Lonely Fisherman

A fisherman I spotted while I was traveling to Prince Island in Istanbul. I immediately rushed to my camera and take the photo before we passed him. Luckily he was giving way to our ferry which gave me enough time to take out the camera and take the photo in the right moment. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + SMC 105mm f2.4

Film: Ilford Delta 400 shot at box speed

Processed in Ilford DD-X

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Light Setup #10

The mid-length portrait shot of Avatar shoot. 
In here I had to build a setup that was in favour of the model when it came to space management, not only the model was painted pink she also had to be behind a table. The main set was already built in several days in advance thus and also set designers were working on it thus I could not use it. So in a small area I came up with this small setup. 

 

The black pollyboards are there to kill the spill light and add more contrast to edges of model. The Octagonal Softbox is a little higher than the camera, and the reflector is is white circular reflector to soften the shadows under the chin. Umbrellas are there to illuminate the background to the same tone as the table. 

NEW MacBook Pro Late 2016 From Photographers Point of View

So the new Macbook Pro has arrived, and I've been waiting some time to upgrade my Macbook Pro mid 2012 (non retina - antiglare screen)
I've seen online reviews, written reviews, hype, rant, salt and all love and hate about the machine. Here I'd like to tell my own point of view to this new and expensive tool as a photographer.

So lets look at the highlights shall we? 

The "ALE"

Not all the props in the photoshoots are real. In fact almost all commercial food photographers shoots uneatable food. In this case the ale in the glass is not actually ale; it's just over brewed tea made with London's hard tab water. 

Camera: Pentax 67 II + Pentax SMC 105mm 2.4

Film: Kodak Portra 800 shot at Box speed

Processed in Kodak Flexicolour C-41

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Team: 

Photography: Bugra Ergil (me)

Styling: Lenita Visan

Makeup: Jess Sumer

Hair: Yumi Noh

Model: Peter Mnych @AMCK

Fishing Boats in Istanbul

On my way back home these two fishing boats got my attention. With me I had my Pentax 67 MkII with 105mm 2.4 lens but I was out of Kodak Tmax 400 film, instead I had Ilford Delta 400 on me. 

If there is one film I dislike and avoid using, it's Ilford Delta Line, I don't know why but I feel like it lacks the contrast and require additional level adjustments not to mention contrast. However baggers cant be choosers, it was the only black and white medium format film I could find around me at the time. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + SMC 105mm f2.4

Film: Ilford Delta 400 shot at box speed

Processed in Ilford DD-X

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Behind the Camera - Cheyiz

Here is a group shot of the Cheyiz shoot. This photo was originally shot on now discontinued Fuji FP100c. however I gave the original Polaroid to the clients and kept the negative part so I could recover it. I didn't do any recovery process for over 4 months, and during this time the negative of the FP100c was resting on top of my dishwasher being exposed to sun, I was curious how this would effect the actual negative. 

In my experience, I get the most colour accurate and sharp results of the recovered negatives as long as I recover them with in the first two days I shot them. This four month old negative did indeed had more peculiar colours going for it self. 

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 ProII + 110mm F2.8

From Left to Right: Yasemin, Su, Issy, Bugra (me) 

Friends Fishing

Galata Bridge is one of the most iconic place in Istanbul. Every day hundreds Rod-Fishers visits this bridge to catch fish. Every time I cross the bridge I wonder how many people does this bridge feed.

I saw these two gentlemen on the "best spot" at the bridge. Only one was fishing and the other one was keeping his friend company. He told me that fishing for 5 hours alone is boring, and thus you need a friend to talk and share this fish. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (Me)

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + Pentax SMC 105mm 2.4

Film: Kodak Tmax 400 shot at box speed

Processed in Ilfrod DD-X

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Volume

Here is a still from the "Volume" shoot. Every time I get to use my Mamiya RZ67 ProII, I get so excited. 
I was in the test stage of my repaired RZ67 Pro II film backs. So I was bit nervous that entire shoot might get messed up with light leaks. Eventually everything turnout fine. 

The lighting is the same as the Light Setup #8

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + 110mm 2.8 

Kodak Portra 160 Scanned with Epson V750 

Team: 

Photography: Bugra Ergil (me)

Styling: Zoe Springer

Hair: Rosita Di

Makeup: Jess Summer

Model: Stefanie @Mrs. Robinson

Light Setup #9

Highkey Setup.
In this setup here, the light is hitting the wall behind the model and then bouncing to the polyboards behind me. 
The key part of not having too much spill light drowning the model in spill light is which part of the model you're getting the exposure readings from, and in here I got the exposure readings from right hand side of the model, but shoot her left side. 

