The Official Caffenol and Caffenol C Page here on Figital Revolution is now live! Over the next few months this page will provide updates on the status of The Photographer’s Coffee Break, the book, as well as provide links to interesting articles and images using the Caffenol process elsewhere on the web.
The official web address is easy…. www.caffenol.com or www.caffenolc.com
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
Found this while surfing the web… for the best quality click 480p…
Created by The National Film & Television School in the UK, during a partnership with Kodak to address Film versus Digital. (credits – DOP: Brian Tufano, BSC, Directed by John Lee, Produced by Claus Richter, Written by John Lee, David Liddell and Chris Moon)
I just finished tweaking the Acros in Caffenol C and yes an EI of 1600 is very possible, as the sample image below shows… 3200 is just a tad past my liking but for some shots it would be usable. Click on both images to see a larger view.
The dark barn boards above the windows were placed at Zone 3… they were EV 0. The detail outside the window fell on Zone 14. The detail image below is a 3″ x 3″ crop from a 20″ x 20″ print… pretty impressive.
My metering technique for these images is a stripped-down Zone approach that will be outlined in some detail in my next book The Photographers Coffee Break … I feel it fits the Caffenol C process quite well.
The image below is a 4″ x 4″ crop from a 20″ x 20″ file of Fuji Acros processed in my tweaked Caffenol C at EI 800!
The best range for the Acros in Caffenol C is around EI 100 – 400 but it is nice to know that 800 and beyond is also possible with nice grain and tonality.
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
This is really amazing… with my final tweak the Caffenol C process is giving me Fuji Acros with a usable EI from 25-800… I suspect that 1200 would also be fine… this is all with the same processing time / technique. The scan was a s straight scan with no sharpening and each image was just set for proper contrast in PS… wow!
Wait till you see the TMAX 100… I’ll post it tomorrow, it is equally amazing.
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
I’ve been waiting since-yes –October 2009 for this… Hasselblad has just released the newest version of FlexColor which supports Snow Leopard… YEAH! Visit Hasselblad.com for the software update…. now back to scanning!
As I have mentioned here on FR I am in the process of putting together a book called The Photographers Coffee Break which will outline my technique for the Caffenol C process as well as considerations and techniques for scanning, PS imagework and printing. So, I’ve decided to ask the question… what format would you like to see The Photographers Coffee Break take: Book, PDF Downloadable Book, Book and PDF option, Video (DVD) or online Video… I’m just looking for some feedback here. SO PLEASE VOTE BELOW!
My plan is to make the final version- whatever form it may take- both informative and affordable. And don’t forget: sales of The Photographers Coffee Break will help support this web site and its content!
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
The testing continues… BW400CN (C-41) by Kodak processed in my tweaked Caffenol C… the testing for this film is almost done… usable EI is around EI 50 – 400 / 800 all with the same processing time! Grain has a nice defined presence but not overpowering. A big advantage to this material beyond the flexability of the EI as mentioned above is the fact that is has fantastic reciprocity characteristics (no compensation required till 120 seconds) and it is very easy to scan on almost any scanner.
Below is a sample image shot with my Leica MP with a 28mm lens – the EI for this shot is 200. The dark barn board above the doors was placed at Zone 3… the light snow outside which has full detail is Zone 16!! This is a straight scan with minor adjustments in PS for contrast / levels… more soon.
Here is an example just for comparision of the same test shot on Kodak Tmax 400 processed in PMK using the technique outline here… instant coffee is looking pretty dam good!
Note: both shots were done using only natural light.
Here is a good explanation as to the sub metering range and its effects when using the Pocket Spot Meter by Metered Light…
http://meteredlight.blogspot.com/2010/01/meter-sub-ranging-and-its-effects.html
My review is posted here:
https://figitalrevolution.com/2009/12/19/metered-light-pocket-spot-meter-review/
Click on the audio blog logo to listen to this 7 minute discussion on manipulation and how I feel photography should embrace it as a core belief rather than shy away from admitting something that is at the very nature of our medium. First, however, watch the videos below (full screen with your sound turned on if possible).
“Is it a brave new world? Or are we just now admitting something that has always been true: all photography at its core involves some form of manipulation.” -Stephen Schaub, Leader Figital Revolution
Figital Revolution 