Nice shots L. You've got me a bit interested in Fomapan. I've not shot with it before and have sorta settled on Illford products 50, 125, 200, & 400 ISO. I'll have to see if my developer Lauder 761 has a decent developing time for Fomapan. How does it compare to Illford HP5 or Tmax 400?

Tim, like I was saying to Frank, Fomapan 400 is a genuinely retro emulsion. The grain is much rougher, it build contrast much faster, and generally is behind on technical traits versus more modern films. It has loads of charm though and produces a very authentic old time look.

HP5, being a somewhat more conventional emulsion with refinements, might be considered in the same evoluntionary tree as Foma 400, though vastly different.

TMAX, being tabular grain, is a completely different breed.

Oh...I so totally haven't bothered with the actually specifics of the films. I just have liked this one or that one and tend to use the lowest ISO I can get away with to reduce grain. I remember from my film days that there are differences in brands Kodak versus Agfa versus Fujifilm etc. colors would be different and of course there are big differences in slide film but I really haven't gotten into this level of detail. I just want the grain to be a non-issue in my photography at this point. It's one of the reasons I like medium format because there is so much more image to work with both in the darkroom and for scans.

Ok, so I'm going to need to pay some attention to this now. Thanks!

Long as you're consistently getting results you like there's no specific reason you need to dig into the finer points of emulsion personalities, but it is interesting and can be rewarding.

If minimizing grain is a priority, then Fompan 400 probably isn't for you. You use it for old time charm, not fine grain.

I actually got that from your posts on it now. Good to know. However, I'm at the point where old time charm comes from expired film that I bought by mistake...thanks.

Quick Leighgion update: I am flying back to Beijing on Saturday, but leaving home tomorrow so as to be in Seattle a day early. Currently packing up and trying to finish up a run of DVD production (yes, I'm a home DVD factory) before I go. Little scrambled.

I did not manage to sort & upload all my photos from last semester, so once I get back to my room in Beijing, I will immediately have material to catch up on.

Have a safe trip back Leigh! I'll look forward to more amazing shots of your stay in China when you have some time.

I'll echo Tiffany, safe journey.

Take care Leighgion!

Keep it between the fences; shiny side up, greasy side down!
Hope your arms don't sore from all the flapping; it's a long way to China.


P.S. We want more pictures!

Hey folks,

Quick update for Beijing. I've been back about a week, but what should've been a leisurely ramp up has turned into a really busy time as I decided to skip up a class level face-first into texts that are going to be a bear AND the part-time job that kept moving into the future materialized yesterday with a two-day deadline for the first batch of work.

More from me when that dust settles.

Nothing like jumping in the deep end. Hope it settles for you and glad to hear you arrived safely. good luck finishing up work on time!

Leighgion is not used to being busy. He is not the best multitasker or time manager you will ever meet. The following material is still from last semester, all shot with the little Olympus XA on Fomapan 400 developed by that lab by Yashow that Leighgion doesn't really feel like going back to.

Sleep in Motion by Leighgion, on Flickr
My primary subject was the napping woman, but the reflections turned out great too.

Laundry by Leighgion, on Flickr
Laundry is hung using whatever space you can get. Driers are rare due to space and energy being a premium.

Napping by the Eggs by Leighgion, on Flickr
Sleep is another thing taken whenever and wherever possible.

Leigh, your awesomeness bursts off the screen!
very cool partial self portrait, and the light is excellent on the second shot.

Thanks, Pablo. I held back all the stuff that makes me look bad.

Some of my increasingly rare color shots on film. Did these with my Nikon FE2 and pretty sure my 50mm f/1.8 Series E on Fuji Superia 400. If I am wrong, then it was my 40mm f/2 Voigtländer Ultron SL2.

Waterway to CCTV by Leighgion, on Flickr
This was one of the nicer days I went to the Wukesong Camera Market. Before getting there, you have to cross this canal that has a view to the CCTV Tower. Some days, you can hardly see the tower on account of the smog.

Ye Olde Jalopy by Leighgion, on Flickr
Farmers use whatever vehicles that work for their purposes. This one was even more colorful than most that make it into the city to sell produce.

Peking Opera Snapshot by Leighgion, on Flickr
Consumer grade 400 speed film is not ideal for live theatre, but I managed to extract something.