Snow is gray, not white. A 2% to 3% increase in development should correct it or meter at EI 320 in place of ISO 400.

ktm_2000 wrote:

... loading 120 film onto the developing reel is not going well at all. I'm still struggling to load 120 film onto the developing reel. It keeps binding at 1/2 to 3/4 loaded on the reel.

I know what you mean. That's one reason I went with the Ilford XP2 Super, so i wouldn't have to fool with loading film on the reel for development. The Super is developed at the local photo store, in C-41 (color) chemistry. I loaded a bunch of 35mm in my day, but that's a distant memory now!

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2. loading 120 film onto the developing reel is not going well at all.

A member on Photrio (formerly APUG) was having similar problems, posted a picture of his 120 stainless steel reel and the center clip was bent out of shape.

I dislike plastic twist type reels. If you have a stainless steel reel verify that the retainer clip is centered in the reel and the film will lay flat across the rod the clip is on. Being the last 1 1/2 inch of 120 film is not exposed if the camera/film holder is working correctly I fold the outside edges even with each other then make a 1/4-3/8 crease down the center of the film at the end for an aid in centering the film in the clip. When winding I run the back side of a fingernail around the edge of each turn as I make them to ensure the film is winding correctly. Bends and buckles are caused by the film not being centered at the clip.

I messed with the barn a bit and could get the snow white
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dAkppMhiU55p4anw6

I am using the same software as my digital photos as I took pics of the negative with my macro and "inverted the curve" to turn it positive. If I scrunch the levels in and put somewhat of a bow in the curve I can get the snow pure white and still keep details.

I am using a 2 reel - patterson tank and plastic reels for developing, I watched a couple of videos on loading onto a metal reel and that looks somewhat easier in full view.

I appreciate all the help you folks have been providing me as I learn.

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I messed with the barn a bit and could get the snow white

I looked at your photo in CS5.1. The blacks start at 13, the brightest end at 240 with a gamma of 1.02; adjusting gamma to 1.17 gives the best detail in the snow. Development is uneven, slight over on the left, slight under on the right 2/3 of the photo. This is due to your agitation technique and the chemical flow characteristic of the reel/tank you are using.

I am incredibly impressed at what you can diagnose!!!!

I watched a couple of videos where folks said to use the little spinner tube that goes inside the patterson tank and rotate the film reel inside the development tank as a way to get finer grain and more detail.

This was the first roll where I tried that technique instead of the gentle combination of rotate and inversion that I had been doing.

I guess it is back to the 1st technique I was using.

Well, my diagnosis need a pinch of salt! What I/we are seeing is the histogram of your DSLR not the negative you are copying and the histogram may be in error. Reader beware.