R O U N D - A - B O U T

With Ron Knowles.

A LETTER from Oliver Barron, who it will be remembered, retired recently as Leader of Area 20, and had given many years of active service previously in official positions, brought both good and bad news.

Oliver and his good lady have celebrated their diamond wedding in a way that must have been the experience of a lifetime - fittingly so, if I may presume to say! Mr. & Mrs. Barron, with their daughter embarked on a 10 day Mediteranian cruise aboard the QE 2, no less!

I`m sure I echo the thoughts of many members in offering sincere congratulations to Oliver and his wife on attaining this 60 year milestone. May they continue their partnership far into the future.

That, of course, was the good news. Sadly, though, Oliver has been having trouble with his eyesight and an option has finally diagnosed cataracts affecting both eyes. As a result he has had to curtail many of his activities - including car driving. Without being of any practical comfort, of course, I AM able to offer hope for I have been down precisely that same road myself and after removal of the offending lenses I can now see reasonably well.

So, all is not lost, Oliver, though I will admit that the period prior to the eyes` readiness for operation is a trying and tedious time. But afterwards it will be appreciated that the wait was well worth while.

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Additional information in regards to the E6 process continues to surface and an item to catch my eye provides a surprising insight into one of the aspects of chemical behavour which occurs in the colour developer should this be diluted for any reason.

The disclosure is authentic - indeed it comes from the official Kodak Professional Manual.

The colour developer dilution effect, the manual states, is worthy of note for if the colour developer becomes diluted because of incorrect mixing dye density INCREASES. This happens because ingredients that slow down colour development becomes less affective in moderately dilute solutions. When the colour developer becomes extremely dilute, as when it contains three or more times the normal amount of water, the dye yield falls off because there is not enough of each dye-producing component to form the correct amount of dye in the time allocated to colour development.

This very same section also points out that variations from standards of colour developer alkalinity - storage conditions, mixing, agitation, time and temperature will effect colour, contrast, maximum density, stain and uniformity. The official figure of the pH of the colour developer is given as 11.7 at 27C but most C.R.C. members using small tanks and spirals, have settled for a higher figure - 11.9 to 12.05 and it is worth explaining that the higher OFFICIAL figure is aimed at the commercial processor.

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NOW THAT the roses are in bloom once again it is perhaps opportune to being a reminder that the British Flower is also capable of providing an outstanding study for us colour slide enthusiasts... without, I might add, any intention of risking a political connatation!

Also may I suggest that the best possible result can be achieved photographically, by a little advance preparation which will take barely any time at all. And at literally no expense - that is if you have a garden spray... and who hasn`t? So to enhance your masterpiece give a short, sharp burst from a fine jet of the syringe of just plain water. It will really add a sparkle and natural look to the slide. Of course you knew! Of course! but you needed a reminder.. didn`t you?