B/W film in summer for urban documentary project, and come kit critique please

[Alex Benjamin]

So when looking at such a project, I am trying to think holistically (e.g. using CGPT to point out the obvious).

I'll reiterate: find a photojournalist who's been in that situation and ask him or her for advice. You'll get some regarding both the obvious and the unexpected.

Stating the obvious: I honestly think it's better to put one's safety — if not one's life — in the hands of an expert than in the fabricated brain of a computer program.

With the equipment you have (and the equipment you want to add to it), and the fact that you seem to be able to travel at will to this place, I deduce money is no object for you. If so, second advice would be to invest in taking a photojournalism workshop. Magnum has some, as does Noor and many other agencies and schools.

 

[RezaLoghme]

What I wanted to say is that going on a sort-of-one-of-a-kind trip with the hope/mission to capture iteresting things, i cant just walk around like a sleepwalker or tourist. I have to be switched on, be very awake, also maybe leave when then party is in full swing, not mingle and chat. Its a new mindset, not that of the perambulating traveler but that of a "pro".

 

[RezaLoghme]

With the equipment you have (and the equipment you want to add to it), and the fact that you seem to be able to travel at will to this place, I deduce money is no object for you. If so, second advice would be to invest in taking a photojournalism workshop. Magnum has some, as does Noor and many other agencies and schools.

Good idea, maybe a 1:1 with someone.

I have never taken away much from sitting in a classroom (academically yes, but not for life). I am best in a "mentored autodidact mode".

Just found the quote "Slow down, think, compose" from a U.S. photographer who managed to capture a special moment in history. And: "When he heard gunshots, (...) he ran towards the stage." To train these reflexes, it will take a long time for me, that I know for sure. So I will stay humble.

And, from a big U.S. message board: "Sometimes action calls and all you have on you is a big brick from the 60s", from a photographer who used a 500C/M at the UT Austin Protests. He used a WLF and a 65mm(??) lens, probably either a 60 or 50mm then, as 65 only exists for the later series.

 

[MFstooges]

Sounds like a lame 'protest' when the participants can schedule the event few months before the date. Or maybe I'm confusing it with demonstration.
Came from a country with military authoritarian government background most of the 'protests' happened within couple of weeks from public announcement of some new rules. Announcing or scheduling the event is like inviting the military to meet you at the assembly point. Having water cannon and rubber bullet are luxuries for the last twenty years or so. Before the rubber bullet era the protesters will be suppressed with lead salad. But at least at that time there were only two opposing parties : the people and the government. You HAVE to wear your journalist ID hanging on your neck and clearly shown on your chest. Without that you'll have the same right as the people to receive lead salad including when you have journalist ID but turn your back to the military.
The last twenty years the opposing parties could be the government, the people who oppose the new rule and the people who support the rule. If you bring camera and you stand around people that don't recognize you then you will be accused as infiltrator and get beaten to a pulp. If you bring camera, stand between the law enforcement and don't wear journalist ID you will then get beaten to a pulp too.
So hopefully the scheduled 'protest' is a lame one, like for an ice cream shop going out of business after this summer ends or something like that.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I dont expect there to be bullets. You have mentioned an ice cream shop three times now, I hope indeed that given the weather/climate in that region at that time of the year, the ice cream shops will remain open (I love ice cream, although some sorbet would even be better). Taking pics of that great scoop d'etat is draining, so hopefully I will be able to capture the flavour of the moment, but I have no (chocolate) chip on my shoulder about my technical skills. Let's just hope it will be a Hot (fudge) Sunday at the protests. And I hope you enjoy this thread as a lenghty falude, no: Pre-lude to my trip, with some Good Humor. It's It!

 

[MFstooges]

It's 2024, everyone say they sell the best ice cream, yet shops keep closing. This is real crisis in the summer.

 

[Don_ih]

The location is the capital city of a country in Central Asia or Caucasus. Without wanting to generalize -

Are you afraid you'll get "scooped"? No one is going to jump on the plane or train to beat you to the revolution. You don't need to maintain such a level of vague secrecy - it's starting to seem .... imaginary.

 

[GregY]

As much as I love my Rolleiflex with its waist-level finder....if I were photographing a protest....I'd use a Mamiya 6....so I had my eyes straight ahead looking for any hazards coming my way....

 

[MattKing]

If you want a camera that will permit lots of situational awareness, give you great image quality and, in a pinch, serve as an effective defensive weapon, I'd make the tongue-in-cheek recommendation for a Mamiya RB67 equipped with one of these:

 

[RezaLoghme]

Are you afraid you'll get "scooped"? No one is going to jump on the plane or train to beat you to the revolution. You don't need to maintain such a level of vague secrecy - it's starting to seem .... imaginary.

Havent't you noticed MFStooges trying to beat me in taking over the ice cream industry in that country, post-revolution?
Better save then sorry.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Havent't you noticed MFStooges trying to beat me in taking over the ice cream industry in that country, post-revolution?
Better save then sorry.

I do think @Don_ih's question was serious and deserved a serious answer.

The level of secrecy you maintain about this project is rather baffling and difficult to understand. What exactly are you worried would happen should you divulge the name of the country and city?

 

[BrianShaw]

Why? It’s no different than folks concealing their real names, location, serial number of their Leica, etc. asking for help or participation in discussions on a public forum doesn’t require disclosure of personal information unless one so chooses.

