Film

Sep

2020

DUST. . . Still A Four Letter Word!

Simco F10 Top Gun

If you shoot film, you know that dust is one of your biggest enemies. It gets into everything and is nothing but a nuisance. I have written before about controlling dust around your camera and film holders, see these articles; “DUST. . . A Four Letter Word!” and “Wax on. . . Wax Off.”

There is another Dust battle you have to deal with when handling and printing the finished negatives that requires as much, if not more attention to the problem. Static attracts dust to the film like a magnet. You can eliminate or greatly reduce the dust on the negative using compressed air, but there is even more you can do. If you use an ionizing device you can greatly reduce the static charge, which helps in removing dust and helps keep it away.

Dust is not only a problem with film, it is also a big problem in manufacturing. Ever notice how clean your new phone or TV is when you take it out of the box the first time? There are numerous commercial devices used in the manufacturing process to help control the static charge that attracts dust. These devices are on the expensive side, since they are specialized tools designed for commercial use. The good news is, since they are used so much, they appear on the used market at much more tolerable prices.

We have two Simco F10 Top Gun Static Neutralizing Blow Off Guns. (I know, get your mind out of the gutter, this is what the manufacture calls the device. . . see photos.) We installed one in the darkroom years ago. It worked so well, we added another in our work room where we mount, mat and frame. This model has been replaced, but you can find them on eBay. The unit is simple to use. All you need is a source of air (a compressor) and a standard grounded electrical outlet. They do work well.

One problem with the Simco unit is the hose and electrical umbilical. It is long, about 10 feet and difficult to handle. I solved that by building a spring-loaded retractor attached to the ceiling. This keeps the umbilical out of the way and the device easily accessible when needed.

As I said, you will need a compressor with a regulator to furnish air to the Simco unit. I keep the system pressure at about 40psi and you will need to add a filter to your air source. We have a compressor in the garage which has a filter on its outlet. Air is piped in via piping in the attic, then there is another filter at each Simco unit. You do not want water or oil in your air lines.

We use the Simco Top Gun units every time we print or mount and frame prints. They have become an integral part of the way we work. Anything you can do to eliminate dust will help you in keeping print spotting to a minimum. These units are also great for helping eliminate dust when mounting and framing.

Also worth mentioning is the Chapman ionizing antistatic brush. I am not sure if they are still made, but Zone VI, Kodak and others sold these at one time. We have a Chapman model and use it from time to time. The unit has a soft camel hair brush attached to a high voltage supply via a long cord. This is a good alternative if you do not want to have to use a compressor as with the Simco unit. We both used the Chapman brush until we found the Simco units. The ionizing brush works well, but nothing beats having compressed air combined with an ionizer.

Just remember; DUST IS A FOUR LETTER WORD!

Sep

2020

THE PROPER PROOF; AN IMPORTANT STEP

‘Before making a print, let me remind you again that you must first make the proper proof in order to select the negative for printing.’

‘Please do not short cut this step. An outstanding print is always the product of an outstanding negative. No one can positively translate negative densities – as seen on a viewing table – into emotional values. You must see the way it prints. The proper proof identifies the qualities of the negative.’

-Fred Picker, ZONE VI WORKSHOP; The Fine Print In Black & White Photography, Amphoto, Garden City, NY, 1974, p. 44-

While working on all of the negatives from our last trip, and a couple of local outings, I began thinking about proofing and just how important the proof is to the fine art photograph. I guess I take a lot of what I do for granted and seem to believe that everyone else understands the process. This may not be all that true and maybe it would be a good idea to emphasize in a little more detail the importance of proofing.

I gained the most in my creative photographic endeavors when I discovered Fred Picker and his little book titled “ZONE VI WORKSHOP.” This little book is short and sweet, yet packed with a lot of information. You might say it is deceptively simple and short.

I believe the above quoted paragraphs from the chapter titled “THE FINE PRINT” pretty much sums up one of the most important steps in the photographic process. You have to see what you have captured on the film before you can decide to make the finished fine print. The proper proof is your absolute verification as to the validity of the negative. It is your guide, your control and provides the necessary information for the next step. . . the finished print.

We proper proof and file our proper proofs into 3-ring notebooks. This is where the second half of the creative process begins. (The first step is finding something worthy of capturing on film.) I highly recommend you proper proof every negative you make. This way you will know what your are doing and what you have to work with. The proper proof will also reveal any shortcomings or problems you may have with your equipment or technique. As Fred says, “Please do not shortcut this step.” I agree and feel it is a very important step in the creative photographic process.

