Rock Abstract

I like this abstract. The tonality is great and I like the swirling and layering effects. I think it would be much better if the edges are cropped off, though. Am curious how you would print this on paper? Contact print onto film, but how to determine exposure and development?

Jon Shiu

Hi Jon. I don't have a lot of experience at making inter-positives. I have some Ilford Ortho film that I'm going to try first. Basically, I will just experiment with it until I get an interpositive with the right density range. I'll just make test strips with the ortho film under the enlarger to determine the correct exposure, just like a print. The box recommends ID-11 at 8-10 minutes so I'll use that as a starting point. It may take some time, but I'll get it.

The other thing is that since this is developed in Pyrocat HD, the negative has a pleasing warm toned stain to it that I like a lot. I will try to repro that in the final print, too. Old Portriga Rapid would have been just right.....I don't use warm tone papers so I'll have to experiment with that, too.

-Mike