Mikeinlagardette's photos with the keyword: PC-Glycol

This church was built in the 13th century, but the tower and spire are later 15thC alterations. There is some speculation about why the spire is twisted, the most likely explanation being the use of unseasoned oak for the internal carpentry, combined with premature removal of the external scaffolding, but what is certain is that it was not intentional! This was taken on Foma 200 film, and developed in PC-Glycol and the result is a bit too "soot and whitewash" for my taste, although almost grain free. I scanned this neg at a higher resolution than normal, so it's a 32mb file which would result in an image over 2m wide if printed full size, and if you look at the original scan you will see why I like my old Kodak Tourist so much !! When the camera was built, it was unusual to make prints much bigger than about 6"x 3½", so the original owner could never have realised what this fine triplet lens was capable of! 1948 Kodak Tourist, f4.5/105mm Anaston lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Ultra 200 in PC-Glycol, 8mins@21C. Scanned in 48bit colour@2400dpi on Epson V500

Another picture taken before winter closed in! These deciduous ferns are prolific here, and in autumn turn to a golden yellow before returning to the earth. Hard to do with an old folder without a rangefinder - I didn't quite nail the focus, and at full aperture the DoF is tiny, and a slow shutter speed didn't help! 1942 Voigtlander Bessa 66, f3.5/75mm Heliar, X2 yellow filter. Foma Ultra 100 in PC-Glycol, 10 mins@21C Scanned@1200dpi on Epson500.

Almost the last days of November, and the air temperature was 19C when I took this near our house, and we still have a Castor Oil plant in flower in the garden! So much for the climate change deniers! From the first roll since I fitted a replacement bellows to the Ventura, my temporary repairs to the original had finally failed after five years. I used a bellows intended for a Kodak 66, which has a 75mm lens, so it is a little more extended on an 85mm lens, but they are otherwise identical and made from far better materials than the original Agfa, so make an ideal repair, which is quick and easy to do. 1953 Agfa Ventura 66 Deluxe. f4.5/85mm Solinar Lens, x2 Pictorial green filter. Foma Ultra100 in PC-Glycol, 8mins@21C Scanned on Epson V500 @1200dpi

A mild autumn has left many trees in leaf far later than usual, and these oaks are an example. The terrain in this part of Creuse is not suitable for large scale cereal growing - it is mainly beef farming country, so most of the fields are quite small, and many are still separated by hedgerows that are often hundreds of years old. My first efforts with PC-Glycol and medium format, - I was careless about the exposures, and the film was also over developed, but worth going on with! 1942 Voigtlander Bessa 66, f3.5/75mm Heliar lens, X2 yellow filter. Foma Ultra 100 in PC-Glycol, 10 mins@21C Scanned@1200dpi on Epson500.

The old town has many interesting buildings, mostly built with an oak framework, infilled with brick or plaster covered wood laths, and it's nice to see them still in commercial use, centuries after they were first built. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

Montluçon 03100 Fr. It's quite a stiff climb up to the château, but once arrived, there is a good view over the old town, and a chance to look at some historic roofing at close quarters. I guess most of these buildings were built at least three hundred years ago, if not more, so they have been well cared for, but because they are so close to each other, repair work on the roofs must represent a real challenge. Nonetheless, they all have fairly modern clay tiles which have replaced the original "bardeaux" - wooden tiles made from split chestnut or oak, and because the clay tiles are much heavier than the original, they have probably had the rafters and battens replaced also, so much respect for the roofers of Montluçon !! 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

This is the château in the previous photo, but seen from the "parade ground", and although not completely original, it is still an impressive secular building from 1370. The clock is a more recent addition, but it looks good on the tower. The building is now a museum and cultural centre. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMY400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

It seems a long time ago that we had lunch in Montluçon on Janty's birthday in March, and I've only just developed the film! This is the frontal facade of the château, first built as a fortress in the 11thC. The present building mostly dates from 1370, but there are signs of much subsequent restoration. Although not a huge building, it sits on a promontory above the old town, and is it's most visible landmark. 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 yellow filter. Kodak TMax400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

