A wedding and a mixed bag of film...

Arelia99 · Sep 30, 2006

Hi! I am to be a bridesmaid at a wedding but I want to take as many wedding shots as I can before and after the ceremony. I plan to use my Iskara which has been modified to take 16 6x4,5 shots. For film I am uncertain what I should do. The wedding is a 3pm...so potentially lighting could be after noon but also some indoor shots at the reception. I do not have a lot of experience pushing film but I am willing to try. This is just for me...I am hoping for a couple of nice shots that I could print for the bride as an after wedding gift...I am not the wedding photographer. Here is the film I have available, which one would you use to try and push for some indoor shots? Or would you recommend buying something like Ilford 3200 (is this made for 120?)? Again my main goal is to get a couple of good shots out of the evening that would make a nice gift!

I have now in 120:
2 rolls of Kodak Portra 400 vc (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak Portra 160vc (expired 2005)
1 roll of Provia 400f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Provia 100f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Acros 100 (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak T400CN (expired 2004)
4 rolls of TriX (new)
Several rolls of Arista.edu Ultra 100 and 200 (new)

If I want to get something other than what I have I need to order it now...to have it for the wedding. Thanks for any advice!!!

Nancy Phaup

Jeremy · Sep 30, 2006

do you want color or b&w images?

if b&w and you have a lab which can push process you can take the Kodak T400CN with you and shoot it at iso320 and develop it normally or if it's dark then you could push it 1 (to 640) or 2 stops (to 1280). Shoot the first roll outside and set it aside to develop normally and then shoot the indoor rolls at a push. If the film has been cold stored then you'll have zero problems with it. The tones you get in prints from T400CN are also really creamy and lend themselves well to wedding images. I would NOT recommend shooting a film you've not shot before.

Nick Zentena · Sep 30, 2006

No idea if the Iskara can use a flash but if it can you might want to consider that. Assuming you have or can borrow a flash.

Arelia99 · Sep 30, 2006

THanks for the quick replies...I normally prefer B&W...but in this case I don't mind either....In general I have no experience with flash photography so I probably will stay away from flash! (There is a hotshoe on the Iskara but that is all I can say...not sure if it can work with flash well!) Also I would process non C-41 B&W myself and send anything else to a professional lab!

Also all films have been in the fridge!

Thanks again!

Nancy

eddym · Sep 30, 2006

Arelia99 said:
I have now in 120:
2 rolls of Kodak Portra 400 vc (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak Portra 160vc (expired 2005)
1 roll of Provia 400f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Provia 100f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Acros 100 (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak T400CN (expired 2004)
4 rolls of TriX (new)
Several rolls of Arista.edu Ultra 100 and 200 (new)

Nancy, I'd go with the TriX if you can process it, and/or the T400CN. If you want to shoot a little color, the Portra 400VC is very good for weddings. The 160 will be a bit slow.
Try to get some shots that the pro might not get, such as interaction between the bride and bridesmaids while dressing, etc.
Good luck!

Claire Senft · Sep 30, 2006

I also unfamilar with that camera. If you are most uncomfortable and do not wish to use flash(even if you wished to use flash) a tripod would be an enormous help to you. I understand that the wedding will be at 3pm.

The day, week and year is unstated ASICS. The Ilford 3200 is available in 120. Your other options for fast film are also usable..TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY EXPOSED AND DEVELOPED..meant for emphasis not for loudness.

If you cannot tell whether your camera has been made to be used on a tripod or if you do not have a tripod do what it takes so that you have in your possession a stable tripod, a means of afixing your camera to the tripod and know how to do it!!

Hopeful am I that you have the time to accomplish these things and that you do them.

For myself, I am no fan whatsoever of pushing film. I have convinced myself to avoid pushing to the extent possible. If I had to take photos that absolutely required pushing, I would devote seperate roll(s ) to what required pushing. If you mix normal exposed frames and mix it with exposures requiring pushing onthe same roll the quality will suffer. You have a good deal of out dated film. There is no reason to conserve film in this case. Better to use some extra film than to have it die on you. If you shoot seperate rolls of regular exposures and rolls requiring pushing, MAKE CERTAIN TO KEEP THEM MARKED SO YOU CAN TELL THEM APART..not yelling..being emphatic. You will need to tell them apart when developing the film.

