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  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People

    Another experiment, now with a Kodak Portra 400

    May 4, 2023 /

    This is a DSLR scan of an old Kodak Portra 400 roll of film shot during a 2015 concert by John De Leo Grande Abarasse. The editing with Affinity Photo was quite challenging, however, the result is a fair rendition of the film aesthetic.

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Stroller

    July 7, 2015

    Efesto’s New Production Line

    September 20, 2014

    An Altar for the Propaganda Machine

    November 17, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Rome,  Spring

    Partner in Glam

    May 3, 2023 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    Wave Riders

    September 20, 2013

    Knocking on lion’s door

    April 22, 2013

    Between Two Sets

    May 15, 2014
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Technique

    Processing DSLR-digitized film with and without Pentax K-1 Monochrome Custom Image profile

    April 30, 2023 /

    Digital Camera Utility 5.0 is a pain to use on a Mac with Monterey. It is slow and laggy. Its only use is to get the photo as shot, with the custom image profiles embedded in a K-1 (and other recent Pentax DSLRs), and export it as a 16-bit tiff for further processing.One might wonder, however, whether editing a RAW file without going through the DCU —and thus losing the custom image profile— would produce lower quality results. We are about to find out.The test is quite demanding, as it starts with a shot from an Ilford SP2 Super 400 (note: this is not a true B&W film, as it…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Lightblade

    September 6, 2013

    Late Evening Break In Piazza Dante

    October 21, 2017

    A comfortable chair

    November 8, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Rome,  Spring,  Technique

    Tell me something I do not know…!

    April 23, 2023 /

    This hip shot is the result of a complicated process. It was taken with an expired Ilford XP2 Super 400, a Voigtländer Bessa R2 and a Voigtländer Nokton 35mm f/1.4. Focus was at infinity. There was no time to frame it properly, so in post it was necessary to rearrange the composition with a generous crop.Digitising the film with my homemade rig required 2 stops of underexposure with plus or minus 1 stop of bracketing.The DNG was first processed through DXO Pure Raw, then adjusted and cropped in Affinity Photo, and finally adjusted for simmetry in DXO Viewpoint.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Who Needs A Wedding Photographer Anymore?

    May 29, 2014

    Easy Parking

    August 12, 2013

    Skating on the Riviera

    November 9, 2018
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Technique,  Winter

    Coats

    March 19, 2023 /

    Getting rid of film noise is a recurring necessity when shooting film at (relatively) high ISO.In this photo the negative was digitised using a Pentax K-1 Mark I and a Pentax FA 100/2,8 Macro. Then, before inverting the curves to make a positive, it was fed into DxO PureRaw3 (by the way, it properly recognized the camera and lens). Finally, in Affinity Photo Develop Persona’s Details tab, once the curves were inverted, it was necessary to tweak the Noise Reduction options by setting Luminance to 50% and Luminance Details to 0.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Nightlife

    June 20, 2013

    The Lost Hotel

    September 5, 2014

    Justice Under Construction

    March 31, 2015
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Doors&Windows,  Gear,  Winter

    Powermeters

    February 18, 2023 /

    This photo was taken with an Ilford XP2 Super 400, a Voigtländer Bessa R2 and a Voigtländer 35mm f/1.4 II lens. The film was digitised using a Pentax K-1 and a Pentax FA 100/2.8 Marco mounted on a custom-built rig. The resulting raw was processed in Affinity Photo. In Develop Persona, first the image was turned in black and white, then the master curve was intverted and finally exposure, contrast and other parameters were tweaked.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Good Plan, Poor Execution

    December 15, 2019

    Trial Docks Waiting for the Justice to Come

    April 21, 2015

    Ni État Ni Patron

    June 8, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Daily Video,  Docks,  Photography,  Winter

    Editing a photo taken with a Carl Zeiss Jena 135/4 Sonnar and a Fuji X-T3

    February 8, 2023 /

    A vintage Carl Zeiss Jena 135/4 Sonnar whose RF mount has been replaced with a Fuji X mount by Adriano Lolli (https://www.adrianololli.com).Coupled with a Fuji X-T3, it delivers pleasant results. Post production is highly subjective, so the final outcome might no be ‘acceptable’ to some taste. Still, the lens is very good.

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    Andrea Monti

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    What Does ‘Professional’ Mean in Photography?

    March 19, 2024

    An Altar for the Propaganda Machine

    November 17, 2013

    Saturday Night’s Ice Cream

    August 19, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Photography,  Winter

    A sample of the Carl Zeiss Jena 135/F4 Sonnar and a Fuji X-T3

    February 5, 2023 /

    This photo was taken with an old Carl Zeiss Jena 135/4 Sonnar whose Contax RF mount was replaced by a Fuji X mount by Master Adriano Lolli.

