My research in the field of ecological alternative development continues.
Indeed, the results below, which I obtained by developing a 6×6 film of 400 ISO, in an aromatic herb the Rosemary, are somewhat astonishing.
With these Christmas Pink Hellebores, or indoors, with this still life photographed on a black background, we can already notice the finesse and regularity of the grain as well as the acquisition of a beautiful range of grays.
So, I will not keep this recipe to myself, today I offer it to you if you want to try it one day, to make an alternative developer to develop a black and white film with Rosemary leaves, what is more, if you already have this beautiful aromatic herb in your garden and you can already pick a few leaves.
This plant benefits from many active substances that make it possible to manufacture a natural photographic developer. It contains flavonoids, phenolic acids, antioxidants such as carnosic acid, and vitamin C.
Special feature of this recipe.
I noticed during my tests that this natural developer with Rosemary keeps for at least 24 hours, which I had not observed with my previous natural preparations. This developer can therefore be used several times. I tested it on four occasions, with very good results each time.
This is a very interesting point in comparison with other alternative developers based on different natural products that I have made (wine, coffee, cider, chicory, cocoa, beer, etc.) which work very well but which I recommend using only once. (in a stop bath).
Here now for you all, my little recipe for making an ecological alternative developer with rosemary leaves.
1 Decoction of Rosemary leaves.
In a large saucepan, pour two liters of demineralized water to make the decoction.
First, let your Rosemary leaves soak for 5 minutes. Here 40 grams of Rosemary leaves, (be careful without the stems).
Then bring the contents to a boil over low heat for 15 minutes.
Then let your decoction cool.
Then, filter the decoction with nylon coffee filters.
2 Making your developer.
In one liter of your decoction, you will be able to gently dilute at a temperature of 24°, the following products in order.
– 9 grams of pure vitamin C powder.
– 40 grams of sodium carbonate.
– 6 grams of iodized salt.
– 2 drops of dishwashing liquid
3 Filter your developer with a nylon coffee filter.
The development can then be carried out again at a temperature of 24°.
I developed my 400 ISO films here for 14 minutes.
Shake your tank by successive inversions, at the start and continuously for a minute, then 10 seconds every minute and this until the end of your development.
Then, to stop the processing, a 30-second stop bath in water with a little white vinegar at 14° then the fixing and finally, an economical wash by inversions of your tank, as I specified in my publications on this field, which you will find, as well as the other recipes for my ecological alternative developments, on this site of “l’oeil de la Photographie”.
Jacques Revon
Honorary journalist, author, photographer.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Revon
