First time pushing Tri-X, happy with the results

[adelorenzo]

Went to see a friend's band last night and brought my Pentax 645NII. I loaded Tri-X and planned to push two stops to 1600. With a 200mm F4 lens wide open I was shooting 1/30 hand held and hoping like hell I could get something usable.

My usual routine is HC-110. 1:50 for 8 minutes, invert four times every minute. So for two extra stops I went for 16 minutes and it seemed to work out. Here are a few samples of how it turned out:


Meat the Vegans by Anthony DeLorenzo, on Flickr


Meat the Vegans by Anthony DeLorenzo, on Flickr


Meat the Vegans by Anthony DeLorenzo, on Flickr

There were a handful of photographers shooting digital at high ISOs. I've seen some great shots but I'm happy with how mine turned out as I feel they have a much different look to them.

Also shot half a roll of chrome (Provia 400X) it will be interesting to see how that comes out when I get it processed.

[brucemuir]

Way to go.
I bet you got some looks with the Pentax or the digi guys didn't know what it was.

This type photography can handle some deep shadows so pushing isn't as critical.
Looks like you used some skills to know when to trip the shutter to get 1/30 "freeze frames".

Sometimes you can just use the motion to your advantage with some practice.
Nice work
Happy shooting

[jim appleyard]

good work!

You can also try Diafine at EI 1000-1600. It's a two-bath dev that tames the contrast nicely.

Acufine can get you to EI 6400 if you desire, although contrast & grain suffer.

[hoshisato]

I find that the Pentax 645NII handles incredibly well handheld with exposures longer than 1/60, 1/30, etc, but I'm amazed that you pulled that off with a 200mm lens! This I shot with mine at 1/8th handheld with my 75mm lens: http://monochrome.me.uk/blog/p/1215

[Jeff Kubach]

Looks great! I have some Tri-X (120 & 35mm) I gonna to try to remember what you did.

Jeff

[fotch]

Hey adelorenzo, very nice. Congrats.

[adelorenzo]

Thanks everyone. I was pleasantly surprised by how sharp they are at 1/30, obviously not pin sharp but good enough to use. I've never shot under those kinds of conditions, it was a bit of a gamble but it worked out. I had thought of trying stand developing to bring out some more shadow detail but I've never pushed film or done stand... So I figured keep it simple to start out with.

[Renato Tonelli]

Nice work.
I've used the Pentax 645 wtih Tri-X quite a bit in small, dimly lit clubs. I use either Acufine or Diafine as the developer for that ype of work.