Shooting on 35mm in ze desert

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:55 am

I'm bringing my Diana + but shooting on 35mm instead of 120 so I get the fancy, i'm an arty wanker, effect on the sprocket holes.

What tips can people offer with regards to choosing 35mm film for the desert, or am I best just going with the cheapest. Has anyone shot with 35mm on Lomo cameras at BM?

Also, changing film and storing the completed rolls? Tips apprecaited

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:10 pm

I shot 35mm for years on my Nikon. I used Velvia slide film, which is supposed to be refrigerated. I left it in an un-iced ice chest and never had heat-related problems. I did keep it in its snap-top cylinder container before and after exposure.

I'd use a reasonably slow film for day, medium speed for night. Most of the stuff you'll shoot at night is either lighted or on fire. 50 ASA and 200 ASA worked for me.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:09 pm

Do those ASA films work out at the same levels as ISO films?

Or, for example, if I got some 100 and 400 would that work oot fine for me?

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:49 pm

> Do those ASA films work out at the same levels as ISO films?

Yes, sorry. I'm old, and ASA is the old name for film speeds. ASA/ISO is the new regime, as I recall. 100 and 400 will work. You know that 35mm has to be enlarged more than 120/220 and shows more grain (assuming you are shooting print film). Faster films show have more grain, but it sounds like you're after art effects, and you can work that in.

If you had time, I'd suggest trying a roll of each during day and at night so you have a feel for what you'll get. Have fun.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:57 pm

Yea, it's more just for taking the odd shot of things i'm really into. I love my photography, but without my DSLR i'll be walking on untested ground, so it's more for the artistic and memory aspects rather than kRazy rave pictures and pix of me m8s. Grain is fine, I'm using a flatbed scanner to get the developed rolls onto my pc, so i'm not too fussed about questionable detail. Photoshop is my friend anyway.

I will be playing around with a few long exposures at night time though, should be an adventure.

As usual Phil, thanks.

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:06 pm

I shot consumer grade 35mm film with a modest Pentax SLR in 1999, 2000, and 2001. The only precaution I took was to keep the film and the camera shaded and out of the dust. I did not notice any effects from the heat. I think that I used ISO 400, which was my favorite speed, although I'm not 100% sure about the speed.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:53 pm

Cool, i've got a whole load of 400 sat around the house so i'll throw that in. My main issue is the Diana, it's not designed to take 35mm so you've got to wind the film back into the case by hand, a task I normally do in a dark room. Obviously this may be hard to find in the desert.

Oh wait, maybe I'll just do it at night.

Great, problem solved.

Conversation with self over.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:16 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changing_bag

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:40 pm

Plus-X, Tri-X, whatever, keep it all in ziplocks in a small beer cooler if you're worried about heat.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:13 am

This may be a stupid question, but will changing the film at night be an ok undertaking? Surely it's just the suns rays I want to protect my photograpgic babies from.

Bob, safe, cold, done.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:35 am

The playa night is not good enough. Too many el-wires and blinkys and flashies, not to mention the moon.
Change your film in pitch black.

Also avoid zoom lenses on the playa.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:46 am

Ok, i'll build something then, damn you lights, damn you for being so light!

No zoom on my plastic lomo, so no problomo.

KitsuneCaligari · Post by **KitsuneCaligari** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:46 pm

I shot C-41 process black/white last year and it came out pretty good - this year I have one camera loaded with black/white and another loaded with color, both at 400 speed. Keep them bagged when not in use and avoid swapping out lenses. Your flash may end up being a problem, as the light will catch every single dust particle in the air and muck up your shot.

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:41 pm

[quote="Firmwood"]Ok, i'll build something then, damn you lights, damn you for being so light!

No zoom on my plastic lomo, so no problomo.[/quote]

We made a teardrop camper for the trip and didn't get around to putting in the windows. There is only the small ceiling vent which could be easily covered, especially at night. If you need to use the space for a minute for a darkroom let me know.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:10 pm

Magic, my campmate is a professional photographer and is taking a range of 120 and 35mm cameras with him so we may both have to take you up on your wonderful offer.

Where art though camping pray tell?

KitsuneCaligari, luckily the diana is the biggest plasticiest piece of shit ever, no lenses to swap out, no flash to speak of. The long exposures are done by jaming a bit of plastic in between the shutter release and the case. Magic

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:03 pm

I brought my Diana also. I picked it up a few months ago from an antique place in my own small town for $10 with all of the original box, strap, intructions, etc!!

I'm not going to be at a theme camp so I have no idea where. I'll post in the directory at center camp our info under Barbie and Ken from Texas.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:49 am

RedheadBarbie wrote:I brought my Diana also. I picked it up a few months ago from an antique place in my own small town for $10 with all of the original box, strap, intructions, etc!!

I'm not going to be at a theme camp so I have no idea where. I'll post in the directory at center camp our info under Barbie and Ken from Texas.

Boo, only just saw this, oh well... I ended up changing the single roll of 35mm I used in the back of our rental truck, these are some of the results...

somekind · Post by **somekind** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:36 am

That's pretty cool. I'd like to see more galleries.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:16 pm

Cheers,

here's the somewhat limited rest...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyns/se ... 108246706/

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:10 pm

Very, VERY nice, Firmwood.

Firmwood · Post by **Firmwood** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:08 pm

Aww fanks Phil

RedheadBarbie · Post by **RedheadBarbie** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:05 pm

Firmwood wrote:Boo, only just saw this, oh well... I ended up changing the single roll of 35mm I used in the back of our rental truck

Good idea. We'll have to find each other next year. Beautiful, by the way.