Scanning Film at Home with Epson Perfection V750Pro

It's no surprise that I use some old dated technology in my photography. I still haven't purchased a new laptop 100% of my work is being edited on mid 2012 Macbook Pro (non-retina discontinued) and my scanner is the Epson Perfection V750 Pro, a scanner dating back to 2006 yes over a decade old. Ever since I've graduated from the University I moaned in-focus, sharp scans. 

In December 2015, I wrote a blogpost about Anti Newton Ring glass. Since then I've been using the ANR glass (anti newton ring glass) in my scanning.
These ANR glass are cut in the specific size for the epson perfection V750 pro medium format film trays. These ANR glass helped me get the best quality I can achieve from the V750 scanner. The ANR glass helps keeping the film flat, nullifies film shaking, and keeps the film un bended in focus while scanning. See the diagram below. 

Ever since December 2015, all my medium format film scans from Epson Perfection V750 Pro scanner are with the help of ANR glass, and you can just look trough here. 
Those of you who has a V750, I'd reccomend you to try ANR, it is not a drum or a Imacon scanner but when used right by a skilled user it will give great results. My tip for using this scanner regardless of ANR glass or software is: automation should be the last thing you do with this scanner. I'll explain this along with my workflow scanning medium format film in another blogpost in future. 

GoSee №1.0

Here is a great new addition to my blog to promote my work/portfolio. 
GoSee: "Portraits showcasing the back beauty of professional models working in major markets across the globe." ~ The Ones2Watch
In this section I'll be shooting both agency represented and my own self casted talents. 

Photography: Bugra Ergil (me)

Model: Jemilla King Self casted

Camera: Pentax 67II + SMC 105mm 2.4

Film Kodak Portra 400

Processed in Kodak FlexColour C-41

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

A rare sight

While I was walking around the London eye to photograph people in the streets, I noticed this man. From what I assumed, he was waiting for something or someone and reading a book to pass the time. Something you don't see everyday. In 2017 when people are waiting for something they usually pass the time on their phones, or tablets or even e-reader but this guy had a book. You don't see this everyday . . .  Really go outside and count the people reading books. 

Photography: Bugra Ergil (me)

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + Mamiya Sekor Z 180mm

Film: Ilford HP5+ shot at 1600

Processed in Kodak HC110 

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Shoot me like "Terry" - 13 #TBT

I was looking through my old HardDrives and I come across this photo and today being Thursday I told my self why not make a #TBT post on Shoot me like terry photos. When I looked at the file date this photo is dating back to 2013. I must admit I have a good sense archiving.

Camera: Nikon D800 + Nikkor 50mm 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)
Model: Ben Allen

Militaristic - LFW FEBRUARY 2017

Not everyone can get away with the militaristic look, however when they do, they sure look stylish . . . in my opinion.  

Camera: Nikon D800 + Nikkor 50mm 1.4

Photography: Bugra Ergil

P.s. I think it looks way more stylish than the camolook.  

Moylin - I'm not there

Here is a still from I'm not there shoot. I was recently exporting photos for my Instagram account, and I came to this photo. Since this photo was submitted as a DPS in the editorial, I tought it would be nice just to have it as a stand alone portrait in my blog. I'm not there shoot link in my website here.

Camera: Pentax 67 II + SMC 105mm f2.4

Film: Kodak Trix shot at BoxSpeed

Processed in Ilford DDX

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 PRO

Team: 

Photography: Bugra Ergil

Styling: Lenita Visan

Hair: Yumi Noh

Mua: Jess Summers

Model: Moylin @First 

On cigarette break - LFW FEBRUARY 2017

I'm not a fan of going to Fashion week, mainly because of "peacocking" people who has no business in fashion week filling the streets looking for 5 minutes of fame. However this year, I decided to go there with my friend Burcu and photograph what I see stylish and beautiful. I found this stylish gentelman who I assume is a Hairstylist, on his cigarette break and took a photo of him. (with his permission of course) 

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

Photography: Bugra Ergil

The Unseen - 4

My first try on Documentary type photography. A small part of larger project. Initially I used Pentax 67 II however I brought my Nikon F6 with me as well just to be safe. It was good idea! I am used shoot fashion and portraiture where I have full control over my model and I can tell them how to pose and how to stand etc... In this situation the mechanics are working on their engines and motor parts and they are not posing or listening to me or standing in one place too long. In a scenario like this its very hard to shoot everything with Pentax 67 manual focusing, it is possible but at the end I might not have all the photos I need. So I switched to F6 and as a result of that; I now have some photos shot on Pentax 67, where the quality is great because of the negative size over 35mm and when I put the photos together the quality difference is effecting the story flow of overall story. See full story here!

