I recently scanned this B&W neg. The original neg was made in 1980, so I thought it was about time to scan it and work it up. I printed this many years using traditional methods, but since I no longer have a darkroom, I thought I might make a print on my Epson 2400.
OmegaView 45E
Schneider-Xenar 210mm
4x5 Tri-X Developed in HC110 at N+1
#8 Yellow Filter
Preston, if you do print this up on the 2400 bring it with you on the Lee Vining trip. As I have not shot B&W in the past I can only say I really like the scene, but could not offer up any technical suggestions at all. I kind of wonder how well the 2400 handles B&W tones and contrasts in general. It is supposed to be very good when loaded with all the various black cartridges.
Posted by Greg Cope on September 8, 2008 at 10:49 PM
I really like this Preston. Technically, to me everything in this looks spot on. The moving water, direction of light, and the vertical bisection of sorts are just three elements in the comp that I find quite striking. I look at this and am immediately brought back to many occasions sitting alongside a scene just like this.
Posted by Richard Wong on September 8, 2008 at 11:31 PM
This looks like it has a lot of potential. the one downfall IMo is that first tree on the left. When I saw it it created a dissonant feeling for me. Nothing technical wrong with the image that I can describe tho.
Posted by Lon Overacker on September 9, 2008 at 3:53 AM
Preston,
I really like this. Not only for the excellent b&w presentation and apparent processing, but more importantly for the unique take on the composition. It's so tempting and common with streamside images to include the water motion as a major element, but I really like how the bend of the tree frames and keeps the interest on the shore - roots and granite.
The other thing that really strikes me and I'm not sure if you or anyone else see's it, but that large boulder looks like the head of a panther - or a rat. see the eye?
Like Paul, I'd love to see this in print one day.
Lon
Posted by Harley Goldman on September 10, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Preston, I am on the fence with this one. I like the composition, you did a nice job creating order out of chaos. But I am finding the highlights on the rock and trees a little too hot, or lacking detail, for my tastes. It might be the scan or might even be the web presentation. The proof is in the print. Bring it to the Sierra with you!
Harley, I am wondering if our monitors are of (reasonably) equal brightness. On my profiled Dell crt, the high values look fine; bright, but not harsh, and with plenty of detail in both PS and on the web.
Just curious, do the high values look OK to the rest you?
Thanks, as always,
-P
Posted by Anil Rao on September 11, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Hi Preston,.
The high values look good to me.
The photograph has turned out very nicely. I agree with Lon on his assessment (and also see the rat).
I saw the 'cat' when I was shooting this. In fact, it was the curve of the near tree and its relationship to that boulder that drew me to make the photograph.
The 8x10 proof I made looks real nice, I think. I used the Advanced B&W function on my Epson 2400, and it works pretty nicely.
Discussion
8 repliesI recently scanned this B&W neg. The original neg was made in 1980, so I thought it was about time to scan it and work it up. I printed this many years using traditional methods, but since I no longer have a darkroom, I thought I might make a print on my Epson 2400.
OmegaView 45E
Schneider-Xenar 210mm
4x5 Tri-X Developed in HC110 at N+1
#8 Yellow Filter
Your thoughts are always appreciated.
-P
I really like this. Not only for the excellent b&w presentation and apparent processing, but more importantly for the unique take on the composition. It's so tempting and common with streamside images to include the water motion as a major element, but I really like how the bend of the tree frames and keeps the interest on the shore - roots and granite.
The other thing that really strikes me and I'm not sure if you or anyone else see's it, but that large boulder looks like the head of a panther - or a rat. see the eye?
Like Paul, I'd love to see this in print one day.
Lon
Viva La Sierra!
Harley, I am wondering if our monitors are of (reasonably) equal brightness. On my profiled Dell crt, the high values look fine; bright, but not harsh, and with plenty of detail in both PS and on the web.
Just curious, do the high values look OK to the rest you?
Thanks, as always,
-P
The high values look good to me.
The photograph has turned out very nicely. I agree with Lon on his assessment (and also see the rat).
Regards.
The 8x10 proof I made looks real nice, I think. I used the Advanced B&W function on my Epson 2400, and it works pretty nicely.
Thanks for your comments,
-P