You know what girl? I think you will accomplish what you desire. Damn betcha..you are going to get a couple of shots that others, not to mention yourself, will treasure.

I bet that you will look glorious in that bridesmaid dress.

copake_ham · Sep 30, 2006

Since your not the pro photog for the wedding - you have the opportunity to work with less pressure. So long as you take enough shots - even if you blow a few you should still get some decent ones.

I agree with eddy on taking informal shots of the bridal party. It could make a nice, intimate "side album" for the bride.

I hate having expired film laying around (but it happens) so in your situation, I would favor using the oldest of the expired film. Therefore, I would favor the 400TCN for B&W and the Fujis for color. Using the 100 at the start and saving the 400 for later in the day since autumn shadows are darkening even mid-afternoons now.

Good luck - and remember to have fun. If you wind up only taking a few shots - no real worries - you have a pro doing backup!

Dave Parker · Sep 30, 2006

Arelia99 said:
Hi! I am to be a bridesmaid at a wedding but I want to take as many wedding shots as I can before and after the ceremony. I plan to use my Iskara which has been modified to take 16 6x4,5 shots. For film I am uncertain what I should do. The wedding is a 3pm...so potentially lighting could be after noon but also some indoor shots at the reception. I do not have a lot of experience pushing film but I am willing to try. This is just for me...I am hoping for a couple of nice shots that I could print for the bride as an after wedding gift...I am not the wedding photographer. Here is the film I have available, which one would you use to try and push for some indoor shots? Or would you recommend buying something like Ilford 3200 (is this made for 120?)? Again my main goal is to get a couple of good shots out of the evening that would make a nice gift!

I have now in 120:
2 rolls of Kodak Portra 400 vc (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak Portra 160vc (expired 2005)
1 roll of Provia 400f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Provia 100f (expired 2004)
1 roll of Acros 100 (expired 2005)
3 rolls of Kodak T400CN (expired 2004)
4 rolls of TriX (new)
Several rolls of Arista.edu Ultra 100 and 200 (new)

If I want to get something other than what I have I need to order it now...to have it for the wedding. Thanks for any advice!!!

Nancy Phaup

I would leave the transparancy film in the freezer, if you want good shots, a wedding late in the day is not the place to shoot slides, I would shoot the Portra to begin with, the color print film is going to have great lattitude, by the way, I am not familier with the Iskara, does it have a meter? or are you going to be winging it? on exposure? Out of your list, I would shoot the Portras and the 400CN which is going to give you your best chance at getting printable images...

By the way, I love Bridesmaids like you, they are the reason my wife has become a frontline photographer shooting weddings.

Have fun.

Dave

MikeM1977 · Sep 30, 2006

If I were you, I would shoot B&W assuming you have a darkroom. Hand-printed B&W prints are special and unique. The bride and groom won't get this from their pro. I did the same thing for my friend's wedding and they were thrilled by the hand-printed B&W mini-portfolio I made them. They claim they like it better than the full-blown portfolio they got from the high-priced pro.

For indoor shots, I recommend getting some Ilford 3200 and shoot it at 1600 if possible.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Sep 30, 2006

Photo Engineer has done some test and they show that the Kodak Portra films can handle pretty much any possible ISO with minimal loss of quality. I'd go for the Portra 400 in color, as there's no way the lab can screw it if they have a decent printer. At my brother's wedding we used 400NC (less saturated) and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that film.

For B&W, the 400CN is a good choice if you don't want to bother with development and/or are not familiar with handling the light situations.

