Ok, first off... I'm REALLY new to Black and White photography- well, new to any controllable still photograhy. The question... Is there any way to increase the contrast in outdoor photographs that are taken on "gray" days(no sun out)? I would like some tips on doing this by using my camera and/or by manipulating enlargements in the darkroom.

Thanks

-- Kristy Kennedy-Black (kblack@tpi-qdg.com), March 12, 1999

Answers

Yes there are basically two ways: 1) Use a high contrast paper grade, or high contrast filter with variable contrast paper. This is the easiest and of course least satisfactory way. 2) Increase film development time.

There are many, many permutations of these methods. The zone system is a good way to work with this kind of problem. Check out 'Zone VI Workshop' by Fred Picker; it's written for the novice. Good luck!

-- Ed Pierce (edpierce@together.net), March 12, 1999.

Kristy: To keep the variables to a minimum, especially to a B&W novice as yourself, I agree that enlarger filtration is the most efficient way to 'recover' from images shot on gray days. If you have a colour head enlarger, in conjunction with multigrade paper, dial in magenta filtration. Somewhere between 30-70% of your available magenta is a good starting point. (I use the % term as filtration will vary with enlarger brands). If you don't have a colour head, use magenta 'grade' filters. I highly recommend multigrade paper (especially for a novice) as you have an infinite range of 'grades' at your disposal. Gotta be some reason it's the greatest-selling paper, by far! A gray day isn't necessarily a poor condition for shooting; portraiture can benefit from the soft lighting, for example.

Mike

-- Mike W. (mbworld@adan.kingston.net), March 13, 1999.

Now for the more advanced technique. Use a yellow or red filter, give your film one stop less exposure than normal, and push the development one stop according to the directions that came with your film and developer. This will take a bit of experimentation to find a combination that works for you, but after 20 or 30 rolls of film you'll be able to previsualize your image with pinpoint accuracy.

-- Darron Spohn (dspohn@clicknet.com), March 16, 1999.

for starters, just try the red filter...t

-- tom meyer (twm@meteor.com), April 01, 1999.

Adding a red filter as an all purpose contrast increaser is bad advice. Any color filter will increase contrast depending on the colors involved. On a gray day when you no longer have a blue sky I am not sure what colors you would be working with that red would cause an increase in contrast. The right filter for the right job.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), April 02, 1999.

"according to the directions that came with your film and developer"

this is what is considered advanced? yeeesh

-- mark lindsey (lindseygraves@msn.com), April 26, 1999.