I didn't see the person until I saw your comment, KayM!It took me a minute to notice the person.
Cool! One of my resolutions is to develop at least one roll of b&w in 2023.I developed it myself...
Amazing. Love it.View attachment 27954
Expired Kodak HIE (infrared) film. These are the Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan. It's a beautiful area.
On seeing the photo, I immediately wondered if a red filter would have darkened the open portion of the sky. But then, I've never used infrared.Infrared + expired + increased agitation, all these give more pronounced grain.
Infrared gives increased contrast between lights and shadows. You can get interesting results with clouds and sky too.
One can use many different filters for lots of interesting results. Perhaps the strongest effects come with infrared filter or dark red filter. Then, many portions of the visible spectra are reduced or eliminated. You can get on film things and shapes that are almost invisible by the eye!
In the past, as novice in the photography, I tried to avoid grain as much as possible. Now I think it is one of the artist's means.
Oh, I recall a photo artist I met long ago (1987 or 1988). He mostly used Tri-x film together with a developer (perhaps Accufin ? I;m not sure) that allowed him to expose it at 1000 ASA instead or 400 ASA that was the nominal sensitivity for this film. This manner he could take pictures under existing light even in the night, and this was really wonderful. Flash makes things too flat. Existing light gives them more relief.Yeah, it seems like everyone was in pursuit of no visible grain for a long, long time. At some point, I saw some photos shot with Kodak Tri-X developed in Rodinal; I loved the look of the grain and I settled on that combination when I would develop my own film.
I once did experiment with a regular panchromatic negative (Agfapan 100 professional, I think) exposed through a red transparent film (I didn't have any real photo filter in hand). I remember some red flowers with green leaves: they appeared in the printed photo very light grey with very dark leaves! The Red filter cuts and darkens green and lightens red.On seeing the photo, I immediately wondered if a red filter would have darkened the open portion of the sky. But then, I've never used infrared.
IIRC, it was the look of the photog Ralph Gibson that I was trying to emulate with that film/developer combination. Notice the mat of sharp grain in this photo below; the highlights are smooth and graduated, but the midtones look almost textural (to my eye).Oh, I recall a photo artist I met long ago (1987 or 1988). He mostly used Tri-x film...
Yes! I remember my old red VW looked almost white with a red filter, and I liked the way a red or yellow filter would almost blacken the blue sky.The Red filter cuts and darkens green and lightens red.
That's right!the highlights are smooth and graduated, but the midtones look almost textural (to my eye).
Lamar, I would have used a #25 red filter, which is lighter than the #29 or other deep red filters. You definitely can enhance what infrared film (or sensors) can give you by the use of these filters. I like to be agile when I'm out shooting and not be weighed down by extra equipment - mostly because of my bad back and weight restrictions. The #25 red means I can still shoot while looking straight through the lens, while these darker filters are so opaque you need a hand-held light meter to give you your settings. Also, if you want to shoot at low ISO you need a tripod. I try avoid all of that using the lighter filter and shooting at a higher ISO so I can stay hand-held.On seeing the photo, I immediately wondered if a red filter would have darkened the open portion of the sky. But then, I've never used infrared.
Tri-X can be a go-to film if you love that coarser look (I sure do!). Agitate it a little more than typical tank inversions and you can really make it pop. It can really come down to what you like for even the shape of the grain. Smoother grained films may be better for portraits and what-not, but I do little of that and tend to chase that texture most of the time.Yeah, it seems like everyone was in pursuit of no visible grain for a long, long time. At some point, I saw some photos shot with Kodak Tri-X developed in Rodinal; I loved the look of the grain and I settled on that combination when I would develop my own film.
What a gorgeous image!IIRC, it was the look of the photog Ralph Gibson that I was trying to emulate with that film/developer combination. Notice the mat of sharp grain in this photo below; the highlights are smooth and graduated, but the midtones look almost textural (to my eye).
Yes! I remember my old red VW looked almost white with a red filter, and I liked the way a red or yellow filter would almost blacken the blue sky.
. I was chasing that crisp grain and high-ish contrast that I saw in Mr Gibson's photos:
View attachment 27984