Photography: Bugra Ergil

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

Film: HP5+ shot at ASA1600

Processed in Kodak HC110

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

On the phone

New addition to my street photography work. I spotted this gentelman having a conversation on the phone and sitting on the bench. So, naturally and casually, I sneaked behind him with a Mamiya RZ67 and a 180mm and photographed him. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + Mamiya Sekor Z 180mm 4.5

Film: Ilford HP5+ shot at 1600

Processed in Kodak HC110

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Nikon D800 Vs Pentax 67 II

So, if you ask me this question the answer is depending on the shoot. In a shoot like this where the model is gorgeous and have great skin it all ends up with the photographers skills in photography and communication. 

As I worked on both photographs in photoshop and retouched them in a way that the client wanted, I started to realise that I spend more time on Digital photo over the film and that was already my first main reason on why I switched to Analogue Photography over Digital Photography. 
What do I mean by I spend more time on digital in photoshop over Film? Well I do spend considerable amount of time on scanning and it takes 2-3 days for Photofusion to process my negatives(the pro photo lab I use for colour and commercial shoots) but I accepted that as a part of my job. Once I sit down in front of the computer to work using photoshop and open both the scanned file and Digital file, I spend about one hour more editing time in the digital file. This extra hour is usually spent on Dodge and Burn tool. With film I spend very little time if not no time at all on Dodging and Burning. 
I used to spend a lot more time editing digital photos before I built a workflow on PhaseOne CaptureOne. With that program, I shoot and directly export files as PSD(photoshop document) with my preset adjustment applied to the photo. 

Here are the two photos below. The photoshoot was originally shot on digital however I just wanted to have some analog photos for my own personal use. Remember the photo I shot with Pentax has no dodge and burn. What do you think? Near future I will write about why I switch to film for %70 of my work. 

Camera: Pentax 67 II + Pentax SMC 105mm 2.4
Film: Fujifilm Pro400H 

Processed in Kodak Flex Colour C41

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Camera: Nikon D800 + 50mm 1.4 

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 

Good News for Film!

Some good news! Its been some time that we did not have good news, but looks like 2017 is a good year for analogue photography and film. First kodak announced that they will be reintroducing the Ektachrome and now finally Ferrania announcing P30 (alpha).

If you are wondering what does the alpha mean ? is it in the name of the product? Nope! Alpha means its the first stage testing. Usually when a product is being made, they make a small batch of alpha to test the quality, consistency, compatibility etc... then some corrections are made and beta testing begins where its now sold or distributed wider audience. Beta testing is like a real world testing however the product is still open to minor tweaking here and there. 
Once they understand that the product is ok and no longer needs to be altered or tested they finalise it and it can be sold with company warranty.  

Man at Trafalgar Square

A man with his dog companion at Trafalgar Square. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + Mamiya Sekor Z 180mm 4.5

Film: Ilford HP5+ shot at 1600

Processed in Kodak HC110

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Labourer in Chinatown

I wanted to do something new this year. Instead of always searching for photography projects to get involved in and look for clients in internet and other sources, I want to devote one day every week or one day every two weeks to street photography. This will also motivate me to wakeup earlier on days that I don't have photoshoots. Not to mention keep the rust off my Mamiya RZ67 Pro II. 

Photographer: Bugra Ergil (me)

Camera: Mamiya RZ67 Pro II + Mamiya Sekor Z 180mm 4.5

Film: Ilford HP5+ shot at 1600

Processed in Kodak HC110

Scanned in Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Kiddo

The first post of 2017 is also my first Giff! This is from a test shoot I've done last year . . . a test to see if I can shoot kids and boy it was difficult. Art directing a kid was definitely a challenge, every time I asked her to pose in a way; she would either nod or shake off her head to say yes or no, which makes verbal communication nearly impossible. 

Camera: Nikon F100 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 G

Film: Kodak Portra 160 shot @ Box Speed

Processed in Kodak Flex Colour C-41

Scanned with Epson Perfection V750 Pro

Team: 

Photography: Bugra Ergil (me)

Styling: Camille Marchant 

Model: Jessika @ Kids London

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