Re: [Leica] Improving leica-made images

["Dan Post" <dwpost@email.msn.com>]

I must agree with Eric; however, the problem was to get contrastier
negatives. I would suggest that he follow that advice of the other LUGer and
learn to develope his own film. The expense is minimal, and the cost is much
less than having someone else do it. Further, you have infinitly more choice
in what the outcome will be.
To get more contrast from a negative, it has been typically the rule of
thumb to UNDERexposed from 1/2 to 1 full stop, and push the developement
about 10% more than normal- the exact amount is reached with experimentation
but that is not as arduous as it sounds. This method basicall 'steepens' the
Log d curve. I practiced shooting a 'target made of a piece of white matte
board onto which I affixwd a Kodak gray card, gray scale and color
seperation scale. I use it for both Color and B&W to check out the response
of color film, and to test exposure and development for B&W.
I first used the technique when a friend asked me to develop aerial photos
of industrial plants; at first they were too 'flat' and lacked contrast. I
prevailed upon him to use Verichrom Pan, a favorite of mine for medium
format, exposing it at 50 ASA instead of 100, then overdeveloping. The
results were fabulous. I can't say how this works with thin emulsion films,
since the only one I have a lot of experience using is the now defunct
Panatomic -X. T-Max 400 I have barely tested. I do know that Tri-X and
Plus-X work well with this method.
Sorry for the long post, but here's hoping we can get another LUGer into the
'soup'!
Dan'l
dwpost@msn.com