Blotchy Sky/solid colors in film

[LMNOP]

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]

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

 

[Sirius Glass]

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

Yes, what he said.

 

[snapguy]

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]

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]

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

 

[Hatchetman]

likely a scanning problem.

 

[pentaxuser]

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]

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]

I cannot see any blotches

 

[LMNOP]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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