If you were stranded on an Island...

jd callow · Aug 6, 2004

...with a roller processing Wing-lynch and could only use two developers, and one Fix and your favourite films were all 120 or larger Tri-x, and other older style films such as Plus-x, Hp5, which developers and fix would you use and why?

You also made enlargements.

Foto Ludens · Aug 6, 2004

I'm afraid I'm unqualified to answer this question, but I'd use what I'm using now.

Diafine as my developer, Macophot UP100 as my film, 6x6 the format. 9 by 9 inch enlargements look very good, tonality is great even on underexposed negs (selenium intensification helps, though). Time and temperature are not factors, so if the climate changes on the island, my negs wouldn't. Also, the inablitiy to do N+ and N- developing doesn't bother me, as I never do those anyway, and VC paper gives me plenty of lee-way on contrast.

Fixer would be TF-4, because of the shorter washing time, and independence from hypo-clear.

Still working on the paper/developer thing, though.

roteague · Aug 6, 2004

mrcallow said:
...with a roller processing Wing-lynch and could only use two developers, and one Fix and your favourite films were all 120 or larger Tri-x, and other older style films such as Plus-x, Hp5, which developers and fix would you use and why?

I don't have an answer for your question, but loved the way you presented it.

noblebeast · Aug 6, 2004

Well, if this is a tropical island I would stick with my current fave - PanF+ in WD2D+. Great, smooth tones, sharp, great highlights (really limits the need for dodging and burning) and hard-to-find grain. For cloudy days and/or islands in the northern seas - Tri X in WD2D+, or HC 110 when I want to have simpler control over the contrast. As far as fixer I'm pleased with Photographer's Formulary T-4, but would certainly accept Ilford Rapid if it was around.

Paper developer - I'm really enjoying working with PF's BW-65. It gives me good, deep blacks and has a very stable shelf life, at least in my experience.

Now where are them nekkid native girls? I want to show off my lens!

Joe

Jorge · Aug 6, 2004

TMX RS and plain hypo...I figure if I am in an island I would have plenty of water to use for wash.

TMX RS is a good replenishment developer, works good for both t grain and normal films, you can do different dilutions to change CI and it comes in cool bottles you can later use to send messages.

Plain hypo you can replenish as well, and it is cheaper than the rapid fixers.

jd callow · Aug 6, 2004

The island has a constant 68f temp....

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 6, 2004

Hmmm....I'd probably say PMK, if the Wing-Lynch weren't throwing a wingnut into the equation. I suppose you need something replenishable, eh? That would rule out most varieties of pyro and other one-shots and developers that are very prone to oxidation.

Probably some flavor of HC-110, I'd guess, and Acufine as an alternative for speed.

Fixer? TF-4 cuts down wash times if you don't use Permawash, but if you do use Permawash or HCA and you're not using a staining developer, there's no particular reason to use an alkaline fixer, so Zonal Pro Rapid Fixer or Kodak Rapid Fixer would do fine and cost less.

jd callow · Aug 6, 2004

no replenishment and no two or three part developers -- single shot only.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 6, 2004

Then maybe PMK/TF-4 is a possibility. I'm not sure what happens to it with a roller processor. If the mechanics of the processor cause it to oxidize too quickly, then maybe Rollo Pyro or Pyrocat-HD would be a better choice. If you can do one-shot developers, then it's not too hard to experiment.

Flotsam · Aug 6, 2004

Forget photography. I will stick with my standard "Stranded on a Desert Island" answer of... Brooke Burke.

Jorge · Aug 6, 2004

mrcallow said:
no replenishment and no two or three part developers -- single shot only.

Well, arent you picky, I see now why you got stranded on an island all by yourself.....

Why not D-76 or HC-110? they are both old reliable film developers you can use. My choice would be HC-110, you have plethora of dilutions to choose, works very well for expansion and contraction, it is a one shot developer and produces pretty nice grain with most films.

Les McLean · Aug 6, 2004

Tri X with Rodinal because it will never go bad on me and it produces lovely sharp grain and with Tri X negatives that will really zing.
I choose Tri X because faster films are lower in contrast than slow or medium films therefore in the bright sunny conditions of Mr Callows Tropical Island contrast would be less of a problem. On the odd dull day I could push the development.

