In the era of ever-advancing digital technology, where cameras boast mind-boggling specs and lenses are constructed with precision engineering, there remains an enchanting allure to the analog world and back to the basics of photography. The availability of old antique lenses with rare or defunct lens mounts has found new life with the introduction of mirrorless cameras with their short flange distance. I started photography at the age of 8 with a Kodak Ektalite 10 (which I still have) that my father gifted me. When the digital wave swept through the photographic world, film cameras were placed sold and I was all into zeros and ones. The allure of film, however, proved persistent. Within two years, a small collection of film cameras found their way back into my hands. Curiosity drove me to experiment with modern lenses on the timeless medium of film, seeking to bridge the gap between past and present.
Development Notes
Back in the darkroom, with minimal guidance on the massive dev chart, a recommendation to develop for 5 minutes in D76 offered a starting point. Upon development, the film was overexposed by at least a stop to 1.5 stops with relatively high contrast. It seemed that the ISO of the Kono Monolit 3 film hovered around 6-8.Despite the unexpected exposure challenges, scanning the film with a Canon R5 unveiled the organic qualities and remarkable resolution that continue to define the magic of film photography. Most of the blown highlights were easily recoverable with plenty of details, which would have been impossible with a digital camera.
Union Station – Downtown Los Angeles
Union Station is the main train station in down town Los Angeles. The structure combines Mission Revival and Art Deco and the Streamline Moderne style with elements of Dutch Colonial Revival architecture. The area around the station is bustling and people from all walks of life are to there. However, with an ISO 3 film, people photography was out of the question.
Sequoia National Park – Sequoia, CA
In 2020 and 2021, California had a very active fire season. The 2020, Castle Fire has impacted sequoia groves where as estimated 10-15% of the entire Sierra Nevada population of sequoia trees over 4 feed in diameter were destroyed. In 2021, the KNP fire complex which was the result of lightning ignited more than 88000 acres of the Sequoia National Park and Forest further extending the damage that occurred the year prior. Here are some of the burned areas.
US Highway 395
US 395 is a major north–south highway serving the inland regions of the West Coast states as well as northwestern Nevada. The route starts in Southern California, close to the Mexico border and goes through Orgeon and Washington to the Canadian border. A rather well traveled section of this highway is in Southern California along the Sierra Nevada Mountains which straddle the road to the west and White Mountains to the east is well known amongst photographers. The national beauty of the mountains with incredible cloud formations and storms provides ample opportunities for those who are patient and probably brave to weather the weather. Here are a few shots from various points along this beautiful stretch of road. The first image is from the ghost town of Randsburg in the southern part of the road.
The second image is alongside the Owens Dry Lake with remnants of abandoned factories dotting the landscape. Moving north along Big Pine along White Mountain Road, to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest. The Brislecone pine trees are very unique in their shape and the harsh environment that they flourish in. The Great Basin bristlecone pines grows in only three locations, Utah, Nevada and California. They are known to be the oldest living trees with some exceeding 4000 years.
The tree that is photographed in image 3 (also at the top) is known as the Sentinel Tree along the Schulman Grove at an altitude of 10,500 feet. Heading north into Bishop Creek is North Lake which is know to have gorgeous fall colors (I missed them by a week).
This last image is further north into Mammoth Lakes is the Hot Creek Geological site. When you get to the level of the creek you can appreciate the boiling water bubbling up from the creek bed, fumaroles with the smell of sulphur permeating the cold morning air and periodic geyser eruptions especially with earthquake activity.
Closing Notes
The Kono 3 film reminds me of the unpredictable, yet fascinating, nature of film photography. In a world dominated by digital precision, the organic qualities of film persist in surprising and delighting photographers. The medium of film still continues to impress even when digital cameras have so much more capabilities and latitude that could only be dreamed of a few years ago.
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Ibraar Hussain on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
I wonder how this film would develop in Diafine ?
Fantastic photographic journey and photography and you can see the resolving power of this film!
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
fleetwoodler on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Reed George on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Thank you for sharing! A nice morning read.
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Julian Tanase on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Thank you, really god pics and writing !
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Max Tiraquon on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Reinhold on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
This image ‘before sunrise’ with ISO 6 is not the only stunning one.
Comment posted: 20/02/2024
Paul Trantow on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Tony Warren on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Tony Warren on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Alasdair Mackintosh on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
terry johnson on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Recently I've been using a two bath D23 formula and it's quite good with expired film. The formula has been around forever and is documented in the zone system manual. Keep up the good work.
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Geoff Chaplin on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Gary on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Comment posted: 21/02/2024
Paul Quellin on A 2 Year Journey Across California with Kono Monolit ISO 3 film
Comment posted: 21/02/2024