Expired & Exposed: AGFA - GEVAERT Gevapan 36 N195
This is another post adding to a larger series named Expired & Exposed. I’m a film photographer experimenting with different developing techniques.
This post has been a while in the making... I like to include a bit of history to go along with the film stock developed - after all sometimes the history is just as interesting as the results! Unfortunately I don’t have many facts surrounding this particular film. What I do know is; it’s motion octure film expired in 1979 it, and hand rolled by a gentleman from my hometown St. Petersburg, Florida ; named Lance Rothstein. Lance procures rare and vintage films from all over the world, and like me, experiments with all sorts of developing processes. http://www.labeauratoire.com
How did I acquire this rare roll?
Well, this is actually an 
It is really hard to find any specs about this film, at least from a trustworthy source. It’s label shows this film being rated at ISO 100, whereas a few documents I came across say it shall be exposed at ISO 64 for daylight. So I subdued my inner rebel and went with Lance’s recommendation. As for development, same issue, a few random attempts with little to no specs or results.
Photo of BooTang by 
- click for high resolution image
Photo of BooTang by - click for high resolution imageThese are some great images of Amelia - fantastic length of mid tones and detail considering the films age. If you’re wondering what that mark is on the full-length shot, I think it’s a hair or scratch on the negative. Hair is likely in our household.
Photo of bushome by - click for high resolution imageCommon test shot for me. I just like the view of the various cloud formations, woods, and the house. It was fairly sunny this day, and enough detail in the shadows to make me happy.
#streetphotography by - click for high resolution image
Not sure what I was going for here... I like the high contrast look and the way the branch is lost in its own shadows, kinda abstract.
Overall, I think these came out really good. I think the grain structure is typical for motion picture film of this age #grainisgood .
Note: These images have not been edited in any way. Developed. Scanned. Uploaded. I give myself (and you) an opportunity to discover what each film has to offer.
Developing process...
I used another modified Two Step Caffenol Developer concoction:
40ml Water, 7 rounded Teaspoons of Instant Coffee
100ml Water, 4 Teaspoons of Washing Soda, 2 Teaspoons of Vitamin C
- Put the Coffee mix into the developing tank, agitate once per second for the first minute
- leave it for another 2 minutes, agitate for 10 seconds every minute.
- Pour out 100ml of Water and add the Washing Soda mix.
- Agitate once per second for the first minute
- Agitate for 10 seconds every minute for 9 miutes
- Stand development for another 4 minutes.
I used a distilled water stop bath. Kodak film fix. Hypo clear wash. Then photoflo.
I’ve got a few ideas for my next aged film attempt...use a chemical stop bath - I was left with a thin layer of something on these negatives that makes me think water wasn’t enough to do the job;add potassium bromide to my caffenol mixture - I hear helps with fog (which expired film is notorious for);Use Rodinal - 1:00 mixture would be SUPER cheap and I hear cooks a mean soup;Experiment with CineStill Monobath- just because im curious. Then again any master of gelatin-silver magic knows you must use the proper chemical bath for each film. Which begs the question; Should I have given more attention or the emultion numbers/type?
Oh well. Next time.
Hey, my name is Tang. 👋
Most people know me for being a bus dweller - I converted a school bus into a custom RV, but I’m also a film photographer, dreadlocked Legolas, and a dad to a dog named Hobo. Right now, I'm experimenting with vintage cameras and expired film, learning how to mountain bike, and sharing my adventures along the way.
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