More coffee!

I was so happy with the first roll of film developed in caffenol that I simply couldn't wait to try it again. I was curious to see whether it would work with black and white C-41 film as well. So... what better way to find out than simply giving it a try?

So I broke out the Olympus again, this time loading it with C-41 black and white film from the local pharmacy. With all the beautiful trees around here, it didn't take me long to finish the roll. And voila, the coffee and vitamin c home brew did the trick!

The images are a bit more grainy, and they turned out a different shade of color than the first batch. But I like it.

My favorite tree. Caffeinated.

I think I've found a whole new way to be hooked on coffee.

Caffenol

Coffee and vitamin C. Good for a burst of energy and good health. But who knew that these two ingredients could also be used to develop film? It may sound a bit like science fiction, but surprisingly enough, it really works.

Developing film in a coffee mixture called caffenol can be done right at home. And it actually wasn't too complicated. A daylight developing tank, a roll of film, the coffee and vitamin C, plus some water, sodium carbonate, and dish soap is all it took. It's cheaper than having film developed, and it's more rewarding, too.

Not to mention completely thrilling. I felt a bit like an alchemist, and my good friend/film-developing partner in crime and I couldn't wait to check the film once all the solutions had been run through the tank and the film was rinsed.

We opened the developing tanks and felt like kids on Christmas morning - there were images on the film. Yess!

Most of my photos look best and brightest along the edges, where they're also a pleasant shade of coffee brown. The middle of many images is darker and a bit more blue-grayish, I'm guessing because the developing solution didn't flow over those areas as freely. I'll have to experiment with how much I agitate the tank while developing.

I'm hooked on developing film with caffenol — I didn't think I would have that much fun with it, but I really enjoyed it!

I used my Olympus Stylus camera to take these photos. I found the camera in a box at Christmas, together with photos and various college mementos. I haven't thought much about the camera in the past 10 years, but now that I've rediscovered it, I plan on using it much more.

Lynnhaven Marina

This was round 1 with caffenol. I'm sure there will be more to come!

San Giovanni degli Eremiti

This morning, I made a happy discovery in the office closet: shoeboxes with photos and negatives from my Italian study abroad trips in 2000 and 2001. Woo-hoo! I sat down with the computer and negative scanner and started digitizing.

This photo was taken in Sicily in the spring of 2001, by the church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti. The current structure of this Arab-Norman church dates back to the 12th century, but there has been a religious building on this site since the sixth century. Its transformation from church to a mosque and back to a church reflects the the succession of cultures that dominated Sicily throughout its history.

Eremiti means hermits, and this little spot, although in the middle of the city, is a truly peaceful retreat. When I visited Palermo in the spring of 2001, it was one of my favorite places in the city.

Taken with an Olympus Stylus Epic.