I went down to a fishing cove recently to take some photos. The fog had rolled in and I was ready to rock some black and white. The fog mixed with the cold left the area fairly uninhabited and kinda creepy, so I tried to push that theme in the photos I took that day. I don’t shoot in black and white often, but in conditions like this (i.e., a foggy old cove that’s probably/definitely haunted) there’s no question that it’s a solid choice.
I shot with a Kodak Tri-X film simulation and I really like how the photos turned out, and how close to the actual film stock it tends to get. Also, when shooting digital over film, I find it super helpful to see through the viewfinder in black and white. I’d definitely like to try and shoot more of it, when it fits the situation.
There’s an island nearby, Devil’s Island (cool name, definitely not cursed) with a lighthouse that I’d like to get to someday to photograph. Below is a photo of the island I took in the spring, and I’m thinking that if I can get there but come back cursed, it’ll be worth it if I can get a nice portfolio shot out of it.
Would love to know your thoughts on shooting black and white vs. colour. Do you only shoot black and white, or pull it out on special occasions? Any favourite black and white film stocks? Let’s chat about it!
All images SOOC and shot with Fujifilm XT-30II w/ 18-55mm f2.8
Stay focused.
These are great! You are making me miss my X-T30 II. It was a little powerhouse, but I felt drawn to the full frame world. The Zf is awesome but I do miss the size and the film sims. I too shot film for many years before digital but I see both as different mediums entirely. Sounds like you appreciate both as well!
I shot film for 30 years before digital - I am that old! Glad that so many are discovering film but I see no reason to go back. I shoot raw plus either a bw or Nikon standard color sim based on what I feel the image and circumstance seem to want- not overthinking, operating instead from what I intuit. Robert Adams described landscape photography as a mix of place, autobiography and metaphor. These days I aim for all three in my images.