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Jim, with the Rotatrim, use double backed tape and a straight edge to make a "stop" or fence which will allow you to do the job quickly and accurately. Best, tim

Portraits can be enhanced with a section of fiberglass window screen. Figure the exact exposure, then cut the time in half (about 1/2, not exact as the screen will cut light transmission). Move the...

Dave, I made some inexpensive development tubes out of 1 1/2" (40mm) black ABS tubing (it is used here in the states for sink drain lines). My preferred method now for most film development is with...

Kev, not exactly sure, but I do know it was somewhere in northern Ireland in the mid 1800's. My grandmother's place in Pennsylvania was named Kilowen or something like that, does it ring any bells?...

Rain water from a clean plastic drape would be fine to use, just a low corner into a jug would work. Please, don't use good beer to mix your developer, there are limits to good photography, but this...

The shot was taken this past weekend. Used a 500 watt snooted flood, umbrella for fill and Efke 25 with pyrocat. At 1/2 second there was some movement, so the soft focus effect was not exactly what...

Bruce, thanks for your reply to my general question. At this point I'm just working with the 4x5, to see what I am able to squeeze out of Efke 25. So far results are good, but with the 8x10 there...

I'm curious about the various "traditional" films like FP4, Efke 100 or perhaps Tri-x and their use for increased development. Would like to maintain smooth skin tones and not too much grain, by...

I presoak because I'm doing more semi-stand development now and want to have the most even development possible. With a presoak, as I'm mixing developer, then a full minute of initial agitation,...

For a good off-the-shelf developer you can't go wrong with pyrocat. Photograpers Formulary sells it and it really is wonderful stuff. Get their version mixed with glycol, as shelf life is much better...

A local glass company can cut and seam the edges for a sheet of plate glass. Make it thick enough to help flatten the paper. tim

For landscapes I would use a yellow filter, but this will cost a stop in exposure. If you don't use a yellow filter, blue skies will be white and without detail, very washed out. A yellow filter will...

Chris, just get some Efke 25 and have at it.

Tadge,

Film: It sounds like the film may be shifting in the holder. If temperatures or humidity are changing during a 2 hour exposure, this could affect it. Try tapping the film holder gently...

Sandy, in a nutshell, I have found that a "normal" film for enlarging paper prints with more contrast on grade 2 azo. Since this is the case, I've been increasing exposure and reducing development...

I decided to try 1:2:120 as a starting point and it did reduce contrast quite a bit. This seems to be the correct direction for what I'm doing so I'll continue along these lines. tim

Joe & Ron,

Thanks for your replies and input. I'm playing around with azo and have found that a good negative for azo requires a film which is less contrasty than would be required for a "normal"...

Has anyone done a reduced dilution with PMK to increase development times? I need to extend times and am wondering about a dilution of 1:2:125 or 1:2:150. I will be trying it and wonder if there is...

This has been my argument about 4x5 enlargements vs. 8x10 contact prints. The resolution of the paper is what limits size and image quality in less than 10x enlargements (depends on actual film,...

Don, just received your invitation in the mail yesterday for the show. The pictures are wonderful! Looking forward to seeing them in larger sizes and hanging on a wall. Could you post a copy of the...

Are you using distilled water to maix the working solution?

Typically with PMK the film speed drops, but not as much as you have mentioned. I second looking into your light meter and system. If you drop below iso 64 there may be a light meter issue, weak...

As Deniz has already mentioned, automotive finish polishing compounds were designed to remove the overspray and small surface dust which can accumulate with the spray finishing process. They are...

Just to play the Devil's Advocate here, I started thinking about the trends in photography and consumerism in general. This question is a double edged sword.

The "normal" consumer (at least here...

P.S. Apug gallery.

This spring two friends and I were shooting in a burned out area of the Santa Catalina mountains north of Tucson. The fire had left some interesting lumps of charcoal which were once oak trees. The...

Bleach in solution first, then a powdered cleanser and some elbow grease.

A contact print on paper with a textured surface will not be as sharp as a print on a glossy paper. The minute surface indentations can't make a good contact. I use a layer of black neoprene gasket...

Bruno,

Before you use the name of a well known sculptor, you shold get his permission in writing. This will give you the ability to do the show, present the work, credit the sculptor and protect...

Ralph made an excellent suggestion. The U.S. government should be able to help you on this one, albeit slowly. Get a copy of the CD and check with Customs or Treasury about international copyright...

Percy,

How unfortunate for you. It is a classic error! Send me your 6x9 equipment immediately and then go out and buy the most expensive 16 x 20 outfit you can find. There really is nothing like a...

Bruno, I'm at lunch so I'll keep it short. You just want to match the film's response to light to the paper's ability to see a scene with full detail.

Use the step wedge to expose a sheet of film....

I like Sandy's answer the best so far. Super glue is much too brittle, can mar a decent finish and can be real trouble in this situation. Stay away from it. If you make a mistake with it, no other...

Agree with Eugene and his reasoning. The Toyo is a good compromise between magnification, convenience, weight, simplicity and just a good basic design. I've tried others, but still prefer my Toyo.

Jay pretty much sums up my relationship with ABC pyro. It is wonderful stuff, but extremely fickle to use in some respects. PMK does tend to have more "murky" shadows, but you won't see it unless you...

Depending on the scene, a true "black" may be the last thing you want. If you have a shot with fog or mist in soft light, you don't typically want those blacks as they may skew the image and look...

I resent that comment about "touching your nose" and film damage. Do you change the oil in your car without washing your hands before handling film? Noseoil is one of the world's finest lubricants of...

Sandy, View Camera had an article with the zone dial for a pentax spot meter in one of its issues a couple of years ago. This is the one I glued to my meter. Works well and is easy to use. I prefer...

Kelli, If you go to the Schneider site, they have a good list of large format lenses and tables showing depth of field. These should give you an idea of what the trade offs are with respect to field...

Steve,

Pyrocat-HD does not contain hydroquinone. Where did this information come from with respect to the specific chemical ingredients? Who did this research? When will a correction be printed to...