Reversing Ring

     Some years back I wanted to get into 120 film photography. I purchased a Holga but I wanted to go to a more sophisticated systems. A Hasselblad was way out of my price range. So I looked at the option of Kiev 88, the Russian knock-off. I purchased one through Ebay. It eventually had issues and if I remember right it was due to the shutter so that lead me to the Arax Cameras. They take the 88s and upgrade them. One thing lead to another and I eventually had the Kiev and three lens to go with it.  One Item I had to pick up was a reversing ring.

     For someone that might not know, a reversing ring attaches to your filter thread and then the lens is able to mount backwards to you camera. What this does is turn you lens into a Macro lens (Okay not a true macro lens but a cheap alternative). This also give you a very shallow depth of field. So a tripod and a cable release is a must.

     So with this setup I went into the flower garden and shot away. What happened is that I got some really interesting shots. I used Color Film and then it was scanned in and converted to black and white.  The black and white technique focused more on the forms and the depth of field of the shot than the colors. Let’s face it most flower photos do emphasizes the colors, flowers are colorful, but sometimes the form is what truly shines and what needs to be emphasized.

     I really don’t use the Arax that much anymore, but I should, why, it is fun and that is really what photography is about after all.

Garden Flower in Black and White #2 Garden Flower in Black and White #6