Digital BW, The Print

From: Tony Sleep <TonySleep@...>
Organization: Tony Sleep Photography
Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, September 3, 2012 3:00 PM
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Re: What Asa to shoot tmax400 with standard
development

>>Chromagenics were capable of tonality and extended highlight range that
went way beyond normal ISO400 films.

You are entitled to your opinion but even the manufacturers of chromogenic
films would disagree with you.
What amateurs thought were extended highlights in these films were really
flattened highlights due to the severe shoulders.
The inexperienced got muddy gray highlights instead of blown out highlights
and thought it was better.

>>I did masses of testing of Tri X,
HP5, Tmax400, Delta400 in different devs at different dilutions and ISO's,
and used all of them for extended periods (years). They all had their good
points, but chromagenics offered tonality that was simply impossible with
trad ISO400.

Nonsense (and I would ask why you didn't just pick a film and stick with it
rather than do "masses of testing"). All that chromogenic films do is to
turn a good grain structure into mush and substitute a nondescript gray mass
for blown highlights. They have one and ONLY one advantage: they can be
processed in C-41 machines for photographers too inept to correctly process
a roll of B&W film.
Also, characteristic curves don't lie. These films are simply not up to par.
The fact that zero established fine art photographers use these weekend
warrior films pretty much cinches it.

>>chromagenics offered tonality that was simply impossible with
trad ISO400.

For which photographers are eternally grateful. Who on Earth would want to
see traditional B&W films produce the oatmeal you get from chromogenic
films. This belongs in the same category as those who stomp their feet and
insist that RC papers are just as good as fiber papers. In both cases, they
appear to be better because they are easier to use for those who are not
capable of getting the best out of real film and real paper.  They are
training wheels. They are little plastic pianos.

Those who are unable to wring peak performance out of a Ferrari will always
insist that their Volkswagens drive just as well.

Lastly, if you are serious about your work, you won't create it on film
doomed to destruction even if you think it creates good images. Chromogenic
films are simply one-color, color films. That is, unstable and destined to
fade. Real B&W film is almost bullet proof, especially if you treat it in
selenium.

David Kachel

___________________

Artist-Photographer
Fine B&W Photographs

www.davidkachel.com
david@...

Gallery:
www.reddoorfinephotographs.com
director@...

PO Box  1893
Alpine, TX 79831
(432) 386-5787




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