The latest Kosmonaut, Shaun Hall, has taken these images on his first roll of Kosmo Foto Mono somewhere very special indeed.
“All the photos were taken at Lacock Abbey, home of the photographic pioneer Fox-Talbot. It was my first time using Kosmo and also a new camera purchase, a Nikon F100 which came with a 50mm 1.4D so everything was on test!”
Where are you from?
I live near Bath in the UK.
How long have you been shooting film?
My brother gave me my first film camera, a Zorki when I was eight. This was a step too far, can you imagine trying to explain a light meter to an eight-year-old. For the last 45 years I have consistently shot film. I do own DSLRs and mirrorless cameras but these are strictly work tools (I am not a photographer!)
What cameras do you shoot on?
My film staples are mainly Nikons. I own three FM2n’s, one is brand new one in the box, never shot (thats going to be an inheritance) an F3HP, two F100s and other bits and pieces. I also own an Hasselblad 500C, a Leica M6 and a couple of classics – a Zeiss Ikonta 532 (6×9) and a Kodak Retina IIIC. I am trying to reduce the GAS at the moment so many others that are going to be sold/passed on. My point-and-shoot is a Contax T2.
What other films do you like using?
I am an avid Kodak Tri-X shooter and also enjoy using Ilford FP4. Colour-wise, whenever light is not an issue shoot Fuji Velvia in 50 and 100 speeds but if restricted to colour negatives its mainly Kodak Portra 800 and Ektar 100.
Obviously I also shoot Kosmo Foto Mono and a few rolls of this will be coming to Iceland with me in about eight weeks time.
What are your thoughts about Kosmo Foto Mono?
I am impressed. It seems to be different to most 100-speed films in that it seems to have quite a range. In some instances of the photos I have attached I really thought these were either going to be a dark grainy mess or a blown-out white wash. I can honestly say that the film did not provide me with one bad shot (performance-wise, the quality of my photography is debatable!)
The picture of the horse sums up a picture taken in a shadow into a bright light with a moving source. This was a far better result than I could have hoped for.
What films would you like to see on the market?
Neopan 1600 and Kodak Aerochrome would be very welcome back. I guess as I predominantly shoot in the UK more new high-speed films but also some more classic fine grain films would be welcome.
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
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I think your photos are excellent especially the first one. Laycock is a great place to visit. I found, like you, that my first roll had loads of usable photos, with great contrast, it put a smile on my face as soon as I saw the images. There are some super images taken by the Kosmonauts.