Touring a Ghost Town with the Rolleiflex 3.5A

IG: ‪@ExpiredBren‬
Website: www.brendanflesher.com
In this video I loaded up my Rolleiflex 3.5A with some Kodak Tri-X 400 pushed to 800 ISO. The location that I captured is the mining ghost town of North Bloomfield in Nevada County, California. I also photographed the adjacent Malakoff Diggins mining site; a site that inspired one of the first environmental regulations in US history.
Hopefully this video teaches you a little bit about the California Gold Rush and the fantastic Rolleiflex 3.5A

[@scottplumer3668]

Saw you on Grainery and thought I'd take a look. Some great shots! Looks like a beautiful area.

[@ExpiredBren]

It certainly is a beautiful area!

[@henryvowles7749]

This is an awesome video!! Absolutely love it. Shall be watching more.

[@declankearney2644]

Loving the vids. Awesome pics

[@ExpiredBren]

I’m glad to hear that!

[@jonjonmokfilm]

Another great video! 🙌🏽

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks man!🤝

[@carbonejack]

Interesting video. Love the images. I, too, love ghost towns. Bannack Montana is another cool place, and also maintained by the state. Neat ghost town outside Silverton Colorado.

[@ExpiredBren]

Bannack looks like an awesome place to visit. It’s definitely going to be on my list next time I’m in MT

[@heswithfilm]

great video brendan. looking forward to the next ones... cheers man.

[@erikfitzinger4298]

Beatiful pictures of such a cool location. I especially liked the grainy look of the pushed film

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks Erik!

[@darrelltheriault5793]

Thanks for showing us this great little location. Looks like a fantastic location for a portrait shoot.

[@ExpiredBren]

It would be great for a portrait shoot! I will have to remember that next time when I bring up my large format camera.

[@craigmeyer5291]

A nice State-run preserved town is Columbia State Park near Angels Camp off Hwy 49. Love my B&W. The mild abstraction allows for the subtleties of contrast and wispy shadows to play with my imagination at all three levels of engagement and joy. Shooting, Processing and Viewing. Nice nostalgic work!

[@ExpiredBren]

Thank you Craig! I’m hoping to explore/photograph a few more ghost towns in the future. This will be one to add to my list👍

[@patrickrostker6693]

What a cool subject, so historical yet so alive. I love the images, really dig the choice of a red filter, brings out drama. Can't wait to see more images. ❤

[@ExpiredBren]

Thank you Patrick!

[@hugomartinsphoto]

This was awesome! great presentation, great photos!

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks, Hugo!

[@guccimain89]

You’re doing a great job. I really enjoy your videos. Please keep up the good work.

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Awesome video Bren enjoyed that cheers

[@ExpiredBren]

Much appreciated Paul!

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

@@ExpiredBren more than welcome.

[@NunoAlmeidaPhotography]

These ghost towns look so cool! There's definitely a lot of great images in this one but I really like the one at 7:55! Well done!

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks! That photo is definitely one that I enjoyed too. I would like to go back and try retaking it with slightly different lighting conditions as well.

[@MacnTeensVisuals]

Lovely stuff man, those abandoned towns are pretty wild. Not something I'm used to over here in Ireland haha

[@tylerhuttosmith]

Great video man! I really liked the fact that you went through the history a bit too! Only part I’d disagree with is that (in my experience) TLRs definitely get people’s attention. Every time I take it out, people can’t help themselves and say something to the effect of “cool old camera” or “they still make film for that?” It’s generally positive though and may even help. Just got a 3.5F type 3 after years of using a Rolleicord V. I love it so far!

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks Tyler! For better or worse (mostly better), TLRs definitely lead to different interactions when compared to traditional SLRs

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

That looks like a fun trip. Some excellent subjects too. Too bad about the filter choice, yep a yellow would have worked better. Oh well for hindsight. I understand your love for that TLR, I have the 2.8d and get inspired each time I pick it up. Those sediments they were mining are called "auriferous gravels", meaning gold bearing.

[@ExpiredBren]

Fortunately I live close by, so I will definitely go back and redo some of the images. Perhaps in 4x5👍

[@kzed0]

nice photos :) i love the Rolleiflex, i have a 3.5F and it's the best camera ever. I have a small suggestion for the red filter: 3 stops of compensation (if that's how much you used) is often not enough! especially in bright daylight (which is "bluer" light than overcast, right?). An easy way to get a good light reading is to measure light through the red filter *and* add 2 further stops. For an orange filter, measure through the filter and add 1 further stop. For a yellow filter, just measure through the filter and no further compensation is needed. Alternatively, if you have bluish light / broad daylight and a plain light reading, consider adding 3.5 or even 4 stops instead of the usual 3. If you find the effect of a red filter too strong, but have a bunch of vegetation on the photo, you could try an orange filter. Yellow filters are great to darken skies but I think green vegetation tends to look too light with them - ymmv

[@ExpiredBren]

Thanks for the comment! I tend to bring a spot meter along for that very purpose when using b&w filters, but for some reason I was extra lazy that day😅

[@cdsnapper]

Best part? 1:13 where you pronounce Rolleiflex correctly!

[@ExpiredBren]

I figured that if I’m going to spend 8 years learning German I might as well do my best to pronounce their camera brands. Can’t say the same for Japanese brands however haha