Re: [Leica] Chalk and Charcoal in HC110

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

JOHN COZ wrote:
> 
> > We've been talking about chalk and charcoal tonality from I assume B
> > dilution of HC110 .
snip
> I felt that way until I accidentally exposed a roll of Tri-X ar EI 100.
> To compensate, I reduced the development time in HC 110/B.   The results
> were airy and clean.  I now shoot Tri-X at EI 200 as a standard and do
> not feel that I am getting soot and chalk.  Have you tried anything
> similar?
> 
> JC

I give the minimum exposure and development a neg can take. If the thin
shadow areas have too much detail and can afford to be printed down
(darkened) then the highlights are going to have more density than they
need and less sharpness, tonal separation and more grain; and that is
the worst thing you can do to an image. The fact that you can overexpose
"Pulling" your film and get usable results is because  though Tri X is a
straight line file. Another straight line film is agfapan 100 which will
give you as much grain as Tri X but with amazingly silky tone.
OVerexposing should make you negs look less clean, but clean is a word
which might have a different meaning to you than me. Your meter might
need the added exposure and could be looked at.
For the cleanest images people do the mythological "pushing" of film
with is underexposure with compensation over development. YOu get the
cleanest separation of tones and the cleanest looking negs, but have
said goodby to your shadow detail, brunettes have clear hair.
But the main point might be, if you are getting the results you like,
and you feel like you're cookin with grease, stay with it. 
Mark Rabiner