Francois Spenard Photography

First of all, your work is quite impressive!

Thank you for commenting on my images "Self Portrait..." I agree with you about needing more control over the setting. I sometimes spend hours in the studio just trying to understand light. I sometimes am left with only myself to be the model.

I tried bumping the contrast as you suggested, please take a look at the recent revised version.

Thanks again for your comments, it really helps.

deb

Thanks again for taking the time to give me some more advice, it is very helpful. I'm not sure about the disapprove other than I guess photo.net gives everyone a chance to disapprove a comment or such. I'm not sure as I've never used it. I'm always happy when someone takes the time to comment.

deb

To answer your question regarding the black and white images... I'm shooting in color and converting to black and white in my editing. I have a lot to learn about black and white but I guess you can see from my endeavors, I'm a very tenacious girl and will not give up until I have an understanding of the subject. My plate became very full when I took on portrait work as it is all about lighting and expression. I'm so intrigued with black and white it only makes sense I would put that on my plate as well. Any advice you have would be very helpful and much appriecated.

deb

My dear Deb,

If you want B&W you have to use B&W film; at this point in time, digital camera only give the B&W option as well as any computer software, but they are all interpretation of color in B&W. They are not true B&W.

When you shoot in B&W film, it is light burning a surface compose of salt silver pigment, as oppose to what a program on any digital camera can interpret.

Since you seem to be using Nikon, you could get yourself at a fair price at eBay, some second hand Nikon F model or Nikkormat manual camera. Second get prime lens such as 35mm or 50mm or 135mm (portrait), or you could invest into a 35-135 zoom if your budget is restrictive? or maybe if you have a friend that owns a manual camera, maybe borrow it and give it a try.

Then I would suggest Ilford film (Kodak also makes excellent film), 50ASA for very slow and low grain, or if you feel creative 200 or 400 ASA film, finally, like being real creative use 3200 ASA? now that is VERY fast, so get ready to work into the f16 to f22 with speed in the range of 1/500 to 1/000.

It may sound complicated, but it is not; the big difference, is that you will not see the result for at least 24 to 48 hours before you get your film back from the lab? so bracket your exposures.

I would strongly suggest giving your film to a professional or semi-professional lab, forgetting about those cheap labs such as Wal-Mart or something similar.

I have a lab in my region that charges me $14.00 for the processing of a 36 exposures film, scan and burn unto a CD; it would be a bit more expensive to get a print of each exposure.

Finally enjoy and then you will see one BIG difference between digital B&W and true B&W film.

Let me know how it went, and don?t get discourage if the result are not as you would expect; it takes a bit more time to master B&W as oppose to digital, but then the result are astounding.

Cheers, Francois

P.S. Check th work of Ansel Adams as a starter on the Internet, he was the master of B&W photography.

Thank you so much for inspiring me to try my hand at black and white film. I have all you suggested but have not been brave enough to give it a try. I have a Nikon FM I purchased off of e-bay, a 50mm 1.8 and I will purchase the film your suggested and give it a go. When something intrigues me, as photography does, I must try and master it and make it part of me.

My dear Francois, you will be the first to see my results and I look forward to your thoughts and advice on my efforts.

Thanks for everything!

deb

Technically correct pictures but they are lacking the originality.

Thanks so much for commenting on my "First Light On Christmas Morning...". It always help to hear how others see the image.

By the way, I took my Nikon FM camera and a roll of black and white film with me when I visted my family over Christmas. I will get the prints back in about 3 weeks - we will see how I did. Thanks so much for pushing me to try my hand at film. I hope I did it right or at least learn from my mistakes.

deb

Hi, Francois

Thanks for your kindly rating on my photo "touched at pier". I look through your portfolio. I like your photos especially the plant and LaSalle ones. They are very beautiful and creative. Best regards!

I did it! Just as you suggested, I went out there with my Nikon FM film camera and so Ilford Black and White film. Check out "Yesterday's Stop And Go..." a true black and white image and it's all because you gave me a challenge to go for it! Thanks Francois, I'm hooked now and can't wait to captured some more black and white images.

deb

A very impressive portfolio - thanks for rating my "Spring Golden Reflections" - sounds like we are both based in Quebec! I am a Rive-Sud guy. Bonjour!

Terrific portfolio. I am impressed by your eye/vision for capturing the B/W images and love those floral shots - great colours and composition.

Bonjours Fran篩s, Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio it's very appreciated....You have many beautiful images congratulation on your fantastic work you ...Bien a vous....:)

thank you for such a high rating on my pic, your portfolio is amazing!

Very interestin photo-mix ! I like it ! congratulation - Wojtek (Poland)

Hi Francois, I enjoyed looking through your gallery very much. I especially loved the LaSalle Project - The Doors. . And, the umbrellas. You have some great shots. Peace, Jeanne

Hi Francois, I do think you are great in seeing the moments of beauty. Great portfolio, I love it.

C'est agreale de revoir des images du Quebec... Merci

I was just talking to someone about how you inspired me to shoot black and white film and how happy I am to have taken your advice.

I always enjoy looking through your work. I really think your black and whites are wonderful. I love the umbrellas with snow!

deb

Francois, as always your work is such an inspiration to me! Such beauty captured!

deb

Francois,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I have been busy and loving every minute of it!

You're right, every time I capture an image - I see what I could have done differently and learn from that image.

Also, thanks for the positive words regarding my series "The Art Of Being A Woman". I was VERY worried about putting myself out there like that and how my fellow photographer friends would accept it, however, I have been blessed with very positive responses and that makes me want to keep moving forward with the series. Right now, I have to be the model as I can't seem to find anyone that I can exhibit the raw basic emotion I'm wanting to capture. I did have a friend try her hand at it and she did well but did not "let herself go" and just let the moments unfold. I locked myself in hotels and spend whole days just being a woman and all that entails. I would release the shutter at randoms moments so I could capture the realness of being a woman and not anything posed. It helps so much when I hear people say real woman with real curves are very acceptable.

I have certainly enjoyed your Urban Exploration series. I look forward to more!

Take care my friend, deb

Very interesting portfolio, great colors, congratulations !

Bonito y completo portfolio lleno de color e imaginacion, me he fijado en las imagenes en infrarrojos que por poco frecuentes me han parecido muy buenas. Mi enhorabuena y sludos cordiales.

Thank you so very much for rating my photo directly. Your work is inspiring! I can not choose just one photo to comment on, so I am just going to say that the portfolio is incredible! Warmest wishes and many blessings! Vanesa Simmarano