John Sexton Processing Question

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

ANy of the APUG veterans of John Sexton workshops: I was listening to an interview with him and he stated that he "does no push processing." I take that to mean he does no expansion development a la The Zone System. He said he just makes sure that he gets rich shadow detail and then works with either selenium intensification and/or paper grades.

Did I get that right? That would greatly simplify field work. Just mark your minus development and process everything else normal.

 

[Vaughn]

...It should be regarded in most cases as an emergency measure and is usually only marginally successful anyway...

Or a way to make hand held exposures at dimly-lit venues...nice grainy concert shots, especially...

 

[Vaughn]

You must have missed his book, it came out in the late 1970's, This is Loud Light...He claimed his light was loudest because his zone system went up to XI.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

his zone system went up to XI.

Why not just make Zone X the highest?

This one goes to Zone XI....

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Pushing film is essentially the opposite - ie underexposing and overdeveloping in an attempt to compensate for underexposure.

You are correct, sir! Listening again, he was talking about how he doesn't Plus develop roll film to avoid grain and the interviewer then asks if he tested it for pushing, which he says no, but it might be good for photojournalists.

I'm definitely looking at the workshops. Thanks!

 

[Martin Aislabie]

He claimed his light was loudest because his zone system went up to XI.

Martin