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[OM] Re: BW Paper revisited part II

Subject: [OM] Re: BW Paper revisited part II
From: AG Schnozz <agschnozz@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 06:38:16 -0700 (PDT)
> I'm wondering if Perfecta will become available in Australia,

Well, the sole supplier here is www.fineartphotosupply.com

I suspect that it's possible they can ship some items down
under.  My only gripe with the Perfecta paper is that the boxes
it comes in are too small.  You can get the paper out, but you
can't get it back in.  I ended up recycling some Ilford paper
boxes.

Regarding FAPS, I find Anthony to be a good guy.  A bit
fanatical about a few things and desparately seeking the "holy
grail" of fine art B&W materials.  I will attest to the quality
of the stuff and the fact that he truely does know his stuff.  I
just can't get him to try out the RH Designs timers.

> Overall I find the shrinking B&W market very depressing.  Here
> I am getting 
> back into photography after a 10 year break and all my
> favourite products 
> no longer exist.

I would suggest several things to try.  Tmax 100 (my preference
is Tmax developer for it) is really good stuff.  Kodak did
change a few characteristics over the years of Tmax and it is a
fantastic film.  The response curve has a huge straight-line
section and a very tight shoulder and toe.  I find it to be very
easy to print with and there are no tonal seperation problems. 
With the Tmax developer you can easily do N+1, N-1 development. 
My only grouse is that Tmax doesn't push/pull very well as
compared to the Deltas.

For higher speed films, I'm still VERY partial to Delta 400 in
Ilfotec DD-X chemistry. It is NOT an N+1, N-1 combination but a
push/pull combination.  The native speed of Delta 400 is
something like 520.  I regularily push it to 800 with absolutely
no ill effects.  Once in a while I'll even go to 1600 with it. 
At 1600, other than a few tonal curve oddities (easily
accomodated), the grain in an 8x10 is actually similar to
FP4+/Plus-X.  Tight but edgy.

It all depends on what you like in your prints.  If you are into
loud prints, a film like FP4+ or Plus-X will please you.  If you
like the option of creating quieter prints with smooth tonal
gradients that do not end, give Tmax 100/Tmax developer a try. 
No, I personally cannot stand Tmax 400 (TMY).  It's among the
worst films of all time.

> I'm not interested in digital, the magic for me is in
> creating B&W 
> prints in the darkroom, seeing a print emerge from my printer
> seems so 
> clinical and sterile in comparison.

Subtle changes on-the-fly.  I feel much more like an artist when
I'm in the darkroom.  Digital seems like cheating and I struggle
to give it it's own merit.  There's something else about
repeatability.  It's nearly impossible to create two or more
identical prints in the darkroom. It's like Waterord Crystal, no
two goblets are exactly the same.  Each is it's own unique work
of art.

AG



                
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