I am back with more questions about film, processing this time.
May 6, 2017 18:59:49 #
So earlier this week I received many great responses and suggestions to purchasing a film camera.
Now I am planning ahead for the next step(s).
My interests and caveats for film starts with my love for B&W. I have a color-blind problem where I don't see colors like most (75%) of you do. So my working with my digital images for the last few years has been challenging to say the least. Not everybody sees my colors like I do. Yet when I convert them to B&W, I get lots of complements on them. Maybe my B&W vision compensates for my different color vision?
My film photography will be almost all B&W. Eventually, I will probably want to set up a darkroom in my basement now after all these years I have room to have a clean and dark space.
In the meantime, I am wanting to experiment with several different film types, and have them developed and scanned by an online lab. I do have a high end scanner that I can use to scan the negatives, but that can be a lot of work unless I pick and choose carefully.
So I want to send my films out for developing and scanning; no printing. I can do that at home or send out individual ones for printing.
Unlike my digital photography, my film shoots will be more street scenes, journalistic type of photography, close up and macro. Being a biologist, lots of interesting stuff out there.
Darkroom.com seems to get high marks for a processing company. What are your experiences with them and others that are popular?
What about chromogenic B&W, C41 processing films? Like the Ilford brand. I know I can't develop that one at home. But would it we worth it to try it out and send it to Walgreens (or some other place) to see how it works.
So my business plan is to shoot lots of B&W, have it developed and scanned, see what I did, improve my techniques and then move on to buying the developing equipment for my home lab.
As a recently retired senior, I have so much time on my hands that I need hobbies to keep me motivated.
Wow, that was a mouthful.
Thanks for any advice that this forum always gives.
Jim B.
Now I am planning ahead for the next step(s).
My interests and caveats for film starts with my love for B&W. I have a color-blind problem where I don't see colors like most (75%) of you do. So my working with my digital images for the last few years has been challenging to say the least. Not everybody sees my colors like I do. Yet when I convert them to B&W, I get lots of complements on them. Maybe my B&W vision compensates for my different color vision?
My film photography will be almost all B&W. Eventually, I will probably want to set up a darkroom in my basement now after all these years I have room to have a clean and dark space.
In the meantime, I am wanting to experiment with several different film types, and have them developed and scanned by an online lab. I do have a high end scanner that I can use to scan the negatives, but that can be a lot of work unless I pick and choose carefully.
So I want to send my films out for developing and scanning; no printing. I can do that at home or send out individual ones for printing.
Unlike my digital photography, my film shoots will be more street scenes, journalistic type of photography, close up and macro. Being a biologist, lots of interesting stuff out there.
Darkroom.com seems to get high marks for a processing company. What are your experiences with them and others that are popular?
What about chromogenic B&W, C41 processing films? Like the Ilford brand. I know I can't develop that one at home. But would it we worth it to try it out and send it to Walgreens (or some other place) to see how it works.
So my business plan is to shoot lots of B&W, have it developed and scanned, see what I did, improve my techniques and then move on to buying the developing equipment for my home lab.
As a recently retired senior, I have so much time on my hands that I need hobbies to keep me motivated.
Wow, that was a mouthful.
Thanks for any advice that this forum always gives.
Jim B.
May 6, 2017 19:12:43 #
At the time that professional quality digital cameras were too expensive for my budget, I was already getting demand for photos in digital format. So I kept shooting film and got a dedicated Nikon film scanner. But when I tried printing my film scans digitally, I found I couldn't get the same quality as my darkroom prints. I also found when I got my first professional digital camera, a Nikon D2X, that the quality of the digital images was much better than scanned negatives. So I wouldn't shoot film again unless I was going to make darkroom prints from it.
May 6, 2017 19:15:09 #
May 6, 2017 19:51:21 #
Set your geewhiz superduper digi-camera to monochrome. Get yourself a comparable guality B&W ink jet photo printer and make great B&W prints.
That's my WAG
Good luck
That's my WAG
Good luck
May 6, 2017 20:20:51 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Set your geewhiz superduper digi-camera to monochrome. Get yourself a comparable guality B&W ink jet photo printer and make great B&W prints.
That's my WAG
Good luck
That's my WAG
Good luck
You much more control and options of B&W tones if you shoot in color and convert in PP.
May 6, 2017 21:16:07 #
The darkroom.com does a great job processing and scanning, I have used them several times.
