A Short Little Toodle

They always say that the negative is just the starting point and not the final product.

Since I’ve been re-scanning older negatives lately (in accordance with my own lower-contrast tastes), it has become increasingly clear that my problem before wasn’t with the HC-110 developer, which was the lab’s standard, but with the scanning (which that lab was actually not responsible for). For years, I really felt that HC-110 just wasn’t a developer that I like. With that wall now down, I placed an order for a bottle and waited for it to arrive, which it did on Wednesday afternoon.

Now, if only we’d see a little sun. When the day star has deigned to show up this winter, it seems only to be interested in doing so when I’m in Gatineau working in the office. As if to tease me, it even sees fit to cloud back over as my shift’s end approaches.

That minor bit of meteorological bitterness aside, the desire to see what HC-110 would do in my own Paterson tank was strong, so Friday it would be. I needed to pop out to the Rideau Centre to pick up my favourite mascara, so the Spotmatic once again accompanied me on the short journey north. It didn’t hurt that since the last two winters have been a disappointment for would-be skaters, people are quite excited about the Canal being opening this year, so I figured that a few photos of skaters from the bridges may be fun.

While the photos themselves are evidence enough that I was mostly making them so I’d have something to develop, I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the results!