Developing question for HP5+ pushed to 1600

There's about four rolls from last week which I still need to develop. The issue is, that I have only just started developing by myself at home, and only three rolls in Ilfosol 3. Basically, I'm very new to this, so go easy on me


I'm starting to read the film developing cookbook, and I had a look at these threads:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?10150-HP5-pushed-to-1600

So far, I'm thinking Microphen....? or ID-11 stock. Although I am very open

I didn't have any other rolls of film at the time so I had to push it. It was some social documentary 'reportage' type stuff. Which ideally, I would want to look something like this...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2774252445_bb6ff88613_o.jpg

Which was shot on neopan 1600 (will have to check that out in the near future) Not sure how much he tweaked with it after scanning and I'm sure I could do the same. But to get to that stage I still need to develop.

What developer and time period do you guys recommend to get that look?

Many thanks and kind regards

Sosha

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5194593840_82cdbbc873_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5194594122_2b5d3abf51_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/6017691322_f981698681_b.jpg
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/6017550706_ae6173a451_b.jpg

The above links are all HP5 pushed to 1600 and developed in D76 Stock (For what ever the rated time is). My understanding is that D76 is not necessarily the best tool for the job, but it will work.

Cheers

The example scene looks very contrasty, so I would recommend Kodak HC-110, most likely Dilution B for about 11 minutes @ 20C. YMMV, and I'm sure someone will want to disagree with me.

Edit: here is my only example I could find: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yeknom02/4410499918/

If you are new to developing why do you want to push your film? I might be better to become familiar with conventional developing before taking on something more difficult. For the time being put the Film Developing Cookbook back on the shelf. Pushing results in the loss of shadow detail and an increase in contrast. If lighting conditions are poor use a faster film, wider aperture, or slower shutter speed. Save pushing for those situaltions where there is no other option. It shouldn't be used to just obtain a certain look.

Ilford HP5+ @1600, FX-4 (Acufine) 7min/25C

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9716/imgtst009008.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/4831/imgtst0090081.jpg

I'll second Acuifine and also vote for Dianfine, 3rd choice DDX.

Microphen stock is very good with HP5+

hpulley said:

Microphen stock is very good with HP5+

Click to expand...

agree

That example in the original post looks way too contrasty to me...

I push HP-5+ to 1600 for sports photography, and just use the Massive Dev Chart spec for ID-11 stock (14 minutes). Back in my high school yearbook sports photography days I always used HC-110 dilution B, but that was with the original HP-5, not sure if that matters. It gets grainy, but not outrageously so, and the tonality holds up pretty well.

Duncan

Thanks for all the replies and helpful critiques.

Good things coming from all sides;

Microphen seems like to go-to chemical for pushing.
And I quite like the tonality that HC-110 gives (flickr)
Will have to look more into Acufine...
I used ID-11/D-76 back in college so I know those results and I like them.
Used Infosol 3 a while ago... it definitely has its uses.

I was going to get one bottle or some powder once I figured it out, but instead I think I'm going to get all the above and just experiment with them. Try to figure out what I like, what I don't, and what works well for me.

We must have misunderstood each other Gerald. I'm not new to developing as it is, just push processing film in my flat. I developed for a little over a year in college with ID-11, but at the time of the shoot it was dark and I had nothing other than HP5+. I can see how from reading the post you would have got a different impression and for that I apologise.

Anyway, thanks again for the helpful replies. I will order a batch within the week, and try to post some results.

I have used D76 on HP5 which did good. I don't know about pushing.

Jeff

I like HC-110 for most things but for pushing Microphen seems to work better. I wanted to like DD-X and for most slow to mid-speed films I do like it but when pushing I find it gives thinner negs, lower D-max than I wanted. All the Ilford fact sheets say DD-X is best so I almost want to give it another try but HC-110 works so well and is so cheap and so is Microphen that I can't spend $20 on DD-X for more experiments.