Advice on what I am seeing.

[Grandpa Ron]

As mentioned in some of my other posts, 4x5 cut film photography had generated a lot of questions for me.

Currently I am trying to find out why the sky in the photos below has a mottled look to it. In both shots, the sky was completely clear or a gray overcast. Also, negatives seem to lack contrast.

Details for P 129 series, Film - Arista EDU 400, Exposure per light meter - 1/50th, f19, bright overcast day. Developed for 6 1/2 min. in HC-110 per Arista film instructions.
Details for P 138 series, Film - Arista EDU 400, Exsposed 2 stops over light meter reading - 1/50th, f11. cloudless sky. Developed for 6 1/2 minutes in HC-110 per instructions.

I use a Yankee tank, cumbersome but adequate for now.

The negatives were shot on a light table with a Canon T6 Rebel digital and post processed with Gimp. program.

P 129 series per light meter reading.


Negative shot on light table with Canon digital Neg. per light meter inverted and desaturated Neg. enhanced with Gimp


P138 series Light meter reading plus 2 stops more exposure.


Negative shot on light table with Canon digital. Neg, shot plus 2 stops inverted and desaturated Negative enhances with Gimp

So my two question are.

* What causes the mottled look in the sky?
* Even at plus 2 stops do the negatives lack contrast?

Answers and comments appreciated.