Harman Kentmere 200 – Almost desolate landscapes

The last of the Kentmere 200 photos taken on my Ricohflex Dia’s most recent outing.

I snapped these on my way back from the overpass graffiti. This film makes it all appear more stark than it perhaps is, and I haven’t decided if the lack of color hurts or helps these compositions.

I thought this was an interesting composition, a gnarly tree reaching out with a skeletal branch, and it certainly has texture. But I don’t think the film quite captured the moment. f16, 1/50sec

The shimmering grass swaying in the wind isn’t properly captured here, and the lack of color definitely hurts this photo. But the Ricoh Dia doesn’t have an interchangeable back… f16, 1/50sec

I don’t know what I was trying for here. The dark tree in the background could almost be a mushroom cloud, so maybe I placed it in the wrong group? f16, 1/50sec

This photo definitely would have benefited from a wider aperture and a longer focal length. And possibly color, though the flower itself wasn’t that vibrant. This was more about just finishing the roll at this point. And hey, does that black bar at the top mean they didn’t scan the whole image at the shop? f16, 1/50sec

I think my biggest frustration with this camera is the focal length and minimum focus distance. I literally cannot get good closeups with it.

In fairness to the camera, closeups (and macro photography) were never what it was meant for. I think it was intended for tourist shots taken on a trip.

The fact that these pictures don’t really do anything for me doesn’t help that use case, though.

I think this camera requires a very specific use case, and I need to figure out what that is before I take it out again. It’s great for architecture photos; some of my first photos on it were of buildings and I really like what I got. But my current interest in closeups and macros makes this camera a no-go for me.

I guess that’s what I’ve learned from this roll.

That and Kentmere 200 is a serviceable but not amazing film. At least not how I used it.

Next time: Phoenix II 35mm.

 

Harman Kentmere 200 – Underground street poetry in motion

Some more of my most recent Ricohflex Dia photos shot on Kentmere 200.

These were taken with one of the Kiddos, who deigned to come along with me during my death march to this location, which I have photographed (and shared here) before.

While similar in style and starkness to the Apocalypse-themed images of my previous post, as well as being highway-adjacent, these photos don’t scream “End of the world!” enough to be lumped in with that group.

Graffiti under an overpass. Keep moving, nothing to see here. f16, 1/50sec

At least if there was some fallout involved, we could shelter under this. f16, 1/50sec

If the hills indeed do have eyes, so, evidently, do the overpasses… f16, 1/50sec

While the Ricoh Dia is certainly a capable camera, I am finding that its limited and no longer quite standard in some cases shutter speeds are not exactly a handicap, but do put undue constraints on my options.

Basically, it was and is an entry level camera, and I’m starting to chafe against the limitations that entails. It has driven me to research other medium format cameras, and I’ve found a number I like, but they are not as inexpensive low-priced as cameras of this ilk.

I find I don’t enjoy working with this camera as much as I’d like. My 35mm cameras have more lens options, more aperture options, and more shutter speed options. While being constrained can make you more creative in other ways, I’m just not happy when using this camera. I’m spending too much time trying to work around the limitations, and that takes me out of the moment.

The Fujifilm 645 and 690 series of cameras appeal to me, as they’re more easily handled than my RZ670, but ones in good condition are more than I can justify spending right now. And the Mamiya C330 is also tempting, but then I have to ask myself if I really want another TLR…

Instead, I think I’ll focus on trying to hone my skills with what I have before I start pouring money into another platform.

 

Harman Kentmere 200 – Dour apocalyptic mood

While I was shooting the Kodak ColorPlus 200 on my Pentax K1000, I was also shooting Kentmere 200 on my Ricohflex Dia. That medium format camera is the most recent camera addition to my film camera collection (coming up on close to a year, I think), is a TLR, and has an 80mm lens.

I’ve posted about it and its pictures before. It’s a quirky camera that squeaks when I advance the film, had a housing screw come loose during this shoot (didn’t cause a light leak) and, if I turn the film advance knob the wrong way, will lead to overlapping exposures.

It’s also really easy to do double exposures on.

Too easy, as all of my double exposures have been accidental.

These shots from it put me in an apocalypse frame of mind.

Cracked concrete, overgrown weeds, desolate isolation, the feeling I’m being watched by hostile eyes as I walk around snapping pictures.

I’ve noticed lately that I’ll see something, a theme will come to mind, and then I shoot it.

Could this mean I’m developing an artistic mindset?

Or at least an artistic approach, even if the art itself isn’t fully there?

I like to think so.

Due to the dry, isolated nature of these shots, as well as their proximity to a major interstate highway, I call these The Desolation of Smog:

Not seen: the abandoned shopping cart (saw that after taking my photos) or a brave girl and her dog going for a walk as I wrapped up. f11, 1/200sec

Cracked concrete and a (temporarily) empty highway behind it. f11, 1/400sec

Every time I see this pseudo-abandoned car, it looks more and more worn down by the elements. f16, 1/50sec

I think the biggest, and possibly the scariest, takeaway I’ve gotten from these photos, is that the lack of sharpness is either due to the camera or my eyesight, and given some of the slightly fuzzy shots from my other camera, I am forced to conclude it’s probably my eyesight…

Although the fact that all my photos are slightly blurry in the WordPress editor but less so in the final result doesn’t exactly help.

I used Sunny 16 for exposure and, as always, it mostly works.

Next up: some more photos from this roll, a few shots from my 35mm Phoenix II roll, and my first pictures from the Kodacolor 100 that just came out.

You have been warned…