A productive afternoon in the darkroom - Blad negs

Eric Rose · Jun 7, 2019

Had the Blad out last week and finally finished the roll. Once I took a look at the negatives I got all excited! Not something that happens to often at my age lol. It's not that often that I have an entire roll of magic on the light table. Thank goodness I developed these negs in PyroCat-HD as the DR was enormous. Mixed up some Ansco 130 last night ( I HATE POWERED CHEMICALS, grrr) but knew these negs deserved the best.

I can't wait to take the prints to our Large Format Users Group wind up BBQ next week!

John Galt · Jun 7, 2019

Anxious to see them Eric

Stephen Prunier · Jun 7, 2019

I thought I read you had your bladder out last week. Glad I was wrong.

I also look forward to seeing them too.

Eric Rose · Jun 7, 2019

Stephen Prunier said:
I thought I read you had your bladder out last week. Glad I was wrong.

???????

Pentode · Jun 7, 2019

Eric Rose said:
( I HATE POWERED CHEMICALS, grrr)

Best to avoid the powered chemicals. You could get electrocuted!

Stephen Prunier · Jun 7, 2019

Eric Rose said:
???????

I was trying to make a joke. Blad = Bladder

Still looking forward to seeing how they came out

Luckless · Jun 7, 2019

Stephen Prunier said:
I was trying to make a joke. Blad = Bladder

Still looking forward to seeing how they came out

Well, I totally read the thread title as "bald negs" and was wondering what the problem with them was supposed to be when I saw the photo of the negatives...

tezzasmall · Jun 8, 2019

Eric Rose said:
Mixed up some Ansco 130 last night ( I HATE POWERED CHEMICALS, grrr) but knew these negs deserved the best.

I love the tone of your prints Eric, presuming that they are a good representation? On my monitor they seem to have a real warmth about them, but not quite full sepia, as you would get with a toner.

You say that you mixed up some Ansco 130 to develop them. Is this the main reason for the colouration or is it the combination of the 130 developer and a warm paper?

I'd be grateful to receive your comments and if it is just the developer, even better.

I'll await your reply but will probably end up trying to make and use some 130 myself either way = I have everything other than the glycin to hand.

Terry S

Eric Rose · Jun 8, 2019

Ansco is a cool tone developer. The colour tint is an artifact caused by a tungsten light.

Peter Schrager · Jun 8, 2019

are you using RC paper..they look very shiny

shutterfinger · Jun 8, 2019

Yes, they're bland. Typical when the metering is correct, the shutter is functioning near perfect, you focused correctly, composed well, and held the camera steady, and processed the film correctly.
Totally correct bland. Enjoy!

Eric Rose · Jun 8, 2019

Peter Schrager said:
are you using RC paper..they look very shiny

Yes that's RC. I always print working copies or photos for myself on RC. I actually prefer it to FB.

Eric Rose · Jun 8, 2019

shutterfinger said:
Yes, they're bland. Typical when the metering is correct, the shutter is functioning near perfect, you focused correctly, composed well, and held the camera steady, and processed the film correctly.
Totally correct bland. Enjoy!

Well thank you

jvo · Jun 8, 2019

there isn't much better in the world when you produce some satisfying negatives and prints.. it makes it all worthwhile and the smile last for weeks!

tezzasmall · Jun 9, 2019

tezzasmall said:
I love the tone of your prints Eric, presuming that they are a good representation? On my monitor they seem to have a real warmth about them, but not quite full sepia, as you would get with a toner.

You say that you mixed up some Ansco 130 to develop them. Is this the main reason for the colouration or is it the combination of the 130 developer and a warm paper?

Terry S

Eric Rose said:
Ansco is a cool tone developer. The colour tint is an artifact caused by a tungsten light.

Thanks for the swift reply Eric but sad to hear the bottom line that it's your lighting that gives the prints that lovely colour...

Terry S

pentaxuser · Jun 9, 2019

tezzasmall said:
Thanks for the swift reply Eric but sad to hear the bottom line that it's your lighting that gives the prints that lovely colour...

Terry S

Yes I have learned something as well. Terry. I had no idea that tungsten lighting had that effect on a photo of a B&W print
Mind you with so much hybrid work going on these days. The toner makers must be on their uppers

pentaxuser

Eric Rose · Jun 9, 2019

It does gives me an inspiration to print them on FB and then tone them.

That's why I print my images on RC first then put them up in the livingroom for a week or so. I let them speak to me and then go back into the darkroom.

That's my process, it takes time but at the end I'm generally happier with the final result.

StepheKoontz · Jun 9, 2019

Eric Rose said:
It does gives me an inspiration to print them on FB and then tone them.

That's why I print my images on RC first then put them up in the livingroom for a week or so. I let them speak to me and then go back into the darkroom.

That's my process, it takes time but at the end I'm generally happier with the final result.

I tend to do the same. I print "interesting" shots on 5X7 without much work put into dodging/burning etc., and then come back in a few weeks and look at them to see if any really merit further work.

Eric Rose · Jun 9, 2019

Here are my "work" prints on my fireplace mantle. I already have some ideas. Chime in with your own, I'm all ears. At some point on Monday I will scan them and put them into the gallery.

A productive afternoon in the darkroom - Blad negs

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