Tag: Black and White Photography

34 Year Old Kodak T-MAX Negatives

I was bored. There wasn't anything on Netflix or Amazon Prime or Apple TV or Hulu or HBO Max that I wanted to watch. To distract my mind from boredom I rummage throuugh a set of negatives from my early early college days with 35mm film photography.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

When I was in college, the chemistry for developing 35mm colour film was expensive. As a student on a limited budget, black and white photography was an attractive option. I had access to the darkroom at the Media Centre at Drew University spendind hours experimenting and developing Kodak Tri-X Pan, Ilford HP5 and Kodak T-Max.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

Kodak T-MAX Professional is a black and white film that is for decades has been known for its high resolution, sharpness, and fine grain. It has a nominal sensitivity of ISO 100 or 400, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of lighting conditions.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

One of the key features of T-MAX Professional is its T-Grain emulsion technology, which produces extremely fine grain and smooth tonal gradations. This makes it a popular choice among photographers who want to achieve a high level of detail and sharpness in their images.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

T-MAX Professional also has a wide exposure latitude, which allows for greater flexibility in a variety of lighting conditions. It can be pushed to higher ISOs without sacrificing image quality, making it a useful tool for low-light situations or for creating dramatic effects.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

In addition to its technical features, T-MAX Professional is also known for its classic black and white look, with deep blacks and bright whites that create striking contrast. It has been a popular choice among fine art photographers, as well as for documentary, portrait, and landscape photography.

November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400
November 1988 | Pentax P3 | SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2 | Kodak T-MAX Professional   ISO 400

The Kiosk, Nassau Street

The fog and dim light seemed like a good day to use Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow.

As I walked north along the southeastern side of Nassaudense near Palmer Square, the viscous fog enveloped me like a comforting blanket. The air was thick with moisture, and the heavy veil of mist muffled the sound of my footsteps. The Kiosk, a small wooden kiosk surrounded by benches, was barely visible in the haze, but its familiar silhouette was visible in the dim light.

Kiosk at Palmer Square, Winter, Fog
Monday 26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2

I could feel the dampness of the fog on my skin and the chill in the air. The usually bustling shopping mall was eerily quiet as if the mist had dampened all sound and movement. Usually so vibrant and full of life, the trees were now ghostly apparitions, their branches and leaves shrouded in the mist. A man stood up from the bench and walked away, head down, staring at his electronic brick.

As I continued walking, I felt like I'd entered a different world of mystery and enchantment. The fog had transformed the familiar into something strange and new, and I walked more slowly, savouring each moment in this ethereal realm.

Van Horne Park, Rocky Hill

It was a cold day, but after the weekend of winter hell we experienced during our trip to Champaign, Illinois, I wanted to get outside for a bike ride. The air was cold this morning; I expected to warm up once I got going. I put on some layers, stuck the Minolta XD-11 camera in the basket of the e-bike, donned my helmet and started for Van Horne Park.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/16

Van Horne Park is a recreational park located in Rocky Hill Borough and an independent municipality within the borders of Montgomery Township. The Montgomery Township Parks and Recreation Department maintain the park. It offers a variety of recreational activities. Spread across sprawling green lawns, Van Horner Park features well-maintained playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and walking paths.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1⁄250 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0

In 2020, the Montgomery Township Parks and Recreation Department planned to host a “Movies in the Park” event. I assumed they had not completed the event. The wall serving as the outdoor movie screen is now full of graffiti. Perhaps this is another opportunity for community building lost to the pandemic.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/11

During the warmer months of the year, area residents can enjoy a game of catch with friends or family, go for a leisurely walk or jog, or play a game of tennis. Children play on the swings, slides and other play structures in the playground area while adults relax on the benches and enjoy the scenery. When our children were younger, we often took them to Van Horne Park to fly kites.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0

The park is a popular destination for picnics in the summer, with several covered picnic shelters available for rent.

All of these were absent during my bicycle ride. It was cold. I quickly made my way through the park, stopping briefly to expose a few frames of Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1⁄60 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0