the snow could probably be a little bit lighter, but i think you'd probably loose texture in the darker tones, so this is great, excellent composition of it all
Photographing snow ain't the easiest thing to do. You have done an excellent job capturing the texture of the snow and the gravel. Would this be attributed to the semi-stand development?
Excellent abstract.
gene
Wonderful use of tone and texture, and good demonstration of tonal control. Only crit would be that the cropping is a little tight. The bottom gravel bar might be better showning it full form.
Wonderful control and beautiful tones and texture. This composition might be better served with a sligher wider lens (perhaps? if one was available - still powerful composition nonetheless) in order to avoid the clips and cuts from top, sides and bottom. I am curious at your experience with MGIV and Amidol.
Thanks to all. To answer questions: Not sure how much stand development contributes to capturing texture in the snow and shadows but I've been using highly diluted Rodinal for some time with slow films to great effect. This print does require considerable burning and dodginig to get it right, also quite a bit of split grade printing with VC head enlarger. Francesco, like you, the majority of my work is done with 8x10 negs on Azo in Amidol so I usually just use the Amidol for my enlarging work, too. I can't say that it has made much difference in my MGIV prints, perhaps the blacks are somewhat deeper and the overall contrast might be a bit stronger. The downside is that it takes twice as long as Dektol to develop.
Very nice tones and love the texture that the snow has..thanks for the info, have been using Rodinal semi-stand at 1:100 recently and do feel that it contributes, but could not say how much. One day will do some test, 1:100 normal development and say 1:50, then 1:100 semi-stand.