Richard Vanek - Black and White Photography

I have terrible headache today. I hope I will get out of it soon as I suffer for over half day now. We going this afternoon on small walking trip with kids. It is just here around village. It is last day of things which is call "evening four days". Every evening for four days you walk certain distance (5, 10, 15km...). For kids it is quite nice and fun. At the end they will get medal. I quite like it as far as it is not too messy. Sometimes when too many people walk together and kids get crazy, it becomes too annoying.

Saturday I have use my bulk loader and rolled 20 rolls of Fomapan 200 creative. I am going to give a test try. Sunday and Monday I have shoot last rolls Maco and two rolls of Foma 200. Foma I have exposed at 100 as I like to get as max out of it as I can and 100 ASA is enough for me. As a 400 ASA film I use Fuji Neopan so I needed 100 or 125 ASA. I love Kodak 125PX but it is impossible to get it here for good price. And yes I like Foma films.
Today I have plan to develop 3 rolls of Maco in my new Paterson tank for 3 rolls. Looking forward to it. And than in next go I will test Foma with to me new developer Fotospeed FD-10 which was suggested to me as Aculux 2 replacement. I am really looking forward to see results.

I have just finished developing three Maco up100p films in my new Paterson Multi tank for three films. It is great, in the same time as two I can develop two films. I also used first time my new DURST FILM SQUEEGEE. I will see tomorrow when I will scan the films if it left any non wanted artifacts ;-)
For now I am happy, tank works like a charm. Loading these wheels is just perfect three films loaded bellow two minutes. And poring in and out liquid is so fast, I think it just can't be faster. Only inverting is probably effected as the circulation of the liquid when you switch tank back to normal position is much longer so there is more movement of developer than in my previous tank. I need to count on it. It will bring possibly more contrast in development. But that has to be seen.

The door are open wide, as my friend rudo use to say. He owns site www.dvere.sk, if you can read slovak enjoy the site.

There are some situation when I do not notice anything different, but than later on, when I have little time it comes to me suddenly. Why sometimes I act as teenager and next day like adult towards teenager. Sometimes I feel so idiotic. Like you have no control over own behavior. Yes I am kind of impulsive, but it is not overdone. I am almost forty years old, but most of the time I feel much younger and when I realize how times fly I get scared. When I am tired and not managing all I like I become a bit short. Than I act towards my teenage son the way I do not like it myself. Why do I do it?
In other situations when I feel free and not responsible at all I act same way as I did react when I was teenager. Non of it is right way. and now tell me how to make photograph expressing this. It is so much easier to express some beauty, but to express this by photograph I think is quite a challenge. But very interesting. I need to think about it little more and create some images. Maybe it will help me to realize small nuances which leads to that particular behavior. What do you think?

Well I like to know, problem is that there is no way to write me a message, I know it. After I switch off my web shop I switched off also way to write me messages. I will fix it soon. Today I am going to scan three films from yesterday...

I love morning like this. Nice blue sky with sharp Sun, not too hot, actually rather fresh cold. Clear mind and a lot of plans, satisfaction in the soul. Biking across the fields and looking around.
Yesterday I saw Slovak movie called "Neha" from Martin Šulik. First I had feeling that must be very old movie, old I mean like from '70, than later when I checked I find out it is from 1991. The feeling from this movie is what I like. Very lyric full of atmosphere. it is just pity that these movies are not shown more often and are not appreciated very much. never mind I am still glad that they are made for few of us who enjoy them.

Winter walks, coat closer to body, head down against the wind. And than in a moment of silence, you look upstairs and realize night is soon over and sky is brighter and brighter every minute.

After I loaded 20 rolls from 100ft roll of Fomapan 200 I exposed few of them in this weekend. I just finished developing on roll in Aculux 2 and one in fotospeed FD10. You may ask why only one roll when I have those great tanks for 3 rolls. Well reason is simple I exposed fomapan 200 at 100ASA and I would like to test it first to see if I guess development time right. I can tell you that I did guess it right. For both developers I went with 6:00 at 1:9 dilution. I will scan them tomorrow and I am very curious what are differences between these developers.

