Recipe for pleasing skin tones in B&W?

Which 120 Film?

  • Total voters
    5

winkalman

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
1
Location
Michigan, US
Format
Medium Format
Is anyone willing to disclose a foolproof recipe for pleasing skin tones in B&W? I haven't really shot film in nearly 10 years and back when I did I wasn't shooting portraits. I'd like to take some B&W shots of my infant daughter and I'm wondering if there's a tried and true 120 film + developer combination that's not too exotic for fairly low grain and good skin tones. For reference Tri-X is a little grainy for what I'm after. Should I be looking at Tmax 100, Delta 100, something else? Can I just throw it in D76 or does it pay to be picky with the developer? Any need for filtration with caucasian skin tones in window light? What about scanability; I have an older Epson Perfection scanner?

Thanks!
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,743
Format
35mm

I use Tmax 100 in D-76 1:1, maybe go for slight over exposure. I scan with a DSLR so I basically have massive control in post. If I feel like I throw on a yellow filter but I've not seen much of a difference using filter or going filter free.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,526
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
Softar filter. But might not be necessary with a baby.
 
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