What's your favourite photograph in Photrio gallery/posts?

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 5, 2022

I'll start with mine:
It's a medium format portrait made by Thomas Bertilsson. FP4+125 in Xtol-R.
Post #40, thread Where does FP4+ fall in for you? (2016).
www.photrio.com/forum/threads/where-does-fp4-fall-in-for-you.138018/page-2
The subject is a boy: one of the best portraits I've seen in my life, by any master.

MattKing · Mar 5, 2022

If you use the "permalink" function at the top right of a particular post, and then copy the entire link that shows up in the window, the link will take you straight to the post itself.
Like this (for the one identified by Juan): https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/where-does-fp4-fall-in-for-you.138018/page-2#post-1804651
I agree about the photo.

eddie · Mar 5, 2022

I have many, but Thomas was always among my favorites. His work is consistently excellent. If you haven't yet, look at his other stuff.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 5, 2022

MattKing said:
If you use the "permalink" function at the top right of a particular post, and then copy the entire link that shows up in the window, the link will take you straight to the post itself.
Like this (for the one identified by Juan): https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/where-does-fp4-fall-in-for-you.138018/page-2#post-1804651
I agree about the photo.

Thanks for the tip, Matt!

DonW · Mar 5, 2022

Here's one.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/the-big-empty.59645/

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 6, 2022

If one day Thomas visits this thread, it would be nice to know (if he remembers) the EI he used, and how he metered...
There's a little bit of a pushed look I like very much for that soft lowish light, perhaps from using box speed instead of 64-80, or possibly from the VC filter used?
A totally magical portrait. Gesture, defocusing, composition, light, It's got everything, and yet so natural.
Congratulations, Thomas.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 10, 2022

I want to show a second image I like, this time, from a technical point of view:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...0-and-pushed-to-iso-1600.125631/#post-1661752
This image is one of the best sunny scene images I've seen from the point of view of perfect exposure and perfect development.
Most sunny scenes are often underexposed and overdeveloped, and for those two reasons they seldom convey the very open, sunny tone this photograph shows.
Amazing job, John.

John Bragg · Mar 11, 2022

Hi Juan, and thanks for the kind words. I remember taking that photograph well and I used a Nikon F90x and Af Nikkor 35-70 f2.8 D at the wide end. Exposure was 1/250 @ f8 and was determined by manual exposure using matrix metering and aiming at the side of the boat. Film stock was HP5+ @ ei200 developed in HC-110 dilution H with reduced agitation.

Lunchtime at Mevagissey. by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 11, 2022

Hi John, thanks a lot for your data!
That's close to three stops more light than sunny f/16 and slide film.
Gorgeous!
I have an N90s too, by the way... Very useful camera!
When I'm metering (and developing) for ISO400, I use 1/250 f/8 1/2.
Your reduced agitation and a bit more generous exposure are better!
Those skins in the shadows are amazing!!!
Have a nice weekend!

pentaxuser · Mar 11, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
If one day Thomas visits this thread, it would be nice to know (if he remembers) the EI he used, and how he metered...
.

I think that the answer to "If one day Thomas visits this thread" may be never again. I can't recall seeing Thomas for some years now on Photrio . In fact on his profile page there isn't even that part of the profile that says when he last visited.

pentaxuser

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 11, 2022

Yes, I noticed the same long ago...
Sweet person and photographer.
I hope he's fine and enjoying.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 11, 2022

John Bragg said:
Hi Juan, and thanks for the kind words. I remember taking that photograph well and I used a Nikon F90x and Af Nikkor 35-70 f2.8 D at the wide end. Exposure was 1/250 @ f8 and was determined by manual exposure using matrix metering and aiming at the side of the boat. Film stock was HP5+ @ ei200 developed in HC-110 dilution H with reduced agitation.

Lunchtime at Mevagissey. by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

John, is your time suited for conderser enlarger, or better for softer light enlargers?
Thank you!

eddie · Mar 11, 2022

One of Andrew's still kills me every time I look at it:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/broken.46882/

MattKing · Mar 11, 2022

eddie said:
One of Andrew's still kills me every time I look at it:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/broken.46882/

Excellent choice. And the print I have of it on my wall is pretty good too.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 11, 2022

That's a wonderful image!

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 11, 2022

John, I forgot to ask:
How many mililitres of HC-110 did you use?

