Absolutely Changing Our Minds About Processing

R

ruben

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Yeap, as always my headlines are too yellowish. Just hope there is some contents in them from time to time. And now for the contents.

As I have written already, I had to move to digital forced by my lack of time to process, while reckognizing up to day that film is a superior QUALITY media than digital. And I still have in my freezer, besides lots of virgin films, some dozen of already exposed films, for more than a year.

But there was a trap in my mind, or if you like, a lack of intelligence, a lack of ability to adapt to our new times in which fast food is king. For all the time I processed film in the past, including being prized by foreign photographers using my commercial services in the field, I have gone the most classical and secure path, I assimilated from the most authorized master of the field in the US.

The strongest point of classical processing is our assumption, and perhaps proof that our films will last a hundred years (all other factors about accuracy, fine tuning etc, taken for granted)

However there is another side to the coin, which has lashed me without mercy, and it is the weakest point of classical black and white processing and storing: TIME CONSUMPTION.

If you have it, the time, enjoy it. And what about that lone RFF member up there on the hills without the necessary time ?

Here, some foreign fairy came at one of my nights on the hills, and showed me a vision in which she turns down completely that perfectly arranged table of the classical approach where everything was in place. No new tortilla without breaking more eggs.

At this point in which I may be expected to give new experimental guidelines, like the times of Kiev research, I will abstain, and do something much more better. I will invite all of us to start thinking about BW processing, in an heretic way by which we put down some of our mithycal starting points, and embrace some of our adventurous digital sides within ourselves or our digital RFF folks.

The question is how could we strongly reduce time of both processing and storing if we give up the classical wish about the longetivity of BW film image, and embrace the adventurous fate of the digital image uncertain ship.

Be careful in what I say. I don't say that BW film conservation is an illusion. I say that if we give more weight on the BW scanned image and are ready to risk film classical conservation, new possiblilites may open in terms of gaining time.

And I am not talking either about trashing the films after scanning. But risking less safe ways of storing, provided they bring us spared time, in the eventuality we pin our longetiviy image whyms with the digital future.

This takes for granted that all BW processing folks are sacanning anyway.

So at this port I leave you to propose TIME SPARING METHODS of processing and storing.

Ok I will further give two starting steps, very few will oppose:

a) films will be processed in groups

b) the Jobo processor will be used to grant quick tempering of liquids, greater amounts of film inside, greater control of results.

Yeap, for most of us I may have said almost nothing, although for myself I have said something, since I own a Jobo processor for prints, that I never thought I can use to stain my classical tank processing.

Here I confess before you a typical example of a hardcore conservative mind, unable to imagine new approaches due to my own routine.

But we are just at the begining, kindly take off and continue. Perhaps along this thread we may gain alltogether.

Cheers,
Ruben

PS:
Yes, I forgot to mention that digital will still be faster, but this is not the question at all. The question is how much we could reduce our processing and storing time if we concede the scanned image the priority for image conservation, and turn the film as an uncertain back up. The table upside down.
 
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I'm not sure it's really a time issue. It takes very little time to actually process B&W film. After 40+ years of processing film every day, I just don't want to do it anymore! But, realistically, to stay on topic, beyond your suggestion to process a lot of film at once, it's hard to speed up a time and temperature controlled process.
 
I'm not sure it's really a time issue. It takes very little time to actually process B&W film. After 40+ years of processing film every day, I just don't want to do it anymore! But, realistically, to stay on topic, beyond your suggestion to process a lot of film at once, it's hard to speed up a time and temperature controlled process.

...though plenty seem to want to slow it down via stand development!

Cheers,

R.
 
um, what?

I'm sorry, there were a lot of words and while each and every one had a meaning which I understand from my childhood years paying attention while reading books and listening to my kind and dedicated teachers who took great joy in making sure their students each and every one learned all they had to teach, your original post I find difficult to follow and make heads or tails of.

Whew.

Cliff notes please. Oh wait, that's in the PS.

I already scan my film after processing. It's not a time saving or wasting endeavor IMHO. It is what it is. I cannot foresee saving a whole ton of time on the processing end unless you just decide not to rinse the negatives properly for some reason. It already is a 5-10 minute process max. I fail to see the issue.
 
um, what?

.... I cannot foresee saving a whole ton of time on the processing end unless you just decide not to rinse the negatives properly for some reason. It already is a 5-10 minute process max. I fail to see the issue.

My friend,
there is no trick in my pocket waiting to prove how fool we were.

