Joshua Tree N.P. shapes and sprockets

[Mark_Muller]

Project Images

Gallery Overview

Individual Images

Image 1
one of my favorites

Image 2
I like the softness of the bloom in contrast to the rough texture of the rocks.

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

Image 6

Image 7
I was hesitant to include this familiar scene. Do sprockets make this sufficiently different and unique?

Project Description

Encouraged by the response to my last post, I set out to experiment with what might work for panoramic images with sprocket holes. I thought “black & white” because of the graphic nature of sprocket holes. So, I looked for graphic subjects with an emphasis on shapes. I ended up with a series on old vintage airplanes, and also a series on urban architecture, both of which I like. For the natural world I thought that the bold shapes in Joshua Tree National Park could work.

I first went on a cloudless sunny day, and although I liked the shapes of the landscape the sky was ho-hum. My weather apps showed a good chance for clouds so I took a second trip and got these scenes with more dynamic cloudy skies.

My goal was to produce a set of pleasing landscapes, in the panoramic aspect ratio of my camera, and also where the sprocket holes add to the impact of the image.

Self Critique

I like the panoramic aspect ratio for its ability to capture a broad, long expanse, in this case full of boulder and tree shapes.

Some images seem a bit similar or repetitive. I seemed to gravitate to having trees on the left, and boulders on the right! I can improve on getting more variety in the compositions.

I like the idea of black and white to emphasize shapes and light/shadows. It is a fairly monochrome environment anyway. I thought big and small boulder shapes, and clouds, would complement the sprocket shapes.

Creative Direction

This panoramic camera can produce images with or without sprocket holes. I am liking the sprocket holes for the “different” and “fun” factor. I only ever considered shooting black and white film - to emphasize shapes (not color), and I think B&W film’s grain works helps add texture for the close-up rocks.

Specific Feedback

Aesthetic - do you think this sequence works well?

Conceptual - do you like this subject matter for this particular B&W/pano/sprocket look?

Technical - this camera produces a vignette on the left and right edges, also focus falls off. Maybe the benefit of the sprocket holes minimizes these technical “issues”?

Intent of the project

Just for fun

Additional Details: Did this for fun, but it would be cool to share this with an audience beyond social media!

Alternate Images

Please provide feedback on whether any of these images would fit more cohesively in the project.

Alternate Image 1

Alternate Image 2

Alternate Image 3

[Gill_Vanderlip]

Grabed my attention. So cool you made your images with 35mm film look. like the old days using contact prints and into the darkroom. Great tone and composition in your images. I really like the way you captured the rocks and the light on Alternate Image 2 and 3 … Really nice !!!

[Mark_Muller]

Thank you @Gill_Vanderlip Appreciate you taking a look! I tried out 3 rolls of B&W film. Cinestill BwXX was used for the dark Alternative images. It seems to have a lot of natural contrast, more than the Ilford HP5+ or Kodak TMax used for the 7 images in the project itself.

[Lon_Overacker]

Mark,

Kudos on this unique Project presentation. You have a really cohesive set of pano images from JT. They’re cohesive to me in that there is some consistency in elements for the series; ie. (duh) they all showcase the geology of the place - the rock, but also all but one feature some type of plant (more than just joshua trees..) And the pano format also contributes to the consistency in presentation.

Great choice with the b&w - but then that choice was the film and not processing… ha ha.

Even though the light and contrast is much different in Alt #1, I think that might be a fitting close, final image to the Project.

Regarding the sprockets. First, let me say I think they work and most certainly create a “35mm reel” look and feel. I think worth exploring more. Having said that, you might consider some tweaks. You mentioned a “panoramic camera”, but perhaps intentionally did not mention the name or vintage. Since film, and with the comment about the

@Mark_Muller

Technical - this camera produces a vignette on the left and right edges, also focus falls off. Maybe the benefit of the sprocket holes minimizes these technical “issues”?

@Mark_Muller

This panoramic camera can produce images with or without sprocket holes.

You mentioned a “panoramic camera”, but perhaps intentionally did not mention the name or vintage. Since film, and with the comment about the lens vignette and focus fall out, the images do appear a little soft and less contrasty. I say this because for me, the sprocket holes are quite distinct, sharp and maximum contrast - relative to the photo itself. I’m sure because I’m not familiar with the equipment used, but I’m not sure how the camera can produce pictures with our without the sprocket holes? So are you saying the resulting negative has not only real sprocket holes, but also pictures of them? Apologies for my ignorance.

Said another way, I think a softer presentation of the sprocket holes to match not only the scenes/images, but also to create a more vintage look. The sprockets as presented are a bit over the top and somewhat clash with the softer/contrast images. I hope that makes sense. And I don’t know if this makes sense either, but if I have a negative lying on a light table, the holes would be white and not black? But then again, the negative of white, is black…

I hope you don’t mind, but I was curious as to what it might look like. So I made a very crude darks mask selection of the sprockets and changed them to white. There are of course any number of shades of gray in between… And again, considering negatives vs. positive/slide film, one could certain interpret what the sprocket holes should look like. I know I’m over thinking this… Anyway, here’s the opposite alternative:

I’m unconvinced this is any better, but with all my rambling, I had to show something.

Certainly, I think your sprocket concept is a viable one and made this a very unique Project and presentation. Thanks for sharing.

[Mark_Muller]

@Lon_Overacker, thank you for all your thoughts!
The camera is a Lomography Spocket Rocket, a small, plastic, inexpensive ($80USD) camera with a 30mm plastic lens. There is a small mask, like a picture frame, that you can either leave in the back of the camera, or take out. When left in the camera, it covers the sprockets and edges of the film, like a regular 35mm film camera. When the frame is removed, as here, the edges of the film around the sprockets get exposed to light.

Yes, on a light table the sprocket holes show up light…white. The scanning picks up those holes as white, and the rest of the image as a negative. Bringing the image into Lightroom the image is reversed to turn it into a positive, so the holes go from being white on the scanner bed/light table, to black in the final image. (Just explaining the process…sometimes I still get really confused on negatives and positives!)
All that said, I really love what you did by reversing the holes back to white! That is a very creative edit!! In many ways I think the white holes complement the tones of these whitish rocks better than black holes.

Thanks too for noting the possibility of the Alt 1 image as being the concluding image in the series.

Anyway, thank you very much for your time and thoughs.

[Lon_Overacker]

@Mark_Muller

The camera is a Lomography Spocket Rocket, a small, plastic, inexpensive ($80USD) camera with a 30mm plastic lens. There is a small mask, like a picture frame, that you can either leave in the back of the camera, or take out. When left in the camera, it covers the sprockets and edges of the film, like a regular 35mm film camera. When the frame is removed, as here, the edges of the film around the sprockets get exposed to light.

Thank you for the details Mark. It all makes sense now. I almost mentioned the Holga (I have one), although it doesn’t have the sprocket mask you explained. Very cool. Thanks again for explaining..