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Waiting

    December 23, 2012

    Gotcha!

    August 16, 2013

    The Answer is On the Wall

    August 28, 2020
  • Bruxelles,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Downtown,  Jewelry,  Winter

    Floating

    February 5, 2023 /

    The Panasonic TZ100 is a very good travel camera. Its one-inch sensor allows a fair balance between performance and portability. Being slightly bigger of trendy smartphones, this camera delivers a way more better results.

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    Andrea Monti

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    So long and thank you for the fish

    February 6, 2014

    Pentax SMC-A 50/1,7 – Nikkor 50/1,4 – Summicron 50/2

    February 9, 2021

    Lost in Le Puglie

    December 2, 2015
  • Daily photo,  Daily Video,  Technique,  Winter

    Unattainable 1:1 magnification with the JJC FDA S-1 and Micro Nikkor 60 2,8

    January 29, 2023 /

    The JJC FDA S-1 does not allow a 1:1 magnification with the Micro Nikkor 60 2,8. It only reaches a smaller factor (about 80%.The probable reason is the excessive lenght of the original step-down ring.Using a thinner step-down ring, as it has been done in this video, does not improve the outcome.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Shooting Italian 5 birilli

    May 18, 2025

    An Old Motorcade

    August 10, 2015

    Shopping in Bruxelles

    December 20, 2013
  • Daily Video,  Photography,  Technique,  Winter

    Processing a DSLR Digitised Black and White Film with Affinity Photo

    January 24, 2023 /

    This videos shows how to process a Black and White film digitised with a DSLR camera.The process starts from opening the RAW file in Affinity Photo’s Develop Persona. In short and in order, the steps are:

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    Andrea Monti

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    Boat Dock Bumpers

    October 26, 2014

    A Great Marketing Stunt

    May 27, 2014

    Technogym Milan@Night

    April 3, 2022
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Stockholm,  Summer,  Technique,  Travels

    DSLR film scanning: episode three

    January 24, 2023 /

    This is, by far, the most pleasing result I have ever had from digitising a film negative with a DSLR.Contrary to many suggestions found on Youtube, I did not invert the negative RAW curve by tweaking the Master RGB option. I did it, instead, channel-bychannel minding each clipping point. This approach allowed for a better reproduction of the grey tones, and in the end a fair result.

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    Andrea Monti

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    EOS-M. An act of fairness

    July 24, 2013

    Norwegian Suits

    October 15, 2014

    Shooting Italian 5 birilli

    May 18, 2025
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Downtown,  Gear,  Stockholm,  Summer

    Another attempt at DLSR film scanning

    January 21, 2023 /

    Still trying.I digitised the negative with a Pentax K-1 and the FA 100 2.8 Macro lens using the JJC clone of Nikon ES-2. Postproduction is done in Pixelmator Pro. I used a Nikon 35TI and a Kodak BW400CN to take the original photo. Strangely enough, the JJC does not allow a 1:1 ratio with the Micro Nikkor 60 2.8.The instructions advise to mount the 62mm to 52mm step-down ring, the #2 52mm barrel-shaped tube and finally the film holder. These instructions are clearly wrong, as it is not possible to get 1:1 magnification with this setup.So I removed the tube and mounted the film carrier directly on the 62mm to…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Score Keeper

    April 24, 2019

    Hanging Heart at via Olmetto

    March 31, 2014

    The Sentinel

    August 13, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Gear,  People,  Seasons,  Summer,  Technique

    An attempt at DSLR-made film digitization

    January 14, 2023 /

    This is the first usable result of the attempt to DSLR-scan films. I tried several approaches, including the standard tripod holding the camera perpendicularly to a flat, LED-lighted surface. However, I finally went for a different solution: a horizontal rig with two moving plates, a micrometric head holding the film and three-axis and a panoramic head holding the camera.

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    Andrea Monti

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    VueScan and the missed Bits-per-pixel

    December 1, 2013

    God Save the Queen!

    September 6, 2014

    On The Rocks

    August 13, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    Pixelmator Pro Debanding and Electronic Shutter

    December 24, 2022 /

    Pixelmator Pro Deband feature does not work on banding caused by the well known electronic shutter lag. The Deband feature has not been advertised as working also with ES-induced banding, so the fact that it can not handle it is not a bug. However, this limit seriously reduces the appeal of the new feature. I have flagged the issue to Pixelmator Pro Support: currently, they are out of work, but eventually, they should get back to me with some news. Good news, hopefully.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Chasing the Runner

    October 6, 2013

    A Sailor’s Knot

    November 22, 2013

    Strolling in Stockholm

    July 4, 2016
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Winter

    Ten Years Ago

    December 22, 2022 /

    Exactly ten years ago I started my career as a photograper.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Shin Pepper@Harajuku