I’m curious too but let’s let Reza keep his personal business to himself if he so chooses.

 

[Don_ih]

Why? It’s no different than folks concealing their real names

Oh, just because it's being dangled. You know, just out of reach and yanked away just as it seems he'll give it to you. That's what I was actually asking about - the motivation for describing it vaguely but not particularly.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

let’s let Reza keep his personal business to himself if he so chooses.

Of course he can.

That said, considering the amount of advice he's gotten and the time many people took to answer his questions and discuss all matters related to this project, it's a matter both of courtesy and respect towards these people to at least be open, frank and honest as to why he can't divulge anything (other that a vague reference to "intellectual property"), since the question has been asked.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

That said, Don's question was "Are you afraid you'll get scooped?". It's a perfectly legitimate question, and deserved more than the answer it got.

 

[Don_ih]

Well, if his justification for being reticent is that he doesn't want to be identified at the location (like "I'll be Victoria Park, Toronto, noon tomorrow, taking photos with my Hasselblad", which allows someone to go there and identify me by where I am and the camera and potentially harass or steal from me), then that's fine. Reluctance to expose yourself is as good a reason as any to not divulge information.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Well, if his justification for being reticent is that he doesn't want to be identified at the location (like "I'll be Victoria Park, Toronto, noon tomorrow, taking photos with my Hasselblad", which allows someone to go there and identify me by where I am and the camera and potentially harass or steal from me), then that's fine. Reluctance to expose yourself is as good a reason as any to not divulge information.

Thank you and yes, that is one of several reasons.

Lets move on now.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Well, if his justification for being reticent is that he doesn't want to be identified at the location (like "I'll be Victoria Park, Toronto, noon tomorrow, taking photos with my Hasselblad", which allows someone to go there and identify me by where I am and the camera and potentially harass or steal from me), then that's fine. Reluctance to expose yourself is as good a reason as any to not divulge information.

Thanks Don. Even though I'm a bit more skeptical than you that the secret police (or anybody else, for that matter) of the central Asian state in question is monitoring this forum — as opposed, of course, to the Victoria Park denizen, who are known Photrio lurkers in hope that they may one day score a poorly strapped M2 — I'll play along. As Sherlock Holmes used to say, "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

So now, how 'bout 'em 'Blads?

 

[Alex Benjamin]

By the way — and maybe this is just the Canadian in me speaking — the idea of this possible riot that may turn out to be just a peaceful march keeps reminding me of the old Rodney Dangerfield joke: "I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out."

Which actually makes me wonder if one can photograph a hockey game with a Hasselblad.

But anyway...

 

[MattKing]

Which actually makes me wonder if one can photograph a hockey game with a Hasselblad.

You should ask Sirius .........

I seem to recall old examples of basketball shot with a Hasselbad EL??

 

[RezaLoghme]

Some examples of Hasselblad photographers documenting protests with V-Series:

Ta Mwe in Myanmar, Heinz Fröhlich in Prague, Klaus Thymann (various), Anastasia Taylor-Lind (Ukraine), Andrea Briscoli (Berlin)...I am certainly not in the same league, but maybe one day....

The V series was build for professional use, so it will hopefully survive that trip. If not, its modular architecture might make repairs/replacements not too difficult.

 

[BrianShaw]

...
Lets move on now.

Perhaps a fashion discussion is worthwhile to entertain. What attire are you considering: dress for success or dress like the local to blend in. In just routing tourist activities. I find blending in to be a challenge. And from what I see on televised/print news, so do most journalists.

 

[BrianShaw]

I've photographed youth basketball and youth baseball with a Hasselblad (and a Speed Graphic, too). Not easy and low percentage of worthwhile images. More frustrating than the experience (and results) were worth. It's difficult enough with a SLR or rangefinder...

 

[RezaLoghme]

The Hasselblad might be good for photographing the aftermath, as the streets are emptying or once they are empty, but if you are indeed dealing with a riot (or the possibility of) and you absolutely want to shoot this on film, then any solid SLR with either a zoom or a small variety of lenses and a good meter will be much more adequate.

And by "variety of lenses" I include a good telephoto.

Maybe there is a misunderstanding here - a Hasselblad V-Series is a SLR and has different viewfinders, including a prism. With that, it works like any other SLR. And I have a 150mm Sonnar CF, which is quite ok.

 

[MattKing]

Maybe there is a misunderstanding here - a Hasselblad V-Series is a SLR and has different viewfinders, including a prism. With that, it works like any other SLR. And I have a 150mm Sonnar CF, which is quite ok.

Yes, but significantly larger than almost every 35mm SLR, with a more restricted range of shutter speeds, and a much narrower range of lenses - particularly zoom lenses.
It also doesn't offer the modern, incredibly responsive and adaptable in-camera metering options that late model 35mm SLRs offer.
Most importantly, no high quality auto-focus.
And it will require at least three times as many film reloads if you are shooting any volume of current, high quality film.
There is also little in the way of image quality improvements over a 35mm SLR if you are using it handheld in fast changing environments - potentially image quality detriment when compared with 35mm SLRs that offer technology that reduces the effects of camera movement.
All of which bring rise to doubts from those who have used film cameras in the sort of fast changing environments that we believe you are considering.
Bringing a Hasselblad to supplement your results, for those times when you have more time and control, and may be able to use a tripod - great idea!