Torso, Infrared.

[Maris Rusis]

Torso, Infrared​

Gelatin-silver photograph on Ilfobrom FB Grade #3, image size 18cm X 25cm, from a 35mm negative on Kodak High Speed Infrared film exposed in a Pentax ME Super camera fitted with a Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 lens and a #25 red filter.

It is the rarest thing for me to use the 35mm format but the Kodak HIE emulsion has not been coated for years and it is accessible only via stray rolls. Because the film is precious I could not bear the risk of camera-shake so the Pentax was mounted on a very large and steady tripod.

Infrared film offers some contending compromises. Skin tones become very light and smooth but with the danger of looking waxy. The direct sunlight illumination goes some way to obviating this. And the obtrusive graininess is somewhat offset by the impression of luminosity; at least I hope so.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Maris,

You chose the right tools for the job. The infra red film gives a look of stone. Your Pentax 35mm camera offers a wide open aperture if you wish to cut down DOF and there's more light and film to work with. It's so convenient once you have the right focus correction to keep taking pictures and even to bracket, if you wish. With LF this is so much harder to accomplish. i'd love to know how you approached this one shot and how many different exposures were made?

I really like the pose, but if I had to hunt for something to quibble about, it would be the mostly hidden right hand. But, that's just a preference I'd have had. I'm so interested in knowing what else was on that strip of film!

Thanks for sharing,

Asher

 

[Maris Rusis]

Thank's Asher.

I'm not confident about the other exposures. 35mm is so small that using several $1 sheets of photographic paper to explore the virtues (or failings) of a 20 cent negative defeats motivation for the time being.

Hands in photographs are a challenge particularly women's hands. Here's a checklist I try to run through my mind in the two seconds before exposure:

Avoid thumbs if possible.
No sharp bends, twists or "claws".
Hands edgewise if possible, pinkie finger nearest the camera.
Holding props or bits of scenery gives hands credible work to do.
Both hands visible (in whole or part) if possible.
Fingers parted to avoid heavy "slab" hand effect.
Group fingers in two's or three's for a lighter effect. Cartoon characters manage nicely with three fingers and a thumb and their hands don't look big.

In the "Torso" photograph the model (a gymnast) is holding onto the rail firmly but gracefully so as not to fall off.

 

[A.K. Nicholas]

Nice to see some film shots. You "hand checklist" is also an interesting exercise, though I'm sure not applicable to all work.

You've done a nice job with the natural light defining the interior forms of the torso. I also like the natural background against the rail. I'm not sure what the rest of the rail looks like, but I'm curious to see it higher in the composition if you had one that was cropped with a little more of it showing.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Maris,

Is there anything special about processing this film. can it go to a film lab as routine B&W or are there special needs or precautions?

Asher

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Is there anything special about processing this film. can it go to a film lab as routine B&W or are there special needs or precautions?

The Kodak HIE is very special. A darkroom needs to be dark for IR as well, which means no woodpaneled doors with incandescent lighting outdoor, because the (thin) wood is transparent/translucent to IR. Any black painted windows / curtains need to be IR proof, and no IR inspection devices can be used. All darkroom lights must be switched off.

Something that may surprise users who are not prepared, the though polyester filmbase cannot be torn from it's cassette by hand, one needs to have scissors at hand (which can otherwise be challenging to find in total darkness). Metal film development tanks are IR proof, plastic ones may or may not be. Automated processing equipment that uses IR LEDs to track the film are to be avoided, and even camera's that use LEDs to detect film can fog the film.

Cheers,
Bart