I was in Auckland last week to give a talk about film at APIX photographic supplies. The talk went really well and was a lot of fun, I talked quite a bit about Portra which is one of my favourite films. So when after the talk I took a trip to Auckland zoo, I used Portra 400 to photograph the animals there. I love the zoo it’s one of my favourite things to do and so much fun when you get to go without children and see the animals you want to see.
I am just thrilled with how wonderful the colour has come up in the photographs, Portra really does never cease to amaze me with it’s versatility.
Awesome, this is why Portra is one of my fav films! Looks gorgeous here!
Was the first photo using a zoom on your ae1?
Hey Chris .. yeah it was. 70-210 F4 macro lens .. it’s a good one I really like it.
Love the elephant shot
Thanks … she’s pretty cool. Her trainer was putting her through her paces .. it was really fun to watch.
Wonderful, the richness of colour in the Tiger shot is just great. I picked up my first rolls of this film when I was at APIX….can’t wait to give it a go!! Plus the added bonus of being able to get you to develop them for me…;-)
Awesome. These are from the same batch I bought mine from there earlier in the day
… glad I did they ran out! It’s a fantastic film I’m sure you’ll love it and I look forward to getting it in the post and seeing what you do with it.
What brand do you use for your lenses and camera bodies? I’m just curious.
also, I’ve used Portra 160 on my Minolta SRT 101 and the X-700 and it seems to be too digital looking, As far as I can tell from scans etc. I’ve had done, Portra doesn’t have any or much grain at all eh?
I think Grain is the definitive difference between Film and Digital Photography wouldn’t you agree?
there’s a feel you get from a grained film image that you don’t get with all the fine grain or can-hardly-see-grain films like Portra.
also, have you seen how cheap film can be at the warehouse? they have Fuji Superia 200 and 400 Pack of 3x rolls for only $18.00.
if there’s cheaper places to get film in Wellington, I’d be keen to consider cheaper film if you know of any.
- Curtis
Hi Curtis
For these shots I was using a Canon AE1 with a 70-200 F4 lens. I have a variety of film cameras though. There is over all quite a different look between film and digital. Some of it is to do with grain and some to do with colour and how film resolves shadow and highlights. Portra is quite low grain even portra 400 though it can get quite chunky when you push it.
I recommend getting your film from APIX in Auckland, they have really good prices and will ship to you. I rarely buy film in Wellington but if I have to I usually get it from Image Lab who have pretty good prices on 120 which I use a lot or WPS. WPS aren’t the cheapest but I know the film has been refrigerated properly which is important to me.
Thanks for your comments on my pics too
PS: the top shot of the Tiger is nice, and the bottom shot of the Elephant is really well taken.
nice job.
- Curtis
Thanks
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in reality used to be a leisure
account it. Look complicated to far added agreeable from you!
By the way, how can we be in contact?
Hi again Reatha, I just found this video online, hugely inspirational for Film users like you and I and the others out there who use Film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuacneD8EUA&feature=related
- Curtis