Blog di Rovinare di Sid

Objectivity Implemented in Thought, Action, Computers, and Photography

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(Week of 07.03.2004)

Sunday, 7 March 2004

Bergger Prestige paper testing —

This afternoon, I decided to have a different kind of printing session. I wanted to make prints as prints were made when men were men, so I hauled out my new supply of Bergger Prestige graded paper (FB to boot) which I wanted to try out. Since I haven't yet received one grade in 11x14, I selected an 11x14 negative I made a couple of weeks ago in Monticello using Ektapan developed in PMK from which I only wanted to make an 8x10 print.

In short, this paper is amazing. Ilford Multigrade sucks. I do not intend to use any other paper for a very long time.

I developed it for two minutes in Ilford Multigrade developer (1+14) since that's what I had handy. The blacks are solid, the whites are brilliant, and the range of tones is excellent. The paper is very neutral without toning if that's your bag. It also responds well to selenium, taking on a warmer, slightly brownish tone when given a six-minute dip. The only problem I had was dealing with the severe curl that unprocessed fibre paper tends to have, but I got it sorted out with only minor adjustments to my cheapo contact printing apparatus.

I have never made the first straight print from a negative and immediately known that I was going to get a frameable result after I made a few more prints, but that is what happened today. One of these prints will almost certainly go onto the wall and into the box I bring around to the outings, so you'll get to see it in April, most likely.

Bergger Prestige paper is very, very good, so if you like to experiment, I'd suggest giving it a try.

posted by Sid at 20.20 / 139 in Large Format [ Comments: 2 ]