MattKing · Mar 11, 2022

It is really hard to choose a favorite between them, but just about any of @Cheryl Jacobs photos are worth considering.
This one is a leading candidate:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/superheroes.18609/

eddie · Mar 11, 2022

MattKing said:
Excellent choice. And the print I have of it on my wall is pretty good too.

I'm jealous...

eddie · Mar 11, 2022

Another favorite. It's one I think of whenever someone disparages Holga/Diana images.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/lower-falls.17720/?page=3#comments

John Bragg · Mar 12, 2022

Hi Juan. The time is 12 minutes @ 20°C and I used 8ml of the concentrate diluted to make 500ml total developer. (1:63 ratio). The agitation regime is 30 seconds initial invertions, then 2 invertions at 4 minute mark and 2 more at 8 minutes and pour out at 12 minutes. This has resulted in well developed shadows and highlights restrained enough to hold detail. Resulting negatives are scanned with Plustek scanner and Silversoft software but would easily print on a condenser at grade 2 or 3. Lately I have used Ilfosol 3 in a similar fashion and I prefer it to HC-110. Dilution is 1:9 and total development is 6 minutes @ 20°C also with 30 seconds initial agitation and 2 invertions at 2 mins and again at 4 minute mark. Pour out at 6 mins. Also I always use Ei200 for HP5+. Here is an example of how sharp this can be.

Kind regards,
John

Diggory the Heligan Scarecrow by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 12, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
I'll start with mine:
It's a medium format portrait made by Thomas Bertilsson. FP4+125 in Xtol-R.
Post #40, thread Where does FP4+ fall in for you? (2016).
www.photrio.com/forum/threads/where-does-fp4-fall-in-for-you.138018/page-2
The subject is a boy: one of the best portraits I've seen in my life, by any master.

Thank you! That's a very nice thing to be on the receiving end of, maybe the kindest comment I've ever received.

The replenished Xtol is about similar to 1+1 in activity, but speed is lost due to the bromides that build up over time in the developer. So I use Ilford FP4+ at EI 80-100. I don't know how long the developing time is anymore, it's been a few years since I consistently used a darkroom, so most of my memory of the practice has faded. Nowadays I live in an apartment, so I don't have room for a darkroom, but shoot FP4+ and Fomapan 400, processing in mostly PMK Pyro, hoping to one day be able to do some contact printing using enlarged digital negatives, a topic for a different forum.

Be well, all. Thanks again for the kind remarks! Made my day.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 12, 2022

So cool to see you back!!!
Thanks for coming!!!

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 12, 2022

John Bragg said:
Hi Juan. The time is 12 minutes @ 20°C and I used 8ml of the concentrate diluted to make 500ml total developer. (1:63 ratio). The agitation regime is 30 seconds initial invertions, then 2 invertions at 4 minute mark and 2 more at 8 minutes and pour out at 12 minutes. This has resulted in well developed shadows and highlights restrained enough to hold detail. Resulting negatives are scanned with Plustek scanner and Silversoft software but would easily print on a condenser at grade 2 or 3. Lately I have used Ilfosol 3 in a similar fashion and I prefer it to HC-110. Dilution is 1:9 and total development is 6 minutes @ 20°C also with 30 seconds initial agitation and 2 invertions at 2 mins and again at 4 minute mark. Pour out at 6 mins. Also I always use Ei200 for HP5+. Here is an example of how sharp this can be.

Kind regards,
John

Diggory the Heligan Scarecrow by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

Hi John.
Is that HP5+ in Ilfosol-3?
I imagined that mix would produce more grain... Your reduced agitation works very well for tone and grain!

John Bragg · Mar 12, 2022

Juan Valdenebro said:
Hi John.
Is that HP5+ in Ilfosol-3?
I imagined that mix would produce more grain... Your reduced agitation works very well for tone and grain!

Yes indeed. Ilfosol 3 and HP5+ @ ei200. Sharp, clear and tonally very pleasing.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 12, 2022

Amazing.
Why do people say Ilfosol-3 is grainy?
And this is a negative scan...
Well, I guess it's grainy when people scan and sharpen a pushed negative!

What's your favourite photograph in Photrio gallery/posts?

Juan Valdenebro

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What's your favourite photograph in Photrio gallery/posts?

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