[tuco]

And another superb high key photo. Why do you use PMK Pyro? What does it give you compared to other developers? Sell it to me

Thanks. I use it primarily because it has a 10-year shelf life and one-shot application. I don't prefer developers that need time compensation after X-number of rolls or degrade with time once mixed. You only get one shot at the negative so I prefer to reduce the variables as much as possible with the developer.

I've used it for a long time so I stick with it because I know it. The pyro stain makes for a compensating developer. For normal contrast scenes it is just a run-of-the-mill developer. But for high contrast and highlight compression development methods, it makes more sense. Also, in the wet print days, the pyro stain had a feature. You could burn/dodge highlights and shadows separately by using filters on the enlarger with multigrade paper.

The shot below was a test shot of "Minus-X" development with PMK. It is a radical highlight compression method. This is 400 film shot at f11 and 4 seconds due to the low light inside. Take 400 film outside in the bright sun and shoot it at that setting and you'll blow highlights for sure. But yet in this scene things in the bright sun was captured. Behind the girl's back measured EV3 and the concrete outside the window measured EV15.

Many digital cameras claim 12 or 14EV for sensor dynamic range. But I really don't think that is what you actually get in the end photo. If I shoot my digital with it's reported 12.4EV DR at ISO 400, f11 and 1/2 second exposure in the Sun, highlights will be blown like crazy. So where is the 12EV DR, I wonder.

There is no need to sell you on this developer. Just pick one and stick to it for a while. They all work fine.

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Last edited by tuco; 01-05-2012 at 12:17 AM.

[Macario]

Cold War relic:- The former nuclear weapons storage area at RAF Barnham, Norfolk, UK. This base was used to store the "Blue Danube" freefall nuclear bomb in the 1950's and early 60's. The small buildings each housed one fissile core. The core was mated with the main weapon body in larger buildings like the one with the gantry. More info here Subterranea Britannica: Research Study Group: Sites: Barnham (94 Maintainance Unit) Nuclear Bomb Store









All Canon EOS 3, Tmax 400 in D76.

Photo´s as such are not that impresive. But then again, they don´t need to be. As a series they are impresive. I guess you ahve even more.

[ghl]

First of all I want to thank Tuco for sharing an amazing shot and sharing the exposure/development process. I wish I could produce pictures with this level of technical ability. Truly a stunning picture, Tuco.

With that said, here is one result from my first roll of BW400CN. Costco developed and scanned, cropped and tone curves with GIMP. It's sort of nice, but there is a lot missing. Next roll will hopefully be better.

SF1 with a SuperTak 55/1.8

[Bogie]

Great idea to have a dedicated B&W film forum! Just found this thread this morning - some great work here! I agree with earlier comments - the med format forum has gone digital. Shot these last month in northern Utah, developed, printed and scanned over the weekend Nikon FE, 28mm Nikor, Fuji Acros

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Last edited by Bogie; 11-13-2015 at 10:34 AM.

[Bogie]

2nd shot from Utah...

[tuco]

Another sand dune shot. I visit this place at least once a year. The first time I had a good dramatic sky. This day the sky was pretty dull. I'll keep trying though.

100TMX, Y2 Yellow, PMK Pyro, Pentax Digital Spotmeter

[tuco]

First of all I want to thank Tuco for sharing an amazing shot and sharing the exposure/development process. I wish I could produce pictures with this level of technical ability. Truly a stunning picture, Tuco.

Why thanks.

[gofour3]

2nd shot from Utah...

Another sand dune shot. I visit this place at least once a year. The first time I had a good dramatic sky. This day the sky was pretty dull. I'll keep trying though.

100TMX, Y2 Yellow, PMK Pyro, Pentax Digital Spotmeter

Very nice!

Phil.

[filmish]

Great shots on here! I'm more into messing with equipment than actually making pictures but every once in awhile I get something back that actually looks like a real photograph - at least to my eyes. Here are a couple shots from walking around St James Square in London one night.

[Vendee]

Great shots on here! I'm more into messing with equipment than actually making pictures but every once in awhile I get something back that actually looks like a real photograph - at least to my eyes. Here are a couple shots from walking around St James Square in London one night.

Welcome to the forum. Love the shots....lets see some more. I know what you mean about messing with the equipment. I'm at my happiest when I'm in my darkroom developing or printing. I don't get the same buzz with photoshop

P.S. A lot of us here like to know what camera/film/developer combo used on each shot. Perhaps next time you could include those details?

[MattC]

Some fantastic B&W photos in this thread - have enjoyed them all!

This is taken with a Bronica S2a, Film Fuji Acros 100 (my favourite B&W film by far!), developed in D76 1:1

[tuco]

Some fantastic B&W photos in this thread - have enjoyed them all!

This is taken with a Bronica S2a, Film Fuji Acros 100 (my favourite B&W film by far!), developed in D76 1:1

Nice car shot. I wonder what it is?

[tuco]

M7II, 65mm, Delta 3200, EI1600, PMK Pyro, Pentax Digital Spotmeter

[MattC]

Nice car shot. I wonder what it is?

Thanks - It is a Holden, I believe an FJ. Made in Australia and a classic of it's era.
Cheers,
Matt

[Vendee]

M7II, 65mm, Delta 3200, EI1600, PMK Pyro, Pentax Digital Spotmeter

Tasty