Cameras, Tools, and Orthochromatic Film
At the beginning of this year I made a new year’s resolution. It is unusual for me to make new year’s resolutions, but the timing was just right. I decided to dedicate 2022 to large format. I was exhausted from my creativity being constantly be divided between different frames of thinking. One day I’m thinking in 35mm, the next 120, the next 4x5, and again 35mm. This debate in my mind created a craving that I could not satisfy. The craving of seeking out an optimized single way to capture an image. Sticking with film obviously, 35mm being the most portable and convenient, but the lowest quality in terms of enlargement. Large format being the most inconvenient and least portable, but the most rewarding experience I’ve had when making images, have come from view cameras. 120 cameras, for me sit in the middle being a compromise of quality and convenience.
Anyway, 2022 is the year of large format for me, at it is September. And I have made it thus far! Until that is, my wife and I adopted two kittens! I made the decision to pick up the 120 film again and capture some memories of the kittens and my wife quickly before they grew up and those precious moments were gone. There have been select times where the 5x7 camera is applicable for a nice memory, but not in all situations can I fire away a quick shot on a view camera when kittens are running around the living room floor. In any case, For 9 months I dedicated my practice of photography wholeheartedly to large format only and I learned some key things by sticking to a single system. For my case it’s large format:
Stress of trying to optimize multiple formats and dance between them went away gradually.
I can finally start to “see” in large format, while I struggled to before because I tried to see with multiple formats in mind.
I no longer chased after gear or films in 35mm and 120, I actually gave some things away in order to better accomplish my goals.
I spent a lot less time (and money) trying to upgrade my photography skills that actually took me nowhere. There is a great article here that talks about chasing after gear that doesn’t actually improve upon skills as a creative. It also touches upon what you can do to improve so it is a high recommended read for photographers and creative people. That being said, I still believe that the right job requires the right tool. Too many choices can make the work seem overwhelming, so that’s why I’ve been opting for a simpler load-out. But in the end, it’s about having fun with expressing yourself in photography and art. Being creative should be a pleasure that brings joy to our lives and enriches it.
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.”
-Ansel Adams
Some notes here on my adventures with my camera. I went out and made some exposures with my 5x7 camera on Arista Ortho Litho 3.0 cut sheet film. It is an affordable option that yields wild and unpredictable effects due to its difficult to tame contrast, slow speed, and orthochromatic spectral sensitivity. I have some experience with this film, as I am no rich man and I didn’t mind spending a little time trying to wrangle one of the most oddball film stocks available. While in the process enjoying the challenges that come with it.
To this day I have been experimenting with the film for about a year and a half. If it you do a quick search on the film there is not a lot of info on what ISO to rate it at and how to develop it. The film specification data does not give a lot of information and a quick search on the film in Google yields some results for development methods, but not many with satisfactory results. This blog article by Ashley Houston addresses many different approaches which are promising for both high and low speed shooting, but I develop my film simple and easy. Please feel free to use or distribute the instructions I make here:
Arista Ortho Litho 3.0 Developing Instructions
Developer: Kodak D76 1+19
Normal Development (@ISO 3) = 8 minutes (Continuous tone)
Push Process (@ISO 6) = 10 minutes (Higher contrast)
*If detail is preferred in shadows allow an extra 15-20% development time for density.
Pre-wash = Tap water continuous agitation for 1 minute
developer = D76 1+19 continuous for 1 minute, agitate for 15 seconds every 1 minute
Stop = Tap water continuous agitation for 1 minute
Fixer = 4 Minute clear time, 6 minute complete fixer agitation using same agitation method as developer.
Wash = Ilford wash sequence followed by 3 five minute soaking baths.
Rinse = Kodak Photoflow for 30-45 seconds.
Dry = Hang dry on line soaking water build-up in corners or edges with tissue paper.
Use this at your own discretion, it should be a starting point for your own experimentation and work. It isn’t scientific data like those published by manufacturers, but rather, results I have been very pleased with in the application of this film in general photography. Maybe you’re asking why D76? Well, it’s simply because I had a lot of it and that’s all I had at the time. So far it’s serving me well. I’m willing to say that at least 1 in 10 of my portfolio photographs on this website are made and printed from Arista Ortho Litho film. I have had a huge success with it and I am ready to share my results here now.
Can you relate to these things I’m thinking and working on? Do you constantly jump from one camera to the next? I just bought another 120 film camera! A Zeiss Super Ikonta 6x6 folding camera. It’s been on my radar for years now and I finally pulled the trigger. Let me know by leaving a comment or sending me an email. I would love to hear your thoughts!
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