Photo above of Tang by BooTang
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
Photo by Lance Rothstein
How did I acquire this rare roll?
Well, this is actually an find from a while back. Her and her bestie grabbed a handful from a hodgepodge bowl at our local lab Zebra Color. I won’t spoil some of the other unique finds - you’ll see them reviewed here for another installment of Expired & Exposed.
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.
These 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.
Common 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.
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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