Ken Durling wrote:
>
> Craig & Skip -
>
> Thanks for the responses. Of the two rolls I shot, one was Tri-X, and
> the other was Ilford Delta 400. I'm not sure if a mini-lab machine
> was used or not, but I did have a contact sheet made on the Tri-X.
> One series of shots on that roll was extremely dark, and I suppose the
> fact that everything else was over-exposed/printed points to a
> machine.
>
> I actually do plan to start developing my own negs again, as I always
> enjoyed that process. Maybe I'll get a contact printer too.
>
> Tell me more about C-41 B&W films. That didn't exist the last time I
> shot a lot of B&W.
>
> Ken
I sent this reply Friday, but it never appeared:
"One thing to look for on a contact sheet is the sprocket holes and
frame #s. If the sprocket holes show up light on the contact sheet, the
print is underexposed, they should just barely show up. If the frame
numbers are too dark to read well, or show up as dark gray, the print is
overexposed. I'm not sure if I have the terminology right, I don't have
any classroom time when it comes to the darkroom.
About C-41 B&W film, they're an odd duck. They tend to be rather
contrasty, with good grain characteristics. I started using them
because our laundry room is our darkroom, and it measures a whopping 5x6
feet. It just seemed easier to drop the film off at a minilab, get the
negs done and do the printing at home. That way, my wife, my daughter
and I are not competing for darkroom time, some for negs, some for
prints. Also, fewer chemicals to store in such a limited space.
My current favorite, and my wife's, is Ilford XP-2. Good grain
structure, good contrast and good skin tones. We both shoot it at
ISO200 rather than the rated 400. I shot 4 rolls of Kodak Portra B&W
last weekend, did the contact sheets, but haven't printed anything yet.
That's tomorrow's project. From the proofs, I like it better than Kodak
T-maxCN, but not as well as Ilford. It seems to have more of a dramatic
shelf between dark and light, not just contrasty, but abrupt, if I'm
expressing myself ok. I haven't tried Konica's version, I can't seem to
find it around here, but I haven't looked real hard, either. BTW, all
of the C-41 film I have tried are rated at ISO400, but I've found it
more effective to shoot TCN and XP-2 at 200. I shot the Portra at the
rated speed, but next time, i'll try it at 200, too. That seems to cut
contrast a little, and decrease grain in the other films.
hope this helps, any other questions?"
Skip
--
Shadowcatcher Imagery
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
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