Crab Fishing – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Niche Climax
My continuing mission, to extricate myself from Portra’s delicious claws, reached its peak this summer with a roll of Washi F.
In the run up to my trip to Wales I was searching for new films to shoot, ideally films as far removed from Portra as possible.
Handsome George – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Washi F
Washi F is a fluorographic x-ray film historically used in Eastern Europe for the mass-diagnosis of lung disease. X-rays would cause the a layer in the film to fluoresce (hence fluorographic), and the light from this fluorescence would create the image on the silver-halide emulsion.
It has no anti-halation layer which makes for very diffused highlights, while the shadows remain contrasty and relatively detailed. It has large and pronounced grain for an ISO 100 film, and because of the halation, it can be hard to meter for.
Intern with halo – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Some technical stuff
I didn’t read the data sheet until after I’d opened the pot, and so found out about light-piping after I’d done it. Essentially, light entering the tail of the film can travel up the interesting blue-grey membrane and bounce around, fogging the first few frames.
https://filmwashi.com/datasheet/F100_en.pdf
*Side note, I love that they’re based on Rue Albert Camus…
Washi suggest exposing the first 6 frames once the camera is loaded, indeed, they include extra film for this purpose. This means that if you load the film in complete darkness, you could get 30 frames out of a 24 shot roll.
I did learn that they also recommend using a manual camera, as the film can detach from their recycled canisters when they’re power-wound.
After some prevarication I decided I would rather have the rock-solid metering of my Canon EOS 1 and to run the risk of a separation, than have the security and imprecision of one of my less-exacting cameras. (The EOS 1 has absolutely become my go to film test outfit).
AB29 – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Old Rope – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Dunes – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Good things come to those who wait
Neither I, nor my normal lab run the chemistry that Washi list for developing the negs, and so this also became the first roll that I’ve put through SilverPan Lab.
SilverPan work on about a 5 week turnaround which has stopped me using them in the past. This roll took a little longer, which makes sense as the summer is the season for shooting film and they do everything by hand. The scans are lovely, and the level of control that you can specify at the point of ordering is both handy and awesome and they’re reasonably priced. I’m going to have to start planning ahead.
Lobster Pots – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Conclusions
I love Washi F, and absolutely want to shoot more, (I got mine from Analog Wonderland). I’m tempted to either under-expose my next roll, or to try the 120 version which has a less-pronounced halation effect.
I’m going to have to be careful in my escape from Portra. My recent excitement at shooting Lomo Metropolis, and the smile on my face when I saw the scans from SilverPan, could see me escape one set of claws, only to die in the beak of another, more niche and unpredictable duo.
Time will tell…
Washi at the Beach – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Rocking a hat – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Tree with Serendipity – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100
Rest – Canon EOS 1 – 50mm f/1.8 – Washi F 100