Arelia99 · Sep 30, 2006

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! Just wanted to say the wedding is soon...14th of October! I wanted to do medium format for this but it occurs to me that I may want to also consider 35mm instead. My medium format options do not have a meter...I would be "winging it"...but I also have a Nikon F100 and a bulk roll of Hp5...Maybe that would be the better combination...also I have a flash for the F100 and aa very sturdy monopod. But it would mean giving up the medium format. Might be the better over all option mmmm...thanks again guys! For sure I will leave the slide film at home though!

Nancy

BrianShaw · Oct 1, 2006

Nancy,

I'm surprised nobody has said this yet (and I don't want to be a killjoy, but...), as a bridesmaid you might be pretty busy. Perhaps you should shoot "girls night out", or whatever it is called and plan on focusing on being a great bridesmaid during the ceremony and reception.

But if you shoot, shoot color neg (Portra 400)!

Dave Parker · Oct 1, 2006

BrianShaw said:
Nancy,

I'm surprised nobody has said this yet (and I don't want to be a killjoy, but...), as a bridesmaid you might be pretty busy. Perhaps you should shoot "girls night out", or whatever it is called and plan on focusing on being a great bridesmaid during the ceremony and reception.

But if you shoot, shoot color neg (Portra 400)!

Brian,

Actually that was what I was alluding to, with the statement about my wife becoming a wedding shooter with me, her first wedding shoot was done with one of the bridemaids cameras, because the bridesmaid ended up not having the time she thought she would to shoot the wedding and had to many duties to attend to, being part of the wedding party and trying to take pictures can be difficult.

Dave

Arelia99 · Oct 1, 2006

BrianShaw said:
Nancy,

I'm surprised nobody has said this yet (and I don't want to be a killjoy, but...), as a bridesmaid you might be pretty busy. Perhaps you should shoot "girls night out", or whatever it is called and plan on focusing on being a great bridesmaid during the ceremony and reception.

But if you shoot, shoot color neg (Portra 400)!

A wedding has a lot of moments...I simply wanted advice on film...I am driving half way across the country to be a bridesmaid and have no intension of slacking on these duties...I am tempted to say more but lets just say I don't feel a lecture of being a good bridesmaid is what I was looking for...

Dave Parker · Oct 1, 2006

I didn't see it as a lecture, just more of an observation, I know I have shot thousands of weddings over the years, and have seen both bridesmaids as well as groomsmen try to shoot wedding moments and most often see them hand their cameras off to someone else in the family, weddings can get pretty hectic..What ever you decide have fun and send our best wishes to the new couple.

Dave

Woolliscroft · Oct 1, 2006

I would agree with the 400 speed films. I don't know the camera, but presumably you are a bridesmaid first and a photographer second on this occassion, so you want something small that is pocketable or handbagable and quiet. Something like a Canon GIII rangefinder, rather than medium format.

David.

Mick Fagan · Oct 1, 2006

Nancy, I have used HP5+ for many years.

I can tell you straight away that rated at 320 ASA you will need 1/30 @ f2.8 under fluorescent lamps and under tungsten lights 1/15 @ f2.8.

That will be about the worst your lighting will be.

I have used this film at many family weddings under those conditions, never once resorting to flash.

HP5+ pushes very well to 640 ASA under man made lighting.

Outside of course you will/should have abundant light.

Seeing that you have a bulk roll of HP5+, and you are doing your own developing, I think this would be your easiest route to getting a picture or two that you really like.

Mick.

BrianShaw · Oct 1, 2006

Arelia99 said:
A wedding has a lot of moments...I simply wanted advice on film...I am driving half way across the country to be a bridesmaid and have no intension of slacking on these duties...I am tempted to say more but lets just say I don't feel a lecture of being a good bridesmaid is what I was looking for...

Nancy, as Dave said... that was no lecture. If all you want is film advise then I gave you mine. Ignore the rest. Good luck to you. But in all honesty, if my comments struck a nerve then I'd suspect you thought about it before. I'm just trying to help you out.

Use Portra 400. Use a good pro lab for development proofing and printing. But consider getting some fresh film stock. Make sure your camera is in excellent working condition and you are intimately familiar with its operation.

A wedding and a mixed bag of film...

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