10 Favorite Shots from 2021

Jesse Knifley December 27, 2021

Here are ten photos that, as of this moment, stand as my favorites from this year. I shot a lot of different cameras but often found myself returning to 35mm. I bought a Nikon F3 and an Olympus XA this year, so that has a lot to do with it.

Favorite Photos of 2020

Jesse Knifley January 1, 2021

This was a year of exploring the towns around me. I would have no other reason to visit these places if I wasn’t going out trying to make photos, but being able to just walk around and look at things is, it turns out, a pretty decent way to spend one’s time. Almost without fail I took a day a week to drive somewhere I’ve never been, and in the process I shot over 70 rolls of film. I took a fair number of photos I’m pleased with (and an even greater number that were all kinds of terrible). I’m sure if I made this list again in two months I would have different choices, but for now these are the 10 that I like best.

Arista Edu 400: Love at First Shot?

Jesse Knifley November 23, 2020

I just finished developing my second roll of Arista Edu 400. I shot both rolls in 120 format using my Bronica S2. I have a few thoughts about the experience.

I love film that renders well no matter the lighting conditions. It was overcast and dreary both times I shot this, but the film delivered moody tones that worked well.
Arista Edu is about the cheapest film one can find, so having such an inexpensive option that actually looks good is amazing.
The quality control seems fairly iffy. Some of my shots had some splotchy patches, particularly in areas that would have a fairly smooth gradient otherwise (such as the sky).
The grain looks great (I developed in XTOL 1+3 for both rolls).
While this is a panchromatic film, it renders reds almost like it’s orthochromatic.
I have never seen dustier negatives in my life. I took the same level of care as I always do with the first roll, but after seeing how covered they were I took pains the second time around to avoid dust. That didn’t make any difference. Having such a contrasty film that’s a veritable dust magnet? That’s a ton of time in Photoshop spotting all that dust away. Huuuuuuuuuge pain, that is.

Will I shoot this emulsion again? Absolutely. When one shoots the cheapest there is, everything can’t be perfect about it. I can deal with the quirks for now. I already have ideas as to a project this could work well for.

Shooting the Bronica S2 With CatLABS X 80 and Portra 400

Jesse Knifley May 30, 2020

In a fit of quarantine-induced eBay browsing I bought a Bronica S2, that chrome-bedecked brick that looks like a mid-century car. This is my first time shooing a medium format camera, and I’m in love.

Now, this purchase is not without its complications. Since I turned 35 I thought it would be a great idea to shoot a ton of 35mm film and compile a zine out of my favorite shots. Going down the medium format rabbit hole isn’t exactly helping that project along.

I’d held off on shooting Portra mostly due to how expensive it is (and that everyone shoots it). I’ve been experimenting with a lot of color films in 35mm and I didn’t think it’s reputation could hold up to actually shooting it. I was completely wrong. Portra 400 is sooooo nice.

The big surprise turned out to be the black and white test roll I shot to make sure the camera survived shipping. Turns out CatLABS X 80 produces beautiful results, and that’s not to mention that it’s a super affordable stock. I foresee myself shooting a lot of it this summer.

Two Views of the Same Building

Jesse Knifley March 30, 2020

I’ve tried photographing this old pump house at Mammoth Cave National Park at least ten times, and I’ve never been happy with the results . . . until now. I was out taking a Fui X-T2 for a spin back at the end of September and the light and the time of year both worked in my favor.

I was also shooting with the 35mm f2. It’s a great, lightweight lens that’s a perfect size to complement the X-T2.

Favorite Photos of 2019

Jesse Knifley December 21, 2019

Nine shots in no particular order, although the Drop Forge Shop picture might be my favorite of the year. These were all from either Kentucky or North Carolina. Five were shot on the EOS RP, three with film (T-Max 100 and Tri-X 400), and one with the Fuji X-T20.

Lancaster Cemetery

Jesse Knifley August 27, 2019

The back-end of the Rudy Mines Trail surprised me. Tucked away on a small path that led past a cow pasture and a cell phone tower was an overgrown cemetery. There were some beautiful tombstones and some lovely greenery, so of course I had to stop and take some photos.

The Rudy Mine Trail

Jesse Knifley August 27, 2019

A Monday off work mean I needed to get out, see some stuff, and get a hike in. It had been over a decade since I’d been to Owensboro. It was as good a time as any to head back.

The Rudy Mine was—you guessed it—a coal mine before it was turned into a park. There were several structures left over from the mining days, and while there were a few mountain bikers zipping around in the distance I didn’t pass any other hikers.

Barren River Lake State Park

Jesse Knifley May 12, 2019

Work is about to drop the hammer on me come June, so the need to get out, hike, and snap a few photos this weekend was paramount. Barren River Lake State Park was close by. It was a no-brainer.

While the golf course seemed to be the biggest non-boating draw, there were a fair number of runners taking advantage of a partially wooded path circling the fairways. The real draw for me was Peter’s Creek Trail, a 1.2 mile loop through some nice woodland.

Besides my ceaseless quest for interesting trees to photograph, I am always on the lookout for other bits of weirdness. This trail delivered that with aplomb.

How this bus ended up out there remains unknown (at least to me thanks to the halfhearted Googling I just did). My understanding is that when the Army Corp of Engineers found a suitable river, they plopped a dam down, thus creating Kentucky’s lakes. It doesn’t take a whole lot of exploring to find remnants of the people that lived in the area before the parks became public land. Rotting and rusting fences. The scars of old roadways. The occasional chimney or foundation. And, apparently, this bus.

On my way back home, I stopped at a country store in Port Oliver and spotted this gem:

Pure American muscle to round out the trip

7 Artisans 25mm f/1.8 Lens

Jesse Knifley April 22, 2019

I picked up a super cheap 25mm lens for my Fuji X-T20. Is it super sharp? No. Does it autofocus? No. Does the build quality feel like it’ll hold up over time? Again, no. But even with all that, it’s become my go-to walk-around lens as it’s small, light, and suits the X-T20. Not to mention manually focusing kind of enhances the experience of using such a retro-style camera.

There is a good chance that if I bought something like the Fuji 35mm f/2 I might never pick up this particular lens again. I’m a cheapskate when it comes to equipment though, so it’ll probably be a while before it comes to that.

All things considered, the 7 Artisans 25mm is more than usable. I like shooting with it. It’s fun. I like the super-shallow depth of field when shooting wide open, and being able to have a little more room when it comes to low-light situations. Is the bokeh luxurious? Nope, but it’s more than smooth enough to pop a subject off a background. I also enjoy how the cheap, not super-sharp glass add a vintage feel to images.

If you shoot Fuji and want a cheap lens to play around with, this is totally worth picking up.