Mamiya RZ67 with Kodak T-Max 400 speed film. — Mamiya RZ67 with Kodak T-Max 400 speed film.

Simple Studio Nudes

October 02, 2018 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

Sometimes the most simple of materials is all it really takes. Someone willing to patiently sit in front of the camera. A long cloth to hang up in the background. A window with light subdued by an overcast sky. That is really it. I used to make images with this very simple set up back in my college days all the time. Only back then it was even harder as I was more than likely making photos and portraits in a 5th wheel trailer. Oh yes indeed I was living the bohemian lifestyle for sure back then. Now days I have the decency to at least operate with this kind of set up in a full fledged apartment living room! Talk about an upgrade!

I do very much enjoy the detail one can see on the model’s skin in this image. That is largely thanks to the large-ish 6x7 negative produced with the Mamiya RZ67. Despite the overwhelming size of the RZ67 I find that it is very easy to put a person at ease when working with it.

Photographed with a Rolleiflex TLR and Fomapan 100 speed film. — Photographed with a Rolleiflex TLR and Fomapan 100 speed film.

A Nude In A Shape

October 01, 2018 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I’ve always been fond of human shapes tied together with basic geometry. There is something very pleasing about it going all the way back to Da Vinci drawing the shape and form of a man inside of a circle. While Da Vinci may have made his work for purely scientific purposes (who really knows!?), it is undeniable the basic concept has resonated in art throughout the last several hundred, if not thousands of years.

I can’t say I am breaking any new ground with this image. It is rather standard as far as such things go. Scrunching up the form of a nude woman into a large circle. But I am fond of it anyway. This particular shape was actually found at an outdoor art exhibit on the campus of Reed College.

Photographed with a Minolta SRT-101 and Kodak T-Max 400 film. — Photographed with a Minolta SRT-101 and Kodak T-Max 400 film.

Skelton and a Nude

September 21, 2018 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

Sometimes one finds the strangest things while out exploring during a photoshoot. Like say on this particular occasion when I came across a nearly complete cow skeleton. The entire carcass was actually quite disgusting and gross and there was no way I was going to ask the model to get anywhere near it but this one particular piece of the spine was more or less clean and picked dry by birds and other creepy crawly creatures of the great outdoors.

Ilford HP5 film with a Minolta SRT-101 — Ilford HP5 film with a Minolta SRT-101

High Contrast With 35mm Film

September 18, 2018 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I’ve been in the middle of a move the last couple of weeks (I bought a house, yaaay!) so my access to the internet has been limited to the things I can do with my phone. All of my stuff is now moved but I have yet to set up a space for developing film. I also have a new workstation on order for film scanning and such and it will be another week or so before that arrives.

In the meantime, I thought I would share a quick post of an image I developed and scanned right before the move began. By pure coincidence it represents what I very much want to do right now. Say fuck it to everything and just lay back on a nice comfy bed and forget about unpacking, lugging furniture, and dealing with the set up of a new space. I think most people out there would agree that moving is the worst.

Image was photographed with Ilford HP5 film and a Minolta SRT-101. The scene was early in the morning with some very intense light coming through some rather large windows, hence the heavy contrast.

Ilford Delta 3200 with a Rolleiflex TLR — Ilford Delta 3200 with a Rolleiflex TLR

Ilford Delta 3200 and Window Light

August 30, 2018 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

You know, I am honestly not entirely sure what possessed me to make this photograph using Ilford Delta 3200 speed film. I guess I was just in the mood for some incredibly high grain! This image was photographed at box speed (ISO 3200) and then souped up in Rodinal developer. I can't think of a combination that would result in a grainer image. Maybe if I developed the image in coffee but even then that is debatable.

Welcome To My Blog

Here you will find the ramblings of photographer Alexis Kennedy, his latest images, and just general thoughts about photography, film, art, and creativity.

Alexis works primarily with analogue film including 35mm, medium format, and large format film.

Limited Edition Prints Available

You can tell a person has too many typewriters in their house when an extra machine sneaks into the background of your photograph. Why would a person need to own two typewriters? Or three? Or ten? They're easier to take care of than house plants I su

Drifting one day to the next can be a comfort or a personal hell, all depends on the morning. When there is fresh coffee in the pot it tends to be the former. When you only have about thirty minutes to enjoy it because you have to whisk off to work i

Look at that guy! Not a single gray hair to be found. An ancient picture of me out in the Columbia River Gorge during the twilight hours.
.
#colorfilm #oregon #self-portrait #longtimeago

I admit I am completely oppressed with old Motel signs. I seriously think they represent some of the best examples of colorful design and quirky character on display to the general public.

One day I'd love to road trip around backroads and forgotte

I really like the simplicity of the studio, especially as I get older in my life as a photographer.

