Studio exposure/development test for black and white film illuminated with strobes

[SergeiR]

Well, Sergei, that works pretty well in your case!

IMHO : one of best investments photographer can make is Dean Collins tapes on light Strobes or not..

[Taija71A]

IMHO : one of best investments photographer can make is Dean Collins tapes on light Strobes or not..

+1. Agreed in full 110% .

1). Exposure.
2). Shadow Edge Transfer.
3). Specular Edge Transfer.
4). Contrast between Shadow & Diffused.
5). Contrast between Diffused & Specular.

Dean Collins really knew what he was doing!
IMHO... There is no one else like him teaching (even) today.

I came across Phil Davis's suggestions:

"Here's a summary of the procedure:

• Meter the highlight area (pop the flash to get the reading)
• Meter the shadow area
• Subtract the low reading from the high (in stops) and add 5; that's the SBR
• Consult your EFS/SBR chart to find the DOUBLED film speed
• Set this DOUBLED film speed into the meter
• Re-read the shadow area using this new DOUBLED speed
• Use the recommended aperture and shoot
• Consult the Dev/SBR chart to find the developing time." -Posted on the BTZS forum.

Peter, do you happen to have the URL Link for this information?
I see a *potential* problem with this 'Methodology'.

But, before commenting further... I of course would like to read up on it in further detail -- Since this is just a 'Summary' of the information. Thank-you!

Best regards, -Tim.

[Peter De Smidt]

Tim,

I'm not sure if this link will work, but it was: http://www.btzs.org/Forums/forum/Def...ct=495#xx495xx

The book to check would be Beyond the Zone System, 4th Edition. I checked today, but our library didn't have a copy.

[Taija71A]

Got it. Thanks Peter!
Yes, I now see the 'specific' post from Phil... That you were referencing.
--
Just FYI... It is this 'Statement' (by Phil) that I see a *potential* flaw with:


>> Subtract the low reading from the high (in stops) and add 5; that's the SBR.


I of course have no problem with the first part of the statement (Subtract the low reading from the high (in stops) )...

... But, the 'add 5' does look suspicious?

I will now look further at the complete BTZS 'Thread' and get back to you -- Okay?
Thank-you!

Best regards, -Tim.

[Taija71A]

Previously, you cited the following (*Which I of course 'Wholeheartedly' agree with):

>> The SBR depends on the subject, and also on the illumination.

Therefore, our 'illumination' (Electronic Flash in this instance) is of course...
The difference between the Highlight Area and Shadow Area (Incident Reading).

However... How does 'Phil' know that our 'Subject Contrast' is always 5 f-stops (hence the 'add 5') difference?

For all we know... Our 'Subject Contrast' could only be 2 or 3 f-stops.
Then again... It could possibly be even more than 5 f-stops difference.
(*You get the idea of course!)

Perhaps, this calculation is 'compensated for' and/or adjusted... Somewhere else in his Plotter Program? Then again, perhaps I am missing something here?

I sincerely hope, that this all makes a little bit of sense!

Best regards, -Tim.

[Kevin J. Kolosky]

Get yourself a good copy of the Kodak Professional Photoguide that has the gray scale in it.
Get a good incident light meter.
Get a good fixed fill light.
Figure out what light ratios you want to use.
Test.
Shoot.