I think this was in 2006. Photographed with twin Yashica-Mat 124s using Ilford Pan F processed at DR5.
Author Archives: Jim Harp
Christmas in Ginza Tokyo
I shot this in 2004 using a twin Yashica-Mat 124 rig. I would go on these business trips to Japan with just a few items of clothing and my suitcase filled with tripods, twin bars and other camera gear. I brought the actual cameras as carry-ons whenever possible. They’d keep me working all day so I ended up with lots of nighttime shots.
This was probably a two second exposure at f16, I manually fired a Vivitar 285H flash while the shutter was open.
Rita N Wink on the mic
From a 2018 New York Pinup Club shoot – TL120 with a Vivitar 285H flash. There was also some studio lighting, I used an incident meter and crossed fingers. I was using long exposures, 1/4 or 1/2 second and asking the models to hold still.
San Francisco Playground
This was taken with twin Mamiya C220s using 135mm lenses. Provia 100F pushed one stop. I love the surreal effect of slightly hyper telephoto shots, San Francisco offers lots of nice elevated views where this works well.
Katie Kells Beach-Ball
This is from a New York Pinup Club shoot in Long Island June 2021. It was very hot and humid that day, many of the photographers went home early. This is a TL-120 without a flash, Provia 100F pushed one stop. I believe it was 1/125 at f22.
Coney Island Mermaids
The past few years the Coney Island Mermaid Parade has been the event where I shot most of my Medium Format rolls for the year. This was the event I most missed among all the cancelled activities of Summer 2020. This shot was taken with a TL-120 using a Vivitar 285H fill-flash. My TL-120 reliably syncs to flash at 1/125 even though flash sync is marked for 1/30. This has softened the shadows on countless Mermaid Parade portraits I’ve taken. Provia 100F pushed 1 stop.
Alcatraz
Shot with twin Mamiya C220s with 135 mm lenses. I enjoy the surreal effect telephoto 3D creates. For years I had dreamed of being able to own twin Tele-Rollei’s and then one day I realized I could get very close to that on the cheap with the old Mamiya TLRs.
Rita N. Wink
Taken at a “New York Pinup Club” event in March 2019. TL-120 with Ilford Pan-F processed by DR-5. I believe this was a half second exposure, Rita did a good job staying still but there’s still a bit of motion blur.
Chicago Theater
Shot with twin Yashica-Mat 124s, I used to have a lot of fun with this rig, the additional lens separation works well on shots like this. Unfortunately I had constant shutter misfires with these cameras and finally got put them away for good.
Foxy Vermouth at the movies
Photographed at a “New York Pin-up Club” event, March 2019. TL-120 with Vivitar 285-H fill flash, Provia 100F +1.
Studio lighting was provided for this event which I metered. Probably 1/8 at f16.
Mermaid Couple
Photographed at the 2019 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. TL-120 with diffused Vivitar 285-H fill flash. Provia 100F pushed one stop. For close portraits like this a diffusor is critical for the fill flash. Sadly the 2020 Mermaid Parade was cancelled, this event is where I do most of my Medium Format shooting these days.
Galtaji (Monkey Temple) – Jaipur India
This is a Hindu Temple in Jaipur India, nicknamed the “Monkey Temple” for obvious reasons. Taken with a TL-120 – Provia 100F pushed +1, February 2018. Probably hand-held, there were attendants hassling me about my cameras even though I had paid a few hundred Rupies per camera at the gate.
Three Sisters – Australia
This is an area not far from Sydney Australia. When I visited Australia in 2002 the only medium format cameras I owned were two Sputniks. I shot a number of successful hypers with the two cameras, covering one lens on each and advancing the film one exposure at a time. I think I had the two cameras four feet apart on separate tripods here. Velvia 100F.
Mer-Man
Photographed at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, I think in 2015. I used a TL-120, that camera can take amazing close-up portraits. Provia 100F pushed one stop. I used a Vivitar 285H fill-flash at half power with a plastic diffusor, the subject provided lots of nice reflective surfaces for the flash.
Rome – St. Peters at dawn
The only way to avoid the crowds around St. Peters is to get up at the crack of dawn. This was photographed shortly after sunrise with a Stereoflektoscop using Provia 100F pushed one stop. Vivitar 285H fill flash used. I was using the “Bulb” setting, probably a two second exposure based on incident metering.