So after some time I have made my mail link alive again. So from today you can contact me using form on my web page under mail text in heading of each page.
I am bit worried about spam it will generate, but let's see first. If it will do any bad I will add some more spam protection. For now it is very easy you can send me a comment and you need to specify your name and text to me. Only in case you like to have some answer from me you can specify your email address.

Friend of mine borrowed my 6x6 camera to try some different look at world. I must say I really like that old machine. I am having some problems to understand handling, but hopefully it will be over today. I think I understood order of operations and certain right approach to old mechanic. I am using same Fomapan 200 film in it, doing some late evening portraits. I think some part of the film will be ruined, but hopefully I will get two or three shots technically correct. About artistic level I do not know, but we should see. I try to use very shallow depth of sharpness with focus only on eyes and let background unevenly lighted by late evening Sun fall out of focus.

Yesterday I have preview scanned two rolls of Fomapan 200 Creative exposed at 100 ASA in my Nikon F100. These are my preliminary notes and thoughts about this. I need to make more experiments and develop more films to get final feeling abut Fotospeed FD10 and on developing Foma 200 at 100 ASA. So please take following lines as real life example based on my results and not as scientific test.

I developed each roll in separate tank as only roll in it. I used 300ml of developer in Paterson Tank where one can fit two 35mm rolls. Time for both developers was 6:00 min and nonstop inversions in 15 second of first minute and than at beginning of each following minute one inversion of the tank. I try to keep 20C temperature so I prepare liquid on 19C and tank on 19C before I start development. Than after 3 minutes I measured temperature of developer in the tank. In case of Paterson Aculux II it was exactly 20C in case of FD10 temperature was kept at 19-19.5C. This is rather important with connection to the results and conclusions.

When I scanned both films yesterday I did scan then with lower resolution to only get feeling of overall contrast and density. Today I will do detail scan on few selected pictures from both rolls and will extend this information with those findings.

I am going to described properties of each image from positive view so highlights are white and blacks are dark :-)
Roll developed in Aculux seems to have higher contrast. Highlights are nice white, where expected with details in them and blacks are nice deep black. I am very satisfied with it. Overall image has that nice feeling of properly exposed and developed film. One can also feel that film was pulled, so exposed on lower ISO than suggested. I like that special look of the film, it reminds me old photographs look.
Roll developed in FD10 has lower contrast. Highlights are not white enough, they are kind of shade but also blacks are not deep enough. Negative itself is not bad, but is not as good as the one developed in Aculux. This has to be taken with huge reserve as I develop in FD10 first time and also I exposed Foma 200 at 100 first time, so in this case we have two unknown factors while in case of Aculux II I knew developer quite well. Now what needs to be done to make results better. As the highlights are not white enough one would expect to increase a time. But with increasing time I will get also more development in shadow. That means I will not get shadows darker but just opposite. I can increase number of inversions and invert tank every 30 second while keeping development time the same. If I assume that highlights are not developed enough because developer was exhausted that this will help and will not effect developing of shadows. How to make shadows more black? Well by shortening developing time even more. But I was already at six minutes which is almost border when any error, delay will be very visible. Other option is to use more dilution 1:14 in that case I can use 9:00 minutes developing time which I can shorter to 8:00 with increased inverting every 30 sec. Now I need to remember that I develop roll with FD10 at lower temperature. as in the middle of development time it was around 19-19.5C It means when I started it could be as low as 18C. That would indicate that I didn't develop long enough. But why shadows are overdeveloped? Well I need to check this fact with details scan today evening and than make decision.

So for now this is all. I guess I will provide some images from these two rolls also today evening and if time allows I will also do some development. We have hot summer now. Day before yesterday when I developed these rolls temperature in the room as as high as 27C even was almost 22:00 evening. Now we have got some thunderstorms and temperature dropped to 22C at highest. So it is a good chance to keep temperature of the developer at 20C constant.
And the reason why I try new developer? Well read more about it in my journal about Paterson stopping production of photo chemicals.