Are you interested in learning more about the art and craft of black & white photography and Proper Proofing? We have created an e-book series especially for you. Within in the pages of “The Film Exposure Work Book” you will learn how to preform your own film tests and how to make proper proofs. You will find more information at our BOOK STORE.

JB & Susan

Sep

2020

DON’T THROW OUT OLD PHOTO PAPER

There seems to be a lot of people interested in the traditional wet darkroom these days. As many abandon their darkrooms, others are just getting started. I have seen numerous transfers of darkroom materials, chemicals and hardware to newcomers interested in the wet darkroom. . . a lot of times for FREE. There is a lot of old printing paper coming out of storage and being either tossed in the garbage or passed on (without any guarantee what so ever) to those that are just starting out. Certainly a lot of this old paper is fogged to some extent. . . but all may not be lost. If you find yourself in possession of several thousand sheets of a really great paper, depending on the amount of fog, you just may be able to make excellent prints, despite a little general degradation.

Paper fog, as a rule shows up as a general darkening of the processed paper, thus making pure white in the print an impossibility. You can easily test for paper fog. . . see my previous article, “MEASURING PAPER FOG” for my method for testing paper.

Success is very dependent on the image you are printing, but in most cases, fog can be eliminated in the highlights and whites of the print by simply doing a little selective bleaching. Even deep shadows can be livened up with a little work with a bleaching mixture and a brush. Selective bleaching is not difficult and here is more info from a previous post titled, “A LITTLE SELECTIVE BLEACHING.”

If the whole print requires overall livening up, you can bleach the entire print in a tray. Look up the formula for Farmer’s Reducer. You may find that you have to over-print the image (print a little too dark) and then bleach it back upward (lightening the image) to restore the image sparkle. You will just have to experiment and find what works best for each print.

Realize that if the paper has severe fog or a mottled, spotty fog, this method will not be of much help. Also keep in mind that even severely fogged paper can sometimes be fixed out and used for other processes. Many carbon transfer printers used old, fixed out paper for their finished images. Old, fogged paper should not be thrown out without first, at the very least, trying to find if it is in some way useable. You never know. . . that free, old out-of-date paper may be a really good deal after all!

4×5 Contact Print on vintage Velox paper, expiration date of 1958

If you have a lot of fogged paper that you paid little to nothing for, why not give bleaching a try. I have successfully pumped life back into paper that had expiration dates on the box that make it nearly as old as me!

JB

Sep

2020

EXHAUSTION; OR, IS THIS STILL GOOD?

Fixer does not soon become “exhausted” in the sense that it can’t dissolve more silver salts. Instead, the trouble is with silver/sulphur complexes that build up as the hypo is used. They can’t be washed out of paper. One of Alfred Stieglitz’s sins was that in spite of excellent training in photographic sciences at the Berlin Technische Hochschule under the great Wilhelim Vogle (whose discoveries made orthochromatic and panchromatic film possible), Stieglitz told the young Ansel Adams that a gallon of fixer is good for thousands of prints. He thought that Kodak’s advice to change the hypo frequently was just corporate greed-anxiety to make big profits selling more dirt-cheap hypo. No doubt that’s why some Stieglitz prints are turning funny colors.*

* Photo Techniques Magazine, “Advanced B&W Printing” 2002, “Photo 303, The Pratt Institute Handouts” by David Vestal, p.40

Nothing lasts forever. And, this is even more true when it comes to photographic chemistry. The question is, how long does the chemistry used in the darkroom last once mixed and what is the exhaustion rate? I firmly believe that trying to milk photographic chemistry for every last little bit is a recipe for disaster. Think of it this way. You have invested a lot of time and money by the time you get into the darkroom. Is it really worth it to try and save a few dollars by pushing your luck with chemistry that may not be up to par? Honestly, the least expensive item you use in the photographic process is the chemistry and water. Why scrimp, and risk disaster?

We calculate the exhaustion rates of all chemical formulas we use. It is very important to know the capacity of the film developers you use. If you try and stretch the chemistry beyond its useful capacity you will ruin your film. Same thing happens with the fixer. Printing paper is the same, except if you make a mistake you can always start over. But with film there is no do-over.

