Waiting

[edG]

spotted this on my walk by the falls and was struck by how we splinter into groups based on age and gender

Nikon F5
Nikkor 28-85mm
Ilford Delta 400

[Iguanasan]

It is interesting... even when we try to join a social group in order to "mingle" we tend to mingle with only a select few.

[Marko]

Interesting comp Ed - image looks somewhat underexposed on my monitor though. I don't recall if you are developing the film yourself. Are you?

[edG]

Cheers Iggy and Marko. Yes, I developed this film myself and then scanned the negative on the Canoscan 9000F. I believe I may have intentionally underexposed at the time of shooting, as these were shot around 10am, it was very sunny and hot.

[Marko]

Not sure if you are familiar with the old adage expose for shadows develop for highlights. If you are not, my pleasure to elaborate, just let me know.

[edG]

Heard it, can't say I am totally familiar with the application of it - so if your willing to elaborate, by all means please do.

[Marko]

Sure - Film photography is the exact opposite of digital in that we must protect the shadows during the exposure. So we expose for them. The shadows are so important that many pro film photographers rate the film LOWER in order to protect the shadows.
Once the image is too underexposed the shadows are gone forever and there is no getting them back, ever.
(This is the equivalent of clipping the whites in digital).
This means that deliberate underexposure is the wrong way (on average) to protect the highlights in film photography.
The correct way to protect the highlights is in the development of the film.
When the contrast in a scene is normal, we develop the film normally.
When the contrast is low we increase development time.
When the contrast is high we reduce development time. This is what was needed for this image.
This works because the shadows develop first during the development process. The highlights get developed much later in the process and so we can tweak them with development.
The exact development times should be listed on the film.

Hope that helps.