Foma films are somewhat grainy. They are "old school films."
I've shot a lot of Foma film, rebadged as Arista EDU. The 100 and 400 films are "old school" and will exhibit grain. The 200 is a hybrid film, both cubic and T grained. Wonderful film. Much less grainy.
I did not see what developer you were using. Foma films are box speed in only a few developers (XTOL being one). Most shoot them a stop or two over exposed.
I shoot the 200 speed almost exclusively in all formats: 135mm, 120 roll film and large format (4x5). I develop on a JOBO processor with a 5 minute presoak, 6 minutes in XTOL, stop and fix. Wash in the JOBO (three cycles) and then a final rinse in photo flo off the reel. Because i have a well with hard water, the photo flo is mixed with distilled water.
Please, keep us all posted on the restoration. I've followed the restoration of PM 1225 from it's beginning. I have posted photos of it here from October of 2019.
I'm quite envious of you folks with layouts! I had a nice HO layout in the works 35 years ago when my wife came home and told me that she was the new assistant Cub Scout den leader. I said "Great, who's the den leader?" She replied: "You are."
The layout was dismantled.
For the next 35 years I've been involved with Scouting in one way or another. As Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman, I've had 18 Eagle Scouts come through a community of less than 3,000 folks. My Grandson is on his way. BTW, I've switched from HO to On30. Love the Bachmann Shay locomotives.
Regardless of my eyesight: These are stunning photographs. Thanks for posting them. It shows what film is capable of.
Man, I love the textures. Have you considered B&W? Given the subject matter, these would be fabulous in B&W!
I have to admit, I'm stone color blind so that is how I see these :)
I'm curious as a large format (4x5) shooter in B&W as to what draws us to old buidlings. Is it the texture? Or, is it an attempt to recall in our mind our youth? Or, we are looking at ourselves in those textures as an experienced, old, textured human that has stood the test of time like the structures that we like to photograph?
Nonetheless Bob, I like your shots. Just like on the other forums that you and I like to hang out on.
I may have to try a roll of each in my Mamiya RB67. Too pricey yet for 4x5. Not to mention, I don't have a color head for my 4x5 enlarger.
BTW, great examples!
I'd love to shoot Ektar. BUT! at $6.50 a sheet plus developing, I'll stay with B&W. I do love the colors of Ektar.
Agreed, it's not for portraits!
Bond Falls. Into light houses, there are multiple light houses all over.
Regarding Copper Harbor: There is a fantastic Bavarian restaurant (at least there was pre-covid).
The attitude in the UP is this: If it's that important, it'll still be there tomorrow.
Take a day and hit "The Island."
Ed, I always relish in your posts. They are based upon decades of experience.
Sadly, I don't post here anymore, when COVID shut things down: it SHUT THINGS DOWN!
I haven't had my "Wedding Equipment/Set Up" out since October of 2019. Here in Michigan, we were shut down, big time. No weddings allowed. I even missed my best friend's funeral, to allow family members to attend (no more than people allowed, including the funeral director, church organist, etc).
Back to the subject: I always loved shooting weddings. It's a joyous time, celebrating a young couples' beginning journey. The only other time that you get extended family together anymore is for a funeral. I much prefer weddings! Funerals are; well, so final.
At one point I had prepared to go to Buckley with my 4x5 camera and do B&W "portraits" of the steam tractors and their care takers. I had enough film holders loaded to shoot 50 pictures.
Alas, COVID hit and I haven't been able to fit Buckley back into the schedule. Love the old engine show at Buckley.
I have to confess: I got the "Fumes." Exhaust fumes and perfumes :)
Tree (and trains) up the Friday before Thanksgiving and down the Saturday after Easter???
My layout had to come down when my son became a Cub Scout. My wife signed him up. Oh, you're the assistant Den Leader? Great! What???? I'm the den leader? 14 boys???
It was great. I stayed with the program until my son became an Eagle Scout. In the end, we had 18 boys in the small town troop and we developed 14 Eagle Scouts. I'm back involved with my grandson, who is on his way as well.
Sorry to hijack the thread tainkc.
Lovely photo. I can visualize the folks coming out each of the side doors with a line of folks waiting in line through the center double doors.
Man, I miss those days!
ebrunner, thanks for the memories!