Ben Rains
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benrains.bsky.social
Ben Rains
@benrains.bsky.social
2.5K followers 640 following 660 posts
Forever lost in light & shadow, actinic alchemy, and the beauty of everything. I'm a photographer who mainly works with film.
🇺🇦Slava Ukraini🌻

https://linktr.ee/benrains
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benrains.bsky.social
Ben Rains @benrains.bsky.social · Dec 11
Sharnayla in the studio.
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #photography #35mm #benrains #bnwphoto
A black and white photographic portrait of a woman sitting on a small settee. She's leaning back and illuminated by dappled light from a nearby window.
benrains.bsky.social
A portrait of Gillian (2012).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #largeformatphotography #blackandwhitefilm #8x10 #gillian #benrains
A black and white photographic portrait of a woman with a pixie cut hairstyle. Photographed with a Century 10A 8x10 studio camera, Wollensak Vesta 14-in f/5, and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 AM
benrains.bsky.social
This is an Arnold Genthe portrait I acquired a few years ago. The sitter wasn't known by the seller or identified on the print, but with some sleuthing I think I've found out who it is.
benrains.substack.com/p/a-portrait...
#photohistory #arnoldgenthe #almadebretteville #portraitphotography
A Portrait by Arnold Genthe
Alma de Bretteville
benrains.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Ben Rains
benrains.bsky.social
Roarie drying off (2014).
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #artnude #35mm #roarieyum #benrains
A black and white photograph of a model standing in a bathroom drying off with a towel.
February 9, 2025 at 2:17 PM
benrains.bsky.social
Skye and Tyler at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah (2017).
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #canyonlands #nationalparks #utah #35mm #benrains
A black and white photograph of a man and woman looking out to the horizon through Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Photographed with a Nikon FM2, Nikkor 35/2.8, and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
benrains.bsky.social
Roarie at the old mill (2014).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #blackandwhitefilm #artnude #35mm #roarieyum #benrains
A black and white photograph of a model, crouched and balanced on their feet. Photographed with a Nikon FM3A and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Ben Rains
pictoriographica.bsky.social
I am very happy to announce that J Lane Dry Plates testing is complete and we will be taking orders via the online shop beginning November 25th! www.pictoriographica.com

Speed improved to ASA 8
Pricing remains the same as it has been ever since 2017.
November 23, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Ben Rains
jaycee-visionlogic.bsky.social
'Coastal Views, Small Pleasures' (2022) -- the Classic & Stunning Granite Coastline of Down East Maine, Boulder Beach, Acadia National Park, ME

#BlueSkyArtShow #Small ✨ #Stunday ✨

#Photography #Landscape
#Monochrome #ClassicMono
#EastCoastKin #JayceeCrawford
a large slab of granite extends out over the water, offering views to the south along the classic Acadia coastline lined with dense pine, fir and oak forest
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
benrains.bsky.social
Lily & Madeleine (2016). This is a single frame scan from some 16mm movie footage I made of these sisters and musicians.
#filmphotography #cinematography #portraitphotography #bolexh16 #16mm #lilyandmadeleine #benrains
A photographic image of two young women, sisters, dancing in the studio. Captured with a Bolex H16 motion picture camera on Ektachrome 2253 High-Speed Daylight color reversal film.
November 22, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by Ben Rains
balkowitsch.bsky.social
"Split" with Aleah Hoiland, captured in the historic wet plate collodion process of silver on glass. This effect was done in camera utilizing a bespoke half dark slide in my plate holder.

Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f4.5, 8 second exposure, 8x10" black glass ambrotype, natural light
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Ben Rains
behindthebluemotel.com
If you weren't around for the beginning of the saga, you might not know just how startlingly good my 1888 Dallmeyer Rapid Rectilinear is.
A black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman holding a miniature dachshund patiently wearing a reindeer costume.
November 21, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by Ben Rains
benrains.bsky.social
Sharnayla (2018).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #largeformatphotography #8x10 #blackandwhitefilm #benrains
A black and white photographic portrait of a woman kneeling in a couch. Her back is turned to the viewer and she's looking over her left shoulder.
July 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
benrains.bsky.social
A portrait of Lauren (2012).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #blackandwhitefilm #largeformatphotography #5x7 #lauren #benrains
A black and white photographic portrait of a woman. Photographed with a Century 10A 8x10 studio camera and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 18, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Ben Rains
benrains.bsky.social
Roarie in the bath (2014).
#filmphotography #blackandwhitefilm #artnude #35mm #roarieyum #benrains
A black and white photograph, somewhat abstract, of Roarie Yum in a bathtub.
February 4, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Reposted by Ben Rains
benrains.bsky.social
Roarie (2014).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #blackandwhitefilm #35mm #roarieyum #benrains
A black and white photograph of a model standing in a shower, their back turned to the viewer, and partially silhouetted from the light of a window.
January 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM
benrains.bsky.social
A portrait of Kyotocat (2017).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #blackandwhitefilm #35mm #kyotocat #benrains
A black and white photographic portrait of a woman. It's a closely cropped photo of the woman's face. She's resting her right hand on her head and her right arm partly obscures her face. Photographed with a Nikon FM2 and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 16, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Ben Rains
jaycee-visionlogic.bsky.social
Stark Realities' (2025) -- Bright Hard Light Streams Through Tree Trunks at the Edge of the Forested Campsite, in the Distance a Few Camper / Trailers, Thomas Point Beach, Outer Brunswick, ME

