Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/02

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Subject: [Leica] re: Exposure and Development
From: bd at bdcolenphoto.com (B. D. Colen)
Date: Fri Mar 2 19:18:38 2007

Which, with some 60 years of experience, would certainly describe Ted. ;-)


On 3/2/07 10:12 PM, "Robert Meier" <robertmeier@usjet.net> wrote:

> 
> Don,
> 
> I have no trouble believing that.   I was just a bit surprised.   I know
> photographers who don't meter at all, but know how to set the exposure
> accurately because they know the light and the film they are using very,
> very well.
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
>> Robert,
>> What you don't see is that Ted is the master of his craft.  Meaning, take
>> a
>> meter reading from what?  I have watched Ted shoot casually in Cape Cod
>> and
>> he is truly a master of choosing what to meter from even with an M7.  I am
>> not even sure that he is conscious of what he is doing.  Truly, light,
>> eyes,
>> action, shoot.
>> 
>> Don
>> don.dory@gmail.com
>> 
>> On 3/2/07, Robert Meier <robertmeier@usjet.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Ted,
>>> 
>>> So what you are saying is that you shot at the film maker's recommended
>>> exposure index (except when pushing the film), and developed it at the
>>> developer maker's recommended time and temperature, for your whole
>>> career,
>>> and never saw any need to vary either one?   And you always used an
>>> average
>>> exposure reading without taking specific shadow or highlight readings?
>>> 
>>> That is certainly keeping it simple.
>>> 
>>> Robert
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Many have offered great details and how one should "do it" on this
>>>> subject.
>>>> Subject: [Leica] re: Exposure and Development
>>>> 
>>>> However. :-)
>>>> As many of you know I'm no more techie with film, "expose for shadows
>>> soup
>>>> for whatever" than I am with digital... my gosh far worse with digital.
>>>> Shooting slide film? In that case I expose for the highlight and
>>>> everything else ended up wherever it ended up. Always seemed to work.
>>> :-)
>>>> 
>>>> B&W film was very nearly always rated at the manufacturers ASA and
>>> souped
>>>> for their specs. Unless I pushed a stop or two, but then the times were
>>>> those recommended by the maker of the film. Usually.
>>>> 
>>>> And it always seemed to work OK. The quality of the negatives never
>>>> deterred us from making lots of 35mm 16X20 exhibition prints out of our
>>>> darkroom trays over the years. Certainly doing as I always
>>> have..........
>>>> "KISS!"
>>>> 
>>>> If the film how to soup instruction was 6 mins. @ 70 degrees, agitation
>>>> every 30 secs, that was fine and that's what was done. Close anyway.
>>>> ;-)
>>>> But they always seemed to look OK and print just fine.
>>>> 
>>>> George Lottermoser said:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> The point I wished to make in starting this thread:
>>>>> Fine photographic technique requires that the photographer
>>> 'know'  where
>>>>> s/he wants shadows and highlights fall on the negative,  transparency
>>>>> and/or chip. This requires knowledge of how to control  the shadows
>>>>> and
>>>>> highlights through the use of exposure and  development of the
>>> material,
>>>>> whether chemical or digital.<<<<
>>>> 
>>>> Maybe I do this unconsciously just from years of exposing and souping
>>>> my
>>>> film. But I can honestly say I've never consciously related to exposing
>>>> for shadows and souping for highlights or vice versa or whichever it's
>>>> supposed to be. Maybe the tooth fairy has always looked after me in the
>>>> darkroom. Or maybe I just hate complications and live life with a KISS
>>>> attitude. If it works? "Cool" as the young folks say today! :-) If I
>>>> screw-up? Well the standard expression fits......... "Oh S.....t!"
>>>> 
>>>> My gut feelings about this expose develop routine comes down to major
>>>> simple this way............. it really doesn't matter how the heck
>>>> other
>>>> soul's do their film! It's far more important ..... "HOW YOU DO YOURS!
>>>> "
>>>> You know why?
>>>> 
>>>> Each person turns the can upside down differently, they agitate with
>>>> various actions, the temperature isn't on the mark in everyone's tank,
>>> nor
>>>> are the times absolutely to the second identical! It's really, to each
>>> his
>>>> own and never mind doing as others do, but use their technique as a
>>>> guideline. Gradually you'll find it works for you or it doesn't!
>>>> Eventually you'll achieve the results "YOU" like!  But we each and
>>>> everyone, never soup nor expose absolutely identical!
>>>> 
>>>> KISS folks that's what it's all about for each shooter. Oh and souper!
>>> ;-)
>>>> 
>>>> ted
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>>> 
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> 
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Replies: Reply from robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier) ([Leica] re: Exposure and Development)
In reply to: Message from robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier) ([Leica] re: Exposure and Development)