The community-voted winner of January 2018’s #FP4party is here and we have a clear winner and two runners-up. I don’t want to prattle on as usual, so let’s get straight into it.
3rd place
fro-mo – @fromotography
shadow of youth, granada 02/01/2017.
camera: #leica M3
lens: #canon LTM 50mm f/1.8
film: Ilford FP4 Plus in Ilfosol 3
#fp4party #filmphotography #photography

2nd place
calor_gas_terry – @calor_gas_terry
Day1 #FP4Party, steel spiral staircase leading down to the vault at the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place. OM2n 50f1.4, LC20 1+19

1st place
Sandy Phimester – @SandyPhimester
Emily on @ILFORDPhoto 4×5 format FP4+
@FP4Party simply one of my favourite films of all time #fp4party

Here’s a little about the image from Sandy himself:
This was shot on my Speed Graphic with Kodak Aero Ektar lens. FP4+ at box speed. The model’s name we will say is Reau and the location is a beautiful old heritage house here in the city – 100+ years old, in Edmonton, Alberta.
Black and white is preferred for me in most cases, as I find it a little less distracting, just a personal thing I have in mind. If the lighting is going to be stronger, and lends itself to deeper contrast – AND I can shoot with slower film, then I always choose FP4+. It’s one of my all time favorite films in any format, but especially large format.
The rich, deep blacks and overall look of skin tones are what I find most pleasing, I just love the classic look of the film. For me it’s perfect.
As for the lens, it’s my favorite. All time. There’s a dreamy quality to how it renders a scene, it’s sharp enough wide open and has a very special look to the blurred out portion of the photo. That, combined with its extremely narrow depth of field make for a challenging but rewarding experience.
Working slowly, and carefully with large format and such a unique lens has really made my recent experiences with photography feel more…deliberate.
Before any photo is taken I spend the majority of my time looking through the back of the camera, evaluating the scene, light and overall composition. Once it comes to working with someone in the photo, I try to take my time and make sure what I’m doing is what I had in mind, or what I’ve set out to do. It’s often that I find myself spending ten minutes on a shot and then scrap the entire thing and move on to the next scene.
As ever a massive thanks to everyone for taking part! At the time of writing the shortlist for February’s final FP4party of 2018 is in progress and for the record, we’ll be taking a break for parties in March and back in April with something a little more…colourful.
~ EMULSIVE
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@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester 1. I don’t believe @SandyPhimester used FP4… https://t.co/DnHkPwzU6F
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Excellent top 3! Well done to all.
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Congratulations to all participants: the qu… https://t.co/qu6wIIq8fP
Excellent work by all & congratulations!
Looking forward to April-firstly because I am hosting a Photowalk me event on Easter Bank Holiday Monday(02 April, more details here https://www.photowalk.me ), secondly, the mysterious EMULSIVE announcement! Bring it on:)
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Love seeing what others squeeze out of my f… https://t.co/BLsKsO0PlE
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester It would have been a travesty if… https://t.co/4poew8sCIN
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Outstanding choices! Congrats to everyone!
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Been a while since I picked one of the top 3, well done all.
@FP4Party @fromotography @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester Congratulations @SandyPhimester, what a bea… https://t.co/ItHYxH4ygW
@FP4Party @calor_gas_terry @SandyPhimester this is cool! thank you to anyone who voted for me, i didn… https://t.co/YNw285Zwyk