Finally I am where I want to be

[shadowfox]

What I don't get is people who choose to be ultra-pedantic or blatantly raining-on-one's-parade in a discussion thread where someone is happy about something he achieved.

Well I guess that's because we are humans, eh? 🙂

Cosmo, glad to have you as a member of the modern-printers guild 🙂

 

[cosmonaut]

What I don't get is people who choose to be ultra-pedantic or blatantly raining-on-one's-parade in a discussion thread where someone is happy about something he achieved.

Well I guess that's because we are humans, eh? 🙂

Cosmo, glad to have you as a member of the modern-printers guild 🙂

Thanks, it really feels nice after working so hard for years to be happy with my work.

 

[NaChase]

I shot plenty of film when I was in high school and college, and for thirty years after.

You can keep the darkroom, the mess, the stinky chemicals, the trial and error and waste of paper.

There's nothing better than a nice digital file and a shiny new iMac with Photoshop. God Bless the late Steve Jobs.

If I want film prints, I send film to Clark Labs. $5.99 for developing and prints.

All this coming from a guy who goes by the pseudonym "I Love Film".

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

A technically better photographer... 🙂

I get your point, but...

I'd say it's not just a technical thing... For example, the whole process of making contact prints (the complete roll) involves much more than a technical evaluation of our own exposure and development... It surely touches the aesthetic field because we see, check, evaluate, enjoy composition (lots of, on a single sheet...) and the very simple act of seeing small images one after another makes us perceive which ones work or not: what's behind the good images that impact us even being that tiny... I've heard photographers and teachers comment lots of times how important contact sheets are. And then the final print: again, a close relation with visual narrative much more than with technique and tone IMO... Even the time used in the darkroom, the darkness and light: it all adds to a perception mood...

Cool thread by the way, and great for you, cosmonaut!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[35mmdelux]

Cosmo...actually I have a Saunders 6x7 rig w/ a sweet 50mm Nikon enlarging lens. I mostly use fiber-based paper. The only thing I don't have much of is time... An 8 year old son and a hefty job keeps me busy. I look forward to the day I can free up time and print some 11x14s.

 

[f6andBthere]

I get your point, but...

I'd say it's not just a technical thing... For example, the whole process of making contact prints (the complete roll) involves much more than a technical evaluation of our own exposure and development... It surely touches the aesthetic field because we see, check, evaluate, enjoy composition (lots of, on a single sheet...) and the very simple act of seeing small images one after another makes us perceive which ones work or not: what's behind the good images that impact us even being that tiny... I've heard photographers and teachers comment lots of times how important contact sheets are. And then the final print: again, a close relation with visual narrative much more than with technique and tone IMO... Even the time used in the darkroom, the darkness and light: it all adds to a perception mood...

Cool thread by the way, and great for you, cosmonaut!

Cheers,

Juan

I can print up a contact sheet of digiital files any time I want with the software I use for post processing ... via my inkjet.

Should I feel guilty? 😀

 

[35mmdelux]

Mounting my heavy Durst M601 on 4 swivel castor did the trick for me also, quickly moving the enlarger from the closet to the bathroom and voila ! 🙂 Having a stack of self-printed photos on the table is rewarding and adds to the overall process of taking a photo.

Holy cow, that is one professional enlarger. congrats -

 

[semrich]

I'm relatively new to the darkroom experience and share Cosmo's feelings about it. For me it's the next step in the transition from digital to film, developing your own film, then printing it. Part of the fun is the challenge it offers with so many variables, not to mention the mistakes made during the learning curve.

 

[ChrisN]

Long live the darkroom! And yes, when you embrace traditional film (esp. B&W) photography as an end-to-end process, it does change your photography. I still like and use my dSLR, but for photography I really care about, B&W film is the medium I prefer. And darkroom printing makes it all the more enjoyable and challenging.

 

[maddoc]

Holy cow, that is one professional enlarger. congrats -

🙂 Thanks ! That enlarger is quite stable build but ... did I mention how heavy !? 😱 I was lucky to get it with the CLS66 color-head, a Fujinon 80/4.0 and Nikkor EL 50/4.0 for ~ US$ 75.

 

[Gadge]

Really nice image. Thanks for sharing that.

I have an old XA2 which my partner owned from new. In its old age it now lives in my fishing bag. I never realised it had that good a lens but then I have had some real good small cameras to play with, so it never got much of a look in, in the past 15 years!

I sold an old well used XA a while back and expected about £5-£10 after describing it as a good user but not a pristine cupboard filler. To my surprise it fetched £50+.
They must be getting a good reputation.

I always loved the cool clamshell design of both the Olympus.

 

[cosmonaut]

Contact prints I need to learn to do. I have a book showing how but I need to step it up there.

I get your point, but...

I'd say it's not just a technical thing... For example, the whole process of making contact prints (the complete roll) involves much more than a technical evaluation of our own exposure and development... It surely touches the aesthetic field because we see, check, evaluate, enjoy composition (lots of, on a single sheet...) and the very simple act of seeing small images one after another makes us perceive which ones work or not: what's behind the good images that impact us even being that tiny... I've heard photographers and teachers comment lots of times how important contact sheets are. And then the final print: again, a close relation with visual narrative much more than with technique and tone IMO... Even the time used in the darkroom, the darkness and light: it all adds to a perception mood...

Cool thread by the way, and great for you, cosmonaut!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[cosmonaut]

Holy cow, that is one professional enlarger. congrats -

I have a 7 year old and a stressful, busy job. My phone can and does ring way to much. Sometimes I will get up at 4am. Its my only my real quite time. I have a smart phone that I forgot was on in the darkroom and it rang and lit up my darkroom like the 4th of July during an exposure. Lesson learned.
I was fortunate enough to inherit a huge box of expired paper. It wasn't good for keeper prints but good enough to waste and practice with. I got fairly good at printing before I ordered fresh paper.

 

[Trius]

I don't have a home darkroom at this time, but have re-joined the local community darkroom. They acquired a 8x10 enlarger since the last time I was a member, and I think I will try my hand at enlarged contact prints. 😀

 

[jsrockit]

I get your point, but...

I'd say it's not just a technical thing... For example, the whole process of making contact prints (the complete roll) involves much more than a technical evaluation of our own exposure and development... It surely touches the aesthetic field because we see, check, evaluate, enjoy composition (lots of, on a single sheet...) and the very simple act of seeing small images one after another makes us perceive which ones work or not:

I'm sorry if my comment seemed negative. It wasn't meant to be. I take the technical aspects of photography seriously. However, it's only one piece to the puzzle. Once you have that down, you have to move onto the conceptual stage which to me is the harder aspect of photography (and for many). Contact prints are no different than looking at your images in lightroom... which shows all of your images in order as well. That is not exclusive to the darkroom.