Having the ability to spend an extra few minutes to compose a frame to perfection can be a wonderful way to work. Making sure there is just enough s

I have one thing to say and it's not going to be nice. Tonight the United States said loud and clear that it hates women so much it would rather throw in with a known grifter and a fraud. Really seems that being a singularly worthless man is still a

I have a feeling I'm going to spend most of my day feeling quite distracted. Typical. I think it will be best to focus on things like photographs, and records I haven't listened to in a while, and maybe tacos. You know, all the things that are best i

If you haven't already done so, be sure to vote tomorrow. As silly as it may sound, voting is the beginning of every positive leap forward we have and it is incredibly important. Apathy doesn't create change, voting is the starting point.
.
#vote #no

I'm about to get on my bike to go to work and it's pouring rain outside. Somehow this picture came to mind. This is not a complaint mind you, I sort of like riding in the rain.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #oregon #landscape #storm #raincloud #hasselb

I am so out of it that it didn't dawn on me until about two minutes ago that today is Halloween. Go figure... The predominate thought in my head right now is more, "Is it Friday yet?". That's adulting I suppose. I'm very much looking forwar

I may be awake. I may be typing a post on Instagram. But oh boy the coffee has not kicked in yet. One of these days I'll learn the secret to starting off the day with a little pep in my step. Until then just know, if I'm making a post there is likely

I do a lot of traveling to small towns and a common thread I see across the United States is boarded up movie theaters along the main strip. It makes me quite sad. So many of these theaters could be community gathering places. Get people out of the h

A little test shot I did a long while back when making sure a new lens I bought worked. I don't have any actual plants at home any more. I'm bad at taking care of them. Just a terrible "plant dad" if you will.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #h

In a rush so I have to keep this post short and sweet. Lot's of adventures this week so I'm going to post something that represents a bit of a more silent moment.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #blackandwhitefilm #believeinfilm #pdx #portland #studio #

Well, I made a post this morning that got instantly removed by the Instagram Police, so here I am posting a serpent monster instead. I guess the eyes of the internet are safe from me for one more day.
.
#hasselblad #dragon #snake #sculpture #island

You can tell a person has too many typewriters in their house when an extra machine sneaks into the background of your photograph. Why would a person need to own two typewriters? Or three? Or ten? They're easier to take care of than house plants I su

Drifting one day to the next can be a comfort or a personal hell, all depends on the morning. When there is fresh coffee in the pot it tends to be the former. When you only have about thirty minutes to enjoy it because you have to whisk off to work i

Look at that guy! Not a single gray hair to be found. An ancient picture of me out in the Columbia River Gorge during the twilight hours.
.
#colorfilm #oregon #self-portrait #longtimeago

I admit I am completely oppressed with old Motel signs. I seriously think they represent some of the best examples of colorful design and quirky character on display to the general public.

One day I'd love to road trip around backroads and forgotte

I really like the simplicity of the studio, especially as I get older in my life as a photographer.

Having the ability to spend an extra few minutes to compose a frame to perfection can be a wonderful way to work. Making sure there is just enough s

I have one thing to say and it's not going to be nice. Tonight the United States said loud and clear that it hates women so much it would rather throw in with a known grifter and a fraud. Really seems that being a singularly worthless man is still a

I have a feeling I'm going to spend most of my day feeling quite distracted. Typical. I think it will be best to focus on things like photographs, and records I haven't listened to in a while, and maybe tacos. You know, all the things that are best i

If you haven't already done so, be sure to vote tomorrow. As silly as it may sound, voting is the beginning of every positive leap forward we have and it is incredibly important. Apathy doesn't create change, voting is the starting point.
.
#vote #no

I'm about to get on my bike to go to work and it's pouring rain outside. Somehow this picture came to mind. This is not a complaint mind you, I sort of like riding in the rain.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #oregon #landscape #storm #raincloud #hasselb

I am so out of it that it didn't dawn on me until about two minutes ago that today is Halloween. Go figure... The predominate thought in my head right now is more, "Is it Friday yet?". That's adulting I suppose. I'm very much looking forwar

I may be awake. I may be typing a post on Instagram. But oh boy the coffee has not kicked in yet. One of these days I'll learn the secret to starting off the day with a little pep in my step. Until then just know, if I'm making a post there is likely

I do a lot of traveling to small towns and a common thread I see across the United States is boarded up movie theaters along the main strip. It makes me quite sad. So many of these theaters could be community gathering places. Get people out of the h

A little test shot I did a long while back when making sure a new lens I bought worked. I don't have any actual plants at home any more. I'm bad at taking care of them. Just a terrible "plant dad" if you will.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #h

In a rush so I have to keep this post short and sweet. Lot's of adventures this week so I'm going to post something that represents a bit of a more silent moment.
.
#filmphotography #fineart #blackandwhitefilm #believeinfilm #pdx #portland #studio #

Well, I made a post this morning that got instantly removed by the Instagram Police, so here I am posting a serpent monster instead. I guess the eyes of the internet are safe from me for one more day.
.
#hasselblad #dragon #snake #sculpture #island