How's my scanning/developing

[Pete B]

Thanks Chris. I'd got it into my head that I was doing something wrong by not getting perfect results straight from scanner. I see it's acceptable, indeed expected, that post processing must be applied to finish the image. Presumably, there will be less required when exposure and development and scanning are perfectly implemented.
Pete

 

[Bille]

(...) I often see rich blacks and tones. My scans often seem a little lackluster. How do these images seem to you?

This is the result of a single tone curve in PS.

I cant comment on grain with HP5. This is probably ok for 35mm film.

 

[WJJ3]

In my opinion, the photos are exposed well, but developed slightly too long, which is being given away by substantial grain and somewhat dense highlights - try cutting the dev time to 11 mins or even to 10.
Moreover, it looks like you are not editing properly in PS with curves- the tonal separation and blacks could be better, can you describe your post processing?

Marek, thanks for weighing in here. I just had a look at your site and really like your photos and your story. I'm looking forward to finding some time to look through your site more.

 

[V-12]

I see it's acceptable, indeed expected, that post processing must be applied to finish the image.

Treat your scanner (and it's software) as a simple device for gathering information, the more boring it is the better it is, aim for no clipping of the blacks or the whites and you have more or less succeeded. It makes no difference how expensive your scanner is or how awesome, the machinery and software are no match for Photoshop. In this respect you don't need to 'learn' to scan, you employ the same techniques as post processing any digital image, which is after all what you have created. The time that skill becomes necessary is in the sympathetic post processing of the scan, so techniques like using an S curve as Chris has said. It is very easy to end up with a film scan looking like a grainy digital capture, so studying B&W film images and thinking hard about what you like in them would be a big help and something to aim for.

V