Garden of the Gods - First Time Using Staining Developer

Colorado CJ · Jan 11, 2015

I went to the Garden of the Gods yesterday to do some hiking and photography. I shot with both black and white and Velvia 100 color slide film in the 4x5 camera. I developed the B&W last night and am scanning them now, the slide film will have to be sent out for processing.

I'm trying a new staining developer called Pyrocat MC for these negatives. It is supposed to stain the silver crystals so that you get more information in the highlights. It seems to be working as I am getting what I consider to be very good definition in what were overcast skies. with just a yellow filter, or even none, I am getting more defined skies than I would have gotten with my normal developers, even with a deep red filter for the type of skies that were there yesterday.

Anyway, here are a couple photos I just finished scanning. I'll be adding more as I finish them.

Taken with a Zone VI 4x5 camera and Fujinon 125mm F5.6 lens and Ektar 203mm lens. Shot on Foma 200 film and developed in Pyrocat MC for 8.5 minutes, rotary processed.

Garden of the Gods - 2 by Colorado CJ, on Flickr

Tower of Babel - Garden of the Gods by Colorado CJ, on Flickr

Garden of the Gods 1 by Colorado CJ, on Flickr

gone · Jan 11, 2015

Although number 3 has the least interesting skies, it has the stronger composition. I think w/ some cropping, you might have a keeper there. That Foma 200 certainly has a nice look to it. Note to self: buy a few rolls and give it a whirl.

removedacct1 · Jan 11, 2015

Extraordinary! I am tempted to try one of these pyro developers myself. Are the kits from Photographers Formulary a good place to start?

Colorado CJ · Jan 12, 2015

momus said:
Although number 3 has the least interesting skies, it has the stronger composition. I think w/ some cropping, you might have a keeper there. That Foma 200 certainly has a nice look to it. Note to self: buy a few rolls and give it a whirl.

I really like Foma 200. It has huge range and the tones can be very pleasing. An added plus, is that it can be very cheap in the Arista EDU Ultra 200 labeling. It is my main film for LF use.

If you try some, I recommend a water stop bath and TF-4 fixer. The emulsion can be pretty fragile when wet and these two things prevent any pinholes.

Colorado CJ · Jan 12, 2015

paulbarden said:
Extraordinary! I am tempted to try one of these pyro developers myself. Are the kits from Photographers Formulary a good place to start?

This was my first use of any pyro developer, and I can tell right away, I will be using this from now on, atleast with Foma 200 (I'll have to try it with my other films to see how well it works with them).

As far as the kits, I bought this direct from Photographers Formulary. It is the Pyrocat MC Glycol kit. They shipped very fast and offer it in 3 sizes.

Colorado CJ · Jan 12, 2015

Here's another from the series.

Zone VI 4x5 Camera, Kodak Ektar 203mm F7.7 lens, Foma 200, Pyrocat MC (8.5 min)

Garden of the Gods - Pikes Peak by Colorado CJ, on Flickr

digital&film · Jan 12, 2015

Awesome- I was stationed nearby in Fort Carson and visited there! Just as I remember them.

c6h6o3 · Jan 13, 2015

Pyrocat (HD) is also available from Bostick and Sullivan in pre-mixed form. This is the developer that Sandy King, its inventor, still uses for film.

ic-racer · Jan 13, 2015

Colorado CJ said:
It is supposed to stain the silver crystals so that you get more information in the highlights.

Colorado CJ · Jan 13, 2015

digital&film said:
Awesome- I was stationed nearby in Fort Carson and visited there! Just as I remember them.

Its a nice place for a hike, though it gets real busy on the weekends. Very strange geology compared to the high country.

Colorado CJ · Jan 13, 2015

c6h6o3 said:
Pyrocat (HD) is also available from Bostick and Sullivan in pre-mixed form. This is the developer that Sandy King, its inventor, still uses for film.

Yeah, I thought about Pyrocat HD, but I've read that Pyrocat MC is probably better than HD for rotary processing (and I just got a JOBO 4x5 drum and reel).

Colorado CJ · Jan 13, 2015

ic-racer said:

Hey, I'm new to this, and that's what I read

removedacct1 · Jan 13, 2015

Colorado CJ said:
Hey, I'm new to this, and that's what I read

Ha ha! Excellent.

SchwinnParamount · Jan 14, 2015

Colorado CJ.

Awesome stuff, dude! Whatever you did *WORKS*!! Not only is your craft proven, but your skills as a photographer are not to be questioned.

I want to party with you... next time I am in Colorado.

Garden of the Gods - First Time Using Staining Developer

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