How do you like your E6 processed?: A quick introduction to cross-processing

Canada Feature Film Nature People

When I hear people say that they like the “Lomo Effect” more often than not they are referring to bright and saturated photographs. No matter how some will say that they can get this by digital manipulation, nothing beats color-tripping by making chemicals react like they’re high and wild. I mean, you’re targeting the effect and see it right away with digital, and that just kills the excitement, really.

Welcome to cross-processing!

Cross-processing (also known as ‘x-pro’) is the procedure of deliberately processing one type of film in a chemical solution intended for another type of film. If you do this, the results are going to be unexpected and unpredictable. If you like to experiment with film and colors, you may want to try this one out.

This is not a new practice I believe as filmmakers and photographers have been doing this for a while now.

I love cross-processing if not for the price. When I was in Manila the cost is almost the same as processing a colored negative film whereas in Canada this as treated as a “special order”, so I usually end up paying more. Because of that I reserve my cross-processing desire when I need to do some special projects, or if I’m traveling elsewhere.

Here are some of the cross-processed shots I’ve made since going back to film (I’ve been a film child since I was born in the 80s!) that I loved. I’m going on holidays this summer so I’m hoping to stock again on slides (I don’t have a lot) and immerse myself to this process’ element of surprise.

Links you may want to check out:
http://www.crossprocessing.info/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/crossprocessing/