Initial Target Audience: Beginning, intermediate, and Advanced WMU Undergraduate Frostic School of Art Photography students.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Initial Target Audience: Beginning, intermediate, and Advanced WMU Undergraduate Frostic School of Art Photography students."

Nicholas Ford
6 years ago
Views:

1 FSRCAPP Report #3 - Appendix #1 Fare Share: Sustainability at Work FSRCAPP (Faculty Sustainability Creative Activity Pilot Project) Grant (funded by the Milton Ratner Foundation) Bill Davis - Associate Professor of Art (Photography) - Principal Investigator Western Michigan University Frostic School of Art Description: This Appendix #1 reports on the outcomes of Sustainable Black and White Silver Bromide Film Processing - Film Development Outcomes. There are two examples provided over 7 Case Studies. This results in a cross comparative study using three rolls of black and white film (Example#1: Kodak T-Max 400 ASA 35mm format developed in Pyro PMK A/B, Sprint System Film Developer, and Kodak TRI-X 120 format developed in Caffenol, Example#2: All three rolls employed Kodak T-Max 400) with embedded images of test targets, zone system control strips, location, and studio imagery. (Please note that Kodak T-Max film has inherently more contrast than Kodak TRI-X film and the tonal map (histogram) in Case Study #2 evidences this differentiation.) Initial Target Audience: Beginning, intermediate, and Advanced WMU Undergraduate Frostic School of Art Photography students. Learning Objectives: Apply chemically-based film processing on a scale that uses variable degrees of harmful chemical volatility Advance student mindfulness about context for and variability within chemical film processing Develop student capacity and appreciation for applicable and universal social, economic, and environmental sustainability-focused research tools (see Report #3 Appendix #2) Provide a context for professional-grade exhibition-quality artwork based on the outcomes of student investment Make clear the expectations and responsibilities students must demonstrate to complete the Sustainable Black and White Silver Bromide Film Processing project Summary: The three images in Case Study #1 below illustrate the (low to high VOC) chemical film development outcomes of the Western Michigan University Undergraduate ART5480 Photo Workshop Sustainable Silver Processing Project. Below Case Study #1 follows the original corresponding histogram of the image directly above it [see Case Study #2 for a comparison of original histograms of all three developers] and following metadata for the corresponding images. For a cross-referenced tonal comparison in Case Study #3, note the classic 10-scale black and white film Zone System for each developer used. In Case Study #1, note the dissimilarity of the histogram in the target developed in Caffenol compared with its Sprint and Pyro PMK A/B counterparts. While this histogram is dissimilar, the original histogram of each file was more similar (before any tonal curve adjustments). For recorded information about film processing time and practice refer to Case Study #4 on the next page. See Case Studies #5 - #7 for additional examples employing matching chemical processing protocols. Applicability: While the results of Caffenol yield an excellent tonal range, edge acuity, and image clarity that does much to equal B/W Sprint Film Processing Chemistry, it is challenging to conceive of this chemistry being widely adopted in a gang darkroom, which is basically a multi-room laboratory built to accommodate students working simultaneously. Caffenol seems to fall short of separating fine highlight detail as metallized (black) silver on the negative because the same enlarger light does not penetrate the darkest parts of a negative developed in Caffenol as it does negatives developed in Sprint (and in many cases Pyro PMK A/B developer). A closer look comparing the histograms in images 1-3 in Case Study #2 will reveal the emphasis that Caffenol places on shadow detail and its lack of impact on highlight detail. In a gang lab scenario using Caffenol, gradual adoption may work best. For example, assigning Caffenol as an extra credit project, a special assignment, or one-day Friday or Saturday workshop. This would likely be a more rewarding strategy than full (about-face) adoption, which would more immediately require many hardened darkroom practices to realign themselves into a new paradigm or new normal. Administrators and faculty who may formally adopt Caffenol into their systematic chemical processing workflow, can expect a culture shift, a workflow shift, and a greater investment of time (because it can take about 20 minutes longer to develop Caffenol). In essence, Caffenol workflow would better serve students, if it employed the following execution: 1. Students purchased or made it independently. 2. Because Caffenol is likely best understood as a one-shot developer, it should be kept in a student s locker in its native powder state. 3. Process film within one hour of mixing chemistry. (Distilled water recommended) 4. Students should properly dispose of Caffenol developer upon processing two rolls of 35-mm, 120 film, or 6 sheets of batchprocessed 4x5-inch B/W film. 5. The project in Appendix 2 is one which yielded some of the results used in this report and it should be strongly considered as an introductory project for any user new to Caffenol, Sprint, and/or Pyro. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 1/9

Case Study #1 Test Target Grayscale image scans of the same target as developed in Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B Larger size printable images available in

#4) Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC Plate 1 Plate 2 Plate 3 Case Study #2 HISTOGRAMS - Original tonal curve for each test

was adjusted to stretch the tonal curve to achieve a max black (R/0, G/0, B/0) and White (R/255, G/255, B/255).

