#filmphotography #photolab

Someone posted recently about realizing something he'd been doing wrong that made him feel like a complete idiot. I have a better one. Everything I've been showing looks just right on the 4K monitor I use for editing but a little too contrasty on my laptop. I assumed that this was a limitation of my laptop screen. Turns out that I set the 4K for video editing at a lower gamma years ago and forgot all about it. Wish I had time to go back and redo everything. Ah well.

Last week I wrote a little program to help me construct process tone curves for analog printing.

The basic idea is that every photography process has a unique ton curve mapping the quantity of input light to density (tone) on the print. If we want to create negatives (digitally or analog) that when printed exhibit the full tonality of the process with smooth contrast then we need to know what that curve is.

We can identify this curve experimentally by iteratively making adjustments, printing, analyzing, and reprinting. This is a long process and requires a lot of time and energy.

There are software solutions to help (ChartThrob is the main one) but at least ChartThrob exists only as an Adobe Photoshop plugin.

So I figured, why not write my own that isn't locked into that platform? What could go wrong?!

Here are the results from the first test using New Cyanotype.

Before applying the curve you can see that it is extremely clipped in the shadows and highlights.

After is much improved with a nearly linear gradient from darkest to lightest. There are still some issues: It sill clips in the whites around 95 (I think this is a bug with how I'm linearizing on the high end), and.12 looks too dark (I think that is a coating error on my part).

I'm super excited with how well this worked and will probably give it a shot on the next process I try (Salted Paper is next on my list).

#photolab

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It's distressing to see so many horribly grey b&w film scans posted here.

It is possible to use a tonal scale reduced to the middle zones in a deliberate way -- as an artistic effect (however well or ill considered) or as a feature of the materials, as in the case of platinum prints. But many of these images are obviously attempting something like a classically correct b&w print but are failing badly to approach that ideal. They are ugly to no particular purpose. Why?

#photography #filmphotography #photolab

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At my age, it's fascinating to watch misconceptions about old technologies turn into "fact." E.g.:

"Leica and Contax cameras were highly sought after by both Axis and Allied photographers.... Photographers like Robert Capa made extensive use of Contax cameras during the war..."

https://petapixel.com/2024/12/06/the-history-of-leica-vs-zeiss-and-the-battle-of-the-rangefinders/

#filmphotography #photolab

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There aren't very many of us left who actually learned photography and worked in it for years using completely manual equipment and completely silver-based processes. After having almost died in July (and having technically actually died three years ago, when my heart was emptied of blood and put on ice for an hour and a half), I'm feeling the urge to leave behind some notes for the benefit of those people crazy enough to want to get into this.

#photolab #filmphotography

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In Case You Were Wondering: How Traditional B&W Photographic Film Works

(One of a possible series of pieces for a few people interested in film photography from the ground up; written because I need to wax didactic occasionally)

Some of the following is sourced from the book Elementary Photographic Chemistry (Eastman Kodak Company, 1941).

#photolab #filmphotography #believeinfilm

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@thereisnocat @coldkennels @shom

I've been asked for some details regarding divided b&w film developers. My standard split dev back in the day was D-76, so I'll use that as my example, but AFAIK all old-timey divided developers work pretty much the same way.

Let's review some basics for starters.

#filmphotography #photolab

Seen today at our film club: a clip-on laser rangefinder for USD30.

This is a big deal for old-time camera fans. Many old film cameras (ca. 1935-1955) had fine lenses but only a manual distance setting for focus. These were often succeeded by a version that added a RF and were/are a lot more expensive. This device makes those earlier cheap but great cameras much more usable.

https://reflxlab.com/products/distance-meter-for-vintage-cameras-free-shipping

#photolab

Another ancient data sheet, this one for Royal-X Pan (1968).

#fullymanual #filmphotography #photolab

I just calculated my film photography costs and thought others might be interested in the results (all figures in USD, taxes not included).

Three scenarios: 6x9 camera, Ilford FP4+ 120 ($8.49/roll, B&H); 6x6 camera, Kodak Tri-X 120 ($8.99/roll, B&H); 35mm camera, Ilford HP5+ 36 exp. ($8.95/roll, B&H)

Chemicals: HC-110, $53/qt (Freestyle); Kodafix, $18/qt (B&H); white vinegar for stop bath, $4/gal (Wegman's); distilled water, $1.30/gal (Wegman's)

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Turns out the last photo wasn't a #fujifilm #photography after all. A comment from @nerwin had me remember it was actually shot with my #iPhone.

But these to are indeed my X-E3. Same bridge, two different views, from two other early mornings. And processed in #dxo #photolab.