Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Under exposure and overdevelopment do not properly describe fine photographic technique. Ideally we want to expose properly to provide desired shadow detail while developing properly to control highlight separation for any particular scene's contrast range. While this is very applicable to sheet film, and to some degree 120 rolls, where you use an entire roll for one condition, it becomes tricky when you've exposed a 36 exposure roll of 35mm film in 5 or 6 different contrasted scenes. So. You want to find the ISO rating : development combination which will best suit the full range of contrast situations that your roll will find itself exposed to. Once you've hit that ideal compromise. You really don't want to 'over expose' or 'under develop' (or 'under expose' and 'over develop') unless you're trying to save an important frame or group of frames. The terms: 'over exposure' implies too light and blown highlights 'under exposure' implies too dark and lost shadows 'over development' implies blown highlights 'under development' implies lost shadows. In all cases these terms also imply poor technique, and lack of control and/or understanding of what's going on with your materials and chemistry. Regards, George Lottermoser george@imagist.com