Dunes at sunrise, Death Valley National Monument 1987.

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This image is very pivotal in my visual learning because I made a big mistake, I underexposed it by 3 stops. Using B/W negative film UE by 3 stops is a HUGE mistake! After setting up my tripod I pointed my spot meter into the shadows and set my exposure to record the shadows at Zone III (black with detail with texture) this is what was engrained in my mind. Expose for the shadows and process for the highlights. But I also put on a 25 red filter on to enhance the contrast in the sky and here is where I made my mistake, I forgot to compensate the 3 stops for the filter. I realized my mistake after I shot the image but the sun hid behind the clouds and the light became flat for the remainder of the sunrise. Just another learning moment. After processing my film and contacting my work I looked at the image and I was really excited because it looked like what I had felt the image should convey and not the literal scene! The shadows were now pure black, they were just as rich and graphic as I felt the image should be. I don’t need to expose my shadows for detail ?! With the N+2 development the highlights were light with just enough detail, I couldn’t have been more excited. I now finally understood that I needed to expose my shadows where I wanted them to be and not I also realized that they always do not need detail

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Technical

Kodak Tmax100

Hasselblad 50mm

25 red filter

N+2 development