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That Glow of Fomapan

March 17, 2015 in Black and White Film, Nudes, Film Reviews

One of the most frequent questions I get from other photographers is about my use of Fomapan film. I would argue it is probably the most mis-understood films out on the market. There is good reason for that. It seems to be widely available, relatively inexpensive, and yet there is very little technical information about it out there on the internet. As such, I've noticed a lot of people try it, hate it, and then bash it as a cheap alternative not worth the effort of giving it a try.

Foma is actually one of the older film manufacturers out there with a history dating back to about 1920. Today they make black and white film stocks, paper, and chemistry in a surprisingly wide variety of formats including 35mm, medium format, and sheet film. From what I understand, the film is manufactured in the Czech Republic. 

I'll readily admit that Foma film stocks take some practice. Unlike modern film types by Kodak and Ilford, Foma films flair easily, have grain the size of golf balls at times, and don't push process all that well. However, that doesn't make them bad by any means. In some ways I'd call this a strength. I like the old school look and the slight glow one gets around the highlights. It pairs well with the older lenses on my cameras like the Rolleiflex and screw mount Leica glass. If you are a fan of the old school look one gets with Kodak Tri-X, then you may just fall in love with Foma.

Again, I'll emphasize that the only real downside to Foma films is the lack of technical information out there. If you want to use it, you'll just have to experiment for yourself to find out what works. Published development times and film curves vary wildly. A lot of people don't want to make that kind of effort but over the long haul, I'd argue it's worth doing.   

Tags: Nude, Window Light, Black and White Film, Rolleiflex, Foma, Natural Light
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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.   


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A little bit of infrared film on a bright and sunny day. I need to use infrared film stock more often. When the results turn out well it is quite satisfying. 
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#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #infrared #rollei #fineart #oregon #pacificnorthwest
Working with film in a dense forest on a bright sunny day is always a bit tough. The tonal values go to the extremes very quickly with bright highlights and deep dark shadows making finding a middle ground a challenge. I think it is worth the effort
A portrait with @hexy.lexi. It was a perfect overcast day for outdoor portraits, something I appreciate about winter and fall here in the Pacific Northwest. 
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#portrait #ilford #ilfordhp5 #blackandwhitefilm #darkroom #analogphotography #hasselblad #
Some photographs from the No Kings protest on Saturday. Not surprisingly Portland came out in force for the day, which warmed my cynical heart just a tad. I know I live in a political bubble in this town, but after traveling the country the last coup
NO KINGS
NO KINGS
NO KINGS
NO KINGS
.
#streetart #nokingsday #colorfilm #35mmfilm
Getting through my massive backlog of unscanned, undeveloped, and unedited images. I've been feeling overwhelmed by it lately. 
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#filmphotography #portrait #hasselblad #blackandwhitefilm #analogphotography #ilford #ilfordhp5 #mediumformat #pdx #port
Ugggh, I really hate heat waves. I'm just not a person built for hot weather. But alas, I know others thrive on it and for those people I have nothing but envy. Looking at the weather I see that it is going to swing down about twenty degrees by the e
Dancing about in the thick forest. Normally I find the light in a dense environment like this challenging on bright sunny days, but I think we managed to make this work out quite nicely. 
.
Working with @bellatrixortreat2 
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#filmphotography #hasselb
I'm in the mood to load up a camera with film and go on a walk. But alas.... it is only Tuesday and that means going to work instead. Boooo!!!
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#chicago #hasselblad #streetphotography #ilford #ilfordhp5 #mediumformat #120 #believeinfilm #blackandwhi
This one goes back many years even though I just developed it yesterday. Sometimes having an enormous backlog of film I have yet to develop can bring back interesting moments in time. 

