Film Road Trip

Tag: Kodak Portra 400

  • Favorite Film Stocks

    Favorite Film Stocks

    A few years back, I returned to film photography, and now shoot both digital and film while traveling.  With a lot of hits and misses, I’ve come to find that several film stocks have emerged as my favorites, reliable from trip to trip, and perfect for the way I shoot. Although I will continue to experiment, these film stocks have proven their worth and will be in my bag on every trip, or as long as the manufacturers continue to produce them!

    Kodak Portra 400

    Portra 400 is clearly my favorite of all film stocks. I used to shoot Portra NC and VC back in my pre-digital days, but the new Portra is so much better than it was before. It handles skin tones well, and accurately captures colors, with a wide latitude for exposure variances.  I tend to shoot it at 320, and love the bright, colorful look.  Some have commented that the colors are a bit warm, but I find it suits what I shoot well.

    Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/1.9, Portra 400
    Canon 1v, Portra 400
    Mamiya 6, Mamiya 75mm f/3.5, Fuji 400H

    Fuji 400H

    When I am shooting scenes with loads of greens and blues, I love Fuji 400H.  The greens and blues are a bit cooler than on Portra 400. For images of mountains and trees, or where those colors are prominent, it is perfection. It’s also flattering to skin tones, making it a favorite of wedding and portrait photographers.

    Mamiya 6, Mamiya 75mm f/3.5, Fuji 400H
    Canon 1v, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, Fuji 400H
    Canon 1v, Canon 135mm f/2, Fuji 400H

    Ektar 100

    I love Ektar’s ability to capture the vivid colors of the Caribbean.  It is super saturated with a fine grain, and I use it at box speed. The only down side is that skin tones on caucasians look a bit ruddy, so I avoid using it for portraits.  However, when it comes to landscapes, it’s stunning.

    Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Kodak Ektar 100
    Canon 1v, Ektar 100
    Canon 1v, Canon 135mm f/2, Ektar 100

    Other Stocks

    I just started experimenting with Fuji Velvia 100 on our trip to Nevis in June of 2017. Velvia 100 is slide film, meaning it is a “positive” rather than a “negative.”  The colors are vivid and the grain is super fine.  The only down side is that I have to pretty much nail my exposures, and the scene has to be consistently lit, not too contrasty.  You can see a side-by-side comparison of shots on Ektar 100 and Velvia 100 here.  It does not have the room for error I have with Ektar 100, but the color from Velvia is amazing.  I still need more experimentation to see if it will work for me. The trouble is that with all the beautiful sunshine in the Caribbean, you tend to get a lot of contrast in scenes.

    Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Velvia 100
    Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Velvia 100

    On our next trip to Kentucky, I will be shooting some Kodak Portra 800 for the first time.  Stay tuned!

    All processing and scanning by Richard Photo Lab

    NOTE: Originally published on February 4, 2018 on our sister site, My Irie Time

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  • #FilmRoadTrip – Andros, Bahamas

    #FilmRoadTrip – Andros, Bahamas

    Kamalame Cay

    “I’ve never been to a place where the palm fronds clack together,” my husband said while sitting back in his beach chair facing the calm of Kamalame Cay.  Coconut palms surrounded our chairs on what seemed to be our own personal beach.  “You have,” I replied.  “You have just never heard them before.”  We have been to quite a few private beaches and luxury resorts in the Caribbean, but Kamalame Cay was distinctive from the rest.  It was like nothing we had ever seen, or heard, before.

    Kamalame Cay Mamiya 6, Mamiya 75mm f/3.5, Fuji 400H

    There are no televisions.  We thought we would miss that, particularly with the NBA Finals going on at the time of our visit.  We didn’t. We spent more time talking, and reading, and listening, hearing those palm fronds, or the patter of a late afternoon rain.  You saw more.  Perhaps it was the lack of distractions.  You noticed the tiny marks left by the hermit crabs as they made their way across the sandy  path.  You saw the tiny birds, hopping from branch to branch.  The loudest sound was the sound of the seaplane taking off, bringing new guests or taking new friends home.

    Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/1.9. Kodak Ektar 100 Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/1.9. Kodak Ektar 100

    The water was calm and clear.  In the early mornings or late evening, it was like glass, and in those early mornings, you were treated to the sunrise from your beach chair.  The water is shallow for quite a distance, perfect for those uneasy with the surf, or those who just like to walk or lounge in the water.

    Kamalame Cay Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/1.9, Kodak Portra 400Kamalame Cay Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/19, Kodak Portra 400

    There are personal touches throughout your visit.  In the morning, a basket of breakfast goodies is delivered to your door, including freshly-squeezed orange juice, coffee, pastries, yogurt and fruit.  In the afternoon, you look forward to the warm cookie delivery, wanting to be there the moment it arrives.  The staff was warm and caring without being intrusive.

    Kamalame Cay Mamiya 6, Mamiya 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Portra 400

    It took me a while to put my thoughts together to sum up our visit.  I left well-rested, yet we did more activities on this trip than any before.  I felt pampered, yet staff members were not present at every turn.  This is not the Four Seasons, or Jumby Bay, or any of the diamond award winners we have visited before. It’s difficult to compare, because they don’t compare. It is elegant, but in an understated way.  A visit to Kamalame Cay may be best described as a visit to a friend’s beautiful beach house.  You are welcome and comfortable, and if you need assistance, they are already there with what you need.  But you have the run of the house, literally.  You can pour yourself a drink, pick a book off the shelf, and settle in where you are comfortable. You can walk barefoot, anywhere.  Relax. You are home.

    Kamalame Cay Tour Mamiya 6, Mamiya 75mm f/3.5, Kodak Portra 400

    Lead image: Mamiya Pro TL, Mamiya 80mm f/1.9, Fuji 400H

    All photographs in this post were shot on film, using a Mamiya 6 with the 75mm f/3.5 lens, or the Mamiya ProTL with the Mamiya 80mm f/1.9 lens. Processing by Richard Photo Lab.

    This post was the winner of a bronze award in the 2016 NATJA Awards for Excellence in Travel Journalism in the category of Photography: Photo Essay – Online Publication.  For more information, click the image below.

     

    NOTE: Originally published on July 10, 2016 on our sister site, My Irie Time.

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  • Kodak Portra 400

    Kodak Portra 400