What is nice on fomapan is that after drying is very flat. Only other films which are so flat are Ilford films. It is extremely good when scanning on 5400dpi so whole image keeps in focus. What is different from Ilford films is that fomapan in its 35mm form is very very thin. And I used my Durst film squeegee second time, after great success on Maco film I use it on Foma, but I end up with small scratches. And that is very annoying.

I have scan one example from each roll one developed in Aculux and one fomapan 200@100 developed in FD10. I will published example and my observation later tonight. Now I will be developing Fomapan 200@100 and Fomapan 100 in fd10 with 1:14 dilution. I also going to develop foma 200@100 in 120 format, first time after more than 15 years. I am really curious :-) This roll I will be developing in Aculux II 1:9 for six minutes.

Enough details in the darkest part of the hat. That means exposure was good enough to carry information from dark part of the scene.

You can see enough details on the most exposed part of the image. This button of the water pump is still carrying on its middle and left side information about details, while right side which was directly exposed to the sun is just burned. That indicate the development time for this kind of scene and exposure is just right.

Developed in Paterson Aculux II diluted 1:9 for 6 minutes at temperature 20C. This is what I consider nicely developed negative. You can immediately see deep blacks on hat and whites on the buttons of the water pump. Difference with shot developed using FD-10 is that here there was more light intensity and that could lead to better highlights.

I believe separation in shadows is good, you can see (on good monitor and paper) all the details of the Mamiya viewfinder. This means that there was enough exposure for developing information in the dark parts. So exposure is OK. Well that is not a problem I guess when pulling film :-) You can also observe a grain in this 1:1 crop from 5400dpi scan.

This was only part where histogram shows the most white. Unfortunately you can see the white is not the whites. That is easily seen also from histogram of the scanner. On handle you can see all the details. This would indicate that time of the development was too short to get full whites. This can be also result of not enough light for that exposure, but can be compensated with extended development

Developed in Fotospeed FD10 diluted 1:9 for 6 minutes at temperature 19-19.5C. My feeling also based on following two shots of shadows and highlights is that this will be needed little bit more of development. Probably result of lower temperature.

I have added new experiment page where I show you my progress with approaching development of Fomapan 200 exposed at 100 ASA. The reason for this kind of pulling is that I like to get the best image quality with that old type of look while I need at least 100ASA. This approach failed with Fuji Across 100. It worked perfectly with Kodak 125PX, which is great film, but hard to get here and if than very expensive. Therefore I am trying Fomapan 200 creative.

I developed Fomapan 200 exposed at 100 ASA in Fotospeed FD10 developer diluted 1:14 for nine minutes. I have got beautiful middle and shadow tones, but still the highlights are not there yet. I see that I really need to add little bit a contrast and make development little longer. So next time, maybe tomorrow I will develop again in 1:9 and not for six minutes but I will try eight. All this will be added to my experiment page about developing fomapan 200 at 100 ASA and when I find the right combination for this film it will end up in my article about my favorite film-developer combinations.

Shadow details seems to be ok. Is possible to see details even in shadow area of the shirt. This is scan on 5400dpi no sharpenning.

Details in highlights are OK, one can see details on white strip around wrist. Looking at histogram can be easily seen that highlights are not present in picture. Normally with the same scanner settings I can get much whiter highlights with Aculux II developer. So it seems I need to extend development time. Possibly this 1:14 dilution needs more than 9:00 minutes and even than maybe developer is not strong enough to develop this parts.

I developed this in 1:14 dilution for nine minutes in hope to get better highlights when using longer time. I am again was not sure what longer time should be when I change dilution. I must say I like very very much the look of this shot, which is straight from scanner no adjustment other than sharpening for web. I must say that generally these picture developed this way have lower contrast than with 1:9 dilution (which was expecting to have a little compensation effect), but there are no highlights. Looking at histogram of every picture from this roll I can see that mostly middle tone and some shadows are presented but higher 30% of histogram is just empty. So I expect even longer time is needed here.

