Busking at the Pier

[Brian Moore]

As I was wandering around the pier in HB last weekend these four wee lassies set up and and started singing. They were great! I gathered they were sisters from what one of the passers-by said after speaking with them. While I was there the wee lassie on either end played the guitar. The others would make percussion by clapping in time to the music. They were cute as buttons the four of them!

The first shot below was with my new Canon T70 and Ilford Pan F+ film. The second was with a Canon Snappy 35 point & shoot in which I was using Arista EDU 400 film. Both images were processed in Rodinal 1:50 (at the same time.)

 

[Rob MacKillop]

I like all your shots, Brian. You very often say "processed in Rodinal". What is Rodinal?

 

[Brian Moore]

I like all your shots, Brian. You very often say "processed in Rodinal". What is Rodinal?

Thanks very much, Rob.

Rodinal is a developer. There are many kinds of developer. Kodak makes developers, Ilford makes developers and there are many developers made by other companies. Rodinal, as I understand it, was originally a developer made by Agfa. The formula is very old (going back to the 1800s I believe.) Today Rodinal is made by several companies, and I believe they are made with the same formula--or close to it--as the original. The Rodinal I use is "R09 One Shot" made by a company called "Connect Chemicals" in Germany. Many people have their own favorite developers. Some people use different developers depending on the film. I stick with R09 Rodinal because its very easy to store and dilute and use. It's also very reasonably priced. And, most of all, I like how the pics turn out sometimes. Thanks again, Rob!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Very interesting, Brian. Many thanks!

 

[alfie Wright]

Nice shots, I like them both, Brian.

While we're having the film lesson, time for more newbie questions, I'm wondering why shot 1 is tonally much richer than 2 if they were both developed together? is it the different film or the different camera or both?

I had lunch with my Dad today & he's going to loan me his old Werra, so I'll peobably be asking a few silly questions.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Alfie. Bit of both I'd say. The two films are very different. Keep in mind also that the Canon Snappy 35 (2nd shot) is a plastic P&S. The T70 (1st shot) was wearing my FD 28mm, which is a pretty nice bit of glass.