HP5, PMK reciprocity

[jwarren116]

Soak your film in PURE Part A for about 4 minutes. Then develop the film in Part B diluted as if it were developer. Seems like I developed for about 4 minutes. A couple of cautions here, don't presoak your film in anything before the A and SAVE the A, it is fine and won't be discolored.

I have heard of that technique before. I actually heard it the first time from someone working at Photo Formulary. I have yet to test it though...

[Blacky Dalton]

I have heard of that technique before. I actually heard it the first time from someone working at Photo Formulary. I have yet to test it though...

I would really be interested in hearing if anyone has used this method. A few details would be interesting, exposure, etc. Or, maybe I should just experiment?

B. Dalton

[Eric Woodbury]

I'll look around for some of these negs I can post. Development times are fairly short as the developer in the neg is exhausted quickly. Seems as though my development time, this is the B part, was 3 - 5 min. Sometimes I'd let it run longer, but it doesn't do much longer. The negs I remember the most were made in Westminster Abbey. The details was around 2-4 EVs, while there was some sunshine coming in through the windows and lights on. Exposures with HP5+ were a few minutes to 20 minutes.

Experimentation is the right answer. Take a picture inside your house with a daylight window in the frame. Try to hold it all. This development proceed is so compensating that it would be hard to give it too much light, at least for LF.

[Blacky Dalton]

I'll look around for some of these negs I can post. Development times are fairly short as the developer in the neg is exhausted quickly. Seems as though my development time, this is the B part, was 3 - 5 min. Sometimes I'd let it run longer, but it doesn't do much longer. The negs I remember the most were made in Westminster Abbey. The details was around 2-4 EVs, while there was some sunshine coming in through the windows and lights on. Exposures with HP5+ were a few minutes to 20 minutes.

Experimentation is the right answer. Take a picture inside your house with a daylight window in the frame. Try to hold it all. This development proceed is so compensating that it would be hard to give it too much light, at least for LF.

Very interesting for sure. I will have to give this a try, I sometimes shoot building interiors and I am always looking for compensating methods. I have used the procedure I posted earlier here suggested by Mr. Hutchings and have had good success.

One question, do you agitate the film in the Part B or just let it set the full time? I always tray process and shoot mainly 8x10.

Thanks so much Eric for the information. I will investigate this further.

B. Dalton

[Eric Woodbury]

In the old days, I tray processed and yes I agitated. Now I use an oxygen free atmosphere in a Jobo --- probably not the best way for split dev. I haven't done much of this split development lately. I still think it is a very powerful technique, especially with PMK.

[Blacky Dalton]

In the old days, I tray processed and yes I agitated. Now I use an oxygen free atmosphere in a Jobo --- probably not the best way for split dev. I haven't done much of this split development lately. I still think it is a very powerful technique, especially with PMK.

Eric, again, Thanks for the information. I am going to pass this on to a good friend of mine that has also expressed interest in exploring the technique.

I really appreciate your help,

B. Dalton

[Eric Woodbury]

Here are a couple of scans of 4x5 negatives from London. I enhanced the contrast and brightness after the scan, but both negs print fine. Both are HP5+. Both are developed 4 min in PURE A and 5 min in the tray in standard B. 70F. The ceiling at Westminster Abbey is about as dark as it can get: guessing 2 EV, while the windows and lights are bright, in the teens EVs. Windows in this shot are 1.04 density. The dining hall shot is a brighter room, but the windows were awash with sunlight. Still, max density is 1.04. Seems to be the cutoff. Not much stain. I don't remember the exposures except the Abbey was several minutes, maybe 10 or more. The dining hall was not very long. In both cases, I gave the film lots of light.

The images are here at my blog:

ejwoodbury.blogspot.com The top two for now.

[Sylvester Graham]

The images are here at my blog:

ejwoodbury.blogspot.com The top two for now.

That's what I'm talking about.

[Blacky Dalton]

Here are a couple of scans of 4x5 negatives from London. I enhanced the contrast and brightness after the scan, but both negs print fine. Both are HP5+. Both are developed 4 min in PURE A and 5 min in the tray in standard B. 70F. The ceiling at Westminster Abbey is about as dark as it can get: guessing 2 EV, while the windows and lights are bright, in the teens EVs. Windows in this shot are 1.04 density. The dining hall shot is a brighter room, but the windows were awash with sunlight. Still, max density is 1.04. Seems to be the cutoff. Not much stain. I don't remember the exposures except the Abbey was several minutes, maybe 10 or more. The dining hall was not very long. In both cases, I gave the film lots of light.

The images are here at my blog:

ejwoodbury.blogspot.com The top two for now.

Eric, thank you so much for the information and the examples. I will definitely experiment with this myself. My buddy is also excited about this technique since he does a lot of old building interiors.

Again, many thanks,

B. Dalton

[Greg Nelson]

Sorry for such a late post, but if you're really serious about good results from marked contraction development why not think about so-called semi-stand development? PMK wouldn't be your best choice; I've had good results with Pyrocat HD with HP5+. Amazing results, actually.