Problems with Foma and Ilford FB papers

[Arthurwg]

All very interesting. Love those pictures! I have no idea how you make them. Please give a brief rundown on your process, the equipment that you use and the way you use it.

 

[fdelconte10]

All very interesting. Love those pictures! I have no idea how you make them. Please give a brief rundown on your process, the equipment that you use and the way you use it.

Hi, sorry for the late answer!

These are pictures made with a Mamiya RZ67 attached to an equatorial mount, a device for astronomical observation and astrophotograhy. In a few words, it can be described as a motorized tripod that moves at the same speed of the earth's rotation but in the opposite direction. Thus, you can make long exposures of the sky avoiding the so called stars' trails. I normally make 40 minutes exposures, using Fuji Across films.

I've been working on this for a few years now and the project is actually about the impact light pollution has on sky observation. I basically photograph the same constellations from different environments with different levels of light pollution, keeping the photographic parameters unchanged - lens, film, aperture, exposure time, and weather conditions as well. For instance, I would photograph the star Deneb from the centre of a highly light polluted city, and then I would go in a rural location like the Alps or the Tabernas desert in Spain. Besides the exhibitions and the work itself, the project is also really about going in wild places and experiencing the thrill of being under a pristine sky. It is something quite forgotten these days.

Here is a link to my website if you are interested in seeing more pictures - and reading more about it:

Francesco Del Conte | Visual Artist

Francesco Del Conte ( 1988, Milan) is an Italian visual artist and researcher based in Turin. His main focus is the photographic medium, its role within our society, and the way we relate to it. Del Conte's works are part of private and public collections and have been exhibited internationally.

www.francescodelconte.it

https://www.francescodelconte.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Skyglow_ENG.pdf

If you have more questions let me know, happy to reply.
Cheers
Francesco

 

[Arthurwg]

Thanks for that FDC. Only one more question: Which lens on the RZ67?

 

[fdelconte10]

My pleasure! The lens is the 140 mm Macro F 4.5