Semi-stand development and a rookie error

[Peter_Jones]

Tried stand developing out tonight, in an attempt to tame the potential contrast on Rollei IR400.

All was going well until I had a total brainf@rt and opened the lid to pour the dev in 😱 :bang:

Thankfully, the film wasn't totally ruined 😱 more by good luck than good judgement. This is the first time I've done something so stupid when developing. Thank goodness for energy-saving (dim) light bulbs.

So, apart from a couple of lost frames, and obvious light leak down one side, it actually worked well (R09 1+100 1hr, agitation first min and at 30 mins) the negs look to have a scanner-friendly density. I'll certainly try it again for potentially contrasty film/conditions.

I will try to get the least damaged ones scanned and posted tomorrow night 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

It's usually a lot easier to reduce contrast by reducing development time than by semi-stand development. Yes, semi-stand works for some people (not many) but they tend to be very vocal about it. When it works at all, semi-stand compresses the mid tones. Is this what you want?

Cheers,

R.

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm not sure that stand development will help you with that level of contrast. I haven't use Rollei IR400 but IR film is contrasty, and in my opinion, beyond stand development's ability to reduce contrast that significantly. You should bracket two stops on either side and develop with specific time, agitation, temperature. Then decide which you like the best. Stand is too uncontrolled for IR film. This is one that I did with an R72 filter, using consistent or controlled development, and a personal EI (ISO).

Lots of shadows for IR and the way I like it.

 

[Peter_Jones]

Here's one that less of the light got to when I opened the tank (!). The negs seem to have normal density and normal contrast (I added contrast post-scan). I reckon I'll try it out again, maybe with Acros or Retro80s, as I think there may be potential. Taking on board what has been said above (cheers guys) I'll use my normal developing routine for anything I'm depending on. It's fun to experiment though 🙂