Getting Back Into the Dark Room: Part 1 - Preparing for a Hybrid 4x5 Workflow

It must be about 12 years ago that I did develop my last black and white films. Over the last years I have been very busy with all kinds of things, but no time was reserved for analogue photography. My Wista 45 SP was shelved away, waiting for better times. It did not feel good; it felt as if an uncompleted chapter had been closed and stored away.

But triggered by work from photographers like Vanessa Winship, Edward Burtynsky and Bill Burke I decided that it was time to dust-off my Wista and work again on my sheetfilm chapter. It is about time.

So after some investigation I decided to start-off with calibrating a 4x5 hybrid workflow based on the following aspects/products:

• Film: Kodak T-Max 400 Plus
• Developer: Kodak XTOL
• Rotary tube processing / continuous agitation
• Scanning: Epson Perfection V750 Pro (final decision still to be taken)

Currently I am waiting for the film and developer to be delivered. While I am doing so, I have to check if all the materials are still in place. Twelve years is a long time .. I cannot wait for the delivery of the film.

• Vanessa Winship (on Infocast.nl)
• Autrefois Maison Privée - Bill Burke (on Infocast.nl)
• Edward Burtynsky

Photo below: Philips PDR 120, and Simma-Color model 2 tank for rotary processing, by Barend Jan de Jong (Canon 5D mkII, Leica Summicron-R 50mm).