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[ASK] What film do you use for weddings?


decay2000

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Hello,

 

Here are some of the shots taken by M6 and Ilford ASA 400 HP5. I dont know how the Lab processed these scanned images. Do you have any ideas? Maybe the lab did something wrong with the developing? It seems that these images are too pushed...

 

Following this wedding was another wedding and I did with the whole Ilford Delta 3200 and did 9 rolls of film and following recommendations, I have shipped those films to RPL (Richardphotolab.com) and they will have my films developed and FTP-ed for me to download when they are done...

 

What films do you use for weddings? I think Neopan 1600 will cut it?

 

Thank you so much for your kind helps...

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Hi

 

It depends how familiar you are with your camera, and what the bride and you want.

 

But for mono I'd have used Ilford XP2 and carried at least two cameras. Xp2 has the greatest dynamic range, and is easiest to print.

 

Noel

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Each to their own but I wouldn't use Neopan 1600 for a wedding! It's a great film with a 'gritty' texture to the grain, but not the most flattering look for wedding photos.

 

I tend to prefer fine grain films, like FP4, but XP2 will give you a little more latitude as suggested.

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I had rather good experiences pushing Tmax400 to to 1600 and 3200 ASA recently. Actually I wonder, why Kodak sells the Tmax 3200, which I found to be disappointing in comparison.

 

I can't show the 3200 results at the moment (will be available in November) but please find a 1600 ASA result attached.

 

Stefan

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I use Tri-X across the board, at either 1250 in low light or box speed in daylight. The box speed I process in HC-110, and at 1250 in Diafine. The latter is particularly suited to the harsh contrast of weddings, since it's a two bath development process where highlight and shadows are each developed separately. It avoids the blown highlights you have in your samples, for example.

Edited by ndjambrose
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I have ordered from eBay ilford XP2 as most of our friends here recommend... Thank you so much everybody...

 

I just wonder what would my last Ilford Delta 3200 did for me... it is on the way to Richard Photo Lab in the States.... hope it all turn out well.... :(

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Yes, a film for push-development will be exposed at the desired speed - if one needs a 400ASA film pushed to 1600ASA, it will be exposed at 1600ASA. The "lack" of exposure will be balanced by a stronger dose of development. The contrast will decrease and the grain will increase.

 

If the development is done by a lab, they need to be aware of the desired speed. My advice would be to mark it on the film cartridge as well.

 

If you develop the film yourself, you need to find the data sheet on the homepage of the manufacturer for the correct time and temperature. Slight pushing is done by increasing the development time, for more steps the temperature might need to be increased as well.

 

One can also find the data in the massive chart:

The Massive Dev Chart: B&W film development database

However, for very strong pushing, the manufacturer's data sheet typically has more data. It should also contain information about recommendated agitation of the tank. My advice would be to check both.

 

Stefan

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... The contrast will decrease and the grain will increase...

 

I think when you develop more the contrast increases, so I'd not recommend pushing film for wedding shots?

 

The C41 monochromes have much wider dynamic range and can tolerate a sunlight white dress, and still hold shadow details, this may give a scanner problems but wet printing is possible. Brides like white and detail in photos.

 

Otherwise I'd use a soft working developer like D-23 or POTA, with a fast film conventional film like HP5+ to have as much dynamic range as possible, note I'm assuming you nail exposure spot on, I meter away from dress, with Weston and Invercone.

 

I've not liked water bath or two bath with modern films.

 

Noel

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I have completely moved to Kodak Tri-X (rated at box speed or pushed to 1600 and 3200) or Kodak TMZ (at box speed or 6400)... For color work, I am using the new Portra 400 and 800... You are going to love Richard Photo Lab, they are the best lab in the world.

 

Cheers!

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Piling on with a few questions--

 

In massive dev chart I can only find timings for Tri-X rated at 320 (in FG7). I shoot box speed and then adjust in LR, but is there an easy way to estimate the timing adjustment for 400? Similarily, if I shoot 400 @ 1600, is there a standard amount of time to shorten the dev?

 

Riccis, I've seen you recommend RPL several times-- do you find that they are consistent? I sent some color film there and it came back with so many dust spots that I couldn't recover the pictures. Needless to say I haven't sent anything to them since.

 

 

Karen

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The iPhone version has the same information

 

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Pushed film has empty shadows and is too contrasty.

 

Remember, expose for shadows, develope for highlights. This NEVER changes.

 

With insufficient exposure, dark areas like black tuxes have no detail. NO amount of extra development (pushing) will put it there.

 

The amount or time in developer controls highlite density, ie brides dress. If you develope to long all the fine detail in the dress disappears and it turns into textureless detail lacking white. Develope too little, and you get a grey dress.

 

There is no way you can produce quality wedding work with pushed fillm period.

 

Learn to use some fill flash that does not over power the scene, perhaps bounced.

Expose with a slowish shutter to pick up background, say 1/15, and the flash to expose the main subject. The flash will freeze the action.

 

Overexposing film one stop and reducing development 20% will give beautiful shadows with detail and printable highlights. Tri x responds nicely to this. EI 200, D76 1:1 and 5.5 min at 68F or 20C.

 

To shun flash completely and use high ISO, you need a pro level DSLR and the pics will still not be as flattering as I outline. Pro means top of the line, expensive.

 

Practice ahead with fake wedding set to get the process under control. DO NOT EXPERIMENT ON A NON REPEATABLE EVENT.

 

C41 films are fixed ISO , usually 400, and you need to use it there fore best results.

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Pushed film has empty shadows and is too contrasty...with insufficient exposure, dark areas like black tuxes have no detail. NO amount of extra development (pushing) will put it there...the amount or time in developer controls highlite density, ie brides dress....there is no way you can produce quality wedding work with pushed fillm period...

 

One word. Diafine.

 

I shoot pushed film at weddings all the time. The trick is to know the implications and how to process for them. Hence two bath development, rather than extended development. If you use Diafine (or similar two-bath metol based development) the results have excellent shadow and highlight definition, even up to three stops more than box speed. Blacks and whites are both detailed and highly usable, and the contrast curve is low to moderate.

 

More information from Steven Schaub for anyone who wants to know about Diafine and the true EI of common film stock when developed this way.

http://figitalrevolution.com/2008/05/19/exposure-index-ei-latitude-film/

Edited by ndjambrose
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