semi stand developing C-41 film in B&W chemistry
last week i combined two new for me techniques in this batch – semi-stand and processing C-41 film in B&W chemistry. what prompted me to develop color negatives (it was Kodak Ektar 100) with black and white chemistry??? i have no idea, may be a desire to experiment with film and Ektar was exposed more then year ago and waited for an attention in my fridge. until some time i used local lab service developing color film (slides and negatives), but last time two of color 120 rolls exposed in Ethiopia were spoiled in this lab.
the process of this developing was very simple – actually same as B&W negatives developing. during the way of my “home education” i learned to be very accurate with temperature, measures and attentiveness in agitation. more then this – i decided to make it semi-stand – one hour of developing that can help to achieve the better tonal range and confidence that this long process will be less aggressive to the foreign emulsion.
the result I got was dirty and grimy – i read about in forums when i did the home works about this not native process, but somewhere inside my was hope for a miracle… 🙂 and a miracle happened when i started the scanning process. you can see the results below – clean and crispy, sharp and toned well scans of 12 frames.
a few words about photography gear, soup and times i used. Hasselblad 500cm with Planar 80mm f/2.8 attached. Kodak Ektar color negative 120 film. 2 minutes of soaking in a clean 20C water. 1+100 Rodinal (one shoot) developer – one hour with one turn in the middle. one minute agitation in a clean 20C water and finally 8 min of fixing in Agfa Fix-AG 1+7. 2 minutes of the wetting agent at the end.
one of my next posts will be about the semi-stand developing process and why i loved to use it for my home developing – stay tuned or better – make a subscription to my blog.
enjoy the squares :
Thank you…
Hi Victor, excellent pics and article! I have often thought of processing C-41 film in traditional b&w chemistry, but never had the guts to follow through. Your results are very impressive! So much so, that I will give it a try next time I’m done with a roll of color film. Thanks again for showing that the results can be great!!
Hey Sam ! Thank you very much ! I’m not a big experimentator and prefer to have visible and clean results bit this time ot was old roll and i forget what was shooted and probanly to lost something that forgotten is hurting much less ;-)) for my luck i got very nice results and will happy to try again
Hi Victor just admiring your photos again . I learn very much from studying your work even when you experiment . You just have certain style about your how and what your keen eye is attracted too ! I do not want to copy you , but I am trying to develop a style of my own that fits my personality . You are not afraid of anything . I have also adopted another one of your rules : Do not throw any film away because you may salvedge something interesting and unique from within each photo and I have been doing so . Once I get going with my blog set up and work on a Facebook setup please be gentle but stern ! You should teach a class ! 😜😳😜😳
Hey Irena ! I learned a few things during my long period of life – i should work very hard with goal to get something appropriating. and another thing – one know how to take pictures and other know to learn how someone got these results. Almost never both together 😉 i will stay at my way. Thank you for all the kind words you always fimd to say.
Awesome results!
Thank you very much
My pleasure!
Beautiful work, Victor
Thank you for takinf a look Michael !
Love the typewriter and the winter stalks. Beautiful…..
Thank you very much ! Typewriter is no doubts winner !
Very interesting, thanks a lot for sharing!
I have to try this, because I too have a lot of C41 rolls lying in my fridge, waiting for development. And I am in a phase of only black and white right now, just a couple of Velvia has been exposed this last year, due to a workshop I went on, otherwise only black and white. Thank you!!
Hey Marie ! Glad that my explain helped a little bit. Good luvk 😉
Sorry, I forgot to say that I love your images, very very crisp and clear!
Thank you very muvh Marie
woow very nice pictures Vic… I will try next time after I shot color ASAP yes ASAP
thx Victor this is very inspiring… bravo!
Hey Alfred ! Thank you very much for the kind words. I have a few more c-41 rolls in my fridge to continue with experiments 😉 good luck to you !