How do rate your printing skills, wet or dry

[135format]

I'm curious about how seriously people take their printing and to what level so here's an anonymous poll to quiz you on it. Please be objective about this and don't get carried away. There are always others out there who are better printers than you or I. I make no distinction between wet or dry but rather whether you strive to obtain the best quality result. i.e. A finely crafted exhibition quality print. So what level do you rate yourself at.

 

[Jobin]

I have just started printing in a wet lab. First 5 tries weren't so good but then they started coming out nice. Still do not know what I am doing though.

 

[Steinberg2010]

I started over the last year, but owing to university and space constraints have only had time for a couple of attempts. I definitely know the feeling that there is sooooo much out there to learn/master.

~S

 

[Roger Hicks]

Mediocre, but I taught my wife, who's brilliant.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Moriturii]

Just started. Spent 6 hours first time I stepped in, I thought one hour had passed. Now building my own darkroom in my mom's basement as soon a possible.

 

[jsrockit]

The poll is too narrow for my experience. I was considered an excellent B&W printer in college... so much so that my teachers asked me for advice. However, I know that I was better than average but nowhere near a master (I couldn't print Selgado's work the way he'd want it for instance).

For c-prints, I was average. I found this out when I went to get jobs printing exhibition prints and everyone would pass up my color printing and look at my B&W work. This killed me because I consider myself a color photographer and wasn't that interested in B&W anymore. The jobs weren't paying much, so I ended up not going that route.

Now, with digital, I print at home and probably do an average job of it. The prints look right and that is what matters, but I'm sure I could do better with other methods and equipment.

I'll pick experienced but run of the mill since I don't do B&W wet darkroom work anymore.

 

[zauhar]

It's frustrating, but now I'm hooked.

Randy

 

[nimcod]

Well its my job, so i guess i do all right, customers are happy at least! Though its minilab based so not so much room for technique/skill after you get accustomed to setting up the machines and the finicky control system.

Darkroom wet printing i dabbled in university, but lack of funds to rent space and/or the spare time to set up at home sadly keep me from working at it.

 

[BobYIL]

Since the '60s, started in the pro-lab of the architecture faculty, printed heavily 4X5 besides 35mm, always had my own darkroom, never printed color, rated myself as "5".

 

[Teuthida]

Was taught by an actual Master, one of the greats whose work all of you have seen, but suck myself.

 

[FrankS]

I've been wet printing for over 30 years and this hobby is my passion so I'm thinking that I'm better than average.

But I did not vote in the survey.

 

[intheviewfinder]

There isn't a "no longer print" option so I didn't check anything. I use to print but no longer do and I was pretty good. I stopped as the studio switched to digital - we're completely digital now.

At home I have an old Yashica MG-1 and a Leica MP. Neither have been off the shelf in quite awhile. So the home darkroom in the cellar corner hasn't been used in quite awhile either. So no, no prints.

And you know I kind of don't miss being down there nor, the smell. Yes, there's some nostalgia but my fingertips are no longer stained black.

About a year ago I was cleaning out a desk drawer and stumbled on a bunch of dodge boards - you know all cut into different shapes. Made me laugh.

--Rich

 

[dap]

30 responders to the poll so far and the largest group (with 6) consider themselves to be "master printers" - who knew.

Out of curiosity is there some kind of consensus as to what "master printer" entails? I guess I always considered master printers to be few and far between - something that you heard about but were rare in the wild.

 

[Katie]

I'm "improving", but doubt I'd be voted most improved. I am having fun though.

 

[Never Satisfied]

Used to have a commercial style lab at home and printed commercially both colour and mono, moved house and had to shut down. Never had any complaints about my work, I did OK.

Tried inkjet and was always disapointed with the results.

I guess I would rate myself as retired.

 

[StevenJohn]

I'd say I'm a pretty fair wet printer for B&W. I've only been printing color for about a year and it has me feeling like I need training wheels again.

 

[Lauffray]

Printing skills ? what printing skills ? 😀

 

[JHutchins]

Bad. And will probably never get better using either method. Improvement takes practice. You know those people who say they don't have room for a darkroom? I really don't. I live on a sailboat. I don't have room for a decent inkjet printer...

 

[steelydam]

Off and on since 1989 and I picked option #5. I've come a long way but still have a long way to go. Maybe that's what makes it so addicting.

 

[pakeha]

experiencing with stuff now.still got so much to learn.I guess i have not done myself any favours by using a massive load of old paper the local store gave to me.They stopped printing some time ago.The highs are getting a print i am really happy with first or second print to the frustration of searching through the paper for a grade/type that best suits the negative of printing the same negative six times and still not being satisfied.I have used perhaps 80% of this paper and as soon as it is gone i will be sticking to one or two brands.The prints i have been most happy with have been done with the oldest paper in the pile..Tura, shame it is no longer available as i really like the results i got from this paper. Still ,even with the frustrations it is a satisfying way to spend a couple of hours.