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Alexis Kennedy Photography

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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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Inside the rocks and dunes and formations of the earth. Actually, more just trying to angle the frame to get the least amount of bird poop in the final image as humanly possible. 
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#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #santacruz #california
Trees in the summer time reaching to the sky hoping for a little bit of a breeze. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #hasselblad #mediumformat #oregon #pacificnorthwest
I'm back home after some wonderful travel time. Back to the grind today. I'm hoping to ease into regular life but I have a feeling it's going to feel more like a wrecking ball crashing into my brain. 
.
#filmphotography #olympus #35mmfilm #ohio #colu
Enjoying a little outdoor time with a backpack full of film and a full tank of gas. 
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#filmphotography #hasselblad #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #oregon #pacificnorthwest #mediumformat #outdoors #darkroom #analogphotography
I think I've officially hit that age when I can no longer keep up with the changing world. I honestly don't think this is a bad thing necessarily. If the world wants AI, and smart watches, and META glasses, it can have it. I'll just be doing my thing
This was one of those days that felt like summer before summer was the cool kid in the class. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #hasselblad #oregon #columbiariver #ilford #mediumformat #portrait #darkroom #analogphotography
Pre-dawn journey to the office. Sometimes the birds keep a watchful eye on everything while most people are sleeping. 
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#filmphotography #35mmfilm #blackandwhitefilm #portland #pdx #morning #dawn #sunrise #streetphotography
Making photographs in blank spaces is always such a different mindset. Not necessarily bad, or good, or better, or worse, just different. 
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#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #hasselblad #portland #pdx #fineart #mediumformat #ilford #darkroom #anal
Thank you Portland. 
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#nokings #nokingsrally #portland #pdx #streetphotography #35mmfilm #blackandwhitefilm #analogphotography
I can pull off a cowboy hat sometimes. I like to walk around in a flannel shirt and a ten gallon hat and a camera attached to my hip. All I'm missing is the horse. Evidently my cool factor only goes to 8 and not to 11. 
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#colorfilm #selfportrait #po
I always find the lighting on the hottest days to be the most difficult to work with. A little bit of persistence always wins the day though, which seems to be my theme lately. 
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#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #oregon #outdoors #landscape #hass
It was colder than we would have liked, and the light was dimmer than I expected, but with a little perseverance we managed to make it all work. Sometimes that is what you've got to do. If that wasn't the case, we probably wouldn't do it all. 
.
#fil
More murals on the inner east side of Portland. So much great art on public view for anyone willing to brave the outdoors. 
.
#filmphotography #hasselblad #streetart #streetphotography #mural #portland #pdx #eastside #ilford #rodinal #darkroom
I'm looking forward to that wonderful light of the fall season. Beautifully subdued from every direction. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #studio #portland #pdx #oregon #chinatown #mamiyarz67 #mediumformat #analogphotography #darkroom
Looking into the sun on a summer morning. I'm a little surprised I pulled off the exposure here so well. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #hasselblad #analogphotography #darkroom #oregon #portland #pdx #morning #sunrise
Inside the rocks and dunes and formations of the earth. Actually, more just trying to angle the frame to get the least amount of bird poop in the final image as humanly possible. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #santacruz #california Trees in the summer time reaching to the sky hoping for a little bit of a breeze. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #hasselblad #mediumformat #oregon #pacificnorthwest I'm back home after some wonderful travel time. Back to the grind today. I'm hoping to ease into regular life but I have a feeling it's going to feel more like a wrecking ball crashing into my brain. 
.
#filmphotography #olympus #35mmfilm #ohio #colu Enjoying a little outdoor time with a backpack full of film and a full tank of gas. 
.
#filmphotography #hasselblad #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #oregon #pacificnorthwest #mediumformat #outdoors #darkroom #analogphotography I think I've officially hit that age when I can no longer keep up with the changing world. I honestly don't think this is a bad thing necessarily. If the world wants AI, and smart watches, and META glasses, it can have it. I'll just be doing my thing This was one of those days that felt like summer before summer was the cool kid in the class. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #hasselblad #oregon #columbiariver #ilford #mediumformat #portrait #darkroom #analogphotography Pre-dawn journey to the office. Sometimes the birds keep a watchful eye on everything while most people are sleeping. 
.
#filmphotography #35mmfilm #blackandwhitefilm #portland #pdx #morning #dawn #sunrise #streetphotography Making photographs in blank spaces is always such a different mindset. Not necessarily bad, or good, or better, or worse, just different. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #hasselblad #portland #pdx #fineart #mediumformat #ilford #darkroom #anal Thank you Portland. 
.
#nokings #nokingsrally #portland #pdx #streetphotography #35mmfilm #blackandwhitefilm #analogphotography I can pull off a cowboy hat sometimes. I like to walk around in a flannel shirt and a ten gallon hat and a camera attached to my hip. All I'm missing is the horse. Evidently my cool factor only goes to 8 and not to 11. 
.
#colorfilm #selfportrait #po I always find the lighting on the hottest days to be the most difficult to work with. A little bit of persistence always wins the day though, which seems to be my theme lately. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #oregon #outdoors #landscape #hass It was colder than we would have liked, and the light was dimmer than I expected, but with a little perseverance we managed to make it all work. Sometimes that is what you've got to do. If that wasn't the case, we probably wouldn't do it all. 
.
#fil More murals on the inner east side of Portland. So much great art on public view for anyone willing to brave the outdoors. 
.
#filmphotography #hasselblad #streetart #streetphotography #mural #portland #pdx #eastside #ilford #rodinal #darkroom I'm looking forward to that wonderful light of the fall season. Beautifully subdued from every direction. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #studio #portland #pdx #oregon #chinatown #mamiyarz67 #mediumformat #analogphotography #darkroom Looking into the sun on a summer morning. I'm a little surprised I pulled off the exposure here so well. 
.
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #fineart #hasselblad #analogphotography #darkroom #oregon #portland #pdx #morning #sunrise