Cross Processing : wrap up

xprro

So far we’ve seen examples of E6 processed C41, and heard from Dave Handler, who is a master at Cross Processing. But what about everyday examples? You see images that are cross processed everyday and may not even realize it. You’ve seen movies using x-pro and more likely ‘Bleach Bypass.’ Bleach bypass is another development process that will yield dramatic results from a conventional film. A quick description from Wiki: 

Bleach bypass, also known as skip bleach or silver retention, is an optical effect which entails either the partial or complete skipping of the bleaching function during the processing of a color film. By doing this, thesilver is retained in the emulsion along with the color dyes. The result is a black and white image over a color image. The images usually would have reduced saturation and latitude, along with increased contrast and graininess. It usually is used to maximal effect in conjunction with a one-stop underexposure.

Movies like ‘Minority Report,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ and David Fincher’s brilliant ‘Se7en’ mixed some bleach bypass in for a dramatic contrasty silver effect. ‘Domino’ was done entirely with cross process. But it gets better: for the filming of ‘Terminator : Salvation’ (now famous for Christian Bale’s awesome curse filled tirade..) Director McG went all out to get gritty effect in the film, not relying on post production. This is pretty hard core.

“We talked to the people who monitored Chernobyl about what the world would sound and look and taste and feel like after the bombs have gone off,” said McG. “Then we got a dead Kodak stock. We baked it in the sun a little bit too long to damage the film, and then we shot on uncorrected Panavision lenses that flare more easily and aren’t quite as sharp as Primo lenses but have an interesting patina. Most importantly we added three times as much silver in the processing than one traditionally would to a color stock. Add it all up and you get this otherworldly, desolate feeling.”

It’s inspiring to see that directors are working with the film itself, and not just dumping it through a filter after the edit. While McG may be most famous for such flops as ‘Charlie’s Angels’ and having a very silly name, I will at least give him credit for going the extra distance in this movie. For the entire article check here, but be warned, there are some spoilers about the movie. 

So what does this have to do with toy cameras? Nothing really, but its always interesting to see how the experimental processes we use filter out into the mainstream. Next we’ll be seeing Spielberg shooting ET 2 with a PixelVision PXL 2000.

One comment that has come up more then a few times is the film stock itself. Which one is best for Cross Processing? I agree with Dave Handler: it’s Kodak. Below are two shots, taken with a few seconds of each other. One is on Kodak Elite Chrome 200, the other on Konica Chrome. You’ll notice the difference is amazing- the Kodak is punchy, contrasty and ultra saturated while the Konica just looks like regular negative film. Lesson learned, don’t buy a case of Konica on eBay just because it’s cheap… spend the extra for the Kodak if you intend to run it C-41.

 

lca

Kodak Elite Chrome 200, LC-A RL

viv

Konica 200 Chrome, Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim


Some of the differences above could well be the result of the camera. Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim’s do not have the auto exposure that the LC-A is blessed with. I loaded a few cameras with different stocks and these two were the closest examples I could present. But its pretty obvious which film I would choose for my next trip out. I will stick with Kodak, and save the Konica for regular processing. 

I hope that the last few posts have inspired you to load that Holga up with some Kodak Slide film the next time you head out to shoot, and when you get home- tell the lab to run it C-41 for a change. And if they whine about how its going to ‘ruin their chemicals…’ then send it out to Photoworks, or search around for a local lab that is willing to run it for you. 

Here are some interesting links about X-pro: