Cross precessing winter scenes

thebanana · Nov 19, 2007

I'm heading way north this weekend, and will no doubt run into tons of snow. I'm going to take some Fuji 64T slide film and do some shots that will be cross-processed. So, given the brightness of the snow, how should I rate the film? Typically I would use ASA24 or so, but in this case....?

Any thoughts on how snowy scenes turn out when cross processed?

Photo Engineer · Nov 19, 2007

Two thoughts.

1. The usual crossover will make snow scenes look worse than many others IMHO.

2. Read for yourself that Fuji films tend to cross process with less suitable results. This is not true for all films.

3. It seems to me and I gather from other comments, I'm not alone in this, that EPP does best.

PE

bill schwab · Nov 19, 2007

thebanana said:
I'm heading way north this weekend...

Where you off to John? I remember you saying you hit some pretty remote places sometimes.

thebanana · Nov 19, 2007

Thanks PE. Assuming I can find some EPP, how would you rate it for snowy scenes?

Photo Engineer · Nov 19, 2007

I've rated it at the box speed or less. However, even EPP is prone to a lot of crossover. With wooland scenes it looks good, but I would imagine snow scenes to go from pink to green. IDK. After seeing my results in Xover, I have avoided doing snow scenes.

I have some neutral scales here that are fair to middling that I could post if you want. It would take a bit to scan them, but they are handy right now. Not snow, but well, they are here.

PE

jd callow · Nov 19, 2007

if you’re worried about cross over than you'll need to test the film prior to going and try and do some on camera filtration to remove/minimize the portion that is least desirable.

In RTP's instance it is a bit confusing. Mostly it is a green cast which creates a magenta/green cross over when you try and correct it during printing. Adding a magenta filter (20 - 30cc mag) will help alleviate this.

FWIW I give you authority to ignore disregard convention and forget about being colour true. What crossprocessing will do for you is create impenetrable highlights. This will create some pretty dramatic snow scenes. Here is an example: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

You can also pull the film 1-2 stops in exposure and processing. This actually helps a bit with the colour cast and lowers the overall contrast -- giving you maybe another stop of information and will inhibit the highlights from blocking up.

Where there is b-up you'll get some bloom where shadows (especially) meet the snow.

Photo Engineer · Nov 20, 2007

John;

Very nice. I notice you used EPP.

I remembered one other item that Kodak suggests. If you cross process, you can add citrazinic acid to the developer at about 1 - 5 g/l to lower contrast. If you do this, you will have to readjust the pH up again by adding base so that it is at about 10.5 at 20 deg C. You will have to test this to come up with the right level for your film.

PE

frugal · Nov 20, 2007

Just a thought, you're talking about using a tungsten balanced film in daylight so that's going to be another colour cast (bluish) to worry about too. Although if you're doing snow scenes then that could help with the impression of "cold" so could be a lot of fun. Not sure how the cross-processing will impact this as well.

Photo Engineer · Nov 20, 2007

Frugal;

Good point. I assumed he would use a filter for the film. Without a filter, the cross process of mismatched color will emphasize any contrast and crossover problems.

PE

Photo Engineer · Nov 20, 2007

Selected scenes, cross processed EPP

Here are two shots of carefully selected scenes with good lighting for the situation. I have enlargements of both, but scanning actually seemed to make them look less like a cross processed EPP. It seemed to damp out some of the richness.

You may want to compare the doll picture with the straight EPP example in my gallery.

PE

frugal · Nov 21, 2007

Photo Engineer said:
Frugal;

Good point. I assumed he would use a filter for the film. Without a filter, the cross process of mismatched color will emphasize any contrast and crossover problems.

PE

Agreed, I've seen some fun stuff with using tungsten film under daylight without a filter so that's why I was thinking he might be going that way, or at least might not have considered it. Between that and possible colour casts from the cross-processing there should be a lot of potential for creative control by adjusting the filtration.

In terms of metering, I'd echo the comments about high contrast and be careful about shooting in brighter light, which already tends to get pretty contrasty with the snow being quite bright. But an overcast day or more muted lighting could be fun.

Cross precessing winter scenes

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