My talk at The Artist Book foundation at MASSMoCA, January 26, 2019.
Viva la Revolution- Steve
caffenol
CineStill BwXX Film (Kodak 5222) Developed in Instant Coffee
So here are my latest results experimenting with CineStill film in Caffenol (instant coffee)… I am very happy with this combination! I have found the usable EI for this film-developer combination to range from 100-3200, all with one processing time, but the very best is around EI 640. This test image was made with my 1956 Leica M3 with a 1960 Leica 135mm Leitz Wetzlar Elmar at F5.6.
I’ve been continuously tweaking my Caffenol developer and developing technique over the past few years… I find it to be a very solid go-to developer for virtually any black and white film.
Viva la Revolution- Steve
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Color Negative film for B&W Hybrid Workflow
Click on the audio play button to hear my thoughts.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
Schaub 2014
Bergger BRF 400+ Film Review
Click on the audio play button to listen to my review of this great classic film!
Bergger BRF 400+ at EI 6400!!!!! A very low light test….. click on the image to see larger.
Development as outlined in audio:
1:100 Rodinal at 68-70F 2 Hour Stand Dev
Usable EI from 400-1600
- Initial agitation for 30 seconds
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Dump and finish process.. Stop/ fix/ clear/ wash/ dry.
1:50 Rodinal at 68-70F 2 Hour Stand Dev
Usable EI from 1000/1600 – 6400+
- Initial agitation for 30 seconds
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Swirl like wine for 10 sec
- Rest 30 Min
- Dump and finish process.. Stop/ fix/ clear/ wash/ dry.
Another great alt developer is Caffenol CL… just google it and follow the directions exactly!!! Usable out to 3200 but the Rodinal version outlined above is better at the higher speeds. And you can see the grain is a bit softer but the tonal range is still crazy great!
NOTE: I meter my shadows for Zone 4 in most cases… with this film it is VERY important for faster EI’s to meter for the shadows… highlights are not a problem. Here is a video on why meter for Zone 4.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
My Current Film of Choice
For 35mm and a classic feeling this has become my go to film! More on my processing techniques in a later post.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
PS- will be in New Orleans starting Sunday for a few days of shooting… Drop me a line if you are in the area.
Back to Paris… Again
So I am heading back to Paris tomorrow provided I can make it to Boston to get my flight!
On my last trip to Paris 5 weeks ago I shot with the Leica Monochrome exclusively…. on this trip it will be my Leica M4 film cameras exclusively! Hint… my next big article here on FR.
I have also been testing a lot of film and developer combinations the last 5 weeks… a lot! I really like the Bergger BRF 400+ in Caffenol CL and Caffenol CH with EI in CL out to 3200+. Rodinal provides a very crisp negative and Xtol is another good choice at 1:1. Another film I have been testing a lot is Delta 3200 processed in PMK double strength… nice range of tones and usable out to 6400 and perhaps 12,800 with proper shadow metering. Today I am running a test looking at the Delta 3200 in PMK with 1.5 strength as at double the highlights get a bit hot at lower EI’s… I want it all- 400-6400!!!!!! Stay tuned!
Oh and the Bergger BRF400+ in PMK is around 200-400 with a beautiful tonal quality. I have heard many people compare the Bergger to Tri-X… Yes, but only if you are talking Tri-X from the 1970’s and even then it is more like XX than TX. It is very low contrast film which is a good thing for scanning and has a softer rendering then most modern films… perfect for a classic look. In Diafine it is nice but the grain needs a bit of a kick in PS with some structure and a “S” curve to add depth- in Diafine a usable EI of 1600 is not a problem.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
Testing Leica Monochrome and Film
I shoot both with the Leica Monochrome and my Leica MP. I find that for lens work the Monochrome is pretty hard to beat especially if you understand the proper Monochrome workflow: most work I see online made with the Monochrome is not done to maximize what the camera is capable of doing. I will post a more in-depth review on the MM in a couple of weeks. Right now, however, my testing is looking at the MM compared to my MP using three different films (Bergger BRF400+, Ilford Delta 3200 and Kodak BW400CN) and my pinhole systems and long exposures at high-speed EI. I have been testing a variety of different developers from Rodinal to Xtol and of course Caffenol. There is just something I like about the Caffenol negatives.
I’ll be posting an in-depth article in a couple of days looking at these films and developers all for the purposes of high-speed use and scanning. Of course this info will be valuable to any low light shooter as well….stay tuned!
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
PS- I did test in Diafine BUT as I am looking for speeds of a solid 1600+ it was not a good choice….
Caffenol Cookbook and Bible
You asked for it and I never did it!
I love coffee and I love Caffenol and now there is a great resource with a online free book, recipes, tips and more! Check it out!!
The Cost of Caffenol C
As I am putting my notes together to produce “The Photographers Coffee Break”, I decided to do a quick calculation on the actual cost for Caffenol C Developer as sourced from my local grocery store… $1.00 per roll if you use distilled water… .75¢ per roll if you use tap water… not bad at all!
I am leaving for New Orleans later today so for the next few days posts here on FR will come from my ipod Touch.
Kodak 400TX Caffenol Test
As you know I’ve been doing a lot of testing with Caffenol C in preparation for my book The Photographer’s Coffee Break but this morning I needed to run a quick test with Caffenol (no C) and Kodak 400TX… the results are really nice. With the Caffenol you get a usable film speed around 100 with nice contrast and grain… what’s not to like? Additionally, I have been spending time testing different methods to eliminate edge density which is very common on Caffenol and Caffenol C processed films- this morning I think I nailed it… more testing this afternoon but this image had no edge density which my previous tests with this film and others did have.
Stay tuned…
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
Figital Revolution 