Are there still Fine-Art darkroom printing courses of advanced and very advanced level?

[Andrea Calabresi]

I was just wondering if there are still Master printers offering comprehensive advanded (and very advanced) level darkroom courses.
I know about Alan Ross and Jim Megargee (i was one of his students long ago). Do you know about others?

 

[Peter Schrager]

Paula Chamlee at lodima.org

 

[brian steinberger]

I also took a Jim Megargee class in NYC back in 2006. Is he still doing it?

 

[miha]

Regarding alternative printing techniques, Borut Peterlin is highly knowledgeable. I attended his course on carbon printing. https://www.borutpeterlin.com/

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

I also took a Jim Megargee class in NYC back in 2006. Is he still doing it?

I was his student in 1996 and 1997. He's still active teaching workshops at ICP. I guess the level would be basic-intermediate in the school.

 

[MattKing]

@Carnie Bob in Toronto?

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Lynn Radeka gives pin registered sharp & unsharp contrast masking workshops: https://www.radekaphotography.com/workshops.htm

From the website:

Lynn Radeka with Ron Gaut, and guest visits by masking-master Dr. Dennis McNutt, will teach and demonstrate various techniques of making and using several types of contrast masks such as the Unsharp Mask, the Contrast Reduction Mask, Shadow Contrast Increase Masks, Highlight Masks, Dodge Masks and Fog Masks. Students will view comparison prints showing the profound improvements that masks can make in actual prints. Using participant's negatives, as well as Lynn's original negatives, appropriate masks will be determined and made under Lynn's guidance. Afterwards, participants will make prints from those masked negatives and discuss the improvements in print quality.

 

[koraks]

comprehensive advanded (and very advanced) level darkroom courses

I think perhaps the question would work better if it's clear what the learning objectives are. When it comes to practices like darkroom printing, IMO as you develop to a more advanced stage, the field also starts to fan out pretty broadly and a comprehensive curriculum ceases to be feasible. At that point something like an apprenticeship starts to make more sense as it'll take an immersive experience to encompass the entire breadth of the territory.

Having said that - no, sorry; no direct answer. Just a suggestion above about making the search more focused. Also, are you inquiring for someone else, for yourself, or as part of preparing a publication/research?

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

I think perhaps the question would work better if it's clear what the learning objectives are. When it comes to practices like darkroom printing, IMO as you develop to a more advanced stage, the field also starts to fan out pretty broadly and a comprehensive curriculum ceases to be feasible. At that point something like an apprenticeship starts to make more sense as it'll take an immersive experience to encompass the entire breadth of the territory.

Having said that - no, sorry; no direct answer. Just a suggestion above about making the search more focused. Also, are you inquiring for someone else, for yourself, or as part of preparing a publication/research?

Hello Koraks,
You are right, that is the status quo.
To be more specific I am worrying that the know how, expertise and visual culture of the (already almost extinct) Master Printers will fade away as we age, leaving just mediocrity behind.
We have some excellent text books covering most of the topics from the technical point of view, but sharing experiences is absolutely necessary to get fine results.
An apprenticeship is a long and slow process that is not focused and will not answer the needs of those who have a vision or need to develop their personal style, so for some (maybe a very limited number) of people getting a suitable guidance seems to be almost impossible today.
Generally speaking I have the sad feeling that most film photographer and darkroom printers have no idea of what a really fine print is, and consequently will consider printing just a matter of some technical procedure, tricks and some good taste. There is more.

So to answer, I would like to know if there are people offering superior tuition in this field because I think that those few ones shall try to join forces. I've been offering courses, workshops and master classes since 1996, and I feel now quite lonely.

 

[Carnie Bob]

Hello Koraks,
You are right, that is the status quo.
To be more specific I am worrying that the know how, expertise and visual culture of the (already almost extinct) Master Printers will fade away as we age, leaving just mediocrity behind.
We have some excellent text books covering most of the topics from the technical point of view, but sharing experiences is absolutely necessary to get fine results.
An apprenticeship is a long and slow process that is not focused and will not answer the needs of those who have a vision or need to develop their personal style, so for some (maybe a very limited number) of people getting a suitable guidance seems to be almost impossible today.
Generally speaking I have the sad feeling that most film photographer and darkroom printers have no idea of what a really fine print is, and consequently will consider printing just a matter of some technical procedure, tricks and some good taste. There is more.