We very closely watch the capacities of the chemistry we use. The basic rule in our darkroom is to assure that we seldom go beyond 50-60% capacity. Film developers are used one-shot, making sure to use an adequate volume of chemistry for the number of square inches of film being developed. Film fixer is ran to 50-60% capacity then discarded. The same criteria is used when printing. Paper developer is used to maybe 60-70% capacity then discarded. Paper fixer is never used more than 60% of capacity.

In our darkroom there are few chemicals that are not discarded after a darkroom session. The only fixer we keep is the rapid fix used for film and it is discarded at 50-60% capacity. The only other chemistry we keep is Selenium Toner. All chemistry is labeled with the date it was mixed. Those that are kept for reuse are marked with the number of sheets of film or paper it has seen.

There is no need to run the risk and facing the consequences of exhausted chemistry when it comes to your photography. As said before, the chemistry is the least expensive item you will use in the whole photographic process, from film to the finished print. It is not worth the possible disaster that scrimping can cause. It is important to know the capacities of every formula used and never run any to full exhaustion. Nor is it a good practice to keep mixed solutions too long. Some formulas deteriorate rapidly once mixed. Know your chemistry and use it wisely!

Oct

2018

PRESTO, MAGIC AND SECRETS

It seems that working in the darkroom is magic. Developing film has little visual magic, that is to say, you see no magic, because most all film processing is done in total darkness. The magic is reserved for when you turn on the lights. But, printing is a different story. Under the dim glow of the safelight you can actually see the printed image appear, seemingly from nothing. It is a magical experience to see the photograph develop right before your eyes. No matter how many times I process a print, it is still magic to see the transformation. There is something that is otherworldly about what happens in that tray of liquid. But is it really magic?

It is well understood that a magician performing slight of hand or an illusion has many secrets. If you knew how a magic trick was done, it would ruin the experience. So in the world of magic, there are many secrets. And the working magicians guard those secrets well. Though photography seems to be magical, there are no secrets. There are no secret formulas, techniques or mystical incantations used when making traditional photographs in the wet darkroom. If you dig deep enough, you will find just about everything you would ever want to know about photography. There are no hidden secrets, only the basics of the process. Once these basics are mastered, there are many variations and techniques one can apply to achieve their personal vision.

I can say without reservation that I have no secrets. What I have learned over the years is the product of finding those techniques that work best for me and applying them as I see fit. Working in the wet darkroom and with film is about starting with the basics. You need a firm foundation of craft upon which to build your creativity. Next you apply different refining techniques and utilize them as needed to suit your vision. And what is so interesting about this is, you can do the same. You have to find what works for you.

I can also say that I never stop learning. Every time I step into the darkroom I push the boundaries of my abilities. I strive to continually learn new things that work for me. Interestingly enough, nothing I do is particular to me. Everything I do is something I learned from someone else, or an article, or publication I found. There just are no secrets. It is a matter of rolling up your sleeves and expanding your proficiency by doing.

My best advice to the newcomer to traditional photography is to come to the realization there are no magic bullets. There are no short cuts. You will only master the art form through seriously and continuously striving to achieve the results that suit you. Never stop learning and expanding your abilities.

Sorry, prestidigitation will not work. Don’t waste your time looking for that magic shortcut. . . it doesn’t exist. But the good news is there are no secrets. You only have to roll up your sleeves and learn the process, the old fashion way. You can’t say PRESTO and pull a beautifully printed photograph out of your hat!

JB

Oct

2018

WHY BLACK & WHITE?

Recently Susan and I went to a presentation from a local photographer that works for one of the camera stores. Or should I say computer store, since all he seemed to talk about was the latest computerized camera. This month’s do everything offering. That aside, I really don’t care how you make your photographs. That is your business and this is not another digital versus film discussion. What interests me is the idea of color versus black and white. And it isn’t only my opinion that you will be bored to hear me yap about.

What we saw was about an hour of the presenting photographer’s work. I’ll not even comment on that either. During the presentation there were several examples showing how color photos could be transformed into black and white. This presenter showed several examples of the original, then the black and white, followed by a side by side of the two.

What made my entire day, or should I say evening, was the comment from a couple sitting just behind us. One whispered to the other, “look at how much more detail there is in the black and white.” I could have jumped up and screamed YES! But, of course I didn’t. What I immediately thought was, here is one person in this room of 50 to 60 people that ‘gets it!’

