Topic: Time for your opinion

[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

Some of you would be aware that I am going into trafalgar square on sunday night for the 4th plinth show between 10-11pm.

I am intending on using my C220 as my primary camera for the event and will shoot some B and W film.

My choices are:

HP5 pushed about 2-3 stops
Delta 3200
Tri-X-Pan pushed about 2-3 stops
Neopan 400 pushed about 2 -3 stops
Neopan 1600

So there are choices to be made, I am wondering if any of you have used any of these pushed to theses limits. I will be using the 180mm f4.5 at f5.6 and the 80mm f2.8 at f2.8 if needed but tend to use f4 for no reason really.

I will have a monopod with me as well to help.

My other question is I always get the exposure rule of thumb ass about face - is it expose for shadow and process for highlights or the other way round.

Any help is always appreciated.

Edited because I can't count 

[lauraburlton]

Oh, go for the grain and shoot with ilford delta 3200. You can still push it a stop or two if needed.

For film I was taught to expose for the shadows so you will still have detail there.

Have fun!

[LT]

yup - expose for shadows and dev for highs, you shouldnt go far wrong with that.  Film choice ... up to you.  I really like delta 3200 but I rarely rate it at above 1600 to get the best out of it.

[Karl]

I've pushed Neopan 400 by  both 1 and 2 stops and it was great. While I loath mindless flash photography I think it can work wonders at night in black and white so if you have the attachments...

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[Francois]

Don't forget that pushed film will give increased contrast, something that isn't present on higher ISO film.

For extreme high contrast work, you can opt for one of the higher ISO films and over-expose them instead of doing an underexposure job (though you'll probably need a tripod for that to work properly). Then, you under-develop the film to get contrast back into the normal range. This gives extreme latitude and smaller grain.

[hookstrapped]

I use Neopan 1600, usually pushed 1 stop to 3200, sometimes 2 stops.  It's contrasty and grainy but in a beautiful way.

Here are some sets at 3200 and at 6400.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookstrapped/sets/72157610929450653/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookstrapped/sets/72157610929537941/


At 1600 it also looks great.

This set was shot at 1600

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hookstrapped/sets/72157613889032957/

[Andrea.]

What about keeping to 400 and bring in some movement to the images - Titarenko-like.

[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

What about keeping to 400 and bring in some movement to the images - Titarenko-like.

oooooooo that sounds a bit to avante garde for me, all that movement and creativity - all a bit scary really, I mean what would my old stick in the mud photography lecturer make of all that.

[Andrea.]

What about keeping to 400 and bring in some movement to the images - Titarenko-like.

oooooooo that sounds a bit to avante garde for me, all that movement and creativity - all a bit scary really, I mean what would my old stick in the mud photography lecturer make of all that.

Well, I suppose he might be impressed :-) Unless he is a photographic cub member :-(

[Skorj]

T-Max 3200? Much grain though...



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[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

thanks everyone for your help. Such are these modern times that the camera store I went to had one roll of ilford 3200, 2 rolls of delta 400 and 2 rolls of trix pan

this should have me covered

[sheetshooter]

So, how did you go Ken?

Do you have any views to express to the assembled multitude about preferences under the conditions?

Cheers,

[Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes.]

Well Mr Sheetshooter, you would have been in instant good company, I was standing there with my C220 ready to go and then another weathered looking dude rolls up and unfurls a C330. During our conversation he quipped he was going to bring the 5x4 but thought that might just mess with peoples heads a little too much.

All the other geezers where getting there underwear etc in a spin worrying about what ISO to choose and what autowhitebalance blah to worry about. They where just blown away to see the film gear go through its paces.

Said other due and I looked at one another and said "Ilford 3200" and then had that smile of the insider joke. We both had Ildord Delta400 for backup.

As for light there was so much of it I could have worked on my tan  however it was LED light so very bright, no heat. The sexy spot meter I have was indicating "madness" when I took a reading then wound it up to 3200. I did more of a beginning, middle and end appraoch so hopefully I get something from each part. There was a young lad from Essex (sounds like the beginning of a limerick) who was having trouble with his D300 so after a quick consult I told him to use my exposure settings - problem solved, it seems the autocameras where not handling the LED light that well.

Did end up loading the 400 but only rated it to 800 as there was lots of light, I put the 80mm f2.8 on and used the Benro carbon mono pogostick I have.  It also covers as a costume prop if I have to walk down slightly dodgy streets "No officer it is a monopod and I don't know how it became embedded up that ne'er do wells rectum" - so do like to have it with me for its dual role.

Anyway I have not been able to get any darkroom time this week so hopefully there will be a report - visually - by next week and you won't all think I don't take photos.