Moorish Window - Granada

Moorish Window - Granada - © Tim Chorlton

This is an old photo of mine which is a real bugger to print as the negative got damaged a little when it was being processed so I have to print it quite dark to hide the 'scratch'.

It was taken in the Alhambra in Granada, Spain using an old Adox camera. It's a photographers dream of a place and this is one of may favourite shots from the day.

Thailand Fishing Boat Series

Fishing Boat - Thailand - © Tim Chorlton

Fishing Boat#2 - Thailand - © Tim Chorlton

Mooring Poles - Thailand - © Tim Chorlton

To get these shots I has to wade waste deep into the Sea. We had just been on a deep sea fishing trip in Thailand on the island of Koh Samui. Our boat had got stuck in a storm and for about half an hour we were tossed around like a coin in a washing machine. The cloud had come down and you couldn't see a thing. When we finally got to shore everyone else was running for the safety of land. Because the edge of the storm was still only a few hundred metres away everywhere looked like it was shrouded in mist and the mid afternoon sun gave everywhere and eerie kind of glow.

I managed to get four or five photos but these are the best.

Unusually for me, the first of the fishing boat images is cropped a little bit, normally I'm a whole frame kind of guy.

I used my old Adox Golf which I love very much and bought years ago from a junk shop. When I pulled it out the locals started laughing as they are so used to seeing people with digital cameras these days.

Despite the 'trauma' that had preceded getting the shots, I get a real sense of calm when I see these images, especially 'Mooring Poles - Thailand'.

Bull Ring - Birmingham

Bull Ring - Birmingham - © Tim Chorlton

I took this photo in Birmingham on the way back from a meeting with a customer. I was struck by the sheer size and audacity of the Bull Ring. It's such a bold building.

This was shot using my Rolleicord on Ilford XP2 120 rollfilm.

Votes Needed

I've got an image up on the brilliant JPG site in the Nostalgia section. If you get a second, please vote for me!!!


Ta!

Epson v700 review

I've had my Epson v700 for about a week now and finally got it plugged in and scanning yesterday. I have to say, I'm delighted with the results.

So you know a little bit about me, I've worked in the graphic design and print industry for the past twenty years and have also worked part time as a professional photographer over the last 8 years.

In my spare time I love photography and until the last few years done all my printing using a dark room. However, as I seem to have less and less spare time these days, the mixing of chemicals etc has stopped me taking photos because I never have the time to print them so I decided to look at going digital (I'm digital at work but I love film for my 'hobby' photography).

I had a dilemma recently whether to ditch the film cameras and go totally digital or keep the much loved film cameras and buy a scanner.


I settled on buying a film scanner to allow me to keep playing with old and toy cameras but speed up the printing process.

I've had two photographic exhibitions and I'm trying to get back into selling my work again.

So, with that in mind, here is my very quick review of the Epson v700.

What's in the box?

The scanner comes with 3 software CD's:- The Epson Scan Software CD, SIlverfast SE and Photoshop Elements. USB Cable, Power Cable, Scanning Mat (which protects the top scan bed when not scanning film), 120 film holder, 35mm slide holder, 3mm film strip holder, 5x4 holder and a film area guide to allow for the scanning of big films up to about 10 x 8".

Was it easy to set up?

I work on a Mac so, yes, it was mind numbingly easy to set up. I was scanning within 45 minutes (some of the software takes a while to install).

So what are my first impressions?

I shoot mostly on 120 Ilford XP2 and my preferred format is 6x6 so I went straight for the 120 tray and scanned in a negative that was one of the last photos I hand printed several years ago because I wanted something I could compare like for like with.

I used the Silverfast Software rather than the Epson software and after a bit of clicking around (not one to read manuals) I found that I could select the film type I had used to capture the photo and very quickly I was looking at a very fine quality scan of a giant attacking a building in Dublin.

Below is roughly a 3.5cm x 3.5cm crop from the original image (see my previous post for the full image).


Note: It looks to me that it has suffered some jpeg deterioration as I've just checked it on the published version and I suspect the blog software has compressed the image a little. If anyone knows how to stop that happening please let me know.

100% crop from a 6x6 negative scanned to 55cm x 55cm at 300 dpi on an Epson v700 - click to enlarge

It's not pin sharp but nor would it be had I hand printed it. The image contains about the same amount of details as the hand printed version and unless I get a magnifying glass out, there isn't a huge amount of difference.

What's next?


I'm still having a bit of a play around to compare the Epson Software with the SilverFast and I'm hoping to get an example image printed off at a local company to see if they are (in my opinion) a saleable quality of image.


Stay tuned.

Calendar commission

I've just had a bit of good news today. Leeds based design and marketing company, The Factory have commissioned me to supply 13 images for their 2010 calendar.

I've a few in mind already. I think I'm going to try and find images that apply to the time of year. I'm chuffed to bits and hopefully I'll get a printed sample to show off on my blog when done.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Brighton Deckchairs

Brighton Deckchairs - © Tim Chorlton

I took this image this summer (2009) on a weekend trip to Brighton to see some friends of my girlfriend. It was taken using my new Diana Camera which I am now well and truly in love with.

I've several 'deck chair' images and I'm sure some of the others will make an appearance on this site in time but I particularly like this one for it's simplicity. Two empty chairs and a Seagull - I think it sums up the great british sea-side at the end of the season perfectly.

I remember wandering around with my Diana proudly slung over my shoulder feeling very 'off the wall' only to discover nearly every shop in The Lanes sold them. Grrrr. However, it was quite a successful outing and not only did we have a great time I got three or four images that I'm very happy with.

Brighton Pier

Brighton Pier - © Tim Chorlton

This was another image from my Brighton trip (obviously). Again, shot on the beloved Diana with 120 Ilford SFX I think it's another 'English seaside classic' image.

I love the way the combination of the Diana's ridiculously poor optics and the duo tone have given it an almost Victorian feel which is when the Pier was originally built (1899 to be precise). Part of me wishes the flag was blowing in the wind but part of me is glad it isn't as that would make it quite a predictable image and I love the 'imperfections' that come from photography.

First Image from the Epson v700

Dublin Wax Works - © Tim Chorlton

I've just finished setting up my new Epson v700 and here is my first completed image from it.

I'l upload some 'techie stuff' in the next day or so but in the meantime I hope you like the image.

It was taken several years ago (probably around 2004/5) on a weekend away to Dublin. One morning to walk of the Temple Bar head that was throbbing on my shoulders.

I think I must have had an eye for the surreal that day as I was wandering around in a bubble I saw this wonderful site - the Dublin Wax Works Museum. Sadly it's now been moved and re-opened elsewhere in Dublin so I'm not sure if it will still have the Giant attacking the building. It will be a great shame if they don't.

I think this was shot on my RolleiCord which is probably one of my favourite cameras. I'll put up a post one day with my little kit detailed.