© Daido Moriyama, from series, Hunter

Daido Moriyama is amongst Japan’s most celebrated photographers, renowned for his radical approach to both medium and subject. Initially trained in graphic design, Moriyama moved to Tokyo in 1961 to pursue a career as a freelance photographer.

Moriyama’s bold, uncompromising images, with their grainy aesthetic and gritty subject matter liberated photography from tradition and interrogating the very nature of the medium with his discordant impressions of city life and chaotic vision of everyday existence.

© Daido Moriyama, from series, K

Image exposure and processing techniques will vary from one photographer to another. When working with film, greater command with the Zone System and the placement of tonal values is achieved not only with image exposure, but also through the refinement of film processing, specifically with development times.

Image exposure and image optimization (film processing) affect the tonal values of the image.

Low Values (shadow areas) of an image are created primarily by Image Exposure and are relatively unaffected by film development.

However, Film Development can change both the High Values (highlight areas) and affect Overall Contrast.

Increasing Development increases Contrast, affecting primarily the midtone and highlight values with minimal change in the shadow values.

Decreasing Development will reduce overall Contrast.

In utilizing the Zone System, the photographer has optimum control with the placement of tonal values in the image through image exposure and image optimization (film processing).

General Guidelines

In Low and/or Flat Lighting Circumstances (Indoors or Overcast Lighting with Flat Contrast), it may beneficial to Increase the Film Development Time so as to increase contrast in the image.

With Bright and/or Contrasty Lighting Circumstances (Bright Natural Lighting or the Use of the Flash), it may beneficial to Decrease the Film Development Time so as to decrease contrast in the image.

In the Zone System, N stands for normal development.

An Expansion (Increasing Contrast) is referred to as N+ development and is produced by increasing film development.

N+1 expansion, increase the development time approximately 50%.
N+2 expansion, increase the development time approximately 100%.

A Contraction (Decreasing Contrast) is referred to as N- development and is produced by decreasing film development.

N-1 contraction, decrease the development time approximately 20%.
N-2 contraction, decrease the development time approximately 40%.

Changing Sensitivity of ISO and Push Processing

An approach that is used by photographers working with film is to Change the Sensitivity of ISO and do Push Processing. This is done by intentionally changing the ISO of the film so that it can more sensitive to Light.

However, when the ISO of the film is increased, it becomes necessary to process the film in the developer for more time.

Suggested Push Processing Times and Developer Considerations for Changing ISO 400 Film

Changed to ISO 1600 – (N+2) for 13 minutes in straight developer

Changed to ISO 3200 – (N+3) for 19 minutes in straight developer

Changed to ISO 6400 – (N+4) for 24 minutes in straight developer