Consistent Development

[milkplus-mesto]

Hi,

I'm working on an art project finishing in a couple of weeks and have a few queries going into the final stage. I'm doing street photography using either FP4+ (Pushed to 200) or HP5+ in 35mm.

I'm looking to shoot between 10 and 15 rolls, but will need to present work from all of them.

So, my questions are:
1) How can I get consistent development throughout the 10 films (provided consistent exposure)?
2) Would I be better off with FP4+ or HP5+ (For prints at around 12*8)?
3) What type of location would you say is the best for street portraits in London?

Thanks

 

[Neal]

Dear milkplus-mesto,

1) Bracket your photos and don't vary your development.
2) If speed is unimportant, do you want a little more (HP-5) or less (FP-4) grain.
3) My London experience is one day as a tourist (ridiculous air fare reduction if I stayed one night) but I suggest the background be recognizable but not distracting.

Neal Wydra

 

[Kirk Keyes]

You don't say how you are planning to develop them. Some methods, depending on your technique, are probably better than others.

Also, don't drink any milk-plus from the mesto bar before processing them... I understand that velocet and synthemesc can cause you to forget how long your film's been in the soup.

 

[gainer]

Forget? You don't know the meaning of that word until you turn 80 years of age, and then you tend to forget even that.

 

[MikeSeb]

1. Don't reuse the developer. Mix up a fresh batch, and process them all within as short a time span as possible.
2. Don't see the point in pushing FP-4 unless it's all you have. I like the look of HP5 much better than that of FP4, regardless of grain; I think it's an all-around superior film. If you have any other film choices, consider Delta 400 or 400TMY2, if grain is a concern.
3. Last visit to London was 1978--so can't help with that one. Wish I could go again.

 

[milkplus-mesto]

Neal, thanks. I shall probably choose FP-4, i reckon that it should be light enough to get decent exposures. And don't worry, I'll stay off the velocet (but may just take a glass of ordinary milk into the darkroom with me). Milkminus, perhaps.