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Modern photographic emulsions have certain unexpected characteristics. Beginning with the familiar, you know that the developed film from your camera is a negative. On the negative, subject areas that were dark in real life, are reproduced as light (clear) areas on the film. Subject areas that were bright in real life, are reproduced as dark (dense) areas on the negative. When light is passed through the negative to make the print, the densities are restored to the original relationships. Light areas are again light; dark areas are again dark.

You need to establish dependable lab practices for the combination of your particular light meter, lens, shutter, darkroom thermometer, water, film developer, tank, method of agitation and timer combination.

All of these things have mechanical or electronic functions that actually vary and affect your film development. Even two 'identical' digital light meters from the same manufacturer can offer differing readings for the same amount of light. This is not the greatest thing in the world, but it isn't a disaster either. The main thing you need from your equipment is consistency. As long as your light meter offers the same reading under identical circumstances every time, it can be depended on. We can calibrate for the variations that inhabit (in fact define) your individual system. The helpfulness of establishing a calibrated Normal development routine is hard to overstate. From the solid beginning of a calibrated Normal film speed and Normal film development, a veritable world of options will unfold.

Without the solid foundation of calibrated Normal film speed and Normal Film Development, you may know and attempt to use the many other available tools, but don't be surprised or even disappointed when you get miserable results. It is the informal, time-honored tradition that photographers proceed using the Zone System without testing their film. Once the ideas come home as sensible and useful, it is nearly impossible to do otherwise. The sooner you establish a baseline film speed and development for your individual system, the easier and more natural everything else becomes.

Another plus, with careful work, you can achieve better film developing results by developing your own film than by having a commercial business do it for you.

We aren't quite ready for the unexpected nature of film yet. We'll have to put in some time getting acquainted or reacquainted with film densities.

U.S. Army Photo Album: Shooting the War in Color, 1941-1945 USA to Eto $25.05 More Info by Jonathan Gawne , Philippe Charbonnier Usually ships in 24 hours (As of 10/6/2004, 1:08:13 AM EST)

Sixty Years of Photojournalism: 60 Years of Photojournalism/English, French, & German $39.95 More Info by Hendrik Neubauer Special Order (As of 10/6/2004, 1:08:14 AM EST)

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