three thoughts. one thing. A film and answers vs my own impulses.

How we get to something else has been a recurring part of my self-questions- those things we pick at between picking apart other things. Forums have strongly structured layouts, they are software impositions upon interaction. Questions seem to have a pattern of responses without regard to the forum goal or forum topic. All self supporting respondents seem to follow a similar pattern.

An instance (from 2017):

an experienced photographer asks: What developer / dilution gives the longest straight line curve on Ilford Delta 100? They have three developers available (TMAX RS, HC-110, D-76)

the response pattern: first response suggests a change in film. Follow-up is ask what the goal of the photographer is. Next, response to follow-ups. Finally, a proposed answer as they use the product.

Reading this 5 year old thread, I had an initial answer; it wasn’t any of the ones given. Why? Probably because I bring the topic a different reason for using the film: I use it as a separation negative component. Separation negatives don’t like compensating effects. No compression, please.

My answer would have been the TMAX RS. That developer isn’t available. The better developer for separations would be DK-50. If you don’t want to work from skratch then use an Ilford ready compound: Microphen.

He seems to have moved onto other matters. his website has a supporting techniques piece as well as a one month blog (2016)

“ that said, most of my contemporaries find this degree of technical application an extraneous exercise, but I find it essential in the process of making art. The accolades once betrothed to the silver saviors of modernism have long-since faded.” [chriswalkerphoto.com/vitae/supporting-techniques/ ]

These found topics hold interest because they may lead to work I would otherwise miss. It also gives me a chance to question my own response system. To monitor my own need to speak up. Save it. If it means enough: write it.

If it really means something: Do that something.