Overexpose and developingtime!!!

[AndersPS]

I´ve a question about developingtime. I talked to a dude, in the only shop in Gothenburg that only have analog photography, and he said that I should overexpose to get more detail. Is this right? And do the developingtime gets longer or shorter if I overexpose the film, or should I develop the time the shart for the film says?
Many questions but I want it to be right.

///Anders S

 

[Anon Ymous]

To a large extent, yes you'll get more shadow detail when overexposing. Of course, the next question should be "how much". There's no definite answer, but 2/3 to 1 stop are usual. Now, if you overexpose and keep the development time the same, you'll get ugly overdeveloped negatives. So, if you overexpose (compared to box speed) you need to cut a bit of development time. About 20% for +1 stop exposure is roughly needed, but you should do some testing to see what you like. By the way, this is called pull processing.

 

[AndersPS]

Thank you for the answer I´m gonna test a roll with no overexpose and see if the image has enough detail in shadowareas.

 

[Dan Henderson]

Anders: why not expose a roll at box speed, 1/3, 2/3, 1 stop over, and even 1/3, 2/3 and 1 stop under, all of the same scene. Then develop, and see which one gives you the shadow detail that you want.

Overexposing and underdeveloping by x amount does not work for everyone. For example, with the film and developer combo that I use, I expose at 1/3 stop more than box speed, and I think I could even go 2/3rds under.
Dan

 

[Ian Grant]

Many of us test our film/developer combinations to determine our optimal film speeds under different conditions. This is usually done using the Zone System or the more complex BTZS (Beyond the Zone System). It also helps find the best developer times as well.

Either way you get similar results, and for many films in my case that means cutting the film speed by up to a stop, the only exception is EFKE/Adox 25 where I increase the speed by a stop (50 EI).

Ian

 

[markbarendt]

I used to believe this.

It does actually work for many if not most shots when you use negative film.

What I believe now is that you are simply placing the exposure differently, for effect.

The place this works best for me is when I'm sending my film to a lab and the developing is standardized.

Grab Ansel Adams' "The Negative" and read up on the zone system, Expansion and Contraction.

This article deals with it a little (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[removed account4]

Anders: why not expose a roll at box speed, 1/3, 2/3, 1 stop over, and even 1/3, 2/3 and 1 stop under, all of the same scene. Then develop, and see which one gives you the shadow detail that you want.

Overexposing and underdeveloping by x amount does not work for everyone. For example, with the film and developer combo that I use, I expose at 1/3 stop more than box speed, and I think I could even go 2/3rds under.
Dan

i was going to suggest the same thing
what works for some doesn't work for others ...

check out this book -
Henry Horenstein's : Black & White Photography
A Basic Manual (Third Edition)

it is on amazon. the first and second editions are great too,
and sell used on amazon as well ...

good luck!
john

 

[Tom Nutter]

check out this book -
Henry Horenstein's : Black & White Photography
A Basic Manual (Third Edition)

A great book! It also includes steps for conducting a basic film-speed test to get the best exposures with your set-up.

 

[jp80874]

When reducing developing time do not go below 5 minutes. As I understand it you need that amount of time to thoroughly develop the film. Some developers allow for diluted chemistry and longer processing to avoid this limit.

John Powers

 

[RalphLambrecht]

When reducing developing time do not go below 5 minutes. As I understand it you need that amount of time to thoroughly develop the film. Some developers allow for diluted chemistry and longer processing to avoid this limit.

John Powers

There is a minimum development time, below which, development becomes uneven. In most circumstances this time is 4 minutes.

One way to test development is to develop for 4, 5.5, 8, 11, 16 and maybe 22 minutes. Yes, you recognize these numbers, don't you. The reason is that development is not linear.

I suggest that Anders investigates in how to do a proper film exposure and development test. This is initially more work, but it will return valuable results right away. This trial-and-error testing is a useless time waister.