I always figured there was one thread for technique and one thread for images. Of course, they get mixed up all the time. Wouldn't want to miss either one.
Printable View
I don't see the point in putting a print from xray up here, listing the lens you used, the exposure time, type of developer and development time etc and then retouching it all on ps from a scan and not mentioning it. You end up with something totally different than what the lens has captured.
As said previously isn't the idea to show xray results? I would think ps stuff belongs in the digital photography section as it is no longer a digitial copy of an analogue shot.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...62/img627a.jpg
395mm (aprox) home-made doublet (got the elements from Surplus shed a few years ago and cemented them together) @ about f/8 - probably better suited for 5X7 as it gets a tad to soft near the edges for my taste
Some brand of Green sensitive 8X10, tray processed in Arista Premium Liquid 1:9 @67 deg. F for 5 minutes, agitated with hake brush every 90 seconds, scanned and slight levels adjust in PS7
My initial idea was to just post pictures and if people liked them and wanted to know how I made them, they would ask and would answer. I'm quite open with sharing my knowledge, emulating those who shared theirs with me.
Since I'm the newcomer though, and especially since there were some veiled accusations of misrepresenting the pictures I posted, I thought that it might be proper to introduce myself.
By the way, since these forums are open to all, from beginners to masters and everyone in between, I find a bit weird the level of skepticism my work was greeted with. Maybe the benefit of the doubt would have been a better response.
In any case.
I've been using x-ray film since 2007, I'm a darkroom printer and a publisher, and I spent the afternoon preparing the following PRINTS for your consideration. I thought that this might earn me some credibility here.
What you see here are darkroom prints accompanied by a known target, in order to remove any confusion. Everything was scanned together, with the same settings.
These are contact prints on Ilford MG Warmton RC Pearl. The enlarger was a Durst L1200 with Ilford Multigrade 500 head, controlled by an Analyser 500. They were developed in Ilford MG 1+15 for 2 minutes.
Top, left:
Initial test strip at Grade 2.
Bottom, left:
Straight print at Grade 2. Exposed for the E strip.
Top, right:
Burning-in test for the sky:
Same base exposure as straight print, with additional exposures at Grade 5, as follows:
No addition, 1/2 stop of base exposure, 1 stop of base exposure, 2 stops of base exposure.
Bottom, right:
Final print with the following sequence of exposures:
1. Base exposure at Grade 2, with 1/3 of a stop dodge on the right side of the sky near the horizon.
2. 1 1/2 stops of base exposure burning-in for the whole sky at Grade 5, while masking the ship.
3. 1/2 a stop of base exposure burning-in for the sky on the left.
Now, if you'd like, compare the scanned and digitally processed file, that was deemed objectionable by some, to the darkroom prints.
When I said that my digital post processing mirrors my analogue, I meant just that. And please note that the "final" print here is a mere 4x5". My actual prints are 16x20", a size which allows for much better local controls over tonality and contrast. This here is but a sketch.
By the way, I hope that this exercise in futility on my part could at least be of use to those who're genuinely interested in what can be achieved with x-ray.
Theodore,
Thank you for posting your response, introduction and lesson.
I learned about you, your process and that I jumped to a conclusion.
My apologies sir.
Please continue.
Manipulation... In the darkroom or on the computer. Either way, it shows the potential of x-ray films. Very nice image, Randy, by the way.
It is a great inexpensive learning tool
It certainly is!