Tag Archives: Nolita
Film Photography: Taking a Walk with the Hasselblad
As I carry the Hasselblad around more, I’m definitely getting used to its heft. So far, I just grasp the beast and hold it in my hand. This works for about an hour, but after that my hand gets kind of tired. Last week I ordered a custom strap from Gordy’s Camera Straps. His straps are handmade, sturdy, and very inconspicuous. I first saw his straps in the local Nolita shop Love Adorned. They sell it for over $100. You can order it straight from Gordy for $40. I ordered mine from Gordy, as I don’t mind waiting.
Even without a strap, I’m enjoying using this camera so much that I *might* take it to Paris this month when we go for a long weekend. I think I can fit it with the Nikon FM2 and tons of film. It would be nice to have those big 6×6 sized negatives for some of our Paris pictures.
Looking into the viewfinder…
All images taken with the Hasselblad 501cm and Zeiss Planar 80mm f2.8 lens on the new Kodak Portra 400 film.
Car Garage Door in Nolita
Random Hallway in Chinatown
M.N. News Stand in Chinatown
Olek’s Tribute to Banksy’s Child with Balloons on Elizabeth Street
Olek does amazing crocheted yarn art (Yarn Bombing of Yarn Storming) and this is the latest in Chinatown. Don’t know how long it will last in the elements, but let’s hope it last longer than the one on the Wall Street Bull. Her work is so amazing, often just bicycles here and there, but the Wall Street Bull was phenomenal. Watch the video at the link.
Winnie’s Bar and Restaurant in Chinatown
Hairless Khala Dog Outside Westville in East Village
This dog was so stoic. he just stood there while I got up close to him. With the Hasselblad you’re metering the light, setting your aperture and shutter speed from the EV reading, and then focusing. It’s not just snap and walk away. He never blinked. It was like he knew I was taking his picture and wanted to make sure he held still.
Vintage Yellow Schwinn with Basket in East Village
Flowers Outside The Upper Rust in East Village
Garage on Bond and Bowery in East Village
Film Photography: East Village on Kodak Tri-X 400 and Xtol Developer
After growing tired of Kodak D-76 developer, which gives you consistent if not stellar results regardless of the film you use, I started using TMax developer. TMax developer costs more than powdered “mix it yourself” developers, but it’s convenient. Unfortunately, the TMax developer does not handle pushed films well, unless you want big, chunky grain. Rodinal is another favorite developer, but again, pushed films will come out ultra grainy. So, I grabbed a bag of Kodak Xtol developer. It’s cheap and you can mix it with room temperature water, unlike D-76 that has to be mixed with hot water that requires cooling. Xtol comes in two different bags glued together. You mix bag A in 4 liters of water. Then after the solution A powder is fully dissolved, you add bag B and another liter of water. In the end, you get 5 liters of working solution that can be used full strength or diluted.
I like the look that Xtol gives. These shots are on Kodak Tri_X 400 pushed an extra stop to 800 ISO.
A gorgeous vintage Schwinn Racer in the rain on First Street in the East Village
Another view of the classic Schwinn Racer in the rain, East Village
There was this beautiful old Cadillac on the same block, East Village
The New York City Marble Cemetery, one of the beautiful old graveyards in Manhattan. This is on First Street in the East Village.
Prune is one of our favorite go to spots for food in the East Village. It’s busy a lot of the time, and will probably get busier now that the chef’s book is getting so much attention, but we usually find a spot at the tiny bar and just relax. The food is fantastic and the staff treat you like family.
A bonus image from later in Nolita. The Xtol handles the wet pavement on this basketball court. It’s not too shiny, but it does capture the sheen of water and the texture of the surfaces.
All images shot with Nikon FM2n and Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Ai lens on Kodak Tri-X 400 film pushed to 800 ISO and developed in Kodak Xtol (stock solution) for 7.75 minutes.
Film Photography: Still Playing with Wide Angle
I know swapping a new wide angle lens for your trusty 50mm lens doesn’t mean you can only take pictures of buildings and bridges, but suddenly that’s what I’m drawn to . A few more, just for fun.
The Flatiron Building from behind, Flatiron District, NYC
Corner of Bleecker and 6th Avenue, Greenwich Village, NYC
On Avenue of the Americas with the Empire State Building in the Background
La Esquina, Nolita, NYC
All images shot with Nikon FM2n and Nikkor 28mm f2.8 Ai-S MF lens on Ilford HP5+ film developed in Kodak TMax developer (1+4) for 6.5 minutes.
Film Photography: New Year and We Can See the Sidewalks Again
For 2011, the weather gods gave us a bit of a break. The sidewalks are back. Unfortunately 12 days of garbage are covering the sidewalks, but there are sidewalks.
The glory of a New Year’s day in the Lower East Side
Feeling a bit more positive after brunch at Barrio Chino, “I’M SO TALL” on the Bowery
I know something amazing is in there, Spring St. in Nolita
Nice sentiment for the New Year on Spring St. near the bicycle with the box containing treasure…
All images shot with Nikon FM2n and Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AI-S lens on Kodak Tri-X 400 exposed and developed at box speed in Kodak T-Max developer (1+4) for 6 minutes
Nikon FM2n and Kodak Tri-X 400 in Soho, East Village, Financial District, Nolita
The Nikon has much better contrast than the Olympus using the same film and developer. Looks like I’ll reserve the Olympus for color film and summer stuff and the Nikon and Leica for all my B&W work.
