Exposure Technique 

A modified Zone System is used for exposing 4 x 5-inch color film images. A hand-held, spot light meter enables accurate quantification of reflected light from the dark to the light regions. Accordingly, if the scene contrast falls between zones II/III and VII/VIII (or III/IV and VI/VII, if color saturation is of primary concern), then capturing the image is relatively straightforward. However, often the scene contrast is excessive especially due to bright blue skies and sunlit clouds, in which case graduated soft neutral density filters are applied accordingly. To achieve sharp focus throughout the scene as desired, large depth of field is achieved using lenses of short focal length, narrow apertures, as well as camera movements like tilt and swing.

Film Processing

4 X 5-inch negatives and transparencies are processed in a tank using the CineStill C-41 Powder Developing Kit or CineStill Cs6 Dynamic Chrome Kit, respectively. The negatives are then extensively washed in water. Finally, they are immersed in wetting agent, and air dried.

Archival Printing

The color negatives or transparencies are digitized, and the RAW image files are imported into Lightroom Classic for processing. Archival Pigment Ink prints are made from TIFF image files on Fine Art Papers such as Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag or Breathing Color Vibrance Baryta Satin.