scotteci Posted January 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) OK, I confess -- I have NEVER taken a non-digital photo until I bought a relatively un-used M6 last week.... Naturally this means that I have also never developed a photo, until yesterday... So here are my first attempts at film photography, with Tri-X, D76, and a 5000ed, taken during a snowstorm yesterday. I think I overcooked it a bit in the D76, but it gave me the gloomy, surreal feeling that snow always instills in me (I hate snow!!). I am not really interested in literal photographs anyway, so being clueless about developing probably helped me in this case. It could just be the "trick of the day" syndrome, but I really enjoyed the whole process (except fumbling in the dark trying to load the film onto the da$%m reel). I am really looking forward to spending more time on "this side" of the forum to learn more about film photography and, especially, processing. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/74745-hello-film/?do=findComment&comment=785259'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Hi scotteci, Take a look here Hello, Film. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bobkatz Posted January 21, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 21, 2009 I really like that "surreal feeling" you found¡¡¡ maybe masters can tell you something about technique... Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted January 21, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 21, 2009 You need to be congratulated big time. Not only have you taken on a new craft, your pictures are very successful. I hope you find that film is fun, produces wonderful results, and is reliable. I suggest that you stick with one film - Tri-X is a great choice, and D76 is a very solid developer. When you are a little more confident, there are some very simple tests that will fine tune the film speed and developing time to optimize your results. When you know how to make Tri-X sing, then look at other options. Film is very far from dead, and Leica film cameras are supremely competent, reliable, durable, providing a wonderful picture making experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
abrewer Posted January 21, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2009 Agree with Michael Well done You've captured that elusive, misty, snow-falling in the air feeling that I usually miss when I try this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asianhombre Posted January 21, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 21, 2009 Hm...perhaps this means I should try my hands at developing my own film as well. Though I hate to take business away from my friends at the local B&W lab... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RITskellar Posted January 21, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 21, 2009 All are nice, but like the second one especially. Nice work. They seem maybe just a bit over sharpened, but that may just be my personal preference or maybe an artifact of the jpg compression. But at any rate, congratulations on the first film pics and at your processing! Cheers, Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted January 21, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Welcome on the silver side of the road...... As already mentioned above it takes so little money and not so much time to learn the (not) existing secrets of owne developing film. Take the Tri-X and shoot. After you open your first drum after fixing the film you'll get that "special feeling" which we all have, even after so many years. The "shoot - develop - look - with it's interruptions gives you more time to think about the pics you made. This is much better compare to the instant digital workflow. Of course you'll miss some opportunities, but this is education..... Two years ago I started again after more than thirty years. The digital Nikons were fine but something was missing. So the M6 came into play and the Ilfords, Kodaks and Fujis.......back home in my case. So - go on! Bernd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted January 21, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 21, 2009 ...Scott, you really have no idea what you have signed up for, but if your attitude and first set of images are anything to go by, I can assure you that you are in for a real treat. Welcome aboard and remember to enjoy every step of the journey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semrich Posted January 21, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2009 To me those are fine photos, you are already hooked, enjoy the journey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotteci Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted January 21, 2009 All, Thanks for the encouragement, I will continue to play with film! Also, be prepared for a series of stupid questions from me.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfbldwn Posted January 23, 2009 Share #11 Posted January 23, 2009 All,Also, be prepared for a series of stupid questions from me.... I'll beat you to it (a stupid question) if you don't mind. What do all of you recommend regarding temperature control? Depending on time of day, ambient temperature varies anywhere from 20 to 24 Centigrade. Is that too big a temperature range without adjusting development time? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wls.shanghai Posted January 23, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 23, 2009 I'll beat you to it (a stupid question) if you don't mind. What do all of you recommend regarding temperature control? Depending on time of day, ambient temperature varies anywhere from 20 to 24 Centigrade. Is that too big a temperature range without adjusting development time? YES - the temperature range is to extrem!!!! TRI-X 400 and D76 temp. 20° dev.Time = 6.34 minutes temp. 24° dev.Time = 4,34 minutes (small Tank) Note: Tank development times shorter than 5 minutes my produce poor uniformity! Regards wls Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfbldwn Posted January 23, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 23, 2009 YES - the temperature range is to extrem!!!! Thanks. I feared as much. Do you have any recommendation regarding temperature control? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 23, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 23, 2009 Buy a thermometer I fill a large vessel in the sink with water at 20C to make up my chemistry, and start the washing at the end of the process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Luis D Posted January 23, 2009 Share #15 Posted January 23, 2009 An aquarium heater with adjustable temperature can be bought for little money. Better to buy one stronger than is needed, and if necessary to attach to a cord with lamp dimmer rheostat. Put the heater inside a tub of water big enough to stand the chemical bottles and also the developping tank. I have in the past used it to develop colour film with fine result, so for b-and-w is more than ok. Yes also will need a thermometer of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penzes Posted January 23, 2009 Share #16 Posted January 23, 2009 Well wrote Bernd, nice thoughts. I like the pictures, even when they are not technically perfect, but is perfection anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted January 23, 2009 Share #17 Posted January 23, 2009 Nice pics. Very good start indeed ! Etienne Michiels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfbldwn Posted January 25, 2009 Share #18 Posted January 25, 2009 An aquarium heater with adjustable temperature can be bought for little money. Better to buy one stronger than is needed, and if necessary to attach to a cord with lamp dimmer rheostat. Put the heater inside a tub of water big enough to stand the chemical bottles and also the developping tank. I have in the past used it to develop colour film with fine result, so for b-and-w is more than ok. Yes also will need a thermometer of course. @andybarton and @Luis D Thanks, that will help. The local pharmacy (I think in the U.K. they're called "chemist") just informed me their outlab is closing, which will make it very difficult to find consistent commercial processing. I've done my own processing, but eventually I let the temperature control and developer deterioration defeat me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marke Posted January 26, 2009 Share #19 Posted January 26, 2009 I would suggest using a 1+1 working solution. The developing times are almost twice as long so a degree or two difference in temperature is much easier to adust for. More room for error too. YES - the temperature range is to extrem!!!! TRI-X 400 and D76 temp. 20° dev.Time = 6.34 minutes temp. 24° dev.Time = 4,34 minutes (small Tank) Note: Tank development times shorter than 5 minutes my produce poor uniformity! Regards wls Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted January 26, 2009 Share #20 Posted January 26, 2009 ambient temperature varies anywhere from 20 to 24 Centigrade. Dont you have a temperature development time chart? If not you can find it here and also follow the link there to the ilford site for pretty solid starting point information for a lot of stuff. Depending on your circumstances, you may be better off adjusting times for ambient rather than trying to adjust temp, and like Marke said its also a good idea to adjust your concentrations to give you more managable, or less critical development times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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