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

Dynamic Range With Film

June 04, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I was a little bit worried about how this photograph was going to turn out when I was exposing the image in the camera. The light values in this scene were all over the map. On the left side of the frame I had some very bright sun and on the right side of the frame I had some very deep shadow. The background had some pockets of very bright highlights as well and the steps were pretty much neutral between everything. Looking at the scene I asked the model to walk up the steps and it was my hope that the final image would get a nice healthy balance between extreme highlights and extreme shadows.

For the most part I think I succeeded.

Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak TMax 400 speed film. — Photographed with a Hasselblad 500c/m and Kodak TMax 400 speed film.

A Nude With Texture

May 22, 2019 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Photo Sessions

I’m slowly working my way through the rolls of film I ran through the Hasselblad while down in California. Life has been a little bit busy for me as of late so it feels like the whole process is really slow going. Of the twenty or so rolls of Kodak T-Max 400 I finished while on my trip I think I’ve only developed about five. Of course, it didn’t help that my local camera shop ran out of Rodinal developer right about the same time that I personally ran out of Rodinal developer so I had to wait a week or so before they got some more in stock so I could keep working. Sure, I could have just purchased some on-line but so far this year I’ve managed to buy all of my photography supplies in a physical shop and I’m hoping to continue that trend for as long as possible.

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.

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