Tag: SO 331

Reunions

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Yes, it has been a while since I’ve posted. My role in the Alexander Showcase Theatre’s production of the Crucible has kept me quite busy of late, but I did have time yesterday to get out and do some shooting with my Nikon F2 35mm SLR and 24mm/f2.8 wide-angle lens. It was a reunion with Eastman SO-331 film, a special process film that is designed to be very contrasty, unless developed differently I used Diafine 3+3 and it seems to keep the contrast in check, although I will be testing with other developers. I did a bit of work in post on this image (toning and sharpening) so it is a hybrid image, sorry purists 🙂

Bridge at River Street

A New Mistress, A New Affair

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I think I will be starting a torrid, complicated affair with a new mistress.  Now before I go any further I should say that the mistress in question is a film, Kodak SO-331, a special purpose black and white film that I picked up in a one thousand foot reel.

so 331 test005

SO-331 is a tempestous, challenging and alluring film: very slow speed, but changeable based on lighting/contrast, and very difficult to develop without getting touch much contrast. This is meant to be a high contrast film, so to be successful and show proper tonality, it must be convinced to be something it isn’t.

Like a lover, this film can be coy, difficult and demanding — showing flashes of the magic it can create, while at other times stubbornly refusing to cooperate.

I only have the one bulk roll of this film, and it may be hard to get more, so like many affairs, when it’s over it will be over, but hopefully with many great photographs and memories.