Landers, California, 2006

Great shot! Glad to see someone else who likes to photograph rock formations in the desert. But none I've done so far are good enough for posting. How did you get the clouds? Every time I've gone on an outing with the Seneca it's been nothing but blank sky.

Thanks Desertrat-- I am still one at heart.

I grew up in Joshua Tree, just outside the park; so I sort of have a thing for rocks piles and trees out in the desert.

How did I get the clouds? It took 8 days of photographing under clear blue skies.

I actually prefer blank skies to cloudy ones (see the other picture I just posted)-- it can be so hard to get the clouds in just the right place! I suppose that this picture would fall apart with out them though . . . But keep an open mind to clear skies; they can be great.

I notice you do almost all your prints on G2. Is that because you are out of G3, or you normally print on G2 alot?

Ryan, I printed almost exclusively on F3 when I was using Berrger, but Efke and JandC 100 are much more contrasty films and I found that F3 is just too much. I could tailor my negatives to F3, but that is in limited supply, and I would rather keep it around for reprints when I make sales. However, I just got my Nuance in the mail this morning, and I am dieing to get into the darkroom and print with it this weekend.

Let me know what you think of the Nuance paper. Are you going to be using it with MAS AZO Amidol formula, or the Amidol formula for enlarger paper?

One thing I find terrible about enlarging papers is that the highlights always look muddy and flat. That is one advantage AZO has over other papers, so I look forward to seeing what type of results you get with the new paper.

Ryan, I started printing with it today (how could I wait?). This paper is like other enlarging paper in that it doesn't separate well the highlights. Even new Azo is better at it than Nuance, BUT the midtones and shadows separate MUCH better. I MATCHED (it is actaully better than) an old Rochester Grade 2 print (the Owens Valley picture that is on here).

Nuance is not as sharp as Azo, but for my tree things, that is ok. For the rocks, well, that is debatable . . .

As for the developer: I mixed up some selectol soft(because Nuance is more contrasty than F2 and my shadows were blocking up). I put it in Amidol for 45 secs and then selectol for 1 min. It is actually better than my Azo print, just don't tell Michael . . . I will play with it some more and then make a posting about it.

This is quite different than most of your recent posts but in a very good way. The interaction between the top of the rock and the dark band of sky works really well. I love the way the dark band of background rocks in the middle ALMOST parrellels that dark band of sky. Camera position, height especially, was extremely crutial here. More so, I think, than the exact location of the edges of the frame and you nailed both. Nice work.

I wonder if this wouldn't benifet from a slight increase in contrast? Have you tried this on the Nuance yet? Best. doc