NOS, Ektar and Light Leaks

I did find a solution for my c41, 120 roll film problem.  Someone over at Rangefinderforum suggested I check out MotoPhoto if there were any in my area.  Well, ends up there is one about 5 miles from my house.  I knew they were there, I just thought they were a portrait studio more than anything else.

I brought the roll of Ektar by and the nice old guy asked me if I'd checked the expiration date on the box, because they hadn't made Ektar in years.  He was surprised to see that it was a new verion of Ektar.  Thirty minutes and $4 later, I had my roll of film.  Bad news is, I had a light leak and only couple of frames were not ruined by it.

I've seen this leak before, and I'm pretty sure it's just "operator error," meaning, I didn't get the back on properly.  Oops.  Chalk one up for digital.  No such thing as a light leak in a DSLR and in any case, if I'd managed to mangle my pictures, I would have known about it and retaken them before leaving.

As it is, I've got one decent shot and one more I'll show so you can see the light leak and the fun subject.

I've still got mixed feelings about Ektar.  The color is compelling enough that I've rediscovered an interest in C41.  It's not overpowering like Velvia (my opinion, of course), but it does have a definite look that, mostly, I like.  On the other hand, I have had to correct a color gone bad here and there, which I suppose just comes with the territory...and reinforces my love for black and white.

Anyway...here are the pictures.  The first is one of the two not ruined by the light leak.  The colors are vibrant and only a bit oversaturated.  The blue sky, for instance, was a bit washed out in comparison to what you see here. 

 

This shot required some post processing to bring the colors in line.  Yellow and green were both too strong.  Of course, it took only moments to get those back to reality.  It's a shame about the light leak.  The subject was pretty cool in any event.  I saw the old gray haired/bearded guy riding this thing come in to the "Mining town," and head in to the store.  What struck me, of course, is the NOS bottle attached.  It's hard to imagine how that old bike would hold together when the nitrous kicked in.  I sort of doubt it was a full tank.  I'm guessing the old guy was trying to be "colorful."  We loves our "characters" out here in the West.

Comments

[Jim G]

Nitros on a old bike...I love it and the shot!

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