Different mono challenge idea

ChrisR

ChrisR

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I really enjoyed the Agfa Vista challenge, as it got me using a film I'd dismissed previously. The results were also impressive and varied. This got me thinking. What other unusual film could we base a challenge on? At first I thought C41 monochrome, but after further consideration I've come up with this. The aim is to contrast and compare a variety of monochrome film taken by different photographers, all new to (or relatively unfamiliar with) that particular film.

Specifically, the challenge for each of us is to use a monochrome 400 ISO that we've never used before, or are reltively unfamiliar with, and share up to 6 of the images. Theme is anything you like, but aiming to show off contrast and tone. If you use a different unfamiliar film subsequently, you could share some more images if you like. My suggestion is that the film not be identified in the picture sharing thread until we're all done; then perhaps the posts can be edited to identify the films used. Nothing wrong with discussing the film you might use in this thread, of course.

Does that sound interesting?

OK we have some participants:

Me (ChrisR)
Simon_photo
RaglanSurf
Jao
wickerman
Alan Colgwyn
steveo_mcg
norters
Strappy
Ash.
JCoquillon
VirtualAdept
walsh

... and picture thread now set up...
 
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Simon photo said:
Sounds great! Im in.
In fact i grabbed a roll of something I've not tried before yesterday, and the sheet film i got for my homemade 4x5 I've used three sheets of it, does that count?
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Excellent, at least there's two of us! Up to you whether the sheet film counts as "unfamiliar", but it certainly sounds different. (You didn't coat it yourself, did you?)
 
I'm sure I must be able to find some 400 film I haven't used before so I'm in :D
 
Chris, Count me in, I too really enjoyed the vista challenge, this sounds a good next project for me.

As I mentioned in a previous post I have pretty well exclusively shot HP5 over the years so I guess I have quite a choice of 'new to me" 400ASA emulsions. I will decide over the next few days!
 
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I'll give this a go. I have in mind some B&W 400 film that's new to me.
 
I'm in, I have a student play to document at the weekend which requires something fast!
 
Ach, go on then. I've got some 135 [censored] 400 I've not used yet and its just sitting there looking forlorn with the rolls of 120. The OM hasn't had much loving recently.


Just realised you wanted to keep the emulsion quiet at first... Sorry.
 
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ChrisR said:
Excellent, at least there's two of us! Up to you whether the sheet film counts as "unfamiliar", but it certainly sounds different. (You didn't coat it yourself, did you?)
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Not this stuff lol
I have got a tub of homebrew emulsion in the fridge tho!
Nah will perhaps just stick to the commercial stuff as i haven't perfected the stuff yet.
Do we reveal what film we use before or after the shots?
(oops! Edit! The 4x5 is iso100)
 
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Well I took my November challenge photo on tri x. Picking the negs up Thursday. Have never shot tri x before and there should be 35 more shots too :)
 
I have a roll of [redacted] 400 ISO that I bought to try so I'll say I'm in, though as I still haven't had time to take my Agfa Vista autumn pictures yet, don't wait for me :(
 
I've got a couple of rolls of 400 I've never used before, I'm in, if you'll have me
 
Simon photo said:
Choice of developer will introduce variables too won't they?
Will only be fair to state what process used for each film no?
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I've only once done some processing, helping a friend around 40 years ago, so I bow to others' experience on this. Mine will go off to a lab with no special instructions though!

VirtualAdept: all welcome!
 
ChrisR said:
I've only once done some processing, helping a friend around 40 years ago, so I bow to others' experience on this. Mine will go off to a lab with no special instructions though!

VirtualAdept: all welcome!
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Fair enough - most friendly labs will happily tell you what their standard developer is if you contact them :thumbs:
 
And for most of them it will likely be either D-76/ID-11, Xtol or Ilfotec DD which all have similar properties and are excellent all-round developers for nearly every type of film.
 
Count me in, purchased a bulk roll of film that I havent used before.
 
Film now bought and loaded! Two B&W emulsions that are completely new to me!
 
