Welcome back to the ever informative and really basic introduction about films by a not-so-n00b, for not-so-n00bs. Actually, If you remember my previous post regarding color negatives, I hope you had fun wiping your nosebleed about the different colored films and how they’re all different from each other.

Next up, I would like you take you into the bright contrast, beautiful saturation and deep vivid colors of slides. I will also dive into cross processes later on with nifty examples (since I haven’t done an E-6 process of my slide film).

E-6s: Slides, Transparencies and Reversals

If you’ve seen your pictures in the fully glory of slides, you may never want to go back to color negatives. But you eventually will when the price is burning a hole in your pocket (unless you can spare around Php300-500/roll then it won’t be a problem for you :)).

E-6s, also known as Slide Films, Transparency and Reversal Films are used for increasing color saturation and contrast to your everyday photographs. E-6s are actually called positives, since the film developed would be in correct color. Only examples I recall are movies/tv shows showing colored projectors of family trips and those little cameras that has scenic pictures when you hold them up in the light. So, If you joke around regarding positives in the film industry, these are the positives :).

Currently, the only lab I know around Metro Manila who processes Slides as E-6 is Studio 58, and Island Photo (but still, they brings the rolls over to Studio 58 for processing).

I shall stop information regarding Slide film as E-6 from here. As this is the boundary of my knowledge and I will not be all-knowing and claim I know any further. If by any chance I was able to develop slides as E-6, I’ll make sure to do the necessary updates.

Of course, you’ll now prod me over this infamous “Cross-processing” technique for slide film. Millions have said it, and I will share what it really does.

Cross(X)-process is basically developing your E-6s to C-41. (Remember C-41s from my previous post?)You have nothing to do but bring your slides to a film store that supports x-process and let the developing do the magic. Digiprint has been catering to my x-processing needs since I started lomography last October 2007.

What to expect in an x-processed roll? The possibilities are endless. Each slide film has their own unique qualities when x-processed. You never really know what you’re gonna get with it. So here below which is what everybody is waiting for. The examples.

Kodak Elitechrome 100/400

(PHP300-500 for a roll of 36 exp Php150 for expired)

This is my first ever slide film. Elitechromes have a color behavior of making greens even more greener, the sky bluer and the skin tone a really harsh yellow if it was me.

this is my first ever shot from the kodak elitechrome

but to show an even clearer example of the powers of elitechrome…here’s a picture of a particular afternoon sunset.

Even my digital camera cannot come up with such exotic colors like that.

Just to make it even clearer. Here’s a digital/x-pro showdown. I took the same shot in a vivitar uw&s + kodak elitechrome and my renault (canon ixy 910 is)

film, x-proed

digital counterpart

Now don’t tell me the colors aren’t crazy :P

I don’t normally place pictures of my face but this is a prime example in the extreme color shift. If you check my skin tone, I’m an amazing mustard color. I maybe from the yellow race, but this is ridiculous :P

Fujichrome Velvia 100F

(Php150 for expired)

Bai and I scored a pack of velvias from Koya Daniel Perfekt Go Horizon and naturally I had first dibs on the film. From the word Velvia, it brings to thought a red as dark and as deep as blood. Aim it straight at the sun and get fiery reds to crimson oranges and to deep violets. Aim it at the trees and it becomes a lush field of greens. Like I said, with x-pro, you only have an idea how it’ll turn out. The results maybe near or far from your expectations, and can even be better or far worse.

I aimed this at the sun and got a violet, bluish tone

I aimed this on the direction that was facing the sun.

are you guys noticing the pattern? :D

shot at the direction facing the sun.

towards the sun. Red. Red. red.

Towards the trees, a field of green.

Indoor, portrait

Aim at the sunset for an unpredictable color crimson.

or maybe something bluish purple…

I will never get it. But that’s the beauty of it.

Since these are the only two slide films I have tried. I will stop here.

Enjoy and do wait for part 3.

This entry was posted Monday, April 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am and is filed under film photography, lomo, photography, photography lessons, pictures. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.