Is it ok to flip the negative?

BrianShaw · May 23, 2012

When I look in a mirror I see not a reflection. Why would that be?

E. von Hoegh · May 23, 2012

You're a vampire. How do you shave?

Thomas Bertilsson · May 23, 2012

After reading all of these interesting accounts of alternate realities and other horrific side effects I have decided to change my mind.

It is NOT OK to flip the negative! The consequences are simply too hard to handle.

E. von Hoegh · May 23, 2012

Thomas Bertilsson said:
After reading all of these interesting accounts of alternate realities and other horrific side effects I have decided to change my mind.

It is NOT OK to flip the negative! The consequences are simply too hard to handle.

Good policy. It doesn't seem a good idea to mess with the quantum foam unless absolutely neccesary.

BrianShaw · May 23, 2012

Agreed... good policy... and I might even start looking into the front side of the mirror instead of the back side!

Mainecoonmaniac · May 23, 2012

But don't they pay photographers..

BrianShaw said:
probably because it changes reality.

But isn't why photographers are paid the big bucks to make something look better than reality?

E. von Hoegh · May 23, 2012

BrianShaw said:
photographs are intended to be literal recording of reality, aren't they?

Well, mine are. But nobody's paid me for one yet this century.

cliveh · May 23, 2012

On the subject of flipping, if I take a picture with some human action across the frame, it generally looks correct with more space on the right. As I live in the Western Hemisphere, I take it this is influenced by the fact that I read text left to right? If I was from an Eastern Country where text is read right to left, would such a picture seem to have a better composition when flipped?
(Blanksy - note flipped not flopped)

Vaughn · May 23, 2012

Two different negatives

Three Boys, Three Snags, New Years Day, 2008
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

One as a carbon print (left) and one as a platinum/palladium print (right).

If you are going to reverse an image, make sure you print one not reversed to preserve the balance of the universe!

Thomas Bertilsson · May 23, 2012

Nice attempt, Vaughn.

But the lighter tones of one of them will still throw the scale out of balance, and the universe with it. I like your strategy, though.

Vaughn said:
Two different negatives

One as a carbon print (left) and one as a platinum/palladium print (right).

If you are going to reverse an image, make sure you print one not reversed to preserve the balance of the universe!

Vaughn · May 23, 2012

I just corrected that -- we are safe...for now.

Thomas Bertilsson · May 23, 2012

blansky said:
Actually instead of flopping the negative, try turning the enlarger inside out. That way the image goes in the other direction but without all the other problems.

An inverted imaging tool does not equal a mirrored image. Sorry, but your theory does not qualify as there is no longer balance. You're actually flirting with anti-matter to appear, black holes and what-not, and believe me you're not doing anybody any favors.

blansky · May 23, 2012

cliveh said:
On the subject of flipping, if I take a picture with some human action across the frame, it generally looks correct with more space on the right. As I live in the Western Hemisphere, I take it this is influenced by the fact that I read text left to right? If I was from an Eastern Country where text is read right to left, would such a picture seem to have a better composition when flipped?
(Blanksy - note flipped not flopped)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flopped_image

cliveh · May 23, 2012

blansky said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flopped_image

A flopped image is a static or moving image that is generated by a mirror-reversal of an original across a vertical axis (as opposed to flipping across the horizontal axis). Flopping can be used to improve the subjective aesthetic appeal of the image in question.

Blansky, yes, but the OP was about flipping in a horizontal axis.

Poisson Du Jour · May 23, 2012

Short answer, yes.
With the negative in the carrier reversed, at the scanning stage, the image will be displayed in its correct orientation in preview. At least that is in my wide experience! There is no harm in taking a different view of an image and sometimes it can have its own special appeal.

RalphLambrecht · May 23, 2012

technically i see no problem with it,and anyway, it's your negative, so, you can do what you like or prefer with it!

Diapositivo · May 23, 2012

cliveh said:
Blansky, yes, but the OP was about flipping in a horizontal axis.

It sees to me that the OP was about flipping around a vertical axis (i.e. flopping). Wouldn't flipping around an horizontal axis put the boy's feet up and the church at the bottom of the picture? Or am I missing something?

Fabrizio

PS The flopping voice of Wikipedia is interesting but the taboo in certain countries about eating with the left hand has nothing to do with religion (Muslim or otherwise). You shouldn't eat with your left hand because it is the "impure" hand. I let you the guessing exercise about why it is "impure"

blansky · May 23, 2012

cliveh said:
A flopped image is a static or moving image that is generated by a mirror-reversal of an original across a vertical axis (as opposed to flipping across the horizontal axis). Flopping can be used to improve the subjective aesthetic appeal of the image in question.

Blansky, yes, but the OP was about flipping in a horizontal axis.

Through the years we've always called putting the negative in emulsion side up as flopping the neg. After reading the Wikipedia article I'm not sure what the difference is. When you put the neg in emulsion side up you get a mirror image. They talk about a car being a reversal of left hand vs right hand drive which is what you get when you flop or insert the neg emulsion up.

The OP put the neg in emulsion up which is what we called flopping. In fact I've never heard of flipping.

One of the smart people can maybe explain it.

removed account4 · May 23, 2012

im not sure what the difference is,
maybe david knows?

Roger Cole · May 23, 2012

I would have called it flipping if I hadn't read this, unless someone else called it flopping then I'd know what they meant to. Bottom line is that reversing about a horizontal axis simply results in an image that is upside down - maybe fine for some abstracts but you can also just turn the print that way if you want. Either flipping or flopping or reversing or mirror imaging or...whatever, turns into a quibble over semantics when everyone already knows darned well what you mean.

Allen Friday · May 23, 2012

Wait a minute. When I shoot large format, the image is inverted on the ground glass. If I flop the negative, it will print the way I saw the image when composing the shot. If I want to keep the universe in order, shouldn't I flop all negatives?

dpurdy · May 23, 2012

Actually with LF the image isn't inverted as a mirror image it is merely upside down. It is a psychological action to imagine the top at the bottom and to keep the left on the left so that in your mind you invert the image. It can be counteracted with a glass of scotch or brandy, which I have just had.

brianentz · May 24, 2012

Yes. The same with scanning. Some scanner manufacturers ask you to keep the emulsion side down, but it really doesn't matter.

cliveh · May 24, 2012

blansky said:
In fact I've never heard of flipping.

I've never heard of flopping before I read this thread (that is in the context of photography). I have heard of people flopping out on the settee, but then I'm British.

Old-N-Feeble · May 24, 2012

Flopping is done with the index finger. Flipping is done with the middle finger.

Is it ok to flip the negative?

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