I add some details scans and few information about my attempt to develop fomapan 200 exposed at 100 ASA with Fotospeed FD10 diluted 1:14. Seems like not the right way. Read more about it on experiment page where is more about finding the right way of using Fotospeed FD10 with Fomapan 200@100.
Next step is going to be longer time for FD10 diluted 1:9.

Deep in a castle, Arden in Belgium 2004.

When I need to put new undeveloped negatives into tank , I do it in our small dressing room. It doesn't have windows and only one light. Door is possible to close and lock only from outside. It is only room when I can make total darkness even in sunny day. I placed from inside on a dry zip very think black curtain. There is always somebody needed to close the door from outside when I going to put films into tank.
Quite often I ask Tomas, my oldest son to do this for me. I always tell him, come in five minutes back to unlock me. Sometimes it is taking little longer and than he is sitting in front of the door from outside and waits. Quite often it is at the evening, so house is quiet and he can hear sounds which I make while loading films. Last time I wonder, what he is imagining when he is listening those sound or loading film, clicking tank lid? He has no idea what kind of things I am doing in there, how film is loaded or what can create sound like that. Isn't it great, for a second, to imagine that you are somebody else and look at, for you at normal everyday thing, from point of view of that person. You loose your knowledge and you put yourself into the position of somebody else. Simple thing, but how it can all change! Surprising! And than imagine some more serious things than loading film into the tank behind a closed door!

Today I made another step towards discovering possibilities of fotospeed FD10. I developed Fomapan 200 Creative exposed at 100 ASA in 1:9 dilution for eight minutes at 20C. Looking and negative it is a step in good direction. I will add some detail scans to my experiment page of fomapan 200@100 tomorrow.

Another interesting thing I did tonight was, to fill my Paterson multi reel tank, by adding of Fomapan 200 @ 200 exposed about ten years ago. Now when I see the results I think FD10 is quite good on developing films exposed looong time ago. I develop films from same session of the year 1996 some four years ago with xtol and I must say results where much, much worse.
I also add some very old ORWO 22 film. This was developed with both earlier mentioned films. I was not hoping to get anything, but I did. This time is little bit dense probably time was too long for this film, but I believe I can get some useful scans anyway.

So that was it and now I am going to work a little on my 6x6 scans made by my friend Jacco.

My first 6x6 film after over 20 years using friends camera. By accident I did double exposure. I must say I like it quite a lot.

This is a crop from 5400 dpi scan. No modification is done on this crop. These are the darkest part of the previous scene where are clearly seeing details.

This is crop from 5400 dpi scan with no modification done. This part is really burn in the sun and even 8 minutes which is by 25% more than my first attempt at this dilution, still make possible to see details. And now is there also what I miss before, whites are really white.

This is the best result I have got with fotospeed FD10. Image has right balance between highlights and shadows, nice contrast and details in both areas. Seen a whole roll is better to judge than only seeing this one picture, so you have to trust me a bit. These eight minutes for foma 200@100 is good solution for FD 1:9. This is scan with no modification done except sharpening for web. one can clearly see, and histogram also showed that, that full scale is used from deep black to the top notch highlights. you need to see the print, it is excellent tonal range! So job is done FD 1:9 8 min and foma 200@100 is good combination for me.

I think I finally crack this down. I like very much Fotospeed FD10 diluted 1:9 for eight minute when developing Fomapan 200 Creative exposed at 100 ASA. This tie gave nice scale from deep black towards sharp and crispy highlights. You can see examples all of my tryouts by looking at experiment page of Fomapan 200@100.
I will soon update my article about my favorite film/developer combos. Fomapan 200 Creative will be included into my normal sensitive film as a replacement for Kodak 125PX.

Yesterday I have received paper I have ordered from Epson. It is Epson premium semi gloss paper in A4 size. This paper is archival and has pearl like output. I use it immediately yesterday to print image from last FotoSpeed FD10 test. And I am amazed. It is really nice deep black, those kind of black you expect from semi gloss paper and highlights are perfect as well. Very nice contrast print and still full of tone.
Only one simple think is maybe stopping this paper to be perfect and that is it weight. 251g/m^2 is not little but paper doesn't have that thick feeling which some matte papers of 300g/m^2 has. Of course if you put print on this paper on the wall you can't see that difference.
I will use this paper to print my portfolio I guess, at least I will give it a try and compare it with look of other papers I do use, like PermaJet Alpha and Omega.

