Darkroom Mess

I wanted to get back into darkroom printing for quite some time now and finally went for it.

 

Initially, my mission was to create a mostly neutral contact print of my previous Flickr upload. However, I received a call while working on this print and accepted it because I had a safelight filter on my phone. I proceeded as usual, but my attention was all bound to the call instead of the print.

 

So, I essentially messed up in about every step of the photographic printing process. Not that anyone should consider me an expert for it, because I'm not, but even I can point out all kinds of things technically wrong here: from over exposure to the lighter blotches in the sky.

 

However, I really do like the look of this print. It has some dramatic touch to it, surreal even.

 

I also made a second print of the same negative that came out exactly as I had envisioned – perfectly neutral and "normal" but I actually prefer this one. I tried to match this scan as closely to the print under "normal" indoor viewing conditions as possible. There is some more detail in it, still, but you can't really make it out under normal viewing conditions.

 

Printed on Agfa Brovira Speed BS 310 RC, developed in Rollei RPN Eco.

 

Film details:

 

10s @ f22

 

Intrepid 4x5 Mk5 + Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon 90mm f8 + Fomapan 100

 

Adox Rodinal (1+25; 4:00) at 20 °C

 

Expiry date: 2023-06

Exposure index: 64

 

Scanned on a Heidelberg/Linotype-Hell Saphir Ultra II using Vuescan.

Done