Ubik Photography

@ubikphotography.com

Mostly retired “World’s Best Asexual Art Nude Photographer” | Pay your models | Any variation of NFT, AI, generative, or crypto gets you blocked | I don’t debate grifters

When it comes to bubbles, saying that Jo "understands the assignment" is an understatement. These mountains o' suds are courtesy of Mr. Bubble Calm & Sleep Bubble Bath Body Wash & Shampoo.

This triptych from yesterday brings me so much joy. We were experimenting with a new technique for maximizing bubbles, and while the practice run was smooth it went completely sideways when it came time to take the shot. With the delightful and sudsy Jo Rose.

More fun with Delta 3200 and soft window light. I am leaving the imperfections in this one, because they suit the casualness of a Chris and Claire photos session.

Strange things are afoot at the Dog House. Film is a harsh mistress and sometimes things go sideways in the development process…like having what appears to be a big blob of ectoplasm descending upon a local culinary landmark.

Black and while photo of the Dog House, which a huge, person-eating blob is about to consume. Taken on Tri-X 400. This is what happens when film does not load onto the spool correctly and the emulsion gets sandwiched together.

Living the concrete stairwell cliche, in glorious Tri-X 400. Absent from this photo: any amount of handwringing about whether the sky is the ”right” shade of blue given the film stock.

Black and white photo of a concrete stairwell, taken with a Leica M6, Voigtlander 35mm Nokton 1.4 II MC, and Kodak Tri-X 400.

The Mercantile Center (home of the Hillsborough Galley of Arts) during golden hour. Taken on Kodak Gold 200. I’m still feeling very “meh” about color film. It’s too malleable and eager to please. You can’t trust it. B&W is steadfast, reliable. You know where you stand with B&W.

Color photo of an art gallery in Hillsborough North Carolina during golden hour.

Kodak Gold 200 + Leica M6. Unlike b&w film, I’m finding it shockingly easy to deviate from what you get out of the native emulsion when working with color. I have early edits where the tones here are more realistic, but that erases what Gold brings to the table.

Color photo of downtown Hillsborough as golden hour fades taken on Kodak Gold 200.

When I was studying photography in college (it was my first major) I had a professor whose kink was dynamic range. For every assignment, they said our submission must have a white, a black, and something like 14 shades of grey. They would be extremely proud of this image. Taken in Tri-X.

Black-and-white photo of the zigzag bridge in the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University. This photograph was taken on Kodak Tri-X 400 with a Leica M6.

Dappled sunlight is my new oeuvre. The last several photos look like throw-aways, but they were test shots with my new Leica M6 classic and I’m happy to say the meter checked out. Taken on Tri-X, natch.

Black of white photo of cap-toe Doc Martens chelseas in dappled sunlight.

To paraphrase Capt. Tony, “All you need in this life is a sliver of window light and Tri-X 400–Brains don’t mean a shit.” My next collab with @ivysublime.bsky.social will feature Kodak T-Max 100, but honestly I can’t see finer grain films dethroning the legend. I’m sure I’ll eat those words.

32 Ivy Sublimes, courtesy of Capture One’s recently added contact sheet feature. I even printed one and dug my loupe out of storage. That was a real 1980s nostalgia blast.

Print day, vol 2. This stunner of @ivysublime.bsky.social was captured on Leica Monopan 50 and holy frak - the grain is so fine and subtle that even at 8x12 it is only distantly apparent. It’s a damn shame the emulsion is a PITA to work with, because the results are stunning.

Adventures in Home Development, part 236: Last night I accidentally developed Kodak Ultramax 400 alongside my Tri-X. And yet I got perfectly usable scans! Thanks, Universe! I was feeling like an idiot while they dried.

Black-and-white film photograph of the shattered window of a derelict vintage race car at Occaneechee Speedway. The film stock is Kodak Ultramax 400, but I accidentally developed it in the same tank as my Tri-X. Hey, they both have a big 400 on the side of the canister. Ilford DD-X was doing the lord’s work last night.