Plain Hypo Fix.

Paper Ilford Warmtone and Kodak Ektalure

Paper dev Zone VI and Ethol LPD.

Can I have a small computer?.................only kidding guys..... before I get myself banished. It's the wacky Brit sense of humour.

noblebeast · Aug 6, 2004

Les McLean said:
Can I have a small computer?.................only kidding guys..... before I get myself banished. It's the wacky Brit sense of humour.

Of course you can have a computer, Les! How else will the rest of us get to see the great photos you will no doubt create unless you can post them on APUG?

Joe

clogz · Aug 6, 2004

On this desert island..would there be anything worth taking a picture of?

AndrewH · Aug 6, 2004

Stranded, eh...

My first answer would be Rodinal, it would never go bad. My second answer would be Xtol, because it is a good source of vitamin c ;-)

jd callow · Aug 6, 2004

clogz said:
On this desert island..would there be anything worth taking a picture of?

I never said it was a desert. Could be Manhattan (without cab fare and banned from the subways for taking pictures) or any other place surrounded by water.

Flotsam · Aug 6, 2004

Frankly, I think hand inversion would be more feasible on a desert island.
You might have a problem getting the Professor to make you a bicycle generator out of bamboo, vines and coconuts so that you could use the Wing-Lynch.

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 6, 2004

mrcallow said:
I never said it was a desert. Could be Manhattan (without cab fare and banned from the subways for taking pictures) or any other place surrounded by water.

OK, been there, done that: Easter Island, 1981. Developer: Rodinal 1:50, Panatomic X, Agfa 25 and Tech Pan developed by hand inversion in SS tanks. Printing: Borrowed enlarger w/Schneider Componon, Agfa Brovira, Dektol. Film and prints fixed in Kodak non-hardening fixer. Oh and the 70mm Tech Pan was developed in Bill Anneman's Perfection XR-1.

When I left, I traded my remaining film, paper, chemistry, tanks, etc. (and my extra Levis) for wood carvings.

gainer · Aug 6, 2004

AndrewH said:
My first answer would be Rodinal, it would never go bad. My second answer would be Xtol, because it is a good source of vitamin c ;-)

I hate to tell you, but XTOL has no vitamin C. It uses isoascorbic acid AKA erythorbic acid or d-ascorbic acid, the mirror image of vitamin C which is l-ascorbic acid. Your body looks at it and tells it to go away. The empirical formulas are the same: C6H8O6, but our bodies can tell the difference. I have used both in developers and find no difference so far as film and paper are concerned.

I know you weren't seriously considering drinking XTOL.

Tom Duffy · Aug 6, 2004

Flotsam said:
Forget photography. I will stick with my standard "Stranded on a Desert Island" answer of... Brooke Burke.

Neal,
Where have I been living, Mars? I never heard of Brooke. A quick web search educated me quickly! As long as she can mix the developer and climb the trees for the coconuts, she seems like a good choice...

Speaking of choices, I'd take Tri-X 320, Pyrocat for EI 200 and Acufine for 640. Kodak rapid fix would be just fine.
Take care,
Tom

Les McLean · Aug 6, 2004

clogz said:
On this desert island..would there be anything worth taking a picture of?

There are photographs to be made everywhere.

clogz · Aug 6, 2004

Certainly, wasn't it Imogen Cunningham that said that if you couldn't make a good picture in your own backyard...etc?

FrankB · Aug 6, 2004

clogz said:
On this desert island..would there be anything worth taking a picture of?

Well, presumably Brooke Burke, if Flotsam has his way...!

Les, of course you can take a computer! However, as a laptop's attention span is only as long as its battery life... ...we'll see you in about four hours!

clogz · Aug 6, 2004

A nice still life that would make: Dead laptop among coconut shells!

Julia819 · Aug 7, 2004

If I were stuck on an island and could only have 1 thing, I'd bring a boat.
As for the film and developer...tri-x and d-76.

If you were stranded on an Island...

jd callow

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Foto Ludens

roteague

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