PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC VAN OMMEREN
2017

Emily (series #5)

In our latest test with Emily, in lieu of having a studio to work in, we decided to try a dorm room challenge. Assisted by Stacii. Shot on Kodak Portra 160 medium format film, all using portable studio strobe. Back before the days of digital photography, some medium format cameras had interchangeable backs available, with a Polaroid back being one- for the purpose of checking a lighting set-up. I have one for the Bronica, I just didn't have the FujiFilm FP-100C peel-apart instant film needed for doing our lighting test. To check our lighting, we used Emily's Nikon D5100 DSLR with an 18-105 mm lens- set to shoot manually at 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 100, RAW files. As you look through, notice the drastic difference in depth-of-field between an identically set up medium format (film) camera and an ASP-C format DSLR camera.

First, our digital test shot with the Nikon D5100. Are we set? Yep. Let's get the film camera ready.

Now we switch to the big film camera. Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

So, outfit change. Let's take another digital test shot. Ready? Yep. Nikon D5100.

Nikon D5100.

Between these medium format shots and the digital one above, notice how you barely can tell that there is a corner anymore. Kodak Portra 160 film. Both cameras at f/5.6.

Kodak Portra 160 film

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Changing position in room. Digital test shot, Nikon D5100.

Nikon D5100.

Sometimes you hear the term 'medium format look.' I think the difference between these next two frames and the previous digital begins to describe it. Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

OK, this following frame and next are test shots... (Nikon D5100)

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Two more test shots, to see a Rembrandt lighting set-up and a split-light set-up. Nikon D5100.

Nikon D5100.

Nikon D5100

And back to the film camera, Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Kodak Portra 160 film.

Tech details: Bronica SQ-Ai medium format film camera with PS 80/2.8 lens; for digital frames, Nikon D5100 ASP-C DSLR with Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3-5-5.6G ED VR lens. Elinchrom Ranger Quadra with 'A' head for flash, Elinchrom 100cm/39" Deep Octa softbox, either one or two layers fabric diffusion.
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