Shooting Medium Format Film | Film Friday – July 31, 2015

I wrote a few months ago about a one-on-one class I took with Lisa O’Dwyer, where I learned the basics of shooting medium format film.  After much research into the various meduim format cameras, I found a great deal on a Pentax 645 and a great auto-focus 75mm lens.  I ordered some 120 film and jumped into experimenting.

One of my business goals this year is to try to shoot one roll of medium format film at every wedding.  I’m enjoying this process so far, focusing on using the camera for portraits alongside of my amazing digital camera.  I definitely get a few “whoa look at that camera” every time I pull it out (its big and funny looking to those who are only used to digital cameras), but I love the feel of having it to play with on a wedding day.

I’ve also been experimenting with different film stocks and so far I’m really enjoying the results of Portra 800, followed closely by Fuji 400H.  In particular, the vibrancy of colors that the Portra 800 produces is awesome.  The below photo was shot at the Sand Dunes back in April and processed by Indie Film Lab.

Portra 800
Pentax 645
75mm f/2.8
Indie Film Lab