Morning Mist

This is another image from the recently processed batch of Bergger Panchro 400 4" x 5" sheet film.  This film is a dual emulsion film that is supposed to be similar to multigrade paper.  One emulsion records the harsh blacks and whites for contrast, while the other records the subtle greys of the middle values.  It was only released, at least to the North American market, a couple of years ago.  I have been experimenting with it processed in Ilford Perceptol developer, and so far I am quite pleased with the results.

In the fall of 2016 my friend Rob and I met up down in East Coulee.  We had plans to take my trailer and travel down to the badlands and prairie of southeastern Alberta.  But, it had been raining heavily for several days, and everything was very wet and muddy.  We thought better of the idea and decided to stay at East Coulee and explore and photograph nearby.  On our first day we headed east out onto the prairie and photographed mostly in a cornfield.  The next morning, October 2nd 2016, it dawned warm and sunny.  The warmth of the sun was causing a mist to rise off of the rain saturated badlands soils.  We stopped by the Hoodoos Recreation Area to photograph and the rising mist all around us was pretty spectacular.  It was most evident when backlit against the morning sun.  This presented some photographic challenges in trying to record the scene without any flare resulting from direct sun on the front element of the lens.  I think this shot worked pretty well and records the mood of what it felt like to experience this.