Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak T-Max 400 film. — Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak T-Max 400 film.

Shadow Detail With Film

May 12, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

Phew!! I just got home from a very long hike in the sunshine in the Columbia River Gorge and now it’s time to rest my feet, and my back, and just write out a relaxing blog post. So yeah, ok, I realize this image has nothing at all to do with hiking, or the outdoors, but it does have to do with a lot of sunshine.

I’m not going to deny I was hoping for a bit less contrast and a lot more detail in the shadow areas of this image when I exposed the frame. I think ultimately I underdeveloped the negative a bit too much which in turn kept details out of the shadow areas and makes the image appear to be very contrasty. Just outside the window on the right side of the frame there were a lot of flower bushes which is the shadow patterns you are seeing across the model’s body.

Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak T-Max 400 speed film. — Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak T-Max 400 speed film.

Old Buildings in Black & White

May 08, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

Here is another image from my recent trip to California. Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak T-Max 400 speed film. Processing was stand development which I made it a point of doing because I was working in too much of a hurry and decided on a few shots to just “sunny 16” my exposure instead of using the handheld light meter. Though the location ended up being more or less secluded, I was in unfamiliar territory as far as people wandering on by and was feeling pretty paranoid the entire shoot. It’s always a little bit of a funny scene when the model is more at ease and totally fine than the photographer is.

Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Ilford HP5 film. — Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Ilford HP5 film.

Nude Portrait in Natural Light

May 03, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

Working through some of the rolls I made while in California and this one stood out enough for me to scan it right away. I’m a sucker for a basic portrait. Especially when a portrait is made with some very nice and subdued natural light. Sure, it may be a very simple and frequently done way to make a photograph but I never claimed to be re-inventing the wheel here.

Photographed with the Hasselblad 500c/m and Ilford HP5 film. I developed this per the standard development process recommended by Ilford. Rodinal at a ratio of 1:50, 20 degrees C. at 11 minutes. the light was so flat and even I knew I didn’t have to do much in the development process to get good results.

It’s nice when all the pieces line up to make a good photograph.

Olympia SM3 Typewriter photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m, a model, and Ilford HP5 film. — Olympia SM3 Typewriter photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m, a model, and Ilford HP5 film.

Olympia SM3 and a Nude

April 30, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I mentioned in a previous blog post that when it comes to geeky things I’m a fairly avid collector of typewriters. That includes the lovely Olympia SM3 seen in this image. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I incorporated one into a photoshoot in some way. Actually, I plan on incorporating a lot of typewriters into my photoshoots in the near future and turn it all into a long series, but for this image I thought I would take a little bit of inspiration from one of my favorite films, Naked Lunch.

I wanted to loosely mimic the poster art of the film, but in my own sort of way incorporating the human body. I probably should have used a different typewriter. The “Clark Nova” used in the film is clearly based on a Smith Corona 5-series machine and I own one or two of those, but I just like the Olympia SM3 so much better as far as looks. It happens to be my favorite machine to both type on and to look at so in this case it is a win-win photographically.

Photographed with a Minolta SRT-101 and Fomapan 100 speed film. — Photographed with a Minolta SRT-101 and Fomapan 100 speed film.

Back in Portland

April 26, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I arrived back in Portland a couple of days ago with a large chunk of film to develop, a whole lot of mail to open, and a comfortable bed that feels oh so good after two weeks in California. It’s always the sign of a really good vacation when you are incredibly happy to be home at the end of it.

I did a couple of photoshoots while I was gone, mostly in the area where I grew up which is around Gilroy and Morgan Hill California. It felt a little odd to be doing photo sessions in the region of my childhood home. I was practicing photography during the time I lived there, my teenage years, but I certainly wasn’t doing nudes back then. Mostly pictures of fire hydrants and mail boxes. I never would have imagined back then that decades later I would be tromping through out of the way fields doing the work I do today but with the same camera I held in my hands back then - my trusty Minolta SRT-101.

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