Monday 9 March 2020

Surfer

A shot from a while back, this one, but freshly printed on Adox MCC paper.  Surfing has become a Big Thing here in the Liberties these days, due, I'm told, due to the better wetsuits that have become available.  It's no exaggeration to say that on any day of the week at any time of the year there will be people in the water with their boards - except, perhaps, on days when there is a really bad storm (although even then there's always one eejit willing to risk life and limb for a bit of a rush).

This was late afternoon if I remember correctly and although there wasn't much of a swell there was some weather coming in from the West, as you can see.  Mussenden Temple just sticking out there on the headland, as it does.

Surfer, Portstewart Bay.  On Adox MCC fibre paper, 9.5"x12"

I think I might have printed this once before but without any great success - the negative is a bit thin / lacking in contrast.  However, I came across it again last week and thought Surely I can get something decent outta this. It took a couple of test strips (more than I usually do) but I was happy with the result. It’s a straight print, in case you were wondering (no burning in of sky or anywhere else) - everything done through exposure & contrast in the darkroom.

8 comments:

  1. Ooh that's very nice. I love how the white surf draws the eye to the surfer. Well done.

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  2. Oh sure, that's a very nice one for sure, Michael. The highlights in paper white really shines through on this one, and that weather coming in from the west... Looks like you were in for a good old dreich period right there, mate!

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    1. Cheers Roy - yup I think there was plenty of wet stuff an hour or so after I snapped this one up ;)

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  3. Great photo. It looks like he's trying to escape the bad weather.

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    1. Thanks Marcus. Maybe a bit of rain doesn't bother those guys too much, since they're wet already. It bothers me, though - my cameras were made well before the days of weather sealing. This was taken on the FM3a so I wouldn't be taking many chances with it.

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    2. I'm not sure how water resistant the FM3a is, but I used one for an hour or so at -46 one winter. Then it froze up completely. I thought I had ruined the camera, but a couple of hours back in the house brought it back to life. Whew!

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    3. -46? I doubt I would work in that situation let alone a FM3a :)

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