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Thread: Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???

  1. #1

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    Apr 2021
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    Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???

    I found an old box of Efke 4x5 black and white positive paper in the back of my freezer, and I've been playing around with it. I had decent results with natural lighting rating at 1.5iso.

    A strange problem with highlights arose when trying to shoot with strobes indoors (I have the idea to use this during gatherings to take snapshots). I ended up using 4 hot-shoe strobes pointed directly at the subject to get the right exposure--this obviously creates extremely bright reflections which cause the emulsion to go haywire--basically bright highlights develop as pure black--eyeglasses for example.

    If I diffuse the light I can help mitigate this, but it's hard to expose at iso 1.5 without direct flash.

    Any ideas? Does anybody know the underlying mechanism that causes this?

    Perhaps this is unique to efke paper and i won't have the problem when I try the harmon brand that's currently available.

  2. #2
    ic-racer's Avatar
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    Feb 2007
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    Re: Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???


  3. #3
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Dec 2011
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    Re: Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???

    I did similar with old Polaroid as my test shot was aimed at copy lights

    They. were on!

    Black as can be

    Kinda fun
    Tin Can

  4. #4

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    Apr 2021
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    Re: Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???

    Quote Originally Posted by ic-racer View Post
    Thanks! that's it.

    Never encountered it before... now I know the inspiration for one of my favorite songs: Black Hole Sun.

  5. #5

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    Apr 2021
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    Re: Direct Positive Paper...problem... black specular highlights???

    Good news: a new batch of Harmon positive paper doesn't solarize with strobes the way the old Efke paper does--photos came out fantastic.

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