martedì 11 settembre 2012

TMax 100 @80ISO Ultrafin Plus 1+4

Developed two rolls 120 of T-Max 100 exposed @80ISO with Ultrafin Plus 1+4 26°C 6:00


Roll 1
White plastic covers over round hay bales

Equipment:
Zenza Bronica EC-TL
Zenzanon 50mm f/2,8

Scene:
High contrasted

Exposimeter:
Sekonic 308-S

Tank:
Paterson System 4

Development details:
Presoak and washing for anti-halo removing. Continuous agitation for first minute, than 4 inversions in 10 seconds, every minute

Method:
Scene study focusing on the high lights, posed in zone VII

Results: Perfect high lights, optimal medium tones

domenica 9 settembre 2012

More than 110 develops from November 1st 2009

From November 1st 2009 until now I have developed my own BW film. All started with a 35mm of Rollei Retro 100 developed in Kodak HC-110. If my mind helps me I developed that film with the 1+31 diluition, the so called "B" diluition, with standard develop time. Now, September 9th 2012 almost three years are gone and some changes (better changes) there are in my film developing, for a simple reasons, over all: starting to print my own negatives in the darkroom I finally really understand what I need for my photography style; hereafter a little list:
  1. Understand the scene for its contrast evaluation
  2. If you can, choose the right film for the scene: 400 ISO for contrasted scenes, 100 ISO for low contrasted scenes; trust me: may be that sounds strange, but 400 ISO films contains greater silver alogenure cristals rather than 100 ISO films and this is useful for contrasted scenes; instead normal 100 ISO or lower are better for clouds or shadows scenes (than scenes with low contrast) to increase the contrast in the film capture.
  3. Expose (almost always) for shadows (following the Ansel Adams suggestion from Zonal System, choosing a textured shadow to pose in Zone III)
  4. If you cannot find some that otherwise point your external exposimeter to the ground every time you shot a photography in an external (not light controlled) scene (that is: when you are outside a photographic studio... ;-)! than, may be always!)
  5. A film should be developed with "precision":
  • choose the best developer you have got for that film (looking always to the negative as a robust bridge that bring you toward the final print)
  • develop the film for the correct time
  • use the correct number and frequency of film tank inversions
  • use constant temperature (about from 20° to 24° Celsius grade)


Than forget Kodak and Agfa indications regarding times and developers. Use well know Internet source as: http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php and http://filmdev.org/ . Remember that information in that sites are really useful only if intended as "starting point".

Keep a notebook with your own notes about each developer session with diluitions, temperature, time and FINAL IMPRESSIONS that will be more accurate when you'll start to print in darkroom your B&W prints.

Currently I have following developers: Kodak D76, Kodak HC-110, Rodinal One Shot (R09), Spur SD2525, Tetenal Ultrafin Plus. Also I have some pure chemicals for "special" receipes as the discontinued Kodak D73 and many others...