Ed Ogle
April 2026 - Stairway
Original
About the Image(s)
Pentax K1000 film camera
50mm ASA 200
This photo was made recently with my 50-year-old Pentax K1000 camera. I had it developed by a low budget film processor and converted to black and white from the scanned negative using Photoshop.
10 comments posted
I like the strong diagonal element against rectilinear architecture. If possible, it's nice to get shots like this when there is sun adding shadows to the complexity of the image. I like the details, especially the board of wood lying on the stairs. If the dish on the roof were removed, that would be nice, but not a big deal. Posted: 04/03/2026 20:34:28
I was taken aback a bit by this image, but I guess that was your purpose, to take people back in time! So intent achieved! If that was the purpose, then remove the satellite dish on the top as Stephen says.
I like the grain and the contrast, Would have loved it with an older person coming down the stairs! Posted: 04/03/2026 23:17:17
I like the grain and the contrast, Would have loved it with an older person coming down the stairs! Posted: 04/03/2026 23:17:17
I agree that a figure on the stairs would be good.
Is it possible to eradicate the slight 'bloom' which shows up as green on the original? It means the conversion has a sort of fuzzy look to it -yes it looks old but I itch to increase the contrast and lose the greyish midtones. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:27:49
Is it possible to eradicate the slight 'bloom' which shows up as green on the original? It means the conversion has a sort of fuzzy look to it -yes it looks old but I itch to increase the contrast and lose the greyish midtones. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:27:49
I'll try that. A lot of people like the super contrast.
The bloom is probably from cheap processing. I was just testing the camera. I've taken more with good processing and they look much better. I can post a good photo from the new and better processing if you like. Posted: 04/06/2026 21:55:32
The bloom is probably from cheap processing. I was just testing the camera. I've taken more with good processing and they look much better. I can post a good photo from the new and better processing if you like. Posted: 04/06/2026 21:55:32
Yes please Posted: 04/06/2026 22:24:02
OK here is an image that has lots of green in it. This is the second role of film. And for this one I went for the 'high end' processing. Now that you point it out I do still see a tiny bit of green bleeding into the background in spots. Posted: 04/07/2026 03:18:28
The green could be coming from the foliage around the truck. Posted: 04/16/2026 19:54:09
I can tell that it's an old truck from the 1934 Colo license plate. My birth year, so I can tell how the truck feels: ach-ie all over.
If you're going to do more film photography as a fun hobby, may I rec a Canon EOS Elan. There was a family of Elans, Elan 2,3, etc before digital, but the Elans were Canon's first fully electric, more so than the Pentax, and it uses the same lenses as the Canon Digital Rebel Xsi and onward. I have two of them. The last time I looked, B&H had the film EOS Elan Used for around $100.
Believe it or not, the 12 mpx Rebel Xsi (vintage 2008) is still my only digital camera. "It's not the camera body, it's the Lenses." Posted: 04/16/2026 21:18:58
If you're going to do more film photography as a fun hobby, may I rec a Canon EOS Elan. There was a family of Elans, Elan 2,3, etc before digital, but the Elans were Canon's first fully electric, more so than the Pentax, and it uses the same lenses as the Canon Digital Rebel Xsi and onward. I have two of them. The last time I looked, B&H had the film EOS Elan Used for around $100.
Believe it or not, the 12 mpx Rebel Xsi (vintage 2008) is still my only digital camera. "It's not the camera body, it's the Lenses." Posted: 04/16/2026 21:18:58
Processing certainly can make a difference it appears. Your old camera is working very well. I played with your original image and also reversed it. To me that gives the image a center of interest as the stairs leads us to the door at the top of the stairs. I did lightened the window there some. Posted: 04/16/2026 19:52:57
One thing I do notice is the 'fuzziness' of the film base -we get so much sharper images now digitally. Posted: 04/17/2026 09:53:02