    June 4, 2018

    Do Not Touch

    June 5, 2013

    The Fighter

    June 2, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Winter

    Fisherman’s Fatigue

    December 19, 2022 /

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    @Rome Maker Faire – 7. Mobile Rest

    October 23, 2014

    Wonder wall…

    June 8, 2021

    The Businessman…

    February 9, 2013
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Winter

    Daniele Silvestri – Teatri 2022 – Live@Teatro Massimo, Pescara

    December 16, 2022 /

    This is the Daniele Silvestri’s Teatri 2022 coverage I did on behalf of Rockol.it using good old Nikons (a D610 with the Sigma 150-600 contemporary and a D750 with a Nikkor 24-120). As a matter of personal taste, I still like a reflex more than a mirrorless camera. The possibility offered by the latter to shoot in total silence with the Electronic Shutter is invaluable in specific contexts such as classical concerts or theatrical plays, nowthistanding the downfalls (banding and distorted images). However (and, once again, this is a matter of personal opinion), a reflex still allow a better connection with the environment at least thanks to the optical viewfinder.…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Just Another Piccadilly Circus’ View

    September 20, 2016

    Phone Call – 1

    February 18, 2015

    The Lost Lock

    June 12, 2014
  • Actors,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Winter

    Norina shouts at Don Pasquale

    December 12, 2022 /

    This picture is part of the reportage I did for Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, featured on December 11, 2022, at Teatro Marrucino. It has been the chance to experiment a few tricks to avoid the banding effect caused by the LED pulse frequency and the sensor’s delay in EFC is used. I chose to go for time rather than aperture priority mode. I also set the shutter speed at 1/50, as suggested in many forums, and the trick worked. In some cases, banding was still present, but it was insignificant. I also tried to shoot in full manual (leaving only the focus in auto.) Some pictures ended up overexposed, and…

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    Andrea Monti

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    YANE – Yet Another Nepal Exhibit

    March 23, 2015

    Las Ramblas’ Lifestyle

    April 18, 2014

    Claws of Fire

    September 27, 2017
  • Bruxelles,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Fashion Shops,  Seasons,  Winter

    Cleaning the Tabernacle

    November 26, 2022 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    Another attempt at DLSR film scanning

    January 21, 2023

    Off-Duty Eurocrats in Bruxelles

    March 28, 2014

    Life, the Universe and Everything

    July 28, 2013
  • Actors,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Winter

    Turiddu repeals Santuzza

    November 19, 2022 /

    This is a photo taken from the reportage I made for the Teatro Marrucino during the première of Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. It captures the moment Turiddu (Piero Giuliacci) abandons Santuzza (Alessandra Di Giorgio), who —in turns— begs him in vain to change his mind. Image quality isn’t exceptional: unlike other cases, where the Fuji X-T3/Fujinon XF 16-80 pairing provided excellent results, this time it didn’t perform at its best, probably due to the choices on the scene lights.On the contrary, the composition is particularly successful.Turiddu is in the centre of the upper part of the picture. The railings of the staircase lead the eye towards him. Stantuzza’s dynamic…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Red Wine Makes Good Blood…

    April 27, 2014

    Back Home

    December 5, 2014

    Before the Shot

    November 28, 2016
  • Actors,  Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Reportage

    The Death of Cio-Cio san

    October 15, 2022 /

    The final scene of yesterday’s Madama Butterfly’s ‘Prima’ at Teatro Marrucino. For this reportage I used an X-T3 and a Fujinon XF 100-400 that did an excellent job.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Wrecked Ship

    November 23, 2013

    Argument on the Range

    November 7, 2016

    In praise of ‘cheap’ lenses for ‘pro’ works

    April 4, 2021
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Seasons,  Summer,  Track&Field

    A Step Ahead

    October 8, 2022 /

    Another photo from the Track & Field Mediterranean Championships – Pescara 2022 reportage featured on the website of Chieti-Pescara university’s Scienze Motorie degree. Also in this case the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary did not fail.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Falling Tree

    May 8, 2014

    Who’s carrying Who?

    February 28, 2013

    A Fountain

    May 17, 2014
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Soccer,  Sport

    Stadio Olimpico, seen from Tribuna Monte Mario

    October 1, 2022 /

    The picture of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico has been shot from a very exclusive vantage point: Tribuna Monte Mario. Light conditions were so unmanageable that the only option to get an interesting photo was a heavy, borderline unrealistic post-production

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Chicken

    September 10, 2014

    Cleaning the Tabernacle

    November 26, 2022

    Running On The (Oslo’s) Docks

    September 28, 2014
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