Lots of grain, lots of contrast

[David Bigeleisen]

I've been thinking of this project for a long time:

I want to photograph a fish, one with very distinct scales, probably a carp. I want the final print to look something like a woodblock print or a linoleum print.
Please give me your suggestions for film, developer, paper and lighting.

Thanks in advance.

David

 

[loccdor]

Definitely side-light, if you want to highlight the scales.

High grain and contrast? Maybe you should push a 400 speed B&W a couple stops. There's always Rodinal if you really want to invite the grain.

You could bracket a few exposures in order to get the right effect you're looking for with high contrast. Too much or too little light changes the image a lot when you're at a very limited exposure latitude.

If you have a specific texture in mind you might also consider a double exposure or overlaid frame of an evenly-lit material of that texture.

For really extreme contrast, you can use a copyfilm like Agfa Copex Rapid, but it won't give you much grain. You could add grain with the overlaid texture.

Just throwing some ideas.