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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Film developing
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07/16/2003 05:57:39 AM · #1
I just wondered about where to get filmed developed from my upcoming nude sessions. We have Wolf Camera in the malls around here or we happen to have some major film developing companies just 20 minutes up the road in Cleveland, TN. I just don't want to get in trouble with the law or anything for taking nudes in a public setting. Is it OK to take 5 or 6 rolls of nudes shot in a local public site to Wolf and get 1 hour development?

Thanks for your help.
07/16/2003 06:09:30 AM · #2
I think you can get your nudes developed anywhere, as long as its not people having sex (not that its their business). If its just some person posing, don't worry, they get that all the time.
07/16/2003 06:27:46 AM · #3
You might be best off asking them first if they develop nude shots. If they don't take a look at the ad's in the back of a photography magazine. There are normally loads in there that will develop nude work
07/16/2003 06:32:43 AM · #4
I thought that digital was made for taking nude
07/16/2003 07:39:18 AM · #5
the title of the thread is 'film developing'!
07/16/2003 08:07:59 AM · #6
I'll be taking digital and film. I'm also wonder what print media you would shoot.

I was just planning on picking up Kodak Gold ISO 100 & 200 for both the outdoor nudes and the outdoor/indoor eveningwear. Then I got to thinking that I've read that slides are actually better for portfolio work. Next I read on one of the contest websites that there is "professional grade" film. Can anyone give me some ideas about these options?
07/16/2003 08:13:40 AM · #7
Fujichrome Velvia is a very high quality film. Kodachrome 64 is good too.
07/16/2003 08:21:10 AM · #8
Dont use Velvia for people shots. Its just not suited for skin tones.

Tim
07/16/2003 09:07:26 AM · #9
Kevin,

To get your film developed, I'd check with pros in the area and see where they take theirs. However, artistic nudes (i.e. not porn) shouldn't be a problem anywhere. Another option if you intend to scan the images is to ask them to "develop only" (i.e. don't make prints). In my case, my film scanner has a roll feeder, so when I shoot film my instructions are "develop only, do not cut" - they just develop the roll and give it back to me.

In terms of what film to use, I'll preface this by saying that film choice is like religion. Some people swear by Kodak, some swear by Fuji, some couldn't live without Agfa.

In general, Kodak consumer films are warmer than Fuji, so Kodak tends to be a better choice for skin tones, while Fuji is better for blues and greens in landscapes. Kodak Royal Gold is a nice consumer film for portraits, it has finer grain than the regular Gold product.

When you move to professional films, you need to keep four things in mind. First, consumer film is designed to sit on the shelf for a year or two. It is released early in it's aging curve for longevity. Pro film is released at it's peak and refrigerated. You should be buying it from the fridge in the store, and storing it in your fridge at home. Take it out of the fridge at least one hour before shooting and DO NOT open the canister until after that hour to prevent condensation. If you're travelling somewhere hot, keep your film in a cooler. Don't leave it in sitting in the car for 5 days in the desert. If you won't be processing it for more than a few days, stick it back in the fridge after exposing it. In reality you can't always do the above - for example I spent 8 days on a bus tour in Australia and only had fridges at night in some hotels, but do the best you can.

Second, pro films are for specific uses. For example, someone mentioned Velvia 50 (slide film) It's a fantastic film for vivid landscapes, but it is high saturation making it a poor choice for skin tones. Pro F 100 is also a very high quality slide film and it reproduces skin tones much better. On the other hand, NPS 160 (a Fuji color neg film) is specifically designed for portraits. It's properly balanced for skin tones. If I shoot nudes (or people in general) to color film, I use NPS 95% of the time. NPH 400 is also very nice (and will still give you better quality than vitually any consumer film), but I'd stick to the 160 speed if you have enough light. Kodak has the "portra" line of film. If you use that, you'll want the NC (neutral color) for skin tones, as opposed to the VC (vivid color). Also, while you're at it, I'd suggest you try some B&W. Kodak TCN400 is a nice wide latitude B&W film that goes through color chemistry (C-41), so you don't have to hand develop it. It's also scans very nicely.

Third, pro films usually have less exposure latitude. In practice, if you're off by 2-3 stops with Kodak Gold, you'll still probably get a useable image. You want to be much more accurate with pro negative film, and pro slide film is even more sensitive to correct exposure. Remember that the goal with consumer film is to make good prints from point and shoot cameras. Pro film is designed to give professionals the quality they need to make a living. One notable exception is Fuji Press 800, which, as the name implies, is specifically designed as a wide latitude film for press photographers, who often have little control over their environment.

Fourth is price. You won't find pro films at 3 rolls for $5 at WalMart :)

Hope that helps!

Regards,
Eric
www.ericjacksch.com
07/16/2003 10:57:54 AM · #10
Interesting reading Eric..
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