taylan
Street Dog
I am curious about your preferences at overcast days. What is your film and developer combination? It would be great if you can share images as well. 
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
Normally HP5+ at 800, D-76 1:1
kxl
Social Documentary
I have two favorites for full or partially overcast days:
Tri-X with XTOL 1+1
OR
HP5 with HC-110 Dilution B (see photo below)
Tri-X with XTOL 1+1
OR
HP5 with HC-110 Dilution B (see photo below)
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Whiskey and a book.
I like to shoot on sunny days!
I like to shoot on sunny days!
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Overcast light is the most beautiful light for BW work, in my opinion. All of the film/developer combinations that I have tried work beautifully. Getting good tonality in harsh sunlight is FAR more difficult.
I could post a hundred pics here done with all the major BW films out there and they'd all look great. there really isn't any best one for it.
I could post a hundred pics here done with all the major BW films out there and they'd all look great. there really isn't any best one for it.
kxl
Social Documentary
I like to shoot on sunny days!
I actually prefer shooting in partially overcast days, when there is barely a hint of sunshine. I live near the desert in Southern California (Mediterranean climate) and the sunlight can get pretty harsh.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Overcast is just sooo boooring where I live...
20120924-35Tmax400-3489 by Johan Niels Kuiper, on Flickr
Seriously, in The Netherlands the air humidity is quite high, even on a sunny day. It tones the harshness down. And I like blue skies and bright colors more than B&W...
20120903-DSC_5290 by Johan Niels Kuiper, on Flickr
John Bragg
Well-known
kxl
Social Documentary
Overcast is just sooo boooring where I live...
Funny because I would never equate the word 'boring' with the Netherlands... but maybe I'm getting off-topic...
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
I live for overcast dreary days! I go with my Sony A7II and the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.1 lens.
Mackinaw
Think Different
I've had good success with Tri-X in Xtol. Rolleiflex 6006, 80mm.
Jim B.
Jim B.
Mackinaw
Think Different
Another. Nikon F2 with 50/1.4 Nikkor.
rolfe
Well-known
charjohncarter
Veteran
I'm like kxl I live in a sunny mostly climate. I find overcast days a challenge as I'm set up for SUN. But I like any film, but with even a slight edge to Arista EDU ultra films. The Arista EDU ultra films I find contrasty but in overcast and indoors they give snap that my sunny days films and developers don't. I suppose that if I tried with the sunny days film they would be the same. Anyway being lazy I just pull out the Arista when we have the occasional cloudy day.
I use a purposely poor lens for this shot.
AristaEDUultra100 AristaPremiumDeveloper by John Carter, on Flickr
I use a purposely poor lens for this shot.
AristaEDUultra100 AristaPremiumDeveloper by John Carter, on Flickr
taylan
Street Dog
That is my motto as well
Beside the fun, I always find to print an overcast image so "boring" in terms of grey separation. I tried lots of combinations but none of them could beat a lowered sunny day light. Let me share some boring and joyful pictures in terms of tone for me.
Here are borings :
And lights that I like:
Whiskey and a book.
I like to shoot on sunny days!
Beside the fun, I always find to print an overcast image so "boring" in terms of grey separation. I tried lots of combinations but none of them could beat a lowered sunny day light. Let me share some boring and joyful pictures in terms of tone for me.
Here are borings :
And lights that I like:
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
neolillypads by Berang Berang, on FlickrNeopan SS was nice for getting "moody" results on rainy days.
telenous
Well-known
Overcast can't beat afternoon light. It just doesn't have the same modeling qualities. There's one exception: right before an electrical storm. All sorts of magical things happen then. A couple of your shots above are made with light that veers in that direction.
As to which film/developer for overcast weather: I use routinely Trix at nominal speed with D76. It doesn't get more basic than that. ISO 400 films are practically designed with overcast weather in mind and they give proper contrast with viable shutter speeds for moving subjects. If we are talking UK-in-January kind of overcast then I push one stop. Heck, maybe even two. In which case HP5+ also looks really nice.
Nice shots by the way Taylan, nothing boring about them.
.
grouchos_tash
Well-known
I've been using Ilford Pan 400 with HC110 for the past year. I'm going to shoot some HP5 this year.
All Pan 400 with HC110 (B)
All Pan 400 with HC110 (B)
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Fuji Acros 100, developed in Rodinal 1+50
Ilford HP5, Developed in PMK
Ilford FP4, Developed in PMK
Kodak Tmax 100, Developed in Rodinal 1+50
Kodak Tri-X, Developed in Xtol 1+1
Kodak Tmax 100, Developed in Rodinal 1+50
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I'm total amateur who has film camera in the bag every day for five years by now. I load cameras with BW film and it lasts in the camera for weeks often. Sunny day, foggy morning, indoors, overcast afternoons. All are taken on single roll. I prefer HP5+ in bulks, but Kentmere 400 is less expensive.
Guess what?
It doesn't really matter. With modern bw films it is absolutely doesn't matter as long as you capable to handle exposure right.
I prefer to have yellow filter on old single coated lenses for slightly better sky, but with modern lenses I don't see any difference.
I develop film according to the common data in common developers like HC-110, D-76, XTOL, Rodinal. Some differences are present, but it has nothing to do with overcast, fog or sun.
I'm looking at digital scans above and they are all the same as it could be on sunny day.
Because of processing of the scan. These days I prefer darkroom prints. Less shadows details, resolution as at scans above, but I could get with my digital Leica camera.
I like prints not for details and resolution for the feel of art:
Guess what?
It doesn't really matter. With modern bw films it is absolutely doesn't matter as long as you capable to handle exposure right.
I prefer to have yellow filter on old single coated lenses for slightly better sky, but with modern lenses I don't see any difference.
I develop film according to the common data in common developers like HC-110, D-76, XTOL, Rodinal. Some differences are present, but it has nothing to do with overcast, fog or sun.
I'm looking at digital scans above and they are all the same as it could be on sunny day.
Because of processing of the scan. These days I prefer darkroom prints. Less shadows details, resolution as at scans above, but I could get with my digital Leica camera.
I like prints not for details and resolution for the feel of art: