Developing Adventures – Pushing Fomapan 400 to 1600

In this installment of my Developing Adventures, I will share my results with pushing Fomapan 400 to 1600. To see my results from pushing it to 800, click here. I shot this roll with my Leica M2 on a quick trip to the local mall.

Developing the Fomapan 400

I processed this roll in Kodak HC-110 dilution B (1+31) for 13 minutes. I agitated it the first 30 seconds and then for 5 seconds every minute after that.

My Results Pushing Fomapan 400 to 1600

I know this film isn’t one that is usually recommended with push processing from what I’ve read online. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when my results had noticeable grain and contrast.

However, I do quite like these results. Also, I wonder if the quality would be even better in 120 format.

While there is more grain in the shadows than I like, I surprisingly really like my results.

The local mall is one of few places still left in my town that existed when I was a kid. I’ve been working on a project documenting all of these places and the elements of them that evoke a childhood memory. I hadn’t planned on taking these photos when I went, but I am really glad I did.

Therefore, even though these shots are pretty grainy, I like the look and the feel it gives to these subjects because they represent a memory.

This restroom is from a Dillards inside the mall, and little about it has changed since my mother worked in the shoe department when I was 9. We always used this bathroom when we would shop at the mall because it was the only one that was relatively clean.

The same chair sits in the ladies room. I remember the day they added this small little lounge to the bathroom and thinking it was pretty fancy for our small shopping mall back then. If I remember correctly, there used to be two.

This elevator located in the mens department is still marked by the same sign and same color doors as when I was a kid. When I walk through the mens department and smell the cologne from the nearby counter, I still remember coming here with my sister to buy clothes for my now deceased brother-in law.

Final Thoughts

These pictures are very special to me for all of the reasons I mentioned above. While I am not sure I will push this film again for important work, I think the price point serves it well as a scouting film for me. I hope to go back to these spots and shoot them again for my project.

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Until next time, stay motivated and keep shooting.