Tri-X - anything else needed...?

Dateline 1940: “The fastest film in the world is the new Tri-X, with
twice the speed of Super-XX.” If you want the numbers, the British
Journal of Photography Almanac for 1940 (actually written in 1939)
reckoned it was 7000 H&D.

Tri-X processed in ID11 plus

Sometimes I am contemplating if any other film than Tri-X is needed?
The classic which was introduced as early as 1939-40 as sheet film,
and 1954 as roll film 135 and 120 formats. The most recent version
packs a few years and it is my impression that the grain has become
even more appealing, and that tonality has improved. Tri-X is fantastic.
It stretches the tonal curve in shadows like no other film.

Tri-X precessed in X-tol

Tri-X and D-76 is a well proven combination of film/developer, but now I have
begun using X-tol which works equally well, and in addition is less hazardous
to the environment. If however you want the smallest grain and maximum
resolution, it can be a good idea to make your own D76, and in this case
replace the metolen with fenidon, with the strength of 0,3 g/liter.

This will give you Ilfords late ID11 plus, which has been discontinued.
D76 and ID11 are known to be basically the same developers, only Ilford
made a special version named ID11 plus. More expensive, but by what I can
see from my Tri-X negatives from this time, it renders a clearly finer grain
and a delightful tone/resloution of detail. With this developer the following
question is brought to life:

Is there any need for more than Tri-X?
---
Pictures and text by Nils Bergqvist who kindly translated his article to English.
See the original text (in Swedish) here. -urbano

invited guest: Peter de Ru (part two)

Rotterdam Maas River

Tank cleaning. Pause.

Peter de Ru´s pictures from the port of Rotterdam, are captured on three
different occasions 1979, 1994 and 2006. I am impressed by how Peter finds
the people, the workers, the bargirls in a place with such huge dimensions, with
so much tonnage being loaded and unloaded.

Right now Peter de Ru is working on a documentation of the beautiful Villa San
Michele in Capri, Italy. He is also working on a new book that we hope to hear
more about at the F Blog later on.

Peter has a long experience of exhibiting his work. Let me just mention his
participation at the Spring Salon which is a featured event at
Liljevalchs Konstmuseum in Stockholm. The same year (2000) Peter de Ru
also exhibited his work at Galleri Maneten in Gothenburg.
peter.gerrit.jouke.de.ru@gmail.com

Tattoo Cannon

Sailors on Greek

Animal food in Botlek

Pigeon in Botlek




Tank cleaning

Rotterdam Docks

Lepisma saccharina