Negative quality with filters or long exposures.

[macmx]

I was just scanning some black and white negatives shot with a red filter, and another roll from new year's with exposures of 2-4 mins. It seems like when I shoot with filters or have long exposures that there is much more visible dust and especially fibers on the negatives, compared to negatives shot in daylight. Is this from scanning or does the long exposure or elimination of certain wave lengths accentuate particles on the negative itself or lens? This is what my experience tells me.

If yes, how should I go about making shots like this?
Any help is appreciated!

Mc

 

[michaelhcothran]

Sadly, I think dust and fiber are just part of the game when scanning film. My film comes back from leading labs loaded with all these dust particles. Even with a good loupe, they're difficult to see on the film, but are quite noticeable in smoother areas of the image once scanned. I've tried film cleaning agents, Photo Flo, dust cloths, film chamois, anti-static brushes, you name it. My scans continue to be dirty, requiring a lot of post processing time with the clone/healing tools.
Interesting though, is the few times I've had film scanned by a lab, I don't remember them being that dirty - perhaps their scanners have software to hide these spots. I've never had a drum scan, but can't imagine paying that kind of money for a scan, to have it come back with lots of dust & lint particles. My Nikon LS9000 has the Ice thing for removing dust particles, but it is so slow, often crashes my system, and softens the image somewhat. Not worth the effort to use.
If you or anyone comes up with a solution, I'll buy in.
Michael H. Cothran

 

[fenderbja]

Long exposures or filters will not effect dust on your negatives. Scratches, dust marks on a filter will not show up in focus on the negative, as you are not focusing on the front element of your lens, you are focusing beyond it. It will however lower the quality to some degree of the image.

After you scan the film, are the dust specs white or black?

White dust specs are from dust collecting on the negative after processing the film or on the scanner itself. Bed scanners get dirty very quickly. What type of scanner are you using? Drum, Bed, Imacon style?

Black dust specs on a scan are from dust getting on the film before the shot was taken/processed. Larger out of focus darker spots could be from dirty lens or filter. The smaller the aperture, the more in focus those spots will become.

Long exposures will not accentuate dust either. Even though the shutter is left open longer, it still receives the same amount of light, just at a lower intensity for a longer time. Check out the work of Josef Hoflehner, Michael Kenna or Youngbok Park. They all do gorgeous long exposures.