Re: Using 89B Infrared Filter with Regular B&W films

[George L Smyth <GLSmyth@xxxxxxx>]

Rolland Rainbow Elliott wrote:
> 
> I tried taking some landscape shots the other day with a VERY dark red infrared
> filter made by B+W.  I think it's equivalent to a Kodak Wratten 89B filter.
> I was using Tmax 400 film pushed one stop to 800. I was hoping to get an
> almost black sky with very white clouds.
> However when I developed the negatives the shots with the filter were not
> exposed at all, and the negatives were completely clear.
> My guess is that Tmax 400 film isn't very sensitive to red light.  I'm pretty
> sure that my camera (Nikon N90s) would correct for the filter factor via
> throught he lens metering.
> Can anyone reccomend a regular B&W film that could be used with this filter
> to get unrealilistic contrast between the sky and clouds?  Or maybe my
> technique needs improvement?

Of course, I would suggest that you just go ahead and use an IR or
near-IR film.  I'm assuming that there is some reason for not doing so
and am "almost" at a loss for an answer here.  I have, however,
successfully shot "regular" B&W film with a Hoya R72 filter.  The film,
Fomapan 800, unfortunately, is no longer available here in the US.  If
you are overseas then you'll want to give it a try.  BTW, I shot this
800 speed film at EI25.

When trying to get dark skies, you will need a day where the sky is a
deep, dark blue.  Often you can find this on a nice day when looking at
a 90 degree anle from the sun.  The wishy-washy blue shies just won't
cut it.  As I keep hearing talk about this sort of thing, I've decided
to put an example black-sky image on my Web page.  It should be in the
North Wing tomorrow.

george

-- 
 Handmade Photographic Images     
  http://www2.ari.net/glsmyth/

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