This is the back of the Priory building, which I'm pretty sure dates from the same time as the re-building of the church - some time in the 1600's. I don't know if the tower is for a bell, - it might have been a granary, but anyway it is quite an unusual design for this part of France, it has an almost Italianate look. As well as looking good, the building has been converted into a nice restaurant, called Auberge du Prieuré, so doubly interesting! 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 green filter. Kodak TMax400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

This is the view from the west, and the part nearest the camera dates from the 12th-13thC, but following a disastrous fire, the building was almost completely rebuilt in the 1600's. I suspect that the carpentered spire was added later. This was a Priory church, and the direct access from the Priory can be seen just beyond the buttress. Nicely restored, (if a trifle generous with the mortar!), and the interior has some nice medieval murals which were refreshed very sympathetically in 2012-13 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 green filter. Kodak TMax400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

View of the eastern elevation. More play with PC-Glycol developer, this time with Kodak TMax400, which has been in my little Nikon L35AF for longer than I care to admit! I used a pale green filter instead of the usual yellow - a nice compromise which makes dark hedges and trees less gloomy! 1983 Nikon L35AF, f2.8/35mm Nikon lens, x2 green filter. Kodak TMax400 in PC-Glycol, 9 mins @21C. Scanned @2400dpi on Epson V500

Most rhododendrons and their cultivars have quite shiny leaves but this hybrid has leaves that seem as if they are covered in felt! I bought a few of them some years ago as small plants, I think the variety is "Red Jack", but I really can't remember Getting to like the Retro 320 in PC-Glycol - tried this with the 1+50, but I can't see much difference, except for shorter time of development! 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Retro320 Soft at EI 320, 6ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml + 0.5g potassium bromide. 8 mins @ 23C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.

Here's another frame of Foma Retro 320 Soft, exposed at box speed, and developed in PC-Glycol. I used the 1+100 dilution for 11 minutes because the temperature was almost 23C, but I think 12 mins @21C is about right. I am encouraged by these tests, the film and developer seem well matched, it's a pity the film isn't available in 120. I'll try some other films in PC-Glycol and see how it turns out, - I added 0.5g/litre of potassium bromide to the sodium carbonate this time, because the previous roll of Retro 320 had a bit of fog, but it's probably unecessary with most films. 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Retro320 Soft at EI 320, 3ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml + 0.5g potassium bromide. 11 mins @ 23C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.

Another example of a negative developed in PC-Glycol, this time using Foma Retro 320 Soft. I exposed this frame at EI 160, and used a 1+100 dilution and gave it 11 minutes This is the first time I have been happy with this film, - the developer brings out a nice glow, and the grain seems to be less intrusive compared to other developers I've tried, but still gives a pleasant vintage look. 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Foma Retro320 Soft at EI 160, 3ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml. 10 mins @ 22C. Scanned at 1200dpi on Epson V500.

The flowers of Stargazer Lilies don't last long, but while they do they are always spectacular! I finally got round to mixing up some PC-Glycol, a two part developer made by dissolving phenidone and ascorbic acid in ethylene glycol for the first part, and a 0.5% solution of sodium carbonate for the second. The glycol needs to be warmed a little to completely dissolve the other chemicals, and smells a bit, but it's easy to do on an old hotplate in the workshop, not too sure about doing it in the kitchen! The idea behind this developer is that the developing agents are only activated when mixed with the alkaline second bath - in glycol they are inert, and have an almost indefinite shelf life, and most commonly used alkalis - sodium carbonate, Kodalk, and borax, last for ages also, so good for casual use. The nice thing is that it seems to give quite fine grain plus the usual ascorbic acid sharpness, very like Caffenol, but without the need to mix it up every time. I think I will explore this more! 1983 Mamiya ZM Quartz, f1.7/50mm Sekor lens, x2 yellow filter. Polypan F at EI 50, 3ml PC-Glycol, 0.5% sodium carbonate solution to 300ml. 10 mins @ 21C. Scanned at 2400dpi on Epson V500.