Note: The camera is mounted on a tripod. 
Exposure: 1/30 sec at f16. 

I think the laughable flash sync speed of Pentax 67 with non leaf shutter lens allowed me to get results which are not looking like silhouette of the model. 

I photographed 6 models with this setup here and I am most pleased with Moylin's Photo.

The People of Istanbul

Regardless how much the Istanbul City has changed, the people of of Istanbul will always stay the same and they will nourish a newer, younger generation that will keep up the tradition. 

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + Pentax SMC105mm f2.4

Film: Kodak Tmax 400 Shot at Box Speed

Processed in Ilford DD-X

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (Me)

Cheyiz Advertorial

Here is a still from the Cheyiz shoot I done for my old high school class mate. Fascinating how time passes, a decade and a half ago, we were just kids not taking the world serious, fast forward both have jobs and responsibilities. 

Now, I shoot this with Fuji Colour PRO 400H, and besides everyone telling me to use Kodak Portra 400 I must say I am pretty happy with the results. I have read many online forums and flickr discussions that there are wolds different on the photo . . . They are exaggerating, as long as you know what you are doing while taking the photos and you know how to scan by how to scan I mean not let the machine or computer automate the colours of your negative, then you will like what you get just like I did.

Still if there was no Kodak Portra 400 outage in London during the time of shoot I would have used Kodak. Nonetheless I am happy with the results here. 

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + 105mm F2.4

Film: Fuji Colour Pro400 H

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Photographer: Bugra Ergil
Art Director: Su Karaman
Stylist: Estefania Hageman
Makeup artist: Pamela
Hair Stylist: Hussein / Shabnam
Managing director: Yasemin Blum
Nail Tech: Brigit

Model: Issy Knowles @Wilhelmina 

How Kodak Film is/was Made

Only thing I can say is Fascinating! And I can only wonder now if vegan hipsters knew that animal products were a part of photographic film would they still shoot film or even watch movies in cinemas? 

A good start to a photoshoot

Here is one of the photographs I shot for the "I'm not there" shoot. Matthew the model was very energetic and possessed a sunny personality, he was the first model I started the shoot at 9am in the morning and it was a nice start for the day where I've six models to shoot. 

Camera: Nikon F100 + Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 G

Film: Kodak Tri-X 400 shot at box speed
Processed in Ilford DD-X

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750

Team:
Photographer: Bugra Ergil

Stylist: Lenita Visan

Makeup artist: Jess Summers
 
Hair Stylist: Yumi Noh

Model: Matthew @Grey 


Highkey

Old photographic trick. Though in my opinion it is a cliché trick that many "new to photography-photographers" love to do and fill their portfolio with a whole entire photoshoot of highkey photos! As long as its done well and they are shot and used with a photoshoot that go well together its a good trick. 

Camera: Pentax 67 MkII + Pentax SMC 105mm f2.4

Film: Kodak Tri-X 400 shot at box speed
Processed in Ilford DD-X

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Team:
Photographer: Bugra Ergil
 (me)
Stylist: Lenita Visan

Makeup artist: Jess Summers

Hair Stylist: Yumi Noh

Model: Moylin Arowoshola @First


Rest In Peace Bill Cunningham

Fashion Photography Adventurers . . . We've lost a great photo journalist and inspiration to many fashion/style bloggers. 


Those of you who don't know him I urge you to watch his documentary. 


http://zeitgeistfilms.com/billcunninghamnewyork/

Changes in my BAG

Ever since I switched to medium format film from digital I had difficulties with the bag I have. Current camera bags which are made with 35mm digital cameras in mind, thus making it very dificult to be space efficient with cameras such as Mamiya RZ67 and Pentax 67 II, and I did not want to pay £250+  for a Pelicase tailored to my needs! 

I came up with the idea of why not turn inside of my bag to one of them fancy foam cases? 
With little research and measuring I turned my Calumet roller bag in to sexy Calumet roller bag!

It cost me £20 to do so!

Old Management 

Separators are not optimised for Medium Format cameras. 

And here comes £20 pound foam! 

New Management

Its not very pretty but I've gained more space right in front of the Pentax 67 MKII 

PS. I still use digital on product and other photoshoots where creative freedom is not in my hands

Light Setup #8

GlobeLight !!!