Yep. . . I love black and white!!!

JB

NOTE: The example photo above is not one from the presentation mentioned. It is an example of one of JB’s photographs. Naturally, the depth, feeling and presence of the actual finished B&W print is lost in this representation. Depending on the resolution of your viewing screen, hopefully the idea remains.

Oct

2018

FEELING & TOUCHABILITY; NOT NUMBERS

artificial intelligence (AI)

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. Intelligence exhibited by an artificial (non-natural, man-made) entity.

n. The branch of computer science dealing with the reproduction or mimicking of human-level intelligence, self-awareness, knowledge, conscience, thought in computer programs.

n. The essential quality of a machine which thinks in a manner similar to or on the same general level as a real human being.

n. a computer system or software package which is artificially intelligent

HogWash!!! Numbers can not quantify a feeling; I don’t believe that even the most advanced AI will ever replace human emotion. A computer only crunches numbers. . . and only ones and zeros at that. It doesn’t think, it just computes. AI may ‘mimmic’ human thought, but it is not human. It is not capable of emotional intimacy.

This is especially true when it comes to the appreciation, recognition and understanding of art. And in particular, photographic art. Photos have a LOOK, FEEL, PRESENCE. A quality that is extremely difficult to put into words, and impossible to mimic with numbers. You can run tests and plot curves forever, but you will not KNOW for sure what a film, paper, developer combination is really doing until you make a real photograph.

I keep coming back to the same point; you can not calculate feeling. There are some things that just exist and are not possible to be explained by a mathematical expression. They are emotional expressions. . . emotional responses. . . subject to any number of personal preferences of the individual. These preferences are the product of what make each person an individual. You cannot measure these things. . . they are subjective. Think about it; can art really be expressed by numbers???

It is about personal taste. . . Ford or Chevy. . . Coke or Pepsi. . . green or blue. One size does not fit all! What you may find perfectly acceptable in a film developer combination may not suit my taste at all. My father used to say, “that is why they paint cars different colors.”

Don’t get hung up on the numbers and technology. Believe it or not, the computer inside that camera cannot think for you. Let your natural intuition guide you. If the finished photograph looks satisfactory to you, then you are there. If not; try something different. Don’t expect some computer gadget to make that decision for you. And, while you are at it, do not be swayed by another person’s comments. Only you know when it is right. When it feels right; it is right.

JB

Sep

2018

PROCESS AND RESULTS

The scientist is absorbed in the process, while the artist is obsessed with the results.

Brooks Jensen, publisher of LensWork Magazine, tells an interesting story about someone he once knew that had a thirst for photography. Seems this fellow leaped into photography with unchained enthusiasm. He spent many hours, and a lot of money, purchasing equipment and building a darkroom. Then spent even more time learning how to control the process of B&W film and printing. He became an expert at exposing, developing, and printing. He was a master of the equipment and materials. Then suddenly he got rid of all of his photographic equipment and took up another interest. When asked why he said, he could not find anything of interest to photograph. He had nothing to say artistically. He was absorbed in the process, yet discovered he had no interest whatsoever in the results. To quote one of my earlier BLOG posts; Edward Weston said something to the effect that, you should be able to look down at your feet and find something interesting to photograph.

Edward Weston was absorbed in his photography. It was said that he had little interest in anything mechanical. Edward never learned to drive a car. He was totally dependent upon others for transportation. If his camera or other equipment broke, he was helpless to repair any of it. Yet he was a master at operating the camera and in the darkroom. He was obsessed with the results, and understood only enough of the process to achieve his vision.

I have witnessed this phenomenon myself. I have seen those that really believe they wanted to work with big cameras and film. They start off with a bang and end with a fizzle. Creating art really is hard work. You have to master the photographic process, but it is even more important that you have something to say. Don’t become absorbed with the gear and forget that the end product is what really counts. Like baking a cake, it should be about the cake, not the brand of mixer used for the batter. Remember that PROCESS is only a path to RESULTS.

JB

Sep

2018

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Susan and I were recently invited to visit the camera club we were members of many years ago. Back in the days before digital turned camera clubs into computer clubs we were both serious club members. Susan is a past club president and I a past vice president. Over the years this club’s membership has changed and many of the old hands we knew have moved on. The majority of those attending were new faces, but there were quite a few dedicated members we knew from years past.

