Resouces for Pushing/Pulling film

[bibowj]

Im just not letting go of the evil grip of digital and moving into LF with my newly aquired Speed Graphic. I ve bought 20 sheets of Neopan Across100 and plan on shooting some portraits this weekend with it. Ill be developing it in xtol..

My question is that I read alot about how people overexpose the film, and developing it certain ways to get certain effects ...and Im totally lost on this. SO, being the kinda guy that likes to study and learn the craft, Im interesting in finding some resources on the subject. Can anyone point me to some easy to understand resources for this? (online or in text)

FYI: My ultimate goal is BW portraits shot that are semi high contrast, with very soft skin tones... almost glowing...(ill probably be using strobes as well) and my default setting will shoot as listed and dev as listed etc if I dont know any better.

Also, if any one has any experience with this film/dev combo and can suggest a good safe starting place, I would be all ears!

 

[Smudger]

I have pretty extensive experience with this film and developer.
XTOL is well known for keeping the film speed the film maker intended,and ACROS is very close to being a true 100 speed film.
The 'Massive Film Developing Chart' (Google) is best. If you overexpose your film by more than 1/2 F you may get more 'GLOW' than you can handle -you may be better off exposing at Box Speed ,and over-developing by 20%.

 

[2F/2F]

Basically, pushing and pulling are ways to raise or lower contrast, respectively. But instead of doing it when printing, with filters or chemistry, you do it on the film before you even print. This makes it easier to get the print you envision.

However, if you are controlling all of your own lighting, you already have the best tool for contrast control that is possible. You don't really need to push or pull. They are more for dealing with uncontrolled lighting that doesn't give you the contrast (or sometimes the exposure) that you want.

At any rate, the first step in learning what to do with pushing or pulling is to become completely solid with normal exposure and development. Learn how to properly expose and develop your film, and learn how this renders scenes of different contrasts. IMO, if you are just starting, pick a film or two and a single run-of-the-mill developer, and stick with normal exposure and development until you are able to accurately predict what any given scene will give you on the negative, and thus on the print. Only by understanding the ins and outs and limitations of a normally exposed and processed film will you really understand why you would push or pull.