Shooting Indoors

[Masuro]

I have a project in mind that will require all (or mostly) indoor shooting. Most of the photographs will involve people doing relatively sedentary activities. E.g., reading, listening to the radio, eating, and so on. Some of the pictures will be shot using natural light and some will be shot using room light. Can anyone recommend a 120 black and white film (Ilford preferred) for this sort of project? Since it is a documentary sort of photography, I would guess that some grain is acceptable. How about 400 speed film shot at ISO 800? Would this reduce contrast too much?
I would also appreciate any advice you might have about shooting household scenes.

 

[Andy K]

If it were me I'd use HP5+ at either 1600 or 3200.

 

[Dave Miller]

Ilford Delta will not show much grain unless you make big enlargements. I would go for Delta 3200 if you can get it. The extra speed may help.

 

[Masuro]

Thank you both for your time. HP5 Plus doesn't seem to be available here in Korea though HP5 is. How is the contrast at 1600? Or even 3200?
I would like to have Delta 3200 but I haven't been able to find it in 120 format.

 

[Masuro]

Newsflash. I did find HP5 Plus on an Internet shopping site. What is the difference between the 'Plus' and the non-'Plus'?

 

[Solarize]

How about 400 speed film shot at ISO 800? Would this reduce contrast too much?
I would also appreciate any advice you might have about shooting household scenes.

As far as i know, uprating the film will actually increase the contrast. I have had good results with HP5 shot at EI 800 - I suppose it depends largely on your printing style. I dont mind a slightly contrasty neg.

 

[John Curran]

I would agree with Solarize. I just did this in the DR last night with HP5. Pushing it will increase contrast.

 

[Masuro]

Do you use standard developing time or do you give it a little extra?

 

[David H. Bebbington]

I have a project in mind that will require all (or mostly) indoor shooting. Most of the photographs will involve people doing relatively sedentary activities. E.g., reading, listening to the radio, eating, and so on. Some of the pictures will be shot using natural light and some will be shot using room light. Can anyone recommend a 120 black and white film (Ilford preferred) for this sort of project? Since it is a documentary sort of photography, I would guess that some grain is acceptable. How about 400 speed film shot at ISO 800? Would this reduce contrast too much?
I would also appreciate any advice you might have about shooting household scenes.

The bottom line is that (very roughly) shooting indoors under average room lighting will require an exposure of 1/60 at f2.8 on ISO 400 film. If you are shooting 120 with your camera on a tripod and can go, say, 1/15 at f5.6, you could just manage with ISO 400, otherwise as David Miller suggests, Delta 3200 would give a useful increase in freedom of movement (although the true speed of Delta 3200 is only ISO 1000).

Any push-processing is going to give you more grain (which may or may not be the look you want) plus additional contrast, which may be useful for pictures shot with only room light but will be a problem if you shoot any pictures which include windows, where the contrast is very high already.

In my personal opinion, using a 120 camera would slow you down in this situation without giving any extra quality (unless you use flash). If it were me, I'd be reaching for a 35 mm camera with an f1.4 lens, but then, I'm not you!

Regards,

David

PS: HP5 Plus is the more advanced version of HP5. HP5 has not been available in Europe for some time. The difference between the two films is not dramatic, if you do buy HP5 (not Plus), check it is not out of date.

 

[Masuro]

Thank you for the detailed explanations. I think I may try this with digital first to see what sort of results I get. Then I can decide how to shoot on film.

 

[Nicole]

If absolutely necessary to expand/push your film Masuro then try Delta 400 at EI800. If only agfa were still around. I'd begin by reducing the AP first and use EI800 only when necessary. Can you get TriX400?

 

[David H. Bebbington]

If absolutely necessary to expand/push your film Masuro then try Delta 400 at EI800. If only agfa were still around. I'd begin by reducing the AP first and use EI800 only when necessary. Can you get TriX400?

Can you explain AP?

Regards,

David

 

[DBP]

I'm with David on this. Shooting in low light with fast lenses and no flash is the sort of thing that made 35mm popular. Alternately, maybe a TLR resting on a tabletop will let you shoot at a slow enough speed without the disruption of carrying a tripod.

 

[Masuro]

Yes, I can get lots of ISO 400 films here for medium format. The lens I have for the Contax is a Planar 2/80, which is pretty fast.
Maybe I will do this project in digital so I don't have any white balance problems (not a problem with B&W, of course) and I can adjust ISO on the fly.

 

[Nicole]

Can you explain AP?

David, I meant f/stop or DOF.