The meeting brought back fond memories of being in a room with fifty or more like-minded people, all sharing their interest in photography. We had a great time visiting and catching up with what our old friends are up to now days. The group seems to still be motivated, with several photography outings planned and even a few workshops. Of course all they seem to know about is digital, PhotoShop and LightRoom.

What struck me like a bolt from the blue was the remarks that came up when the word film was added to the conversation. Blank faces; jaw drops; and a look of confusion when we mentioned we still shoot film. The same questions came up; you can still get film? When informed that film was still there and gaining in popularity, there was even more silence.

This just dumbfounded me and leads me to question myself. I have to ask, what can I do to get the word out about film? Here we were with a group of motivated photography buffs, and all they seem to be aware of is one single path for photographic expression. This situation begs the question, what can we as dedicated film shooters collectively do to make sure the world knows film is still there? Maybe we should all attend our local camera clubs and try to inform everyone that there is an alternative to being a computer club. If you are interested in the art and craft of photography, there should be a well rounded interest in all forms of visual expression. Film, digital, alternative processes; they are all valid. Even today! Our interest centers around traditional film and wet darkroom and that is what we do. Thing is, others interested can do it too. . . if only they knew it still existed.

Hello World. . . Film Is Not Dead!

JB

Sep

2018

WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF DEDICATION?

There is an old photographic saying that goes something like; “if you buy a camera, you are a photographer; if you buy a piano, you own a piano.” No matter what your experience may be with the camera and making photographs, my question for you is, what is your commitment to photography? Are you dedicated to making photographs? Do you make prints? Or, are you only interested in the hardware?

When I think of what a truly dedicated photographic artist would look like, I think of Edward Weston. He lived a very simple life. He was not a camera aficionado. Edward did not have an elaborate darkroom. Yet he created some of the most influential photographs of his time. He was all about the finished image. Certainly he was a master of his technique and the hardware he used. But technique and hardware were only the tools he used to do what he loved.

One trend I find disturbing is that people today do not make prints. There is something very special about a finished print. Whether held in an album, or framed on the wall. Just the act of making a print says there is something special about this particular photograph. It requires, even demands you look! Not a casual glance, but to really take the time to look at what is there.

I don’t care what hardware you use, do you make finished prints? Do you feel your time, money and effort is worthy of making a print? Do you go out and shoot several hundred images, look at them maybe once then discard them? Why not go out with the intention of making only one photograph which you will then take the time to make a finished print from? Why not intentionally go and make only one or two, or three photographs? Then choose the best, and take the time to make a print. Hang it on your wall and live with it. Show it to everyone you know.

Maybe, just maybe if you made prints and did it often, you could influence others to do the same. Why not be different? Why not get out of the rut of snap, look and discard? Why not demand that people look at what you do? Make a statement! Do it to the best of your abilities. Make a finished photograph. . . make several. Be tough on yourself and make photographs that say something to you. If you reach others, then you are doing something worthy. You are expressing yourself and not just flashing something on a little screen to immediately forget and discard.

One problem with the Simco unit is the hose and electrical umbilical. It is long, about 10 feet and difficult to handle. I solved that by building a spring-loaded retractor attached to the ceiling. This keeps the umbilical out of the way and the device easily accessible when needed.

‘Before making a print, let me remind you again that you must first make the proper proof in order to select the negative for printing.’

-Fred Picker, ZONE VI WORKSHOP; The Fine Print In Black & White Photography, Amphoto, Garden City, NY, 1974, p. 44-

If you have a lot of fogged paper that you paid little to nothing for, why not give bleaching a try. I have successfully pumped life back into paper that had expiration dates on the box that make it nearly as old as me!

JB

* Photo Techniques Magazine, “Advanced B&W Printing” 2002, “Photo 303, The Pratt Institute Handouts” by David Vestal, p.40

JB

Yep. . . I love black and white!!!

JB

artificial intelligence (AI)

It is about personal taste. . . Ford or Chevy. . . Coke or Pepsi. . . green or blue. One size does not fit all! What you may find perfectly acceptable in a film developer combination may not suit my taste at all. My father used to say, “that is why they paint cars different colors.”

JB

JB

Hello World. . . Film Is Not Dead!

JB

Why not be a trendsetter? You never know, you might even surprise yourself!

JB