HP5 film for 35mm shooting

In preparation for a trip where I may need to go down to 35mm shooting as a weight issue, I've dragged some Ilford HP5 out of the fridge. I've used HP5 occasionally, but never really depended on it. Hence, the idea of giving it a shot at becoming my basic film for 35mm. This shot is OK, but I really had to overdevelop the film and then print at high contrast to get a decent result. Moreover, the film background density is pretty dark, meaning that enlarger heat will make the film wiggle during the printing exposure. I haven't shot 35mm TriX since 1993, but maybe that's where I've got to go. Opinions?

Joys of Selenium Toning

Sometimes there's a print that just has to have that final kick into full richness. That's when you soak it in a selenium bath and watch that last bit of image appear. It also makes the image a little more archival.

I use a 1:8 dilution for my Ilford Multigrade FB, leaving it in for 4-5 minutes. I pull it about as soon as I see the effect so that it doesn't get overdone.

Try it yourself, but don't forget rubber gloves and strong ventilation.
(Other examples at http://www.johnolsenphoto.com/.)

Walking the Bluff

Two hundred feet above the Puget Sound and facing to the west, the bluff trails at Ft. Ebey State Park take a lot of wind, especially during our November storms. Hikers are often amazed by the twisted trees, as well by their resilience. In mid-October I made another pass at photographing some of the best specimens. I was fortunate to have a clear afternnon sky and almost no wind.

I shot with a medium format camera and used an old roll of TriX 400. It was a successful expedition and a pleasant way to get outdoors for a couple of hours.

More images from this series are on my web site.

Search for Intelligent Life

On the plains of Magdaline west of Soccorro a huge array of moveable radio telescopes scan the universe, perhaps searching for signs of intelligent life. (That's why the telescopes are aiming up, they won't find any down here below.) I set out to recreate this scene using pistons from a Suzuki GSX 750 for telescopes in a studio set-up. The ground is brown burlap, the mountains cut from cardboard cartons and the moon is a front disc brake rotor from my motorcycle.

For prints or useage rights contact me by email. More from this series appear on my website http://www.johnolsenphoto.com/.