Wells Cathedral Chapter House

Pentax ME-F, SMC Pentax-M 20mm f/4 lens, Fuji Neopan 1600, scanned using a Minolta scan dual II and slightly tweaked in CS3.










Cheers, Kris.

Kris, these have that special quality that only the film (and scanning process) could provide. Nice viewpoints and great DOF too.

Having stopped shooting film a while ago, what jumps (back) out at me are the blown highlights out the windows, something that I now routinely eliminate on digital, in the quest to obtain a full DR with detail (although of course we don't really get detail back into these sorts of hotspots, only a greyer tone which is less distracting).

This sort of characteristic is of course 'natural' to negative film (this is neg isn't it?) - we just get used to not seeing it now. I always understood to 'expose for the shadows - let the hotspots go', and its interesting to see it here. Hey, like everyone else here, guess you just can't wait to go Full Frame eh

I like these Kris

Nice set.

I particularly like number three.
Looking carefully and I can see the imperfections in what seems perfect at first. I.E. The not so straight edge in one side of the octagon in the centre. I love the flow of the design and all done without even the thought of a computer or other machines! Just very clever Human beings.

Thanks folks.

If I was doing my own developing I could try and pull back the highlights by exposing differently and adjusting the developing time a la Mr Adams. Full frame? Personally I'd love to go back to Wells and shoot these on my 5x4 view camera. These days I hardly shoot any digital images. At the moment I am using my Agfa Isolette II (a medium format folder I got from a charity shop for £12.50), a Werra IV (an East German 35mm rangefinder from about 1957) and my ME-F with my newly acquired (and functioning! yay!) AF35-70 lens. I used my K20D for the first time in ages today and that was to photograph some keys I am returning to the dealer.

Cheers, Kris.

Oh, yes! Now I'm just going to hold out for a Pentax 5x4D.

Is there a lovelier covered space in all of England? (OK, the Angel Choir in Lincoln runs it close) Three fine images, Kris.

I like these and #3 in particular even with the slightly distracting bottom left corner. I looked at this with the bottom cropped off to just above the 'window panes' and it still worked for me.

Terrific photos Kris. Those classic cameras can still amaze. The black and white photography gives Wells Cathedral an appropriate feeling of timelessness.
I share Andrew's enthusiasm for Wells Cathedral Chapter House although I rate the view up into the great lantern tower at Ely it's equal. But surely the most magical covered space in England is the view down the nave and choir to the great Rose Window in Durham Cathedral. Others will undoubtedly have their own favourites.
David

PPG:tp:/ht/www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Impressive set of images! The SMC-M 20mm f4 seems like a very capable lens for this kind of architectural photography, by the way.

Bjørn

This one you mean?




As much as I loved Wells, Durham has a very special place in my heart.

K.

How did you get up there Kris, its a precarious ledge.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Durham University Photography Society tour in about 1985 or 6. We had a tour around the triforium levels and the tower, and as it was a phototog trip we were given time to set-up tripods and all that. This would have been FP4, ME Super and a SMC Pentax 28mm f/2.8 lens.

Cheers, Kris.

Ah yes, Durham... Best position, certainly, above that river cliff but, in your heart of hearts, you know that the very best gothic makes romanesque its bitch (so to speak!)

(Not sure this is the right forum for this kind of thing. Or the right web-site, come to think of it.)

wow cool shots, I always like B&W film pictures! I like #1 and #2