surreal

I was surprised when I saw the results from this roll. The experience of shooting it was really a rather rough one. I didn’t know the city too well and just wanted to shoot a quick roll, maybe see some skyscrapers. Well, I randomly walked into a red light district full of pimps and junkies, had people shouting at me and it felt like it could turn bad at any moment. The pictures turned out rather harmless in comparison, probably because I didn’t fire the shutter in those half dangerous moments so as not to push my luck. I wasn’t really planning on shooting in that area and I’m not really interested in that kind of negative human interaction, so I’m actually pretty happy with the results, especially since I wasn’t robbed or worse. Next time I decide to randomly walk around in a city I don’t know I better check Street View first!

As for RPX400 in Rodinal: I don’t know. It’s alright, but it definitely won’t become my favourite combination. There is something old-fashioned and low contrast about it that works in certain situations, but I much prefer it in Caffenol with more pop. It’s still hard to tell whether RPX400 is exactly the same as K400 because I’ve previously always underdeveloped K400 in Rodinal, but to me it looks very very similar. I was also never really amazed by the results of K400 in Rodinal. It’s not bad and I’ve used it for my Progress through Demolition project, but for regular street shooting I don’t think it’s the best combination. Nevertheless, Rodinal stand-development is definitely the easiest way of developing film and it handles high contrast and low light situations exceptionally well, so that’s already a reason why I continue recommending it. Rodinal will also definitely remain my main developer for push processing K400/RPX400. At box speed I think I’ll stick with Caffenol though from now on. Of course I already developed about half of my RPX rolls with Rodinal, so you’ll see some more of this combination in the next few days.

All pictures taken with: Olympus XA, F.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8.
Rollei RPX 400 stand-developed in Rodinal 1:100, 75min.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

Law enforcement fitting for the area where I stumbled into. Nevertheless I’m glad that these guys were just cosplayers! I also got a portrait of them taken with my Rolleicord that I’ll post one of these days.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

The sign next to the door forbidding dogs is hilarious. As if dogs had any interest in vegetarian restaurants!

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

That was either right before or right after someone shouted at me. Some guy also followed me for a couple of blocks … not too great a situation.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

The streets were full of sex shops, table dance bars and brothels.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

I turned a couple corners to get out of the neighbourhood and it kept getting worse. Here I was almost out though.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

I like the dog looking at the dog graffiti in the background!

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

The sign says: “A true story. Sex, my biggest enemy.” Very fitting for the neighbourhood.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

Phew, finally out! I really liked the polar bear.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

Self-portrait with my XA.

Comments

  • das mit den cosplayern ist der hammer…

    • Lilly Schwartz

      Das ist auch mein Liebstes von der Serie! Ich hab extra noch eins gemacht nachdem ich schon ein Portrait von denen hatte. So im Kontext von dieser komischen Straße kamen die noch eine Spur schärfer!

  • Harry

    Hello Lilly, You have come across one of the big disadvantages of owning a Lieca and that is dodgy areas, I remember a guy having his M7 robbed at a carnival in London a few years ago, take the Zorki.

    I do like self portraits and the photographers shadow in the picture, you certainly make a good case for the caffernol it does seem to do a better job than the Rodinol with your K400/RPX400 ?

    Photography can be a lonely business, so you take care.

    Kind Regards Harry

    • Lilly Schwartz

      Hei Harry, yeah well, I think I’m actually going to get some insurance for my Leica so that I don’t have to worry about it too much.
      True about the lonely business. Glad that there are other photographers out there to make it less lonely 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  • Glad to know you got out safe from a situation which could have turned in a dangerous experience. Sometimes it happens, better to be careful and as you said not to push our luck too much.
    robert

    • Lilly Schwartz

      Phew, I’ll definitely be more careful next time … just didn’t know what I was walking into. I’ve lived in quite some crappy neighbourhoods, but I never got into situations like those!

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