Shooting Lomography Kino Babylon 13
I was asked by someone late last year, if I developed Lomo Babylon 13 and Lomo Fantome 8. They had not shot any and was intending to do a project with them in spring this year.
They wanted a lab that ‘would give the film some tender, love and care... Not just run it through a machine’- I said we do both, and have a lot of love to spare-so your in luck!
I told the the truth- I've never shot the stuff nor developed it! But if they can give me until February (they estimated they'll be starting the project in March/ April) do some trials, I'll be able to develop it for them no mither!
Experimentation or R&D is something I hold close to my heart; the research, hypotheticals & then applying it all and putting it in to practice and it working well!.. This feeling is always a bonus!
Anyways- on to the more interesting bit- the emulsion it’s self!
I really enjoyed the challenge of shooting a very slow film- I usually use film between 50-100 speeds... I was exposing for the shadows and bracketing at 12, 6 and 24; the lomo give a rating of 13.
The film was, as excepted, tac sharp and it really glowed in the highlights. The details in the shadows were good but this film is all about the midtones! I developed the film in 510Pyro which allowed me to compress the highlights, making sure they don't block up, whilst giving a boost to the acutance. The film had barley any grain, which coupled with the 510pyro really reduced any to none!
The speed of the film allowed for some creative experimentation with the likes of long shutter speeds and water... Something I tend to avoid, I am a 'straight photography' kind of person... But its nice to let you hair down once in a while and not take yourself so seriously!
I would like to see how these print negatives traditionally, with a nice warm paper base, I think this would add the the creamy midtones/ highlights where this film really shines.
To conclude our brief digest on the Lomography Babylon 13 film; This film has some nice, soft and delicate tones in the mid and upper midtones. Used with the correct developer it can retain highlight detail and give plenty in the shadows. It get good thumbs up from us!
