4x5 Velvia 50-First Outing

[MumbleyJoe]

Beautiful Giovanni! I definitely would have been concerned about Velvia for a scene like that - ND Grads would be key!

I just wanted to add that I am in complete agreement about white texture. About +1 2/3 stops (at ASA50) is as high as I would expose and hope to retain any texture, with it being pretty well pure white at +2.

Frustratingly, I can usually see detail below -2 stops but scanning it gets very difficult, so i don't count on using it.

[gsinico]

Beautiful Giovanni! I definitely would have been concerned about Velvia for a scene like that - ND Grads would be key!

I just wanted to add that I am in complete agreement about white texture. About +1 2/3 stops (at ASA50) is as high as I would expose and hope to retain any texture, with it being pretty well pure white at +2.

Frustratingly, I can usually see detail below -2 stops but scanning it gets very difficult, so i don't count on using it.

You surely can see by the clock on top of the building that was pretty noon
when I shoot this, even if the shadows are so angled, in summertime the sun at noon make vertical short shadows...

[Tom J McDonald]

Beautiful Giovanni! I definitely would have been concerned about Velvia for a scene like that - ND Grads would be key!

I just wanted to add that I am in complete agreement about white texture. About +1 2/3 stops (at ASA50) is as high as I would expose and hope to retain any texture, with it being pretty well pure white at +2.

Frustratingly, I can usually see detail below -2 stops but scanning it gets very difficult, so i don't count on using it.

Do you mean +1 2/3 from middle grey?

[MumbleyJoe]

Do you mean +1 2/3 from middle grey?

I should have been clearer, but yes, that's what I meant.

[Tom J McDonald]

I should have been clearer, but yes, that's what I meant.

Wow there isn't much room there. Thanks for that info, I have some of this film I'm yet to use.

[MumbleyJoe]

The usual caveats apply - test with your own equipment (meter, shutter, etc) when possible. There might be a little more latitude than that, but not much, IMHO.

I went through lots of trial and error before finally just spending the money (which is so painful shooting and sending out Velvia) to make a few controlled test shots. In the end, I don't regret just making the test shots.

[Tom J McDonald]

Thanks Joe (Tyler?). I also have some in 35mm I might try first.

[creep]

Salve, Giovanni,

you have quite bad scanning results, blocked shadows.

[MumbleyJoe]

Thanks Joe (Tyler?). I also have some in 35mm I might try first.

Glad to help/clarify
...and yes, it's Tyler

[psychoanalyst]

On sunny days with Velvia, you are pretty much limited to the golden hours and possibly a bit more with the use of graduated filters. It is definitely not a mid-day film except on overcast days or deep in the forest.

Yups...the moment I went to the place and saw the bright sun out, I went "uh...oh.."

I did try using an 81A warming filter, but I can't find an adapter for my Optar and hand holding it in front of the lens is a PITA....I even screwed up my first shot where my hand showed up and at $3 a shot just for developing, can't afford too many of those mistakes.

Your metering looks pretty good. As Jim nicely summed up, Velvia is not a film for harsh light conditions. The shadows block up fast. Under these conditions, try Astia or some color negative film. I think you will find it works much better for brighter light.

My safety shots are my Kodak Ektar shots on my Pentax 645N. They are currently at Walmart for developing