FRICTION
and I have had quite the history, and my journey with photography isn’t any different.
For starters, I chose film when I began shooting (not counting the time my mom bought me a disposable camera for my third grade field trip to Sea World, of which I’m not proud to say that all of those images came out like hot-underexposed-garbage) which seems a little backwards for most. However, when I was picking up on the foundations of this craft, it all sunk in deep. The concepts and philosophy embedded themselves into my existence, which I guess happens when you go against the grain (hehe, sorry I couldn’t help it).
Most times, whenever I take on a new project/shoot, it seems to always involve some sort of novel approach. Whether that be a film stock I’ve never used before, a new technique/camera, etc. To me, it adds another layer to the experience, which not only allows me to connect to the subject a bit more, but also providing a space for me to get lost in the deep dive that leads up to it all.
Okay, cool. Now that that’s out of the way, today I’m going to be doing some more blabbering about some thoughts on a recent shoot I did with friend and musician CYBORG RHETORIC using Ilford’s XP2 Super!
So, lets talk about it!
Little bit of a glow up story here:
1981 –> XP1
1991 –> XP2
1998 –> XP2 Super (not entirely sure on why the “Super” was added but maybe they were inspired by the Mario games in that decade)
What makes this film stock stand from the rest of its siblings is the fact that it is CHROMOGENIC… meaning it can be developed in C41 color chemistry (aka the standard chemicals used to develop color films)
And why may that be of significance? Well, a lot of times, local film labs don’t have the means to develop black and white in-house. It requires a completely different machine and chemicals, so it is usually sent out for processing. This can lead to higher costs and longer turn around times, which both spark a bit of sadness in me (wahhh)
However, with the two rolls I acquired from a store near me, I was able to bypass all that gloom, while simultaneously unlocking a feeling of excitement and adventure within!
One thing I learned and appreciated about this film stock is its versatility. It has a bit more contrast compared to Ilford’s HP5, and if you know me, I love some contrast!! As for HP5 , if I’m keepin’ it a buck-fifty, it does nothing for me. It’s too neutral of a film and the tones are all grays. XP2 does well in a variety of settings. It has a wide exposure latitude, meaning it can pick up details in a scene with varying levels of exposure (ex. a bright sky with darker foreground of a landscape).
When Dan Cella of CYBORG RHETORIC reached out to me for this shoot, he mentioned he was looking for exposed, industrial, warehouse-y type of scenery, and I knew that if I took this film, pushed it +1 stop, that the combination of grain, contrast, and concrete would be a wonderful recipe for this vision.
Here’s another good example of how much range XP2 has! Generally speaking, when shot at box speed, it has pretty fine grain. But once you start pushin’ that thang, the grit emerges in the shadows, and I am all here for it (check out the “static” coming from the fabric of Dan’s clothing).
CYBORG RHETORIC‘s upcoming EP “Do You Dream” is droppin’ 3/28/24, and oh boy, it is packed with some funky electro, Miami bass sounds that’ll rock whatever fuckin’ sound system you put it through. Make sure to check out some of his work!
Overall, I think I’ll be revisiting XP2 quite frequently in the coming months. It has such versatility, and I enjoy being able to push a film stock to its upper limits. So who knows, I may even push this +3 stops if I’m ever up for a lil’ mischief 😉
