Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> >If we make the assumption that you will be scanning your images and >then using Photoshop before either printing or putting the images back >to film, what advantages are there to using black and white film? > >By shooting color negative film without filters, you can use color >channels in Photoshop to simulate the use of an on-camera filter. You >have the added benefit of being able to compare the results of using >different colored filters to change contrast and tones. Plus, if >you're shooting in lower light situations, you don't lose a stop or >more from the filter factor. > >The main advantage I see is ease of development. I can develop B&W >practically anywhere. I need more equipment to do C41. If you are going digital, as you said, the advantages are that you have color images, if you need B&W just convert to greyscale. In most color situations you can color correct in photoshop, but there are certain lights that would need some daylight kicked into to be able to adjust color, like those orange industrial lights. Impossible to filter correct those things. As far as needing more equipment to do color...not really. All you need is a dev-tech to get/keep water at temp. And remember C41 is a two step process and in most instances faster than B&W chems. I have souped color film in many odd places, motel bathrooms, the media dining room at Atlanta Fulton County stadium, in a parking lot...all you need is a changing bag, some water, electricity, and your chems and that is it you are ready to rock and roll. My road film developing kit consists of: 1) Dev-Tech 2) a plastic tub like you buy at Wal-Mart for a buck or two 3) 2 4 reel SS tanks and 8 reels 4) A Graduate 5) A SEN-RAC roll film dryer - not really necessary, but I have it so I use it- can be replaced by a hair dryer and a length of Dryer vent hose and a coat hanger. 6) A loup 7) long negative sleeving materiel 8) Unicolor 2 step C41 chems 9) A thermometer 10) a couple of quart jugs to keep chems in. 11) a film washer That pretty much does it. Run the film for recommended times, scan on polariod sprint scan and e-mail anywhere in the world from any where you have water, electricity, and a phone line. One last note I do not go this trouble for fun, only do it when a client needs photos out ASAP and no one hour labs handy, do not have enough demand for this yet or I'd be jumping on the new digital camera Canon is coming out with...should blow the doors of the Nikon D1. - -- Harrison McClary http://www.mcclary.net