Darkroom tips…

[fluffy_penguins]

March 8, 2007 at 10:19 am

So, one of my favourite photographers is edmo — http://www.flickr.com/photos/leveckis/ — and http://www.leveckis.net/journal/index.html

I love the texture, the grain, the sizzle on the highlights, not to mention the content and composition.

My prints, by comparison, are flat (and let’s not even talk composition).

Any tips on technique? Is the magic in the developing, or the printing? Or both? Paper choices? Chemicals?

I want to head back to the darkroom with some specific ideas to try. I know there are no shortcuts, but I welcome advice from more experienced printers.

Thanks in advance!
Catherine

[thefizz]

March 8, 2007 at 11:51 am

Hi Catherine,

I often found my photos to be flat and boring until I got a copy of Fred Picker’s Zone VI Workshop. This book explains the zone system in a clear and easy to follow way. It starts off by showing you how to find the correct film speed of your films to suit your equipment and conditions. Then it follows with tests on how to develop your films correctly to reproduce the zones, as you originally metered them.

The zone system never interested me for years as I thought it was too technical, but since I got this book my negs have improved greatly. Once you do the few tests, you can then try out different films and developers to find your favourite combination. I think this book may be out of print but I got mine second-hand from Amazon for $6.00

I have many photography books but this one and Tim Rudman’s “The Photographer’s Master Printing Course” are by far the best in my opinion.

Peter

[fluffy_penguins]

March 8, 2007 at 2:40 pm

I’m a little intimidated by the zone system… but I guess there’s no time like now to get over that!

:-)

Catherine

[Eddie]

March 9, 2007 at 10:13 pm

The photography is very creative, lots of double exposures or multiple exposures . The photographer has style. On the printing side it looks like a flat matt paper is being used which gives the grainy effect and suits the images . Its inspiring stylish work but the creativity is in the photography not the printing. I can guarentee it has nothing to do with the zone system. I dont mean to belittle the zone system but the style of work is so abstract i am sure exposure and photographic rules are broken frequently.

[fluffy_penguins]

March 11, 2007 at 1:00 pm

Eddie,

Thanks for the thoughts. I agree — the true magic in his work is the narrative, in what is said and left unsaid, and maybe what’s hinted at in the dark and spooky places in his photographs.

I have a couple of Edmo faves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leveckis/204390183/in/set-72057594064678536/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leveckis/112707517/

I have been at a few of the same events as Edmo — but as you might expect our art is so different.
Here are some of mine –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52155045N00/417441402/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52155045N00/417441405/

I build up my photos in Photoshop, with layers and layers – adding, erasing, and so on.

But I’m keen to start building those layers in camera, with film, and in the printing…

Catherine

[Eddie]

March 11, 2007 at 1:33 pm

Catherine,

Whatever you are doing in Photoshop you are doing it well. Had a look around your Flickr work , especially like the irish graveyard in the mist. Also like some of the still life type images. I am a big fan of those ragged borders. The more recent work is very creative and i would imagine it would be difficult to this type of work in camera or in a traditional darkroom.