Pushing Velvia 100F

I'm looking for any info. about pushing Velvia 100F to ISO 200 that anyone can share. I am quite happy with the results of pushing Provia 100F to 200 but haven't tried the Velvia. Going to Bosque and am thinking about trying to push it in low light. Thanks.

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Mike, I just got some back from the lab. I really like it in overcast light and also for soft morning and evening light, but would avoid it in high contrast situations. The shadows really blocked up. Also, I used some in a canyon where the light was low and it was quite dark. The slides have a very dark blue cast. I've also read in other places that pushing Velvia 100 doesn't work well.

Thanks for the info Kelly. Geo, I will be leaving on Nov. 30th, but would appreciate anything you learn about pushing the film when you get all that film back. 70 rolls huh? You should find out how well that film works after that editing session.

Hey Mike,

I can concur with Kelly on the contrast situation .. Velvia 100 can block up a bit, but we can also use this to our advantage if we want. For a less contrasty look, I rather Provia pushed a stop. but Velvia is more than useable, and if you want those colors, you'll like it a lot. As with any film, it's always a personal choice/taste I guess, and depends on the situation/light/subject and what kind of 'look' you want.

Cheers

Carl

Mike, I don't think I was very clear in my earlier post. I guess the morning coffee hadn't done its job on my brain cells yet. What I meant to say is that it tends to block up shadows a bit, but the problem is much worse when the film is pushed. There were a few shots on an overcast day without shadows where Velvia 100 was pushed, and it seemed to add some punch to otherwise dull colors. At ISO 100, it is great in soft, even light. I used it a canyon and some other low light at ISO 100, and those shots have a very dark blue cast, much worse than Provia's.

Kelly is right. I would not push Velvia 100F - the contrast can get out of hand and cost you in shadow detail or blown highlights. If Provia is not your cup of tea, I suggest you look at Astia 100F. It pushes well either 1 or 2 stops and has very neutral color (unlike Provia's infamous blue cast). Note that it needs a little overexposure to push well (open up an extra 2/3 stop in exposure if you push 2 stops in development).

Guy

Kelly wrote:Mike, I just got some back from the lab. I really like it in overcast light and also for soft morning and evening light, but would avoid it in high contrast situations. The shadows really blocked up. Also, I used some in a canyon where the light was low and it was quite dark. The slides have a very dark blue cast. I've also read in other places that pushing Velvia 100 doesn't work well.

I would agree with this. I pushed Velvia 100 once on a sunny day and avoided doing this since. The contrast is way aweful. Since then I only use Velvia 100 on cloudy days or on days with soft hazy sunlight, the extra contrast adds a nice boost. I also always use it in conjunction with an 81A filter.

If you prefer to work with one film for most situations I would suggest Kodak E100GX. The blues are truer (compared to Velvia which turns some blues dark pink), and it emphasizes reds, yellows and browns - whites are pure. It pushes well and is far less contrasty than any of the Velvias. I don't shoot Provia; therefore, I cannot compare it to that film.

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If you really need more speed, instead of pushing Velvia 100, try Provia 400F. It is surprisingly good for a 400 speed film and has bailed me out many times in poor light.

Thanks for your feedback Geo. I'm interested in learning more of your findings with respect to its color at 200 and exposure accuracy when pushed. I shot 4 rolls of the Velvia 100F pushed to 200 while at Bosque and have come to similar conclusions as you have. The contrast is quite high and in some cases is quite undesirable. I also found it to be underexposed in many cases in low light. I would suggest shooting in low light at 1/3 to 1/2 stops more light. Or just shoot the film at 160 and tell the lab to push +1.

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