Lense: 50mm
Film: Ilford XP2 ISO 400
Locations: Wickford & Billeracy Nausey Woods
I think the images the XP2 and Praktica created are unique and certainly have a rugged charm to them in comparison to something as clean cut as my EOS 600, I think is mainly down to the age of the lens and camera, giving a distorted and rough image can often be the appeal to film and definitely adds character to your work. The film itself hasn’t got such a harsh contrast unlike the HP5, but in turn for dynamic contrast I think detail is favoured with the XP2 and really helps illustrate shadows, texture and other details within the image. I think this is highlighted well with the foggy images taken at a local road. I think the softer grays that the XP2 provides give off a really nice ghostly aura that really complements the fog and really helps pull the image together.
I did find taking these photos rather hard, as the meter and focusing on this particular camera has definite learning curve and takes time getting used to, especially coming from using digital cameras as well as my EOS 600 which has autofocusing capabilities. This did effect a large portion of my images as many of them once developed where shown to be out of focus. However this is the charm and experience of film and gives incentive to learn and to improve on our knowledge as photographers.
Overall I can definitely see myself using this film again, it has broadened my understand and taste for film, with this film I would like to shoot some more urban and countryside landscapes as well as macro photography to see how it holds up.
Ryan Fayers Photography 