Dear all,
Wow! Thanks for the wonderful support, the encouragement and the good words. Going into the darkroom felt like I was taking a big chunk of the creative control back in my hands. I don’t know about an enlarger, but I do know that I now have a new kind of GAS – for chemicals, and film, and other stuff.
Robert: Thank you my friend – I am really, really looking up to you for your photo skills, developing technique and all around accomplished work. One thing you should know is that if it weren’t for your photos I got a glimpse off some time ago in flickr, I would have never realised how important developing is for the final look. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And, oh, I have not forgotten about the ‘project’ – I promise to get back to it from next week on ;-)
Bill – thank you – and congrats to you too for getting back in the darkroom. It is a really satisfying experience, what with being personally involved in most aspects of how the photo looks. I will be looking for your samples from your darkroom escapades too! As for which 50 lens I prefer here is the honest truth: I traded all three of my 50’s (rigid Summicron, Planar ZM, Summilux II-type) for a used Summiux 50 Asph. I cannot recommend it enough, it is outstanding. If only it wasn’t so eyewateringly expensive..
Barrett thank you very much – your post is food for thought, as usual. Although you do not explicitly say so, you make me wonder if printing as opposed to just developing adds on the final product in ways that the digital darkroom cannot possibly replicate. And even if it does, are the image-relevant returns as high as those attained by developing? As I said, I wonder, I have no clue what the answer is.
Ben, Ash, Steve, Bryce, Jon, Ralph, Kully, Mark – thanks so much, it feels great to be in your distinguished darkroom company! 🙂
Best,