I have notice that Hahnemuhle has introduced new Pearl paper called FineArt Pearl, 285g/m^2. This paper is incredible expensive, I have found prices between 70-90 euro for 50 A4 sheets. Terrible!!!

I have add to my article about film and developer combinations I am using, my new information and finding about Fomapan Creative 200 developed at 100 ASA with FotoSpeed FD10 developer.
Please take a look and remember: It is my own findings and may but not necessary will work for you. I am very happy with this combination and I will use it from now on for all normal sensitive film shooting. I will probably do some test with Paterson Aculux 2 as I have still three liters of it and there is a chance that Paterson will resume its production this year.

It is not good today. It was not good before, I only didn't realize it. And you think with you it is all right? Don't be sure, it will until you realize it all, maybe you never will...

Today afternoon I have put my player on and put in music I loved from time I was around twenty years old. This time I have put on "The Wall" from Pink Floyd. By listening this music I was moving my concision to the different level, to the level how did I look at live fifteen and more years ago. Than I have start thinking how it is with me now. And it is not good. I fee like s..t!
And "I want to go home, take off this uniform and leave the show...".

Last week I have order flatbed scanner, Canon 8400F which I have received Friday. I installed it same day and did some scans. Prints and also 6x6 negatives. All is working fine and I am glad that I can make now mine chain for prints little bit more calibrated and possibly create some nice profiles for special papers I do use from time to time.
I am also glad that I am able to scan 6x6 negatives. This give me possibility to scans some shots I have did when I was 8-10 years old. I will create some old memories project and will post them there. I am really curious about these. A lot of them I never print and what can also shock you I have about 20 6x6 rolls undeveloped from longtime ago. Probably there will be nothing on them, but you never know until you do ;-)

It can happen, even in ordinary day your dreams can come true. And even better you do not have to be child. Just close your eyes and dream about! I will lead you and you follow me, when you open them again you will see all you wished for!

Interview with me and my wife Viera was featured in June issue of FNV magazine. I asked Hape Smeele, who took our pictures, if I can use one of those shots for my web page. It is a while I was thinking about placing my picture at "About me" page. So now it is there. Hape made color shots, but I took freedom to converted to black and white.
So now you can not only see how do I look, but also you can see Viera on the same picture.

For a some time now I was looking for a good way to mark my prints. You know on back side to put all information needed and sometimes eve required when you send prints to contents. For a years I just wrote them by hand and pencil. I never been sure how permanent that is and not talking about aesthetic value, which was rather low thanks to my poor handwriting.
I had i mind to use stickers and print them on computer and that simply stick them on back of the print. I tried few of those who you can buy in paper shops. most of them either didn't accept a ink jet print or they didn't really stick to the back of the print and could be removed without problems. Only this weekend I bough another set. They are pack by three pieces in sheet of size 9x11cm. I tried them and they seems to work very well. So maybe I am going to use this approach in the future and see how it goes.

You need to be careful not only on a way up, but same care you need to take on way down, to places where you have been and you like to come back to them.

My friend from Norway Daniel Staver has done something I was only talking about. He send his portfolio to the B&W magazine. I was subscribing this magazine to three years and stop it last summer. But I do not want to write about that. I like to congratulate Daniel that his following three shots will be published in August issue of this magazine. A step which I always wanted to do, but was only talking about. So if you buy August issue of the magazine you can see there following shots by Daniel Staver:

• Dark Cloud II
• Chimney I
• Building and cloud

As you look at those images and also on other at his web site you really enjoy Daniel's post processing work, he is a master in it. The mood which is created from rather simple compositions is enormous. Imagine, those images huge on your wall and you feel like you flying in your dream. The little soft feeling from images only supports that kind of impression. I like his work very much. Once more Daniel, I wish you all the best and I will follow you and I'll stop talking and start doing ;-)