Blotchy Sky/solid colors in film

LMNOP · Feb 23, 2015

Hi APUG!

I've noticed a lot of my film has this blotchy look to it, especially in the sky. I realize this is a byproduct of analog film, and believe me, I am not switching to digital anytime soon, but I have to stop and ask around, is this typical? In some cases, this blotchiness is more than I asked for, and I would prefer a smoother tone. I wonder if I could be metering differently, or sending my negs off to North Coast for processing, instead of using my local guy.

Take a look, I've attached a couple examples.

gone · Feb 23, 2015

Blotchiness is NOT a byproduct of properly exposed and processed film. It's a byproduct of something gone wrong.

Sirius Glass · Feb 23, 2015

momus said:
Blotchiness is NOT a byproduct of properly exposed and processed film. It's a byproduct of something gone wrong.

Yes, what he said.

snapguy · Feb 24, 2015

Actually, you need to move from Vermouth where you are getting those ho-hum skies. Some locations have clouds, and other skies are full of steel.

railwayman3 · Feb 24, 2015

Something not quite right there....analogue film is fine for smooth tones, e.g. anything from clear skies, and solid colors, through to delicate skins and flower tones.
Faster films naturally tend towards more grain (particularly with underexposure), but grain is often used to pleasing effect in suitable types of pictures; and I don't think grain can be really described as blotchiness.

What film and processing are you using.

winger · Feb 24, 2015

If you look at the film with a strong loupe does it still look blotchy? It could be the scanning, too.

Hatchetman · Feb 24, 2015

likely a scanning problem.

pentaxuser · Feb 24, 2015

My VDU is the solution. Use it and there's no blotchiness that I can see on either pic. Isn't this a typical bland snowy sky in the first pic and the kind of pale blue sky in winter sunshine that slowly reverts to almost white near the horizon.

Just to repeat what others have said, blotchiness is not a by-product of film. What have you heard or read that makes you think this?

pentaxuser

pbromaghin · Feb 24, 2015

The only time I've ever had anything similar that could be attributed to the film was when using some very old, very expired, and poorly stored film. Other than that, it has to be either the lab or scanning.

MattKing · Feb 24, 2015

I cannot see any blotches

LMNOP · Feb 24, 2015

railwayman3 said:
Something not quite right there....analogue film is fine for smooth tones, e.g. anything from clear skies, and solid colors, through to delicate skins and flower tones.
Faster films naturally tend towards more grain (particularly with underexposure), but grain is often used to pleasing effect in suitable types of pictures; and I don't think grain can be really described as blotchiness.

What film and processing are you using.

The first shot was with Kodak portra 160 on RZ67 and the second, with blue sky, was shot with portra 400 on 645af.

the development is done at a local place, and they have screwed up my film before. This could be about my scanning I suppose, but I'll have to try mailing out to NCPS and see what all the fuss is about.

LMNOP · Feb 24, 2015

pentaxuser said:
My VDU is the solution. Use it and there's no blotchiness that I can see on either pic. Isn't this a typical bland snowy sky in the first pic and the kind of pale blue sky in winter sunshine that slowly reverts to almost white near the horizon.

Just to repeat what others have said, blotchiness is not a by-product of film. What have you heard or read that makes you think this?

pentaxuser

I cross reference my edits between a retina display MacBook pro, iPad air, and 27" iMac. Granted, this only gives me Apple display calibrations, but I see a bit of this everywhere. It's more like a haze and less blotchy I guess. Kind of crunchy, mixed tones where it should be smooth. Maybe I am under exposing...

LMNOP · Feb 24, 2015

snapguy said:
Actually, you need to move from Vermouth where you are getting those ho-hum skies. Some locations have clouds, and other skies are full of steel.

I'm not sure that I could find "Vermouth" on a U.S. map but in my little home state, we've got plenty of beautiful skies. Perhaps if I shot digital you'd know what I mean, but sadly I seem to have some developing or scanning issues to address.

LMNOP · Feb 24, 2015

Hatchetman said:
likely a scanning problem.

I am starting to think so as well. Canon is about to replace my 9000f due to a small piece of dust under the glass. Maybe this unit has other issues I am not aware of.

cwgreen · Feb 28, 2015

I'd say the 'blotchy' effect is a processing artifact. What format film is this? Your profile says you are a medium format shooter.

Blotchy Sky/solid colors in film

LMNOP

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Blotchy Sky/solid colors in film

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