Depending on how long you've been away, the world has changed a lot.
Film is harder to come by, especially if you're reaching up for 8x10. At 4x5 B&H is still the best game in town and I'm hooked on FP4 and Tri-X 320. If you're in the color business, nothing beats Fuji Velvia but that's a matter of taste if you want your greens to pop. A more natural color with some punch is probably Ektar.
If you want to have some fun, check out dr5.com...it's a guy who's been doing reverse development for years. Just moved to some suburb or DesMoines I think. Shoot negative film, usually a couple stops underexposed (his site has recommendations by film) and his development process delivers a slide. Very smooth look. He used to have 2 different development processes, one neutral (b/w) and one that created a sepia glow. Very nice for portraits - warming. I've got a couple boxes of Scala 200 down there along with some Efke25 but both those are discontinued and dr5 is the only guy I've found that's still running it.
What I miss the most is polaroids. I loved those p/n 55 negatives. I don't know why anyone would shoot that for the positive but the negatives underexposed a stop or so were so rich. I've still got a couple boxes of 8x10 down in the fridge and the big electric processor. I keep hoping for the time and project that warrants breaking into the irreplaceable. Maybe I'll just pass it on as part of my estate...ha ha...might be the most valuable part.
While I miss polaroids, I weep for KR25. I've got a half dozen or so rolls left (I know, not LF but still, a loss). I read that the last K14 chemistry line shut down in 2010 making Kodachrome an "alternative" process. I don't anyone will create a viable alternative since there's so little left to experiment with. Those boxes will probably end up in a glass case in some obscure museum someday.
anyway - so much for film. As for tips - I've come to the age where I subscribe to Edward Weston's philosophy...there ain't nothing worth photographing that's more than 200 feet from the car. That's all I got.
Good luck.
= new reply since forum marked as read