In this shoot, I decided to use the most underrated light modifier ever "in my opinion" it is so underused many of the new young photographers don't even know it exists. Of corse Im talking about one and only The GLOBE LIGHT. 

It's a diffuser which gives light almost all around it lighting up 270% angle everything around it. It's so easy to use that you don't event need to turn the light to the model. 

Funny thing: even the light drawing program I use don't have a image for globe light, therefore I had to improvise and put a image of moon there. 

Backdrop is 1 and 1/2 stop less than the model. Strobe with 120 degree angle spill kill head firing through the diffusing fabric. Globe light is there to provide fill light. 

TODAY IS NOT A GOOD DAY!

It was Monday the 29th of February. The day which comes once every 4 years as leap day. I wakeup in a happy mood, wash up, had breakfast, send some e-mails, drop off 14 Rolls of Kodak Portra in Photofusion, come back home, ate lunch, clean up home, send some more e-mails, write a blogpost so I have a post published on Leapday, go to gym, 2-km rowing machine, work on abs, leg day, get dinner and breakfast at whole-foods, come home, have dinner, read some articles, chill, check Flickr (only articles and discussions) AAAANNNNNDDDDDD biggest letdown of 2016, Fuji Fucking Film Discontinue their 2nd most useful product on film market Fuji FP100-c! 

Link to main article here: http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0384.html

Translation: 

Notice of instant color film "FP-100C" discontinued
February 29, 2016
FUJIFILM Corporation
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (President: Nakajima Naruhaku) is, the instant color film "FP-100C", will be sold lasts our stock.
Fujifilm, in order to continue to provide instant color film "FP-100C", so far have had continued corporate efforts, sales volume has declined significantly from year to year, more is a situation that can not be produced . For this reason, we will be forced to sell the end as described below.
This instant color sales of film "FP-100C" is will end, Fujifilm will continue to developing systems that offers access to the photographic film to continue while the review and production efficiency also product line up future .
We will continue our continued support to the Fujifilm product, you look forward to your patronage, thank you.
Record

1. Discontinued product name
Instant color film "FP-100C"
FP-100C PS 1
FP-100C PS 20
FP-100C PSSL 1
FP-100C PSSL 20
2. shipment end time prospect
2016 around spring 
※ end time because of the prospect, there is a possibility that the front and back.
For inquiries about this matter please contact the following.
Customer Communication Center
TEL 03-5786-1711
Hours: Monday to Friday (9:00 am - 5:40 pm), Saturday (10:00 - 5:00 pm)

I think FujiFilm should change it's name to FujiDigital and sell digital mirrorless rangefinder wanna be cameras to hipsters! 

Shooting Beautiful Oyster

Still-Life photography is harder than it sounds. The subject is in front of the lens and there are some light here and there and thats it. Did you you realise? It sounds easy! No! Lucky I got the Lighting result I wanted without a sweat, and 4 hours of oyster retouching later BAM! One photo of oyster coming up! 

The 4 hour photoshop was to remove the black dots which was on the oyster, only If we had skilled oyster opener person in the studio, I might have spend quarter the time I did spend on this photo. 

Camera: Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F2.8 G

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Stylist: Zoe Springer 

Model: Oyster from Selfridges London

P.S. This is my Leap Day blogpost!!! 

Behind the Camera - Age

Here is a polaroid group shot from "Age" Shoot, If you look close I am the only one wearing colourful clothes in a team of plain black dressing people. . . And if you really look at the photo you will notice that my legs and feet are transparent like Marty McFly, and if you don't know who that is, then you're probably too young and you should get back to doing your homework!  

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + Mamiya Sekor 110mm W

Film: Fuji FP-100c

So why my feet and legs are all back to the future-like? 
Simple: Since Mamiya RZ67 Pro II don't have self timer, I had to turn the room in to a camera, well not a perfect camera but a functioning camera. Mamiya RZ67 Pro II had the longest exposure of 8 sec. So in theory If I Prefocus the camera, turn all lights and modelling lights off and close the curtains to a level that it will block all major lights from outside source, and have the aperture set to something like F22, then the photo will not be exposed until I remotely trigger the Strobe Lighting, It should expose us like someone else take the photo. Against my best effort, the studio was not a complete blackout studio so the floor and reflective things got exposed a little bit by the time I run to the position and trigger the strobes. Luckily everyone was wearing black and the very little light that got in the studio did not expose the blacks by the time I got there! 

