CatLabs 320 B&W film stock ..... My assessment!

First, I should preface my assessment, by stating that I always minimally adjust my scans as well as my digital files in Lightroom. I shoot both digital and analog, currently shooting with a Leica R9. That is my disclaimer … now onto to the topic.

 

CatLabs 320 is a budget price film. Which has its place, great for beginners or for those of us who cannot put the camera down. It is available in both 35mm and 120mm rolls. Although I purchased both, I have just been testing the 35mm. CatLabs as stated on the packaging is made in the EU. So that piqued my interest. A little online searching yielded interesting results. Yes, it is a rebranded film stock. Seems quite a number of popular 35mm films are not made by the company selling. CatLabs 320 (along with Rollei Superpan 200) is rebranded Aviphot Pan 200.

 

What is Aviphot Pan 200. An aerial photography film manufactured by Agfa. This is not necessarily a bad thing. All B&W films have a fair amount of latitude. So, designating a different ISO whether higher or lower, specifying different developers and different developing times will yield a variety of results. Rebranded films are rather common since there are only a few actual film manufacturers, Kodak, Ilford, Agfa, Fomapan, and ORWO. Catlabs X Film 80 is actually ORWO UN54 repackaged.

 

Now returning to CatLabs320, I had purchased a ten pack 35mm film. After shooting 4 or 5 rolls I realized it was actually a little too contrasty for my everyday use. Yes, I had nice deep blacks, but whites were sometimes blown out, seems to be that look that is popular on IG. However, I was lacking detail. Even with a fair amount of LR work, what I was getting from Ilford Delta 100, and Fomapan 100, wasn’t there. Again, not necessarily a bad thing if this is what you are going for. See below.

 Here are 2 examples of CatLabs320, shot at ISO320

 

After some thought, I wasn’t quite to give up yet… Thought I would try shooting at ISO 200, of course this would require different dilutions and a longer developing time. I found the results much more pleasing, greater detail. Perhaps only a medium contrast, but that can be addressed in LR.

Here are some examples of Ilford Delta 100, Fomapan 100, and CatLabs320 @ 200.

Ilford Delta 100

Fomapan 100

The following were shot on CatLabs320 at an ISO setting of 200

As you can see there is greater latitude with the lower film speed.

As always all images are  copyrighted and are sole property of Peter Politanoff. They cannot be reproduced without explicit permission.

 Setting The Traps

Traveled down to Oceanside yesterday. Looking for blue skies and warm weather. Unfortunately, it was a brisk and foggy morning. Stopping by the harbor, I saw a fisherman working on several stacks of traps, some old and beaten up, and some new traps. I thought they were lobster, turns out they are for prawns.
Francis was the man adjusting the new traps. 
Asked him if the new traps were replacements for the old. 
He said  "No …. The old ones were great since they have been baited so many times, the prawns can smell them.”
Where in the ocean you set them?  “We have two areas, each a mile in length stretch between two buoy markers. We set about 500 traps at a time. Work one area one day, the other area the next …. We catch and re-bait the traps at the same time.” 

Old and battered, but still very useful.

Making minor modifications to about 80-100 traps.

Working with a smile.

The boat in the harbor, waiting for Coast Guard clearance.

Francis, thank you for taking the time and giving me permission to take the photos.

All images are copyrighted @Politanoff/RedStarImage, and cannot be reproduced without expressed permission.

 NextGen Boxing  - Vlad Panin defeats Reggie Harris Jr

Vlad Panin improved to 15-1 as he defeated Reggie Harris Jr 7-2, by KO when the referee stopped the fight.

Here are some images from that contest.

All images are copyrighted @Politanoff?RedStarImage, and cannot be reproduced without expressed permission.

Many thanks to Steve Bash, Bash Boxing, Nextgen Boxing & The Commerce Casino.

Tsukiji Fish Market Closed

After 83 years the Tsukiji fish market closed this past Saturday (October 6), it will reopen Thursday (October 11) at its new site on the Toyosu waterfront. I guess on my next trip to Tokyo I will have to visit the new site.

Here are some images of the old market;

As always, all images are copyrighted, ©PeterPolitanoff, and may not be used without explicit consent.  You are more than welcome to link to the site.

All images shot with Leica M typ240 Monochrome camera and Leica lenses.

The Last Days of Yonekura Gym, Tokyo Japan

     The last fighters have completed their training, the final bout to be fought. At the end of this month Kenji Yonekura (former Olympian and OPBF Bantamweight champion), due to to failing health, unable to find someone to take over the reigns, will be forced to close his gym. The Yonekura Boxing Gym, which opened in 1963, will become part of Tokyo’s boxing history. The gym has produced 50 champions including 5 world champions.
     Several of my friends who trained at the gym, asked me if I would like to shoot some images of the last remaining days. I agreed. I took the train from Shinjuku to Mejiro Station, walked a few blocks along the train tracks, and arrived at the gym. The building looked very non-descript, the only tip off was the boxing caricatures.

Entering the Gym you immediately feel the sense of history. Not only the age and character of the physical structure but also the history displayed on the walls. A prefect movie location.

Only a few fighters who had not left for other gyms were there training and still living at their quarters upstairs. Some fighters and trainers went to Misako Gym in Itabashi, others went to Teiken Gym in Kagurazaka. One of those remaining, Tsuyoshi Tameda, has a fight coming up the end of this month, the others were staying until the lights were turned off and the doors closed for the last time.

Kimihiro Nakagawa on the speed bag.

Tsuyoshi Tameda with his trainer Takehiro Shimada, watching training videos in preparation for his August 22 fight. This fight will be the last where a fighter represents Yonekura Gym. I am sure it will be filled with emotion. I would like to be ringside for that one, but regrettably I'm 5500 miles away.

I managed to talk trainer Chikara Machida into showing off on the speed bag.

Peering into the window, I thought what a shame, all this history will be lost.

Leaving the building, off to catch a train, to another boxing gym. I walk away having made a few more new friends, and having captured some of Tokyo and Japan's boxing legacy. A 53 year legacy for Yonekura Boxing Gym.

All images Leica M typ240 & Leica M-P typ240, w/ Leica 35mm & 50mm lenses

As always all images are Copyright Peter Politanoff / RedStarImage, and may not be reproduced without explicit consent. You are more than welcome however to link to this site.