However, it's very easy and fun to process your own b&w at home. I set myself up with everything needed for around $200 and process the film in the bathroom. Two reasons why, 1) I don't like the idea of darkroom chemicals where I prepare food, and 2) the shower keeps the dust to a minimum in the bathroom. I'm currently shooting Ilford HP5 and Kodak Tri-x and developing in Ilford DD-X.
However, it's very easy and fun to process your own b&w at home. I set myself up with everything needed for around $200 and process the film in the bathroom. Two reasons why, 1) I don't like the idea of darkroom chemicals where I prepare food, and 2) the shower keeps the dust to a minimum in the bathroom. I'm currently shooting Ilford HP5 and Kodak Tri-x and developing in Ilford DD-X.
May 6, 2017 21:26:57 #
kdogg
Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV
From one recently retired to another, go for the darkroom set-up and process your own negatives and prints. There is nothing like seeing your images appear in the developing tray (also the smell of a darkroom is intoxicating). I have spent nearly 50 years in the darkroom and am now just starting to go digital. All the experience I have obtained through the years has transferred quite well to the digital age, but by doing film photography you force yourself to slow down and observe the play of light on your subjects. You won't be tempted to shoot and shoot as with a digital camera because you only have 36 exposures on a roll of film. So go ahead and take the slow but exiting road of film and I believe you will find that what you shoot will be well thought out. Also get a copy of The Zone System. The system was developed by Ansel Adams and covers everything from initial exposure to darkroom processing. Enjoy your retirement!
May 6, 2017 21:30:05 #
I used to process Ilford XP1 and XP2 in my darkroom.
Are you sure you can't do it anymore?
One advantage is that when scanning chromogenic film, you can use digital ice to help with any dust.
Are you sure you can't do it anymore?
One advantage is that when scanning chromogenic film, you can use digital ice to help with any dust.
May 6, 2017 22:01:36 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
I used to process Ilford XP1 and XP2 in my darkroom.
Are you sure you can't do it anymore?
One advantage is that when scanning chromogenic film, you can use digital ice to help with any dust.
Are you sure you can't do it anymore?
One advantage is that when scanning chromogenic film, you can use digital ice to help with any dust.
I tried chromogenic film back when I was shooting film, and I was very disappointed in the image quality compared with conventional B&W film.
May 6, 2017 22:10:34 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
I tried chromogenic film back when I was shooting film, and I was very disappointed in the image quality compared with conventional B&W film.
Not as good for "art" probably, but for other things, I thought it was amazing film.
It does have a different look to it.
May 6, 2017 22:20:53 #
Personally, I prefer TriX (of course) and occasionally Ilford HP5 developed in D76 (old school), but I have also used Acufine and Microdol. I'm not a fan of chromogenic B&W like XP2 developed in C41, but some people like the grain structure. BTW, you can purchase C41 chemicals and develop at home, but more effort than conventional B&W developing.
May 6, 2017 22:50:50 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
You much more control and options of B&W tones if you shoot in color and convert in PP.
How in the world does shooting in color help the OP with his color perception problem???
May 6, 2017 22:55:02 #
Oh, I understand what he was saying. Yes, I convert many of my images from color to B&W in PP. Again, part of my reason for shooting in film is for the fun and the challenge.
If I were a professional, and needed to make a living and save time, of course I would expedite my work.
I'm just interested in adding to my hobby. Thank for your comment.
If I were a professional, and needed to make a living and save time, of course I would expedite my work.
I'm just interested in adding to my hobby. Thank for your comment.
twowindsbear wrote:
How in the world does shooting in color help the OP with his color perception problem???
May 6, 2017 23:08:00 #
twowindsbear wrote:
How in the world does shooting in color help the OP with his color perception problem???
Because he can certainly judge how the colors translate into grey tones. Besides, the OP wants to shoot film. You're the one who was suggesting he shoot monochrome digital. He was already having success converting color digital to B&W.
May 7, 2017 01:44:15 #
kdogg
Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV
But the analog process is more fun. It forces you to slow down and evaluate light, which is is the cornerstone of all of photography. No matter which form you choose,digital or film, light is the master you must obey. Film photography makes you a better digital photographer just for the fact that it makes you slow down and make each shot count. Don't abandon film, but embrace it because the lessons your learn will make you a better digital photographer in the long run. Remember hands on is the best way to learn, so jump in and do it
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