I don't even think Instagram existed when I made this photograph
I've been working on a lot of 4x5 film lately which has been an incredibly solitary experience. This is not a bad thing mind you. Sometimes it helps to learn and to grow when diving into a new-ish medium on your own, make a lot of mistakes, and try t
Playing with forms along the silent shores of the Pacific Ocean. 
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#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #california #santacruz #mamiyac330 #mediumformat #ocean #pacificocean #santacruz #fineart #ilford #darkroom
The world needs more murals.
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#filmphotography #portland #pdx #oregon #streetphotography #blackandwhitefilm #ilford #broadway #outandabout #darkroom #believeinfilm
Well, I had originally posted a different image for today but Instagram removed it within about a minute, so instead the world is going to get some empty footprints on the beach. 
.
#filmphotography #hasselblad #pacificnorthwest #blackandwhitefilm #i
Getting in those last little bits of sunlight before the end of a day. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #oregon #pacificnorthwest #believeinfilm #pentax67 #sunset #portraitphotography #darkroom #ilford #mediumformat #6x7
A little bit of infrared film on a bright and sunny day. I need to use infrared film stock more often. When the results turn out well it is quite satisfying. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #infrared #rollei #fineart #oregon #pacificnorthwest Working with film in a dense forest on a bright sunny day is always a bit tough. The tonal values go to the extremes very quickly with bright highlights and deep dark shadows making finding a middle ground a challenge. I think it is worth the effort A portrait with @hexy.lexi. It was a perfect overcast day for outdoor portraits, something I appreciate about winter and fall here in the Pacific Northwest. 
.
#portrait #ilford #ilfordhp5 #blackandwhitefilm #darkroom #analogphotography #hasselblad # Some photographs from the No Kings protest on Saturday. Not surprisingly Portland came out in force for the day, which warmed my cynical heart just a tad. I know I live in a political bubble in this town, but after traveling the country the last coup NO KINGS
NO KINGS
NO KINGS
NO KINGS
.
#streetart #nokingsday #colorfilm #35mmfilm Getting through my massive backlog of unscanned, undeveloped, and unedited images. I've been feeling overwhelmed by it lately. 
.
#filmphotography #portrait #hasselblad #blackandwhitefilm #analogphotography #ilford #ilfordhp5 #mediumformat #pdx #port Ugggh, I really hate heat waves. I'm just not a person built for hot weather. But alas, I know others thrive on it and for those people I have nothing but envy. Looking at the weather I see that it is going to swing down about twenty degrees by the e Dancing about in the thick forest. Normally I find the light in a dense environment like this challenging on bright sunny days, but I think we managed to make this work out quite nicely. 
.
Working with @bellatrixortreat2 
.
#filmphotography #hasselb I'm in the mood to load up a camera with film and go on a walk. But alas.... it is only Tuesday and that means going to work instead. Boooo!!!
.
#chicago #hasselblad #streetphotography #ilford #ilfordhp5 #mediumformat #120 #believeinfilm #blackandwhi This one goes back many years even though I just developed it yesterday. Sometimes having an enormous backlog of film I have yet to develop can bring back interesting moments in time. 

I don't even think Instagram existed when I made this photograph I've been working on a lot of 4x5 film lately which has been an incredibly solitary experience. This is not a bad thing mind you. Sometimes it helps to learn and to grow when diving into a new-ish medium on your own, make a lot of mistakes, and try t Playing with forms along the silent shores of the Pacific Ocean. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #california #santacruz #mamiyac330 #mediumformat #ocean #pacificocean #santacruz #fineart #ilford #darkroom The world needs more murals.
.
#filmphotography #portland #pdx #oregon #streetphotography #blackandwhitefilm #ilford #broadway #outandabout #darkroom #believeinfilm Well, I had originally posted a different image for today but Instagram removed it within about a minute, so instead the world is going to get some empty footprints on the beach. 
.
#filmphotography #hasselblad #pacificnorthwest #blackandwhitefilm #i Getting in those last little bits of sunlight before the end of a day. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #oregon #pacificnorthwest #believeinfilm #pentax67 #sunset #portraitphotography #darkroom #ilford #mediumformat #6x7