Film Guide

Mr. Negative Parental Advisory

01A Frame 1 of 39

A black and white roll from Mr. Negative, a small Australian film brand. Sold as ISO 400 in 35mm only, 36 exposures, in a DX coded cassette, and it develops in standard black and white chemistry. The company does not publish what emulsion is under the label. The roll here is an outdoor portrait session, and it came back clean and sharp.

How it behaves

The brand suggests rating it at 200 for a cleaner look or at 400 for a slight fade, and its own sample photos were shot at 200. The frames here, shot at box speed, show deep blacks and fine grain for a 400 speed film, and skin tones hold together well in open shade. Contrast can build in hard sun, so softer light tends to flatter it.

Questions people ask

What is Parental Advisory?

A 35mm black and white film from Mr. Negative, a small Australian brand. ISO 400, 36 exposures, DX coded, and it processes in standard black and white chemistry at any lab.

What film is actually in the cassette?

Mr. Negative does not publish the emulsion underneath the label, so this guide does not guess. What is documented is the speed, the format, and the process.

How should I rate it?

Box speed works. The brand suggests 200 for a cleaner look or 400 for a slight fade, and shot its own samples at 200.

What is it good for?

Portraits and everyday black and white. The roll on this page is a portrait session, and faces held up well in soft outdoor light.

If you like this, try

Ilford HP5 Plusthe documented 400 speed black and white benchmark Kodak Tri-X 400the classic 400 speed black and white, grainier and moodier

The full set

All 39 frames, in the order they came off the rolls. Tap one to see it full screen.

Close portrait of a woman resting her chin on her ringed hand. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Portrait of a woman with her ringed hand pressed to her forehead. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman bows her head with one hand in her hair. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close view of hands wearing several silver rings. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Hands with stacked rings and bracelets held up close. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Detail of folded arms wearing stacked silver bracelets. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Half of a woman's face at the edge of the frame, smiling slightly. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Tight close-up portrait of a woman's face. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close-up portrait of a woman looking slightly upward. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Full-length portrait of a woman leaning against a brick wall in patterned pants. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman leans against a wooden fence with one hand in her hair. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Man with glasses and a beard stands arms crossed by a wooden fence. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Head and shoulders portrait of a bearded man against a brick wall. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Man in a plaid shirt stands against a dark brick wall. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Man in a plaid shirt stands against a brick wall looking at the camera. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close portrait of a woman smiling at the camera. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman leans against a fence looking down. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman sits cross-legged on the ground against a wall. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman sits against a brick wall with one knee raised. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close portrait of a woman with her hand near her chin. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Extreme close-up of a woman's tilted face. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman's face tilted back with her eyes closed. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close detail of a woman's neck and jaw, a ringed hand touching her throat. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Full-length portrait of a woman standing in the middle of an alley. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close detail of a pendant necklace on a woman's chest. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman smiles while holding a handful of her long hair. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman laughs with one hand on top of her head. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman leans full length against a wooden fence post in an alley. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close portrait of a woman looking straight at the camera. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Close portrait of a woman turned slightly away from the camera. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.

Woman leans against a wooden fence looking down, bright bloom along the bottom edge. Mr. Negative Parental Advisory.