#BlueSkyArtShow #Bright ✨

#Photography #Landscape
#Monochrome #ClassicMono
#EastCoastKin #JayceeCrawford
several spaced apart trees casting hard shadows from the bright light, their black twisted barren branches forming shapes against the white sky - in the distance in the snow covered parking lot at least 2 camper / trailers are parked
November 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Ben Rains
balkowitsch.bsky.social
"Solemn" with Aleah Hoiland, captured for the first time in the historic wet plate collodion process of silver on glass.

Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f8, 4 second exposures, 8x10" black glass ambrotype, natural light at Nostalgic Glass Wet Plate Studio, Bismarck, North Dakota, Plate 5536
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
benrains.bsky.social
A portrait of Rachael (2010).
#portraitphotography #vintagestyle #rachael #benrains
A photographic portrait of a woman wearing a pearl necklace and smoking a cigarette. Photographed with a crappy Nikon D50 and probably a Nikkor AF 28-105 zoom.
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
benrains.bsky.social
"The Face" with Rachael (2010).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #largeformatphotography #5x7 #blackandwhitefilm #vintagestyle #rachael #benrains
A black and white photographic portrait, in profile, of a woman seated in a wingback chair. Photographed with a Deardorff 8x10 using a 5x7 reducing back and Ilford HP5+ film. Image is tightly cropped.
November 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM
benrains.bsky.social
Along the Joint Trail. Canyonlands National Park, Utah (2017).
#filmphotography #naturephotography #blackandwhitefilm #canyonlands #nationalparks #utah #35mm #benrains
A black and white photograph taken at the bottom a narrow canyon. The view is of a massive dark boulder resting on the canyon floor that's framed by the walls of the canyon. Photographed with a Nikon FM2, Nikkor 35/2.8, and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
benrains.bsky.social
Along the Joint Trail. Canyonlands National Park, Utah (2017).
#filmphotography #naturephotography #blackandwhitefilm #canyonlands #nationalparks #utah #35mm #benrains
A black and white photograph taken from the bottom of a narrow canyon. The view is looking up to the sky through the massive rock walls. Photographed with a Nikon FM2, Nikkor 35/2.8, and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
benrains.bsky.social
A brief biography about a mostly forgotten late 19th century photographer, Emilie V. Clarkson.
benrains.substack.com/p/emilie-v-c...
#pictorialism #photohistory #emilievclarkson
Emilie V. Clarkson
A forgotten photographer
benrains.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:54 AM
benrains.bsky.social
Mo at the quarry (2014).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #blackandwhitefilm #35mm #mo #benrains
A black and white photograph of a model standing in a stone quarry and gazing out over a jumble a massive stone blocks. Photographed with a Nikon FM2 and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 12, 2025 at 11:15 AM
benrains.bsky.social
Shadow and light with Nettie Harris (2008).
#filmphotography #portraitphotography #polaroid #artnude #nettieharris #benrains
A Polaroid photograph of model Nettie Harris crouched on a dark colored settee. She's illuminated by golden late afternoon sunlight, but her face is mostly obscured in shadow. Photographed with a Polaroid OneStep Closeup.
November 12, 2025 at 2:34 AM
benrains.bsky.social
West of the Devil's Backbone (2009).
#filmphotography #landscapephotography #largeformatphotography #4x5 #blackandwhitefilm #benrains
A black and white photograph of an old farm house with a few scattered trees on either side and one big evergreen in front. It's early spring and a barren looking scene. Photographed with a Graflex Pacemaker Crown Graphic 4x5 press camera, Wollensak Optar 135/4.7, and Ilford HP5+ film.
November 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM