There’s something wonderfully timeless about black-and-white film photography. It’s what I shot my first film images with as a child, and it was what I used when I rediscovered film a few years ago, shooting medium format in a Rollei. It’s like going back to my photographic roots, but also to the roots of photography itself.
At the end of last year I started to experiment more with black and white film, shooting 35mm in my Contax Aria. With this year’s anniversary of the creation of Kodak Tri-X, arguably the epitome of black-and-white film, I thought I would take that curiosity to a new level by starting a 365, shooting an image a day on Tri-X and experimenting with all its formats: 35mm, medium-format 120 and large-format sheet film.
It’s been an education in many ways. For a start, I’ve enjoyed learning to think in monochrome; it’s strangely liberating not to be distracted by colour and just concentrate on the composition and light while trying to capture the essence of each day in one image.
It’s also been interesting to discover the characteristics of Tri-X under different circumstances, in different formats and with different cameras. When I load Tri-X 35mm into my Contax Aria, the resulting images are grainy and textured in a way that only film (and Tri-X in particular) can be. Whereas Tri-X sheet film shot with a Sinar large-format camera has amazing clarity and precision. Tri-X roll film shot with a borrowed Pentax 67ii is somewhere in between. Yet it’s all the same film, and (with help from my husband) I am processing all of it at home in the kitchen, with the same chemicals. Dev, stop, fix and bourbon, as my husband likes to say!
Once the film is processed, and has finished drying in the bathroom, I’ve been scanning it and then, in effect, doing classic black-and-white darkroom “printing” in Photoshop. I’ve seen this done in a darkroom but I’ve never actually done it that way myself, so I’ve been learning all about adjusting tones and levels, getting the right greys to express the mood I want, and of course dodging and burning. And unlike a darkroom, my computer has an Undo button! So I’ve been combining the traditional and modern approaches.
I’ve also been to several exhibitions of black-and-white photography lately, including Sebastião Salgado’s “Genesis” and an exhibition of seascapes by Ansel Adams. I’d seen their photographs before, of course, but now I have an even greater admiration for their work, and a greater appreciation of the classic tradition of black-and-white photography.
It’s all great fun, and I’m only four months into my 365. Come and join me on my adventure with Tri-X!
So Inspiring! Great work Kirstin.
LOVE!
Thank you! It’s a fun project, for sure.
I love that you are processig the film at home! How exciting.
Old school! I love it too!
they are all fabulous…
i think i might load some b&w in my cameras very soon…
Thanks Valérie. Give it a try! I know you’ll love it.
Gorgeous! I want to come shoot and develop with you, Kirstin!! xxx
Thank you! I’d love that too Meghan. x
i love that you are doing it all start to finish and i’m sure it is helping you bond with B&W all the more. i’ll take my two rolls of tri-x home to my cousin’s graduation with the intent to shoot my family gathering next weekend. hope they let me.
How could they not? I can’t wait to see the results. x
Kirstin!!!! These are taking my breath away! I especially love the top-left image in the third set of six – yowza! Thank the photo gods for B&W film, eh?
You are kind, Anna. Thank you! x
All of these are stunning Kirstin. I’m particularly fond of the large format portraits and love the honesty you capture.
Thank you Nikki. I need to do some more of those. They were such fun! x
I so admire the way you push yourself.
This start to finish work is something I am desperate to do, because knowing the whole, gives you so much of a better understanding of its parts.
And the different formats too – so marvelous that you cook these ideas up and then make them happen! And then, of course, there are the results. Stunning, as always. I love them all – but especially your sp in that dress – especially timeless in b&w – and Miles and his reflection.
I do love a challenge, Debbie! Thank you so much for your words. As ever. x
I love seeing you share this project here! You have really embraced watching the world go by in black and white and you are killing it! So many gems up there lady! Can’t wait to see more as you progress this year. LOVE your portraits. xo
Sweet Holly. Thank you. x
Kirstin, I want to comment on each and every photo on your Tri-X blog 🙂 I’ll try to restrain myself. Such lovely work there! I love the moodiness of b/w. Great work!
Always a joy to see your film work Kirstin.Tri-x is first on my list if b+w films to try this year.
Thanks, Darren!
A great film and accompanying images
Thanks for a great post. So inspiring seeing your glorious B/W images.
Dear Kirstin
Can you recommend a good b/w developing kit for home use? Many thanks C
I’m afraid to say my husband used to do a lot of darkroom work back in the day, so I don’t use a kit per se and just used the chemicals straight.
How did I miss this my sweet!!! This is fantastic!!! I have been shooting tons of tri-x myself but I can’t hold a candle to your incredible work, my sweet muse!!!! xxxooo