Articles from James Madison

For those that are just getting into film, the “film look” doesn’t mean anything. There are so many different film stocks available, each with their own characteristics and personalities.   

Have you heard of "Star Wars"? John Oliver? Maybe Tom Hanks? Still no? What about Tom Brady?

Every time I hear someone say how much better a camera or lens or computer is from the previous model, I cannot help but think of how little you actually need to create nice images.  

If you're like me and just about every photographer I know that shoots film, you have more than one camera. Maybe one or two 35mm options, a 645 or 6x6 camera, and perhaps a 6x7 camera. The question is though, how many is too many?  

I will be the first to admit that I’ve found myself to be in a love hate relationship with the platform that at times leaves me discouraged. More often than not, however, I find my inspired to photograph more.  

In a world of hundreds of film cameras to choose from, there is a continuum of value for cameras. In this article I list out cameras ranging from most overrated to most underrated.  

For months and months I was looking into buying a large format camera and really thought the Intrepid MK4 was the best option. I looked all over for a review on the camera without any luck. It’s starting to become clear why.  

The writing is on the wall for film photography. It is a zero-sum game with only one end result – the extinction of film photography. Perhaps something will happen to change that but I doubt it.

Whether you already have a 35mm film camera or are looking to get one, the Nikon F2 is about as good as an SLR camera can possibly be.  

It’s pretty well understood that large format is in a league of its own for resolution and depth of field. The real difference, however, lies elsewhere.  

With the outlook of the coronavirus finally starting to look a little less ominous, people are beginning to think about life in a post-coronavirus world and reflect on how this time has impacted the world of photography.   

The Mamiya 645 Pro-TL is an all-around great medium format camera for those in search of a something customizable, compact, and affordable. It’s not just me saying it.   In this video, Nick Carver sits down with a gimlet to talk through what he says is his most frequently used camera — his Mamiya 645 Pro-TL.

Minimalist photography by and large captures my imagination far more compared with traditional landscape photographs. I also I find that the less that’s in the frame, the more challenging it is to photograph. Go figure.   

Much like the famous Schrodinger’s cat thought experiment, certain facets of film are both its best and worst qualities, and you won’t know until your film is processed.  

As a personal approach to traveling, I generally bring more gear than I think I’ll ever use. As is almost always the case, I find that there’s something more I should have brought or, conversely, something I should have left behind. 

Yes, it’s true. A medium format point and shoot camera actually exists. I wasn’t really into it at first, but have completely fallen in love with it after a few outings. It may well be the only camera I never sell.  

Few things in this world have been able to stand the test of time like the wet plate collodion process. It is now more than 150 years old and can still be done today. 

In many ways, digital photography is not on the same level as film photography. In many others, film cannot compete with digital. 

Sometimes, there are camera misfires or shots that just barely missed focus. Other times, there are other incidents where an image falls short of technical perfection but still finds a way to my list of favorites.  One common thread through all of the below examples is that they make for a technically imperfect photograph.

If you’re like me, you have plenty of experience with landscape photography, but still have your weak spots. For me, improving my compositions using foregrounds has always been a challenge.  

Orthochromatic film is the original black and white film. Compared with its panchromatic counterpart, orthochromatic film can only see blue light (goodbye, red!) 

Have any experience in a studio? Yes? No? Doesn’t matter. You should give 4x5 a try. It’s addictive. 

For anyone that’s tried shooting landscapes while on vacation, you know the weather isn’t always agreeable. While it can be frustrating, the challenge can present new opportunities and sometimes rewarding results.  

I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t go through some amount of indecision when it comes to picking out a new lens to get. One major factor in decision making is the cost of the lens. Some are affordable, others are better but less affordable, and others are out right expensive. In the end, is there a noticeable difference? 

Have you ever wanted to shoot medium format but don’t know where to start? Have you been wanting to try shooting film but 35mm doesn’t seem like it’ll be enough? The RB is here to help. 

Protecting your lenses from damage seems like a necessary requirement to being a photographer. In those unfortunate cases where a lens gets damaged, how damaged is too damaged to get beautiful photographs? In this video, Benj Haisch presents us with his Mamiya 645 Pro and a pretty severely scratch 80mm f/1.9. Of all the lenses to damage too - the most sought after Mamiya 645 lens.

Double exposures, when they’re done well, are incredibly impressive. The literature on how to do them is fairly limited, but here, I'll explain how they work and how they're done. 

If you have tried mountain photography before, you know that it is addictive. If you have not given it a go, this video is a great place to start. It walks you through the production from conception and execution of the idea through editing.  

If you're not a professional photographer, you're not alone. While I sometimes wish I had it in me to be a professional photographer, in the end, I do not. Alas, I believe I’m better for it.   

The world of analog photography went through a dry spell for a while but has been making a strong comeback in recent years.  

Created for cinematic use under Tungsten lighting, Cinestill 800T is arguably one of the most highly sought-after films on the market. Should you manage to get your hands on some, what are you going to do with it?  

Consistency is undoubtedly important for many reasons. For those that want to develop a style that makes their work identifiable, defining what consistency means to them is a crucial step. For some, consistency may not matter at all.  

There is something truly sublime about a fresh coat of snow. There are few things in nature that are as visually organic as snow-covered trees. 

For those that are unaware, the Fujifilm GA645 is capable of 100% auto settings like a true point and shoot – autofocus, autoexposure, as well as autoadvance. 

For those that don’t already know, film — particularly Kodak’s Portra 400 — has a fair amount of exposure latitude. And by fair amount, I mean loads and loads.