Finishing My First Bottle of Kodak HC-110

This is not a big accomplishment but it's still exciting in my opinion. 

Ever since I started to process my own negatives at home, I finished  my ever first bottle of Kodak Black and White film developer HC-110. I had to process about 100 of 35mm film however I think I processed a lot less since I processed great amount of medium format as well as 35mm film. 

Last Friday was very productive day in my Darkroom/Toilet, because not only I processed my negatives, I also processed my two other friends films as well. 

Here below a photo of how my toilet looked like at the end of Friday, and yes I can say that I actually spent my Friday in my Toilet! 

Light Setup #7

Terry! 
Sometimes you just need to be direct! Maria has incredible face features already, so all we needed some light to form the shadows. One thing to keep in mind that, you should keep your distance from the model unchanged during the shoot, if you increase or decrease the distance the exposure will change. The light is mounted on your camera . . . DUH! 

Small Speedlight softbox mounted SB900 on cameras Hotshoe did the trick well! 

Recovering Negatives From Fuji FP100c Peel Apart Polaroid Film

OK! I must admit, this is due to my laziness that I am making a very late blog-post about this. 

While I was still in London College of Fashion, studying BA Fashion Styling and Photography(majoring in photography), I heard about the technicians and sometimes the tutors telling us this recovery method in order to get unusual effects on our photographs. Many of my class mates shied away from this method finding it complicated and many others just shot digital or stick with film but not polaroid. I in the other hand and perhaps two more class mates of that time, wasn't interested in this process because we wanted more colour accurate results, and thus nobody did this resulting a class of 60 Fashion photography students not seeing process or result of this method. 

But today I'm here to change that!

I came across a blog post about this recovery process while I was searching the web for the most affordable Fuji FP 100C since you can find them from £22 to £12. After carefully reading it from several blogs I decided to add my own input. 

For starters, you will need a camera which is capable of taking peel apart polaroid film. In my case I used my Mamiya RZ67 Pro II with Polaroid back! 

So I asked my friend Lolo to take a photo of me! It was bit hard for her to focus under the influence of alcohol but I think she got close enough (no complains).

Shoot me like "Terry" - 12

First "Terry" post of the 2016. However I shot this on 2015 and uploading them just now. 

Before the shoot started I liked the Reece's outfit so I told him that I'd photograph him with "terry" setup once the official shoot is over and I did not shout-out "IT'S A WRAP" until I shoot these. 

Camera: Nikon D800 + Nikkor 24-70mm F/2.8 G 

Team

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Model: Reece Harold @ Premier

Nikon F100

Its due time I write about this camera!

I mentioned this in my previous post, that I own a Nikon F100 analog camera. It's been a year that I have thoughts of replacing it but simply can't replace it due to my rational thinking. It was a gift to me from "now my ex" girlfriend Liza. It's  been with me over 5 years, and I enjoy using it very much. 

Why won't I replace it with Nikon F6 ? 

It has sentimental value. Not because it was just a gift but also I used it to photograph many great memories. I think cameras should be used and not collect dust behind a glass door or on a shelf. Thats why I gifted my Minolta X-700 to my friend who I know will cherish it and use it. 

A semi-pro body(oh I hate that term) which costs about £150-200 which is nothing compared to F6

All my lenses works fine with the camera. Af is quick and VR functions as it supposed to be. 

As long as I use Lithium Ion batteries the camera and I will be happy, I put lithium ion batteries on 2014 and just replaced them last week! I think I shot more than 30 rolls of film with this. (also lithium ion batteries are very light batteries not adding much to cameras weight) 

Weather sealed, I forgot this camera once on bar table outside and it got washed pretty good under the rain for 1 hour or so (london weather) When ever I have this camera I don't have a bag with me, this camera takes just as much as rain water as I do. Some say there are too much dust entering the camera from back but the way I carry my camera minimises that. 

This is my travel camera, and I don't take photography that serious when I travel for holiday. I just put my trusty nifty fifty F/1.4 G Nikkor lens on it and hang it on my shoulder as I am traveling for holidays. No camera bag! No extra lenses! Like them TryHards. If I am serious  and I'd like to photograph the very beautiful landscapes I see on my travels, I will take Pentax 67II and a tripod. 

Here is below a SnapShot of a ferris wheel somewhere in London. 

Camera: Nikon F100 + Nikkor 50mm F/1.4 G

Film: Fomapan ASA 400

Scanned in EpsonV750 PRO