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

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Subject: [Leica] re: Exposure and Development
From: robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier)
Date: Fri Mar 2 21:46:17 2007
References: <C20E5310.1CBFA%bd@bdcolenphoto.com>

Are you saying Ted doesn't meter?


> 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
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Leica Users Group.
>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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In reply to: Message from bd at bdcolenphoto.com (B. D. Colen) ([Leica] re: Exposure and Development)