neumann

Wyatt Neumann is a director and photographer, making most of his career in advertising. More of a videographer, he has a very refined eye for photography and is able to achieve things that I envy. With nothing else but a scene, and what feels like a very spontaneous framing decision, he tells a good story. Most of his stuff seems to be 35mm film. I don't like all that he does, the white trash portraits is something I've seen too much, but that's personal, but I like the risks he takes on some portraits.

We will of course notice that a good story telling image with a strong feel has nothing to do with pixels, sharpness, or any of those things a lot of people try to sell you. It's like painting, it's a matter of composition, colors, point of view.

His site here. A personal selection there: