Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]David - Thanks for the careful look and your comments. The exposure/processing problem is something I have been struggling with in these circumstances despite what has now become a habitual practice to grab my exposure from the shadows with a half press of the shutter on my M7 and reframing to take the shot. Occasionally, I do get photos with what I feel is adequate "snap" as in this one: http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/4_31A_0133_web More often, it's a struggle to get anything close to this despite considerable experimentation with Levels and Curves in Photoshop. Generally, BW400CN does better in these light conditions but still doesn't produce the kind of results I routinely see in many postings on the LUG. The posted shots are all Fuji 400 Press converted to B&W in Photoshop. I have also used BW Workflow Pro for the conversions with similar results. My processor is a small photo lab that handles both amateur and professional work so I suspect he's doing a proper job of processing the negatives, but whether the problem is in exposure, the light on the subject or his scans I just don't know. If any one has any further thoughts on how to deal with this I'd sure like to hear them. I suppose one possibility might be to try derating the film to 250 or thereabouts. B.T.W. Prints from these negs all look 'snappier" than the web postings so something is definitely being lost in the compression. Also, at least part of the problem with 1-18A is lens flare. Regards, Dick Boston MA >Hello Richard. > >I looked at your photos with great interest. One reason being how we >resolve the issues of low lighting in houses, restaurants, etc with >400ASA film. The second, getting to know these people. >Your photos show the "struggle" to get the exposure right. In my >experience with one hour photo labs I find that the technician >always goes for having everything in the "light". Sometimes is >frustrating because I may want to have highlights with deep shadows >and the guy gives me a gray piece of paper with a lot of grain. > >I feel all your pictures can benefit from bringing down the grays >and deepening the blacks. The highs are going to stick so don't be >too afraid to bring the rest down. > >On the second part, I find the older man sitting perpendicular to >the camera, this one http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/3_07_0043_web >to be the one with more naturality and the one that makes me ask who >is this man. His other picture with his hand on his cheek, i would >have asked him to switch to the other hand and cheeck so I could see >the smile. >Of the younger couple, it is interesting how the girl is pulling >away from the huge guy :-). >I bet you have a bunch of prints with gray and grain that you don't >want to show from that shoot but, hey, you have 2 or 3 that are >worth your while. > >peace > >David >On Jan 9, 2006, at 5:26 PM, Richard S. Taylor wrote: > >>Holidays (and photographers taking pictures during holidays) bring >>out a variety of moods and reactions to the photographer. These >>are all of my brother and his family and were taken during my >>Christmas visit. >> >>http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/3_07_0043_web >> >>http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/4_26A_0128_crop_web >> >>http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/4_12A_0114_alt_crop_web >> >>http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/1_18A_009_web >> >>http://gallery.leica-users.org/NYC/4_31A_0133_web >> >>The light required f2.0 at 1/8th to 1/15 on ISO 400 film so I had >>lots of perfectly exposed blurs in the group (though not here). >>Didn't always find the shadow side, either. Next time I'll go for >>ISO 1600 or 3200 film and try to move around more though that's not >>always so easy in the midst of a family gathering. >> >>Comments encouraged, of course. Thanks. >>-- >>Regards, >> >>Dick >>Boston MA >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information