A Quick Drink
Jul, 2016Views
141
Likes
Awards
Fall Award 2020
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 10 rankSame photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken in Brooklyn New York. I am a teacher working with inner-city youth and we were on a community outing. I allowed my students to play in this fountain we came across. I had an old SLR from the 1950s with me I had found on eBay, which I used to capture this image. The camera was loaded with black and white film.Time
This photograph was taken midday in June. The sky was cloudless, which made for hard shadows. This shot represents an attempt to use the shadows to my advantage for sharp contrast and a natural silhouette effect.Lighting
The camera I used was a vintage camera so fill flash was not an option. But if I had flash capability and used it, the artificial light would have ruined the intense contrast and silhouette effect.Equipment
The camera I used was an Exakta, 35mm single lens reflex, dating back to the 1950s that I purchased through an online auction.Inspiration
I always bring a camera with me when I take my class on field trips because I never know when an opportunity to take a good photograph will arise. In this case, how the sunlight fell on my student and the fountain as he sauntered through it caught my eye.Editing
I don't have a darkroom so I had to send the film away to be processed. Though I could've then scanned the print and made adjustments to it through Photoshop, this was a rare instance when I was pleased with how it came out the first time and did not wish to alter it.In my camera bag
Usually I carry a Fujifilm X-T10 mirrorless digital camera fixed with a 1980s Tamron Adaptall, manual focus zoom lens, 35-210mm, f3.5-4.2. I also carry a Rolleiflex SL35, 35mm single lens reflex equipped with a Zeiss 50mm, f1.4 prime lens and T-Max 100 or 400 film. I also sometimes carry a Praktica VLC 35mm slr with a 50mm or 28mm prime lens.Feedback
Always have a camera ready for an event or outing. Something may occur or you a scene may catch your eye that the best phone camera will not do justice to. Also do not rely only on digital. Film adds a character to some images that is difficult to replicate with digital equipment and photo-editing software. Film and wonderful, classic film cameras are widely available and very affordable. There are now many labs you can send your color or black and white film to. I don't have a darkroom, but one isn't required to develop black and white negatives myself in lightproof container. I have a scanner for 35mm negatives that I employ after I've developed my film rolls.
