The film has finally arrived from DR5.
Nine Inch Nails at NIN/JA in Tampa. May 9, 2009. Nikon F5, 300mm f/4, Ilford HP5+ developed as reversal by DR5. Push +2 to ISO 1600.
Interesting process, but fairly expensive (my seven rolls of film with a 1600 push cost $118 to process) and it took three weeks to get the film back from the lab.
As a sidenote (which says a lot about any endeavor on the Internet), I shared these photos on the Flickr DR5 group so others who use the process could see what kind of results I got in a high-contrast concert setting. A month or so later I got email from user "SAH Photo" (Stacey Hoffman at www.sahphoto.com/) saying he didn't like the similarity of the content and demanding that I remove most of them from the pool. I looked to see if he was a moderator or group owner and he wasn't, so I replied and told him I didn't see him listed as a moderator. He replied and said, "Don't be a bitch." I removed a few of the photos I had in the group that seemed very similar and then today (July 28, 2009) I received notice that I'd been banned from DR5 and he's now a moderator. Whatever. It has greatly lessened my desire to use the DR5 process. That kind of snarky, cliquishness makes me feel like I'd be better off focusing my efforts on activities where feedback and collaboration are more prevalent. Life's too short to waste time interacting with that kind of people.
I mentioned this altercation to David Wood, who owns DR5. He said he knows Stacey Hoffman very well. He said that if I decided to stop using his DR5 process it was my loss. It's good to know what kind of people are behind this business. I guess that's a loss I can live with.
Update: Today (16 June, 2010) I received mail from David Wood. He said he was distressed at the "concocted comments" posted here and demanded that I remove all mention of him and his lab from my photos at once. He concluded with, "I'll not ask again." I'm not sure if this is a veiled threat or not, but it just reaffirms what I'd already suspected about Mr. Wood and his methods.
Update: Received via Flickr from David Wood on 17 June 2010:
truth? what did we do to you but process your film, & do a good job at that..?
you will remove your uncalled for remarks, that we had nothing to do with, or you will be hearing from my attorney.
I have your address and place of work. dont make me follow through.
am I clear.
Update: Email received from David Wood (info2@dr5.com) on 17 June 2010:
Sir
I have no idea what prompted your attack on our lab and me personally. Are you sane?
We did nothing but a top job for you and this is how you have repaid us, by posing negative comments I had nothing to do with.
What is it that you wanted from me that prompted this action? I have no clue what I could have done to prompt this?
Are you a grown man or a juvenile?
If you do not remove your uncalled for comments I will be forced to take legal action against you.
Please don’t make me go this route!
If you have not kindly removed this content , that has already been up for a year, by the weekend, I will instruct my attorney to file damages in court on Monday morning. You will then have to appear here in Colorado.
I still might sue you for all the time those have been up, but in the mean time you better take the comments down.
We had nothing to do with your issue! This is a very childish thing for you to have done and you will pay for it if you do not correct it.
A public apology might be a good place to start.
The film has finally arrived from DR5.
Nine Inch Nails at NIN/JA in Tampa. May 9, 2009. Nikon F5, 300mm f/4, Ilford HP5+ developed as reversal by DR5. Push +2 to ISO 1600.
Interesting process, but fairly expensive (my seven rolls of film with a 1600 push cost $118 to process) and it took three weeks to get the film back from the lab.
As a sidenote (which says a lot about any endeavor on the Internet), I shared these photos on the Flickr DR5 group so others who use the process could see what kind of results I got in a high-contrast concert setting. A month or so later I got email from user "SAH Photo" (Stacey Hoffman at www.sahphoto.com/) saying he didn't like the similarity of the content and demanding that I remove most of them from the pool. I looked to see if he was a moderator or group owner and he wasn't, so I replied and told him I didn't see him listed as a moderator. He replied and said, "Don't be a bitch." I removed a few of the photos I had in the group that seemed very similar and then today (July 28, 2009) I received notice that I'd been banned from DR5 and he's now a moderator. Whatever. It has greatly lessened my desire to use the DR5 process. That kind of snarky, cliquishness makes me feel like I'd be better off focusing my efforts on activities where feedback and collaboration are more prevalent. Life's too short to waste time interacting with that kind of people.
I mentioned this altercation to David Wood, who owns DR5. He said he knows Stacey Hoffman very well. He said that if I decided to stop using his DR5 process it was my loss. It's good to know what kind of people are behind this business. I guess that's a loss I can live with.
Update: Today (16 June, 2010) I received mail from David Wood. He said he was distressed at the "concocted comments" posted here and demanded that I remove all mention of him and his lab from my photos at once. He concluded with, "I'll not ask again." I'm not sure if this is a veiled threat or not, but it just reaffirms what I'd already suspected about Mr. Wood and his methods.
Update: Received via Flickr from David Wood on 17 June 2010:
truth? what did we do to you but process your film, & do a good job at that..?
you will remove your uncalled for remarks, that we had nothing to do with, or you will be hearing from my attorney.
I have your address and place of work. dont make me follow through.
am I clear.
Update: Email received from David Wood (info2@dr5.com) on 17 June 2010:
Sir
I have no idea what prompted your attack on our lab and me personally. Are you sane?
We did nothing but a top job for you and this is how you have repaid us, by posing negative comments I had nothing to do with.
What is it that you wanted from me that prompted this action? I have no clue what I could have done to prompt this?
Are you a grown man or a juvenile?
If you do not remove your uncalled for comments I will be forced to take legal action against you.
Please don’t make me go this route!
If you have not kindly removed this content , that has already been up for a year, by the weekend, I will instruct my attorney to file damages in court on Monday morning. You will then have to appear here in Colorado.
I still might sue you for all the time those have been up, but in the mean time you better take the comments down.
We had nothing to do with your issue! This is a very childish thing for you to have done and you will pay for it if you do not correct it.
A public apology might be a good place to start.