Gumweed

This is the last of the images from the recent batch of 4"x5" Ilford FP4+ 125 that I gave N+1 development.  A slight underexposure (160iso) combined with extended development (14:20 minutes in Kodak HC-110 Dilution B at 20C) yeilded an expansion in contrast of one stop.

This is a recent shot, taken just a few weeks ago when Margarit and I were down in East Coulee.  It was a hot day, and we went for a short walk in the badlands.  I was intrigued by this little gumweed plant struggling to survive in the hot, dry soil.

I shot this on June 13th of 2026, just a few days before all the rain started back home in Edmonton.  This was taken at about 4:30 in the afternoon.  I used my Ebony SV45TU view camera and a long 240mm Fujinon lens.  A #47B Blue filter opened up the shadows a little.  The bellows had to be drawn out a lot to focus this closely and this required a one third stop exposure compensation.  The exposure was for 4 seconds at F41.0.  Fortunately this was in a sheltered wash and the light breeze did not cause any movement with the longish exposure.