But from the moment you start rolling the film in your reels at the darkroom, up to the moment you sleeve those six frames pieces into that anti-acid paper sleeve, after scanning, we have some 10 or 20 steps. You have mentioned the rinsing. Good. I never used short rinsing liquids in order to secure clean negs. Certainly the water rinsing is a step among the many, to deal with as water is different in different countries. Had we been able to propose a certain trademark as the one standing all kinds of water, this would be a small but tangible step in our climb.

What are the next best steps ?
And how do we include the short rinsing within the Jobo processing?
Is the Jobo processing to be questioned ? Be it said I never processed film with the Jobo processor and I do not see any reason that people who had experimented with it intervine and recommend it or reject it. Let's put all our dirty clothes to ventilate and let's see if some of us have faster ways of doing the laundry.

It seems that each of us cooks his food, takes it for granted, but for some reason we seem to be shy about public judgement in case of describing the basic recipes. and I am not refering to 40oz who so far has been the only one to adress one of the "obvious" steps of the process.

But unless we submit our steps to public talk, we will not have a new tortilla.
 
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I'm not quite clear about issue, though there's direct relation - spending less time with gear makes more time to shoot, process and print.

I'm sure everyone knew this already, it's just my latest discovery. With film gear, print is final step, but you all knew this too.
 
One makes choices about how time is spent. The "amount" of time available is the same for everyone. I haven't spent long hours learning to repair Kiev bodies, whch leaves me more time for processing.
 
One makes choices about how time is spent. The "amount" of time available is the same for everyone. I haven't spent long hours learning to repair Kiev bodies, whch leaves me more time for processing.
here, here!....LOL!, but how are you on new tortillas? :D
Dave.
 
.......Get an 8 reel tank and consolidate your process with batch processing, use rapid fix and a forced water film washer.

- What's your opinion about the Jobo processor, for all weather processing ?

- How much time do you have later hanging 12-16 films, later cutting each one into six strips, and sleeving it ?

- How much of it do you actually scan ?

- Which is the current faster and good scanner ?

- What would be your final storing film method ?


I may accept this thread will lead nowhere. I don't think I will be convinced by majority tiredness I am asking the wrong basic questions of the day concerning film processing.
 
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One makes choices about how time is spent. The "amount" of time available is the same for everyone. I haven't spent long hours learning to repair Kiev bodies, whch leaves me more time for processing.

I am floored. This is the justification I need to not waste more time trying to repair the crown graphic that is sitting on my bookshelf like an albatross. I will go out and get a better (or at least functional) 4x5 camera. At least I could be figuring out how I want to work with those negatives if I could actually produce some.
 
Hesitant

Hesitant

For me especialy the enlarging, manipulating side of the darkroom, working with my hands over the paper and the thrill (or disapointment) of seeing the image getting nearer to what you where aiming at gives me great satisfaction.

This has nothing to do with economics of time, or money, I just love it thats al.

On the other hand:
For my next vacation I will get a digital camera for the workload that I brought home from the last one is quite overwhelming. Sorting and enlarging are stil going on one month after we came home.

But I, like Ruben, will have to make a mental exercise before going over.

It was a great step for me to trust the electronics of the Contax G2. ;)
 
If film use takes too long for you then go digital.

I don't think you can measure art by the hour.;)

I am already digital .

Film processing is not Art but Craft, the Art is made by your mind via the camera, and you can argue that printing is also part of it - but not film processing.

Sorry for bothering your winter sleep. I will do my best not to repeat it anymore.
 
some thoughts come to mind:

1.) i'll have whatever it is you've had.

2.) duuuuude!

3.) you are one passionate ombre.
 
One makes choices about how time is spent. The "amount" of time available is the same for everyone. I haven't spent long hours learning to repair Kiev bodies, whch leaves me more time for processing.


This statement needs to be engraved on a stone tablet or something ... and listed under ... 'the bleedin' obvious that is oft over looked!'

:D
 
Interesting. I have just gotten a 4x5 enlarger after not having an enlarger for almost 20 years. I am excited at the prospect of using it. I always enjoyed developing film and making my own prints. I never considered myself a consistently good printer. But on those few occassions I got what I was after, the failures were easily overlooked.

That means to me more processing of b/w film. That is time consuming, but it is part of what gets me where I want to be. Having a good print. Interesting that you mention Jobo. That is one of the things I want to try. Not so much for speed, as I didn't know that was a possible outcome. My interest was in the smaller footprint I hope for in my darkroom space. My darkroom will be my utility room, shared with the washer and dryer. It is also a storage place. Not ideal, but what I will have to use.

Ruben, do you get more pleasure from using the digital, or do you simply find it more expedient?
 
Forget scanning,
just make 20-30 good darkroom prints and film processing will feel like a breeze.
If you shoot film, might as well do at least some printing (even if it's in a tiny bathroom); otherwise, you're not getting the full experience.
 
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