Shooting Film – Kodak Color Plus with Olympus OM1

Have you ever broken film ? Snapped it in half and than open the back of the camera. To see what no photographer wants to see, naked undeveloped exposed film. Fret not you have not lost everything. In this blog post, I made the mistake of opening the camera thinking the film was completely rolled back into the film cantor. In reality the film had due to me loading the film incorrect into the Olympus OM1.

The film in question is the Kodak Color Plus, wonderful film I’d recommend for morning and evening light. The film produces warm colours. I rescued my film my placing the camera in a dark bag and remove the film gently. Developing the two pieces of film. I show the images developed with a Color C41 Tetenal kit with my Jobo CPP2. Camera, Lens and Film used Olympus OM1 with 55mm ƒ/1.2 lens and Kodak Color Plus 200 ASA

Video

Cameras and Equipment used in the video Olympus OM1 with 55mm ƒ/1.2 lens and Kodak Color Plus 200 ASA SJCAM 4000+ Action Cam Fujifilm X-H1 with XF16mm Rode NT1USB Mic

How first discovered ColorPlus

I discovered ColorPlus in Croatia while on holidays back July 2017. I was working on another film project shooting with camera’s costing under $5 dollar. The camera I was using was the Agfa Silette L. I found the results from the Kodak film warm and pleasing. I kept it in mind until I found it again in Austria.

Camera, Lens and Film used

The silver Olympus OM-1 equipped with the Zuiko 55mm ƒ/1.2 lens and Kodak ColorPlus 200 ASA. This lens I’ve had for quite sometime probably 7 years using on various camera with adapters from Sony to Canon. Then finally back where it belongs these days on the OM-1.

How I like to take images

Often how I take photographs is by following the light, usually at the end of the day. Chasing the retreating light through alleyways of the city of Graz. I’m now onto my fifth year in this laid back Austrian city. The bike capital of Austria. Taking to my bike is how I find motives and things of interest. The bike and camera are two of the necessaries to explore any city in Europe. Couple a years back I did a stretch in Berlin by bike for a week – unforgettable experience.

Nowadays most cities offer bikes to rent while featuring in front the ubiquitous basket that every photographer requires for their camera. The placing of the basket should not be underestimated. In terms of practicability, one can easily grab the camera to take a shot while having an ever cautiousness eye where their prized glass rests. I do recommend some kind of padding a jumper or a jacket in the event of the camera bouncing around too much. I find this a simple as can be a camera and bike.

If I find for some reason, I forgot to take along the right film or camera, often I take a snapshot on my phone as a reminder for next time. This approach give me reason to cycle a route once again and find other oddities.

Development

The images were developed with Tetenal 1L C41 Kit with a Jobo CPP2 which I recently restored from the 90’s.

Conclusion

To conclude ColorPlus is a ever faithful film at the beginning or the end of a day. Recently I also shot with UltraMax from Kodak too which I must admit I prefer to use throughout day outside. To be honest I find Kodak film whether it be in the high end such as Ektar or Portra, or the low end ColorPlus or Gold, all to be great film once you find the right light. Of course tones and colours of these films differ but Kodak doesn’t make a poor film through its range. I guess the point I’m trying to say here as a someone who shoots film, is that the cheaper Kodak films are damn good, we don’t always need to shoot Ektar or Portra all the time!