Hi welcome to our first photographer feature.
In this feature we ask Jong Lee, one of the members of my group Nightscape Photographers Australia on Facebook a few questions about his use of film for Nightscape photography, we also take a look at his images and settings used.
Where are you located?
Parramatta NSW
How long have you been photographing the night sky ?
Since 2014 (with digital)
Since 2015 (with film)
Why night photography?
I’m more exited to shoot at night than during the day and dislike waking up early in the morning for sunrise shoots. I also love the outdoors and camping and find night photography more predictable as long as I’m choosing the right night with a clear sky.
Why use film of your night photography?
I used to shoot with film back in 80’s and 90’s but had a break for a decade. When I got back into film in 2015 I found there was a limitation with digital for really long exposures and was getting better quality with film. I also find film fun to shoot and exciting to to see the results after waiting for development from the lab. I also find the process involved with post processing fun.
What film cameras and film related gear do you use?
- Linhof Super Technika III (Large 4×5 format) + Schneider Angulon f6.8/90mm
- Rolleiflex 2.8C (6×6 format) + Carl Zeiss Planar f2.8/80mm
- Nikon F3 (35mm SLR) + Nikkor f1.8/50mm
- Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (6×9 format) + Novar-Anastigmat f4.5/105mm
- Ensign Comando (6×6 format) + Ensar Anastigmat f3.5/75mm
- Ensign Selfix 420 (6×9/6×6 format) + Ensar Anastigmat f4.5/105mm
Why do you use the actual film equipment that you use? What makes it special?
Linhof – large format, brand, rigid, more movements for better focus, high quality image when printed in large print.
Rolleiflex – medium format 6×6, brand, lens quality, fancy look
Zeiss Ikon – medium format 6×9, folding camera, fancy look
Ensign – medium format 6×6 & 6×4.5, fancy look
Nikon F3 – used to use from 90’s, mostly used for street photography
What is the most common settings you use? and for what conditions?
Star trails shots: at maximum aperture and as long exposure time as possible with ISO 100 slide film
Do you have any favourite photographers that inspire you?
I get ideas or inspired from anything or anyone.
Do you develop the film yourself? What is your process?
No I don’t, I use a lab.
What scanner do you use to digitise your images?
EPSON V800 photo
Any advice you would like to share with others that want to try film for their night photography?
Just try, learn by trial & error. For shooting star trails go with medium format.
Now we have a bit of an Idea of why Jong Lee shoots film and the gear and process here’s some of Jong Lees images – Words by Jong Lee
Lincoln’s Rock
Blue Mountains NSW
Linhof Super Technika III 4×5
Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon f/6.8/90mm
Fujichrome Velvia 100
Taken @f6.8, exposed for about 4.5 hours
Developed at local LAB & scanned with Epson V800. Post-processed in PS.
This is one of my very first images taken with a large format film camera the Linhof Super Technika III which I purchased in December 2017. You can still notice the magenta/red cast which is distinctive characteristics of Velvia slide because I didn’t want to eliminate it completely in PS. I am changing from Velvia 100 to Provia 100F for large format as I have recently done for medium format 120mm film. I find Provia 100F is better for astro/low light and long exposure photography than Velvia 100. Provia gives more blueish tone rather than magenta. I don’t judge which film is better. It’s just about preference. I love the vivid colours of star trails which resulted from at least 1 or 2 stop under exposure.
Ghost tree
Blue Mountains NSW
Zeiss Ikon Nettar 518/2 (6×9), Novar-Anastigmat f4.5/105mm
Fujichorome Provia 100 Slide 120mm Format
Taken @f4.5, about 2 hours
Processed at Local LAB. Scanned with Epson V800 & Postprocessed in PS
This image was taken in June 2017 at Echo Point Lookout Blue Mountains. It was very windy night and the gum tree was lit by the lights from the lookout. I planned to open for at least 3 hours or more, however I had to leave the place after 2 hours of exposure which resulted under exposed. The position of south celestial pole was quite right as I calculated from crux without an app.
Pier and Stars
Catherine Hill Bay NSW Australia
Rolleiflex 2.8C, Carl Zeiss Planar f2.8/80mm
Fujichorome Provia 100 Slide 120mm Format
Shot a t f2.8, about 4.5 hours
Developed at local LAB
Scanned with Epson V800 & Postprocessed in PS
This image was taken in April 2017. This abandoned pier is popular all-arounder photography spot for sunrise, sunset, long exposure and astro as well. It was dark moonless night so I opened aperture up to f2.8 and left opened for about 4.5 hours.
When you do star-trails with film at night the biggest challenge is to avoid torch lights by other photographers. There were a few local guys with torch wondering around the pier so I told them where my film cameras were located and kindly asked them not to point torch to the direction where cameras are. Luckily they did not ruin the image, thanks guys.
Fallen Stars
Govetts Leap Lookout, Blackheath, New South Wales
Rolleiflex 2.8C, Carl Zeiss Planar f2.8/80mm
Fujichorome Provia 100F Slide 120mm Format
Shot @f4, about 5 hours
Developed at local LAB
Scanned with Epson V800 & Post-processed in PS
This image was taken in February 2018. In order to get the colour of golden hour on horizon I had to plan exposure time to finish between half an hour to an hour before sunrise. I am extremely happy with this image how it turned out, the colour tone and mood. It was completely moonless night. Since camera is facing directly to east you have to make sure you choose right night. It must be either moonless night or the moon is not rising during exposure time. Fog was building up in the valley early in the morning which gives mood. All the diagonal lines look like falling stars.
Legend Of The Sea Dragon
@ Horse Head Rock, Bermagui NSW Australia
Rolleiflex 2.8C, Carl Zeiss Planar f2.8/80mm
Fujichorome Provia 100 Slide 120mm Format
Shot @f2.8, about 5 hours
Developed at local LAB
Scanned with Epson V800 & Postprocessed in PS
This image was taken late January 2017. As some of you who have already been here know that it is not easy to get to this location, especially for night photography. There are so many factors you have to think about in planning. Weather conditions, clouds, moon rising time, moon phases, low tides, etc. Almost everything was perfect except that there was no moon over entire night. In January on southern hemisphere you can not see the galactic core until 4 or 5 am in the morning. You can only see the tail part with southern cross in the evening after sunset. Before sunrise there were so many photographers coming over with torches which left trace of torch lights on the image. It consequently added some fantasy effects on ground which I kinda like.
I hope Jong Lee’s work has inspired you to get out and take more images at night and possibly explore film for your own nightscapes.
I’d like to say a big thanks to Jong Lee for the images words and taking the time taken to send it all through to me for this feature, we don’t see a lot using film for their night photography so it is an absolute honour to be able to put together a piece like this for my readers, thank you!
If you would like to see more of Jong Lee’s images, digital and film check out these links,
Jong Lee photography on Facebook
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