Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Juan, Thanks for looking and giving your comments. Unfortunately, I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the details of developing magic, but I'll try... The reason I tried this is pretty simple: I ran out of D76 but I had a bottle of HC110!!! But the reason I had the HC110 is that Travis on photo.net had a crazy-sounding developing scheme, and I've often liked his work. Some other things had appealed to me about his scheme: the higher temperature is convenient in the summer so I can use water straight out of the tap without needing to cool it, and using liquid concentrate and not having to agitate sounded about right for my lazy self. :) :) My basic understanding is that by not agitating it is possible to bring out shadow details because developer near the denser (highlight) portions of the negs gets tired faster than developer near the shadow portions of the negs, so you can develop longer continuing to bring out the shadows without blowing the highlights. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here.) This would seem to be more important when pushing film, and Travis often shoots TriX at 1600, but he had shared times for 400 and up. I have developed 6 or 7 rolls like this, and generally speaking I wasn't pleased with the skin tones. The photo I chose for my PAW this week worked out very well for some reason, but many others did not. Less consistency than I usually get. I guess if I kept notes on exposure and all I might be able to figure it out, but that doesn't sound like any fun to me. As I go back and look at Travis' photos, I realize I should not be surprised about the skin tones. His photos are often more graphic than mine. I may reserve this developing scheme for the times I try low-light, graphic, street photography. Sorry I couldn't be more scientific about all this, but I do too much science in my day job...I love to shoot; that's where I want to spend my time. I've figured out the darkroom part enough to be pretty consistent and not make any major mistakes, and I don't really have the patience to go much further in terms of all the minutiae. Maybe someday, but now, as Ted says, I'm having too much fun. Aren't you sorry you asked me to elaborate? ;-) ;-) Best wishes from North Carolina, Aaron >Aaron, >I think it is a great portrait, mainly because of the expression on both >subjects' faces. However, I am curious about the development. What is the >purpose and what do you think you get? I am asking out of ignorance; I >don't really remember, but I had thought HC110 was good to get high ISO >and acutance at the expense of grain. However, in your picture the grain >is very well controlled. Can you elaborate? Thanks. > >Juan > >>Folks, >> >>I've got a snap-portrait of my uncle and his son/my cousin for my PAW >>this week. I tried a crazy developing scheme of very dilute HC110 >>(1+100) in hot water (29degC) for 7mins with NO agitation other than the >>first 10 secs (for TriX at 400). I'm not sure I like it, but I do like >>this pic: >> >>http://www.duke.edu/~ajs2/PAW/2004_39/index.html >> >>Full disclosure: I've been working my way through a pile of undeveloped >>TriX, so, although recently developed, this was shot way back in >>May. Man, keeping up with this PAW-stuff ain't easy! >> >>Comments-n-stuff always welcome and thanks for looking, >>Aaron