This shows my selections from the first roll of film for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax project photographed in June 2020. The project was organized by Eric of 4xfourtography and included 13 photographers who would each shoot a few rolls of Kodak Double-X (5222) black and white film in the Pentax K1000 before shipping it to the next person.

Twinkle in the TreesBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Twinkle in the Trees
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

This was, and still is, a very long term project. Even if kept on schedule, it would have taken just over a year with 13 photographers included. However, things got a bit more complicated in 2020 and the project picked up a few months of a delay.

Creek GateBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Creek Gate
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

When the camera showed up on my doorstep earlier in June I was a bit unsure about my next steps. I quickly checked the originally published rules for the project just to be sure what I was supposed to do. I pinged the person I received the camera from to acknowledge receipt and I let the organizer know.

Old BranchesBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Old Branches
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Then I had to get through the rest of my work day and I felt the excitement mounting. When my work was over I was definitely ready! I loaded a roll of Double-X in the camera, put it in my normal camera bag holding filters, cleaning supplies, batteries, etc. and headed out.

Hideaway and SwingBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Hideaway and Swing
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Where? To one of my favorite local parks. I was there many times even this year and was not sure whether I could find anything new but I headed that way anyway. As seasons change, the park offers different looks. Weather changes, time of day changes.

In the BloomBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

In the Bloom
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

And the equipment changes! I usually photograph with a wide angle lens. The Pentax K1000 came bundled with a 50mm lens offering a normal angle of view. That alone would also encourage a different take on familiar subjects.

Lily PadsBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Lily Pads
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

I entered the first boardwalk and took my first photo, the tree trunks in the first photo of this post. I walked pass these so many times but never took this shot. Then the second photo, also second here. The broken tree trunk bent over the creek. I photographed that scene several times and no two look the same, including the one posted above. This evening, the sunlight was breaking through the trees illuminating a few sections of the tree creating a whole different lighting pattern.

Blooming BushBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Blooming Bush
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

After I exited the boardwalk I took a side trip on a tiny unofficial path to the right and found some never before witnessed treasures. In all of my visits over the years I had never wandered that way. Somehow, this day felt like a license for freedom, license to go off the beaten path, a license to shoot a whole roll in a single evening.

Dead Tree Up CloseBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Dead Tree Up Close
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

And shoot I did, even though I had to change my original plans. When I headed out the sky was blue and my plan was to go for dramatic dark sky using the red filter. In the past, I felt that yellow and orange filters do not cut it with Double-X due to the limited sensitivity of the film to red light and extended sensitivity into the blues. The sky can easily come out washed out and haze gets exaggerated. Thus, I wanted to go a step further and try red.

ForestBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Forest
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

That plan was not to be though. By the time I arrived in the park not even 10 minutes later some heavier clouds arrived and created a rather boring backdrop. I was not going to be deterred though! I was on location and I would make the most of it. New plan? No filter and shooting mostly with no sky either in the woods or close enough to my subjects to eliminate any sky from the photo.

Creek in the WoodsBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Creek in the Woods
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

The other interesting thing that happened to me was the number of frames on the roll. This was bulk loaded Double-X and I kept re-using the cartridges I got a while back from Cinestill, i.e. their BwXX branded Kodak 5222. When the frame counter went above 38 I got nervous and more so with each additional frame. Did I not load the film properly? But the winder knob kept turning with each additional frame so that seemed ok. Eventually, I could no longer wind after frame 43!

Old TreeBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Old Tree
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Why such a long roll? On my bulk loader, I always do 30 turns and I always get 36 - 38 frames per roll, except for the Double-X. Those are always longer. I never gave it much thought until now as this was a bit extreme. I attributed this to the way Cinestill originally attached the film to the spool. It created a thicker core and thus each revolution was taking on more film as it started at a larger diameter. In fact, the film was so long that I could not even use the film retriever on it. When I rewind I usually leave the film out of the cartridge but this time I was not sure about the sound and thus wound the film fully into the cartridge. I was able to push one of the tongues of the film retriever in but it jammed in to tightly that I could no longer spin the film and listen for the click. Solution? Had to crack the cartridge open in the dark and remove the film that way, thus destroying the cartridge. That was ok though as it had other problems too. The entry way seemed rather lose and light would seep in clearly ruining the first few frames with light leaks.

CreekBirdsong on Double-X for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Creek
Birdsong on Double-X 5222 for the Partnership of the Passing Pentax

Even this little mishap had a positive spin on it though. I was mentally pacing myself to run out of film at the end of my hike. When I arrived at the end and still did dot reach the end of the roll I made an extra turn that I normally don't as it is a shortcut to about the middle of the trail. However, even that short connection inspired me to find a few never before photographed, and maybe even seen, forest scenes.

So thank you, Eric, this was a blast and until next time, ... :-)

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy