HP5+ in overcast light, box speed, how would you process it?

[jnanian]

get rid of the developers you are presently using
process your film in caffenol c
with 10cc print developer / L caffenol. stand develop
it will do what you want ..

[markbarendt]

I guess I'd like dark blacks with long contrast up to the midtones, midtones up high near highlights, so that the midtones (skin) is very whitish/bright.

I see two things going on here.

1-Placement. Since the film is already exposured, the only choice left here is in printing.

2-Preference for mid to low tone detail.

Given #2 and the lack of importance of the highlights, I'm going to say Xtol, normal time.

I'd actually adjust the contrast rate with the paper grade.

[Michael R 1974]

When faced with low contrast situations the rule is to underexpose and overdevelop. Just how much depends on the subject contrast. This is when a spot meter is useful. Since overdevelopment increases density the exposure must be reduced to compensate. Reading a book about the zone system especially expansion and contraction of the luminance scale would be very helpful.

I see this "rule" a lot on APUG. The rule to underexpose and overdevelop is incorrect. The proper procedure for expansion is to expose normally or increase exposure. The negative is then printed down if deep blacks are desired.

[rich815]

I see two things going on here.

1-Placement. Since the film is already exposured, the only choice left here is in printing.

2-Preference for mid to low tone detail.

Given #2 and the lack of importance of the highlights, I'm going to say Xtol, normal time.

I'd actually adjust the contrast rate with the paper grade.

I'm with Mark, Xtol.

[c6h6o3]

I see this "rule" a lot on APUG. The rule to underexpose and overdevelop is incorrect. The proper procedure for expansion is to expose normally or increase exposure. The negative is then printed down if deep blacks are desired.

I agree. One should never underexpose. Expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights. That adage is just as true today as it's ever been.

Whatever paper you'll print on has a much shorter scale than any film. I'm always trying to compress the scale in the negative, not expand it. Successful printing involves the art of matching the contrast of the negative to that of the paper.

[baachitraka]

The second photo in the book "The Print" - Ansel Adams, list out some common factors for the 'soot and chalk' quality of landscapes...

[Athiril]

get rid of the developers you are presently using
process your film in caffenol c
with 10cc print developer / L caffenol. stand develop
it will do what you want ..

Links to examples?

The second photo in the book "The Print" - Ansel Adams, list out some common factors for the 'soot and chalk' quality of landscapes...

I'll have a look.

[RalphLambrecht]

ilford is right!

[Athiril]

Increased times by 20-25%?

I'm really keen to see this coffee+print developer stand business, just to see what it looks like.

[baachitraka]

Please do not carry away by those fancy 'stand' business. You already have very good developers(viz., XTol) for HP5+. Develop according to manufacturer recommendation and print it. Then you really know where to tweak, what to tweak...

Overcast lighting is a bliss for photography, just incident meter the shadows then you will never go wrong.