Not afraid to experiment

This title reflects my college days and photography. Armed with what I learned from my dad and what I read in various photo magazines, I frequently looked for film and techniques to try on my limited college budget. But having access to the family camera shop helped. In fall of 1975 I was a freshman at Mississippi State and I often borrowed the Konica T3 from the showcase, usually with Tri-X or Plus-X. But I had read about Kodak's very fast High Speed Recording film, AKA 2475. Just had to try it. T3 with the 57mm 1.2 Hexanon. Luckily we had some DK-50 on hand for processing.

I recently found this strip of negatives that I shot with no regard for bracketing or metering. I scanned the four that came out the best.

my dad, December 1975 going over the days business

 

late shopper lighted by shop windows

The gritty grain was a new experience for me as I had never used anything faster than Tri-X

vehicle moving through intersection

 

downtown, early evening

Mike, this is absolutely awesome! Thanks for sharing these - never was able to use this high speed recording film. So very cool!

 

Bert

Thanks, Bertliang. I believe I rated the film at E.I. 1000, but the only shot that I actually relied on the meter was the indoor photo. Most of my experiments in the college days involved infrared film or push processing of conventional films. I even tried processing some E4 slide films.

I used some of that back in the same time period, may be mistaken, but recall it as one of the most incredibly curly negative sets I ever encountered. Mostly earlier on, I pushed Tri X. Still have some samples -- might be an interesting no words or thread -- Fast or Pushed!

Very true, Sandy. And after being rolled up since 1978 it took several tries to get a strip into the scanner. It had a different base from what Tri-X and similar films used.

http://125px.com/docs/film/kodak/2475.pdf

 

says EI 1000 to 4000, depending on development and desired contrast.

 

I started college in 1976, and did some E6 processing in the student darkroom, but no E4.

Ah, the nostalgia...I can recall being young and enthusiastic, trying new products and techniques whenever I could. I remember pushing Tri-X to 3200 ASA using Ilford Microphen, and the results weren't too disappointing. Film offered a playground for novice photographers that digital really can't match. Thanks for the post, Mike.

Pretty much every time I, developer, and film get into proximity is an experiment....

 

I was in the kitchen with the trays (developing ortho film by inspection in a red safety light) and a contact printer.

Fortunately there was another way to get to the bathroom :)

 

It was soon after WWII, and my Ansco darkroom kit had been an Xmas present.

Granma Gerda

I think I printed this one on the contact printer from a 620 negative.

Edited August 31, 2017 by JDMvW

Fortunately there was another way to get to the bathroom

Back during Prohibition one of my German American Great Uncles purportedly used to brew beer in the bathtub. There's one to think about! Sponge baths, ex between batches.

I also experimented with Acufine (Tri-X at E.I. 1000 and Plus-X at E.,I. 250). An older friend of mine (who served in Vietnam) told me about a developer additive called Minmax that he added to D-76. I used it for push Tri-X to 1600, but really all I did was boost contrast and increase grain. But it was fine for flat lighting.