Yo-ho! We’re on this week’s show, we’re talking to Pete Halvorsen (@petehalvorsen on IG) about his seaside photography. Following that, we’ll plumb the depths of underwater photography from the first photo to Jacques Cousteau. We’ll also discuss some of our recent film failures and why we don’t shoot digital – the reasons might not be what you think.
But first, Vania has a bit of an on-the-road report recorded while she was driving and photographing her way through the lower South West. With a bit of a time jump, she’s with us for the rest of the episode.
 
ANSWERING THE MACHINE
Before diving in (haha) we listen to the answering machine. This episode’s question is:
Why not digital?
We received more answers for this than ever before, thank you!
WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES
We’ve been having a few film failures of late, and we tell you about them because that’s what we do now.
Here are a couple of Vania’s. She shot Fuji Neopan 1600 and accidentally developed it in C-41:



And here are two of Eric’s, complete with the light leak provided by the watch:
Camera: Chamonix 45F-2 Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 5.6/210mm Film: Fuji Super HRT 100iso Exposure: f/64; 1/4sec Process: Rodinal; 1+100; 7min Ferndale, California October 2020
Camera: Chamonix 45F-2 Lens: Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 5.6/150mm Film: Fuji Super HRT 100iso Exposure: f/64; 1/4sec Process: Rodinal; 1+100; 7min California October 2020

LET’S CALL PETE HALVORSEN!
If you go to Manhattan beach as much as Vania does, you’ll end up meeting Pete Halvorsen. Pete’s a regular at the pier. While he shoots mainy digital for his commercial and professional work, he’s never left film behind. Today we’re going to talk to him about why.
We talk to Pete about his professional work and how it’s changed during these weird plague days. He tells us why he likes the RZ67 and why he still shoots film.
Pete’s website: http://www.pchpro.com
Pete on IG: @petehalvorsen
Here are a few of his film photos:







THE WEIRDISH HISTORY OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
The first underwater photo was taken by William Thompson in 1856 and it was horrible:

Fortunately things improved.
The first underwater portrait was taken by Louis Boutan in 1893. It’s pretty rad:
 

Here are a few other photos concerning Boutan:


Underwater photography, 19th-century artwork. French zoologist Louis Boutan (1859-1934) taking an underwater photograph in 1893. He is in a diving suit holding his camera. A light source is at left, and at right is an octopus he is attempting to photograph. Boutan’s experiments took place at Banyuls-sur-Mer, on France’s Mediterranean coast. The first underwater photograph was taken in 1856, but had involved using a pole to put a camera below the water. Artwork from the 13th volume (first period of 1894) of the French popular science weekly ‘La Science Illustree’.


Louis Boutan’s book. In French, so good luck: https://archive.org/details/laphotographieso00bout/mode/2up
J. E. Williamson and his Graflex going down into the tube.Though we question it, this is “officially” the first color photo taken underwater, 1923.
We wrap up by talking about when underwater cameras went commercial. The first was the Mako Shark, a camera Vania owns and has shot with. Here are a couple of her photos:



ZINE REVIEW
We’re finally back to reviewing zines!
This one comes from Canada! It’s called Houses of the Holy by Markus Staley. And it is just what it says it is – a zine full of churches. I’m kind of a church fan myself. Like Marcus, I’m drawn to their architecture.
This is an 8”x8” zine, perfect bound and comprised of both film (35mm and 120) and some digital shots.  For me, the black& white photos are my favorites. Particularly, the ones with more close up details, like the one of the Berean Baptist Church.
You can pick it up @markusstaleyphotography
NEXT DEV PARTY
On our next Dev Party, Vania develops the first roll taken with her new water housing!
PATREON
Thank you to everyone who supports us!
Check out our Patre