Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Tina wrote: Message: 27 Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:56:56 -0500 From: Tina Manley <images@comporium.net> Subject: [Leica] Neopan Advice To: lug@leica-users.org Message-ID: <200901111856.BGS09524@rg4.comporium.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed LUG: This trip I've decided to take only Leicas - my two M8's and one M7. I'm going to take B&W film and try to think in B&W again. I'm also taking my Noctilux which I love but have never been able to use with my M8's, so I'm looking forward to using that. I am worried about the high contrast that I'll run into in the Andes. When I was in Bolivia, the shadows were so black, I'm still trying to work with those photos. Slobodan, you suggested Neopan for blocked shadows. What developer do you use? Dilutions, temperatures and times? I use a Jobo so any suggestions you have for developing for film that will be scanned would be greatly appreciated. TIA, Tina Tina Manley www.tinamanley.com Tina, For the work I've been doing on my project in Mexico I've been using Tri-X processed in Xtol 1:1 at Kodak recommended times. I rate the film at ISO 400. Generally, when I'm outside working my default exposure is 1/500 @ f11 or f11.5 so I have a pretty good contrast range between highlights and shadows in full sun. I've found that the lattitude of the Tri-x coupled with the developer helps keep my shadows open. That, along with the ability of my Leica glass to see at least 1.5-2 stops further into the shadows than my Canon glass has given me the confidence I need to work in a broad range of lighting. When I did newspaper work my boss always insisted that we stick to one film, learn it and work with it. We didn't have time to change emulsions as the day wore on. And we couldn't afford to make mistakes that inevitably happen when you're switching back and forth. I have used TMax films, TMY ISO 400 but I found the lattitude too tight, almost like transparency film, so I've gone back to Tri-X and found it very workable. I also like its plasticity and classic look. You can see some examples on my Mexico pages at: www.carlsandersocolow.com Best, Carl