Here are several shots just developed in Kodak D-76 (stock solution) for 6.75 minutes.
Wide Basket in the Financial District
Fino Christmas Lights, Financial District
Decorated Bike for Christmas, Soho
Tacombi Taco Truck. Nolita
More on the Nolita Stationary Taco Truck at Embarrassment of Riches
Gramercy Tavern, Flatiron District
Anthropologie Decorations, Soho
The East Village RV, East Village
NYC Eats Its Young, East Village
Block Drugs Sign, East Village
On the Street with Target-bought Kodak Pro Film and Leica M6
Picked up six rolls of Kodak Pro color film at Target in a pinch and am pleasantly surprised at these shots. Used the Leica M6 with a Leica Summicron 50mm lens. These were also developed and scanned at Duane Reade. No post processing, except for a crop on the skull shot.
“Why so serious, Kate?” on Kenmare in Nolita
Skull on Lafayette, just south of Houston
Updated version of the RCA Dog on Crosby Street
Trash Bins on Crosby
New Haculla on Lafayette
Skull on random lightpost base
Phones on Crosby
Saturday Night in Soho/Nolita
Saturday night, we went to Nolita/Soho, or as I call it “Nolito,” just to walk around at the San Genarro festival and then get some food and drinks. These shots were with the Leica M6 and Summicron 50mm f2 on Ilford 3200 film dialed in at 1600 ISO. I processed it at 3200 in the kinda chunky grain Kodak D-76 for 10.5 minutes. I like grain.
Kate by candle light at Peasant bar tables
The Peasant sign outside from inside
Skaters on Crosby Street in Soho
A sausage guy at the San Genarro Festival
Double take at the punching bag game
Silhouettes on Lafayette Street
Early New York Cosmos graffiti on Crosby Street
Kate on the always lovely Canal Street
Random Shots from Second Kodachrome Roll
Happier with this second roll of Kodachrome. I shot it at 64 ISO, though most of these shots are in harsh, noonish light from the weekend before last. More shots to come in a few days.
La Esquina, Nolita
Pell Street in Chinatown is one of my favorite streets in NYC. It’s rare to see it this quiet.
Man Sleeping
Deli on corner of 2nd Avenue in the East Village
Door by Haculla, Nolita
This totally cracked me up, especially after seeing “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Mister Brainwash on L’Asso’s wall dissed.
And last but not least, I caught this homemade Germany World Cup shirt at the Puma World Cup City in Southstreet Seaport. Go Germany!
Nolita/Bowery/Soho and Ilford 3200 B&W Film
This was my first experience shooting and developing roll of Ilford 3200 ISO film. It’s grainy and dark as hell, which I like, but for some reason I had trouble loading it onto the reel. I scratched up about half of the negatives. I don’t have the patience to use software to fix the scratches though. I’d rather be out taking pictures.
Kate and Courtney in the barely lit back hallway of Jules in the East Village. These frames received the worst of the scratches, but I like the look of the pictures.
Here are several shots with Ilford 3200 developed at home in Ilford D-X Developer. I’ll use it again if I want to take pictures in a bar or when it’s darker outside, but I’m more comfortable using cheap Kodak Tri-X. You can push the Tri-X to 1600 if you want anyway, which is what I shot this roll at.
Flickr pal Army of One has Diane Arbus’ Grenade Boy looking stressed out as usual.
Pair of public phones in Soho.
Face behind bars, Soho, heading towards Nolita.
This cart was on the corner of Crosby and Grand in Soho.
On Crosby Street, this gentleman was snoring so loudly it startled me. There’s something about the darkness under the construction canopy and the bar shielding him that made me snap this picture.
All Saints, Soho on Crosby Street
This sign for Globe Slicers on the Bowery is amazing. You can tell it was done by hand. Love the different fonts and the varying sizes of the letters. There’s so much character in this old sign.
Open door, up stairs, Bowery
Definitely truth in advertising. Seen on the corner of the Bowery and Third Street.
Finally, this is a film shot from the Faile & Bast Deluxx Fluxx Arcade that I posted about last week.
NYC Restaurants and Bars at Night
New York is most beautiful at night. You can have your Central Park, midtown, and the usual tourist stops during the day, but I love the way our downtown restaurants and bars glow in the darkness. Some of my favorite moments here are nights when Kate and I are just randomly walking and stumble upon some place we *have* to visit. Often it’s just a leisurely drink and appetizer or dessert, then back we spill into the street. This happens a lot. And, as the temperature creeps lower, the signs seem to be even more captivating and enticing.
Schiller’s Liquor Bar in the Lower East Side 
La Esquina in Nolita 
Alias Restaurant in the Lower East Side 
Paladar in the Lower East Side 
Delicatessen in Soho 
Katz’s Deli on Houston between LES and East Village 
Here’s a rare, for me, daytime shot that I couldn’t resist. The Mars Bar in the East Village 