35mm Ortho/Litho film in potrraiture & figure studies?

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I am considering experimenting with orth/litho film in 35mm for portraiture and figure studies.Does any one have any exoierence using this film for such work.I would be interested to here about expierences both good and bad.I would also be interested to hear about expierences in the development and printing process. Thanks so much. Respectfully: Curt Dawson

-- Curt Dawson (solocmd@aol.com), January 27, 2000

Answers

My first response would be -- is there some kind of look you are trying to achieve that "normal" films wont give you? And is that look something that might be easier to achieve in the print rather than in the negative?

I have used litho film for general picture taking with my 8x10 camera with mixed success. I used a very dilute HC-110 -- about 1:64 or greater dilution of the "syrup" in the original bottle. Even so, it was very touchy and would go solid black/clear very quickly unless I watched closely in the tray while it was developing. I developed by inspection in trays using a 15 watt bulb behind a 1-A red safelite filter.

It was of course very sharp and contrasty. But it didnt do anything I couldnt get from Plus-X.

If you just want a film for "normal" full scale portraits, I would probably sitck with the standards -- Plus-X, Tri-X or the Ilford equivalents.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), January 27, 2000.


The only ortho films in 35 mm I can remember are Agfa Ortho and Maco Orto, both rated around 25 ASA. They are unsensitive to red light and damned sharp. So one will get a darker skin with high resolution. I doubt that higher resolution is an advantage in portrait/figure studies. (I use a Zeiss Softar 1 for figures)

N.B: I have used Technical Pan (slightly extented red sensitivity)but the Agfa Orthos are still in the fridge. So I did get slightly lighter skins using the warmer tungsten light.

Lith films? Never tested, but lith printing is very nice! Allows me use any kind of film e.g. TMZ, simply develop a good baryt paper in lith developer. My favourite papers are Oriental New Seagull G2. I rather opt for the lith printing as I can use my negatives conventionally as well.

Regards

Wolfram

-- Wolfram Kollig (kollig@ipfdd.de), January 28, 2000.


Hi,

I have used lith film and had some good results. However, there isn't much exposure latitude with it. I suggest you bracket it. I tried 3x unsuccessfully ....on my 4th try I finally got lucky. Shot in moderate sunlight with slower shutter speeds, i.e. 30, 60, etc.

As for developement, you would develop it in AB developer, I believe for 2 1/2 or 3 mins each. Printing is a snap becuz it's just b&w - no grays to concern yourself with and you can enlargement it to any size w/o noticable grain - in fact, I don't think it has any grain at all.

I liked it very much but never thought of doing figure studies using it. Good luck with it. It will definitely be educational. :)

-- Erin C. (ericon_22@hotmail.com), February 24, 2000.


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