The left side of a histogram mostly equates to the shadow values and the right side mostly equates to the highlight values. Image 1 (120 format) (CS: 4 Neg.

2 Case Study #1 Test Target Grayscale image scans of the same target as developed in Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B Larger size printable images available in Appendix #3. CS = Case Study. Image 1 (120 format) (CS: 4 Neg. #3) Image 2 (35mm format) (CS: 4 Neg. #4) Image 3 (35mm format) (CS: 4 Neg. #4) Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC Plate 1 Plate 2 Plate 3 Case Study #2 HISTOGRAMS - Original tonal curve for each test target as developed in Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B Compare the original histograms below to the thumbnail histogram image in Case Study #1 above, which was adjusted to stretch the tonal curve to achieve a max black (R/0, G/0, B/0) and White (R/255, G/255, B/255). (Again we see the visual reinforcement of the loss of highlight detail in Caffenol). The left side of a histogram mostly equates to the shadow values and the right side mostly equates to the highlight values. Image 1 (120 format) (CS: 4 Neg. #3) Caffenol Image 2 (35mm format) (CS: 4 Neg. #4) Image 3 (35mm format) (CS: 4 Neg. #4) Sprint Pyro Case Study #3 Zone System Control Strip image scans for Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC 2/9

Case Study #4- Film Development Records for Caffenol (Tri-X 400 120 format), Sprint (T-Max 400 35mm format), and Pyro PMK A/B (T-Max 400 35mm format) black and white film developers In-Camera

3 Case Study #4- Film Development Records for Caffenol (Tri-X format), Sprint (T-Max mm format), and Pyro PMK A/B (T-Max mm format) black and white film developers In-Camera Exposure Records for the three rolls of Kodak film: Caffenol (Kodak Tri-X 400 ASA film 120 format (yields 12 images with 6x7 cm-format Mamiya film camera employed)). Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 1 Page 2. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 3/9

4 Sprint (Kodak T-Max ASA 400 film 35mm format (yields 36 images with 35mm-format Nikon film camera employed) Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 2 Page 2. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 4/9

5 Pyro PMK A/B (Kodak T-Max 400 ASA film 35mm format (yields 36 images with 35mm-format Nikon film camera employed) Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 3 Page 2. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 5/9

Case Study #5 Ex. #2 - Test Target Grayscale image scans of the same target as developed in Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B All film used in Example #2 is TMAX-400 ASA.

#4) Example #2 Image 3 (35mm format) (CS 5 Neg. #3) Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC Plate 4 Plate 5 Plate 6 Case Study #6 Ex.

6 Case Study #5 Ex. #2 - Test Target Grayscale image scans of the same target as developed in Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B All film used in Example #2 is TMAX-400 ASA. Histograms were not adjusted. The original histogram is in each image below. Example #2 Image 1 (120 format) (CS 5 Neg. #3) Example #2 Image 2 (35mm format) (CS 5 Neg. #4) Example #2 Image 3 (35mm format) (CS 5 Neg. #3) Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC Plate 4 Plate 5 Plate 6 Case Study #6 Ex. #2 - Zone System Control Strip image scans for Caffenol, Sprint, and Pyro PMK A/B Caffenol - Low VOC Sprint - Moderate VOC Pyro PMK A/B - High VOC Case Study #7- Film Development Records for Caffenol (Tri-X format, Sprint (T-Max mm format), and Pyro PMK A/B (T-Max mm format) black and white film developers FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 6/9

7 In-Camera Exposure Records for the three rolls of Kodak film: Caffenol (Kodak Tri-X 400 ASA film 120 format (yields 12 images with 6x7 cm-format Mamiya film camera employed) Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 4 Page 6. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 7/9

8 Sprint (Kodak T-Max ASA 400 film 35mm format (yields 36 images with 35mm-format Nikon film camera employed) Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 5 Page 6. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 8/9

9 Pyro PMK A/B (Kodak T-Max 400 ASA film 35mm format (yields 36 images with 35mm-format Nikon film camera employed) Red rectangle (#3) refers to Plate 6 Page 6. william.davis@wmich.edu for additional case studies. FSRCAPP Report #3 Appendix #1 Bill Davis (P.I.) 9/9

See following pages for enlargements of the Appendix #1 images. CS = Case Study

See following pages for enlargements of the Appendix #1 images. CS = Case Study FSRCAPP Report #3 - Appendix #3 Fare Share: Sustainability at Work FSRCAPP (Faculty Sustainability Creative Activity Pilot Project) Grant (funded by the Milton Ratner Foundation) Bill Davis Associate Professor