Fujifilm Neopan Acros II: Two In The Studio
I’ve long been a fan of the black and white film stocks offered by Fujifilm. For many years my staple film stock was Fuji Neopan 400 and I worked with it in nearly every situation in every season of the year. Indoors, outdoors, I could push or pull Neopan 400 to meet any environment I found myself in. That film was discontinued back in 2013 and I still mourn the loss to this very day.
Right now the only black and white film Fujifilm still makes (not counting instax film) is Fuji Neopan Acros II, which is a lovely ISO 100 film that is still quite beautiful and I get excited every time I load it in the camera. Unfortunately at about $13 a roll in medium format at the time I’m writing this, I don’t work with it nearly as often as I’d like.
With the first image, you can see how the film renders using a very crude 500 watt flood light. This is why Fuji Neopan Acros II really shines in my book. Contrast is very heavy, but there is still a wide range of tones present. It’s dramatic with no details lost at all. On the full resolution scan of the image I can zoom in and still make out the details of the model’s skin and hair no problem. It feels as if the image was put on to paper using natural paints or inks as opposed to the silver gelatin of a camera negative.
Even with very subdued natural light Neopan Acros II still produces a wide range of tones. Perhaps even more so. Deep shadows slowly transition to bright highlights in the most magical of ways it honestly takes my breath away when I look at it. In short, I just love the results!
This is just one of those film stocks where a scan or even a computer screen will never do it complete justice. Physical prints are just far superior and I’m looking forward to taking both of these negatives into the darkroom to make prints in the very near future.
Camera: Hasselblad 500c/m with 80mm f/2.8 lens.
Film: Fuji Acros II medium format film developed in Rodinal.
I support my photography in part with fine art print sales. All prints are limited edition and printed using traditional darkroom techniques on fiber based silver gelatin paper. If you like my work, consider supporting the arts and buying print via my Saatchi Store.
