Kodak vs Fuji plus highlights & shadows
Kodak vs Fuji
I recently made a visit to both Garston Wood and Roydon Wood. Both of these woods are beautiful at this time of year for the bluebells, in particular Garston Wood. I used this opportunity to see how Kodak differs to Velvia, as Velvia has been my staple film for years. I have been told that Kodak is meant to portray a more natural colour to the image, whilst Velvia is more saturated.
I think you will agree when you look at the shots that Fuji Velvia does have more saturated colour. The shot taken at taken at Garston Wood is with the Velvia 50 positive film, whilst the shot taken at Roydon Wood is with Kodak E100 G positive film.
At the end of the day it is all down to your own personal tastes, for me it is still Fuji Velvia.
In hindsight the results of the experiment may have been different if I had used both films on the same day as there was a big contrast in the weather conditions. For Garston Wood the weather was grey and overcast, whereas it was cloudy but interspersed with brief spells of sunshine for Roydon Woods.
Fuji Velvia – Garston Wood (Lens: Zuiko Olympus OM 28-48mm F4, Aperture F11)
Kodak E100G – Roydon Woods (Lens: Zuiko Olympus OM 28-48mm F4, Aperture F16)
Highlights & Shadows
Also, at Roydon Woods, with the constant change in mood of the weather, I also trialed the effect of different lighting patterns across the photograph. I did this by using the occasional appearance of the sun’s rays in one half of the landscape to create highlights to the right and shadows to the left.
I have not decided if I like this yet even after looking at the shot several times over.
Kodak E100G – Roydon Woods (Lens: Zuiko Olympus OM 28-48mm F4, Aperture F16, Polariser Filter)
Good article Pete.
Agree with your comments about preferring Velvia for its saturated colours, and that a same day weather test would be an even more interesting . I must say though that you’ve got some good results with that Kodak.
I think the lightings fine in your highlights vs shadows shots, as for the last the thing that slightly detracts from the image, for me anyway, is that annoying bit of bracken at the front of the shot. Like the way the light plays though and how you’ve caught it on the slopes.
Thanks again Chris for your comments.
I intentionally included the bracken in the shot as I liked the way it added a sense of scale (although the trees in the background could be considered to do that) and because it made me then look up towards the light on the slope above it. I can see now why some may find it annoying.
Pete