Using Paper Negatives

For 8x10 negatives I use Kodak PolyMAX II RC Paper. This paper is
temperature stable. The paper can be stored in a hot car, with no apparent
picture loss or fogging. For daylight A.S.A 22, for overcast clouds A.S.A.
15, for open shade A.S.A. 11, for deep shade A.S.A. 8. The main change in
A.S.A or ISO is the color temperature of the source light and the color
correction the hardness that the PolyMAX paper, due to the color filters
built in the papers surface. The real A.S.A. 11 for sunlight, but the
latitude of paper requires one stop less light to keep the gray scale in the
paper negative in respective value as film for reprinting. Also reciprocity
failure curve for paper ends up with a shorter exposure than most 50 and 100
films in E.V. 11 or less lighting, except for the newer Kodak TMAX and most
of the transparency films. With a paper negative the photographer to must
decide what is the theme or subject of the photo. If the day is heavy
overcast and the lighting is flat, and it is a real paper negative day. If
the day is bright and sunny with deep shade the latitude of the paper,
usually will allow three pictures to be taken, one is the brightest subjects
only and black and near black for every thing else, or slight wash out of
brightest subjects, gray scale value in the neutrally lighted subjects, and
almost no detail in the deep shadows, or the last bright totally washed out,
the middle values almost in the washed out, and deep shade has some detail.
Some examples can be found in Lenox Laser Gallery.
http://www.lenoxlaser.com/pinholephotography/pinhole_photography_gallery2004
e.html

 Note the lily back ground is missing, the train moving and the mirror image
reflecting on the train, and sky is washed out, people getting on the train,
they were in shade as compared to the rest of the picture, the carrousel
picture was almost deep shade picture, and the mission picture was taken on
an overcast day. All of the above pictures are from 8x10 Kodak PolyMAX II RC
paper negatives, as the rest of my pictures on the above site.

   Paper negatives can be a very creative tool, as to film which can record
over 17 times more light to dark difference. And at 12 cents a 4x5 shot or
45 cents for 8x10 paper negative, and a print quality darkroom [a darken
bathroom] makes the paper negative a photographic bargain. The simplest of
camera is a cookie tin with a pinhole in the top and photography paper taped
to the inside bottom of the tin, with a piece of doubled up black electrical
tape for the shutter. Note PolyMAX II RC paper as the reversal print has the
best results at 2 to 2 1/2 hardness from PolyMAX II RC negatives.

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Received on Mon Nov 15 12:02:44 2004