So today we had sunshine, deep floods turning the town into an interesting subject, and my new mono film... basically I shot the whole roll! Being too mean to pay the exorbitant postage for just one roll, I'll have to wait until another one finishes before we see the images. But I've just got off Mathers site and ordered one of each 400 ISO emulsion I've never used (although they apparently don't stock the C41 types). So more fun to come for me!
 
Hows every ones "different mono" going? I've got four frames to finish on my way home and I'll get the roll souped tonight.
 
After a manic week at work hopefully I'll get mine processed and posted this weekend.
 
I've just got two rolls back that I'm looking at rather despondently. Not really a natural at this monochrome lark. :bang: Not quite sure what/how to put up! But should have something soon...
 
ChrisR said:
I've just got two rolls back that I'm looking at rather despondently. Not really a natural at this monochrome lark. :bang: Not quite sure what/how to put up! But should have something soon...
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Well you can always cheat ;)

Untitled-1.jpg
 
Well,perhaps... but quite sure that shot isn't a mono emulsion, or one I hadn't used before, or 400 ISO, and possibly not even film!:suspect:
 
Moved to picture sharing thread
 
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Looks like the spoiler alert is ruined by the skim words.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Looks like the spoiler alert is ruined by the skim words.
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Well spotted! Replaced with a paraphrase that should keep the skim words at bay!
 
Moved to picture sharing thread
 
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I've just realised I've done this entirely wrong :thumbsdown:, pics should be in the pics thread! :rules: I'll try to work out how to fix it... tomorrow. :bonk:
 
ChrisR said:
I've just realised I've done this entirely wrong :thumbsdown:, pics should be in the pics thread! :rules: I'll try to work out how to fix it... tomorrow. :bonk:
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:lol::lol::lol:
 
Two posts moved to the picture sharing thread, where they should be!
 
RaglanSurf said:
Looks like the spoiler alert is ruined by the skim words.
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Noted in an ealrier post that problem is now fixed by paraphrasing. However, I've realised I haven't a clue how the spoiler works. Easy to set up with spoiler and /spoiler tags. But is there a way a vewier who actually wants to know the spoiler contents can do so without looking at the page source?
 
ChrisR said:
Noted in an ealrier post that problem is now fixed by paraphrasing. However, I've realised I haven't a clue how the spoiler works. Easy to set up with spoiler and /spoiler tags. But is there a way a vewier who actually wants to know the spoiler contents can do so without looking at the page source?
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Just highlight the spoiler block and the words will magically appear :thumbs:
 
oh noes, have I just posted in a picture thread that was only for pictures? Sorry, I'll go away now.
 
OK I've a question, and this thread will do... I've been using XP2 and BW400CN for most of my black and white shooting since this mono chalenge ended, for 2 reasons: I can get them processed cheaply at Photo Express, and I can buy the film relatively cheaply at the local Boots with a BOGOHP offer. However, when we did the challenge, I did really like some of the silver-based films, and particularly Tri-X, Tmax 400 and Neopan 400. I've also just realised that black and white is easy to scan, so I can cut down processing costs by doing just process-only.

I really liked Tri-X, but I'm wondering if the subtle effects I noticed were due to the slightly foggy lighting at that time (Eg see http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=5313828&postcount=32). So, I wondered if I could get some opinions on Tri-X vs Tmax in particular, before I place an order?
 
T-Max is finer grained (especially at box speed), more detail in the shadows.

Tri-X has a very pleasurable grain structure - although the Tri-X look is to an extent a myth, seeing as the emulsion changed several times, it still retains a very pleasing look. I think T-Max also looks very nice, but that's a personal preference.

Both are very pushable, and both are very nice films to use. I researched for weeks and weeks when choosing between the two - having shot both (in medium format), in the same camera using the same developer, I didn't see a massive amount of difference.

T-Max tends to be slightly cheaper now, if that is any influence in the decision.

(for what it's worth, I also loved the look of Neopan 400. The tones were so smooth - it's not a fine grained film, but it also has a wonderful look - very different from the two Kodak films)
 
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