So to answer, I would like to know if there are people offering superior tuition in this field because I think that those few ones shall try to join forces. I've been offering courses, workshops and master classes since 1996, and I feel now quite lonely.

You are not alone, I teach gum over pd, as well silver to the right mix of students... Too many people think a workshop will improve their work, what it will do is open their eyes to the possibilities available to them. I am spending a day this week on a private silver one on one, next week a calibration workshop is being taught at our space, we just finished two rounds of beginnner gum over pd, and one round of advance gum over in the last two months.
I have found that it is possible for students to learn a complete workflow from us but they need to have at there hometowns the right equipment to practice and print what we taught.

Unfortunately we just lost one of the great workshop teachers, my friend Bill Schwab and it is a big blow to all of us who knew Bill.

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

You are not alone, I teach gum over pd, as well silver to the right mix of students... Too many people think a workshop will improve their work, what it will do is open their eyes to the possibilities available to them. I am spending a day this week on a private silver one on one, next week a calibration workshop is being taught at our space, we just finished two rounds of beginnner gum over pd, and one round of advance gum over in the last two months.
I have found that it is possible for students to learn a complete workflow from us but they need to have at there hometowns the right equipment to practice and print what we taught.

Unfortunately we just lost one of the great workshop teachers, my friend Bill Schwab and it is a big blow to all of us who knew Bill.

Thank you Bob, nice and reliefing to know!
Had you the opportunity to follow some students from mid-level up to the expression of their potential, i.e. long form courses?
Let's try to stay in touch.

 

[Milpool]

Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer people at the top of the game left doing this. John Sexton's workshops were terrific but he's scaled way back on those (I don't think the technical workshops are offered anymore, at least not regularly). I would have strongly recommended Mark Citret but I don't think he's doing much teaching these days.

I'd look into Tim Rudman.

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

Thank you @Milpol,
It seems that Tim Rudman is not giving workshops anymore, as well, unfortunately.
That's my fear, who will be left? How many?
Can those left join efforts in a shared communication?

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

I was thinking that maybe we lost two generations.
In the last decade, after the digital everything era, there has been a film photography resurgence.
Today there is a young community of film photography lover and (some) like printing in the darkroom too.
Who will be there able to teach and with (possibly) a long experience when the young people that are rejoining the analog community will need a better tuition?
I was lucky to study with a master printer(Jim Megargee) and a great artist (Arno Minkkinen), at the time they gave regular workshops and were available and very generous after the courses, this was 30 years ago.
How many people had the occasion to study and develop their skills in the era of the digital everything (2005-2015)? How many middle age master printers who teach are around?

 

[Kevin Allan]

Andrew Sanderson in Yorkshire, England does one to one workshops. He is an Ilford Master Printer

 

[Sirius Glass]

Allan Ross is my go to darkroom instructor.

 

[koraks]

To be more specific I am worrying that the know how, expertise and visual culture of the (already almost extinct) Master Printers will fade away as we age, leaving just mediocrity behind.

Okay, gotcha; I understand your position and I agree with it.

I agree it would be desirable if the present, still-living generation of pro/expert darkroom printers could pass on their craft in some way. Either through workshops or through apprenticeships. I really like that @Carnie Bob chimed in; what he quite modestly didn't mention is that he's really making a difference in this regard by having a select few (or at least one) long-term apprentice working with him on a daily basis. I think that's the sort of thing we really need to keep the art alive.

As to workshops, I think we need to also realize that some people are really good at darkroom printing (in some of its wide range of aspects and forms), others are really good at teaching, and a very select few are good at both. Then there's the practical matter of time, motivation etc. to put together a curriculum. I think this is where most of the potential embers die out. If you're a reasonably successful commercial printer, I imagine that's what you aim to do with as much of your working time as possible. Teaching would come on top of that and takes a lot of energy (even though you get a lot in return as well).

One other thought that I have been entertaining for some time, but that I just haven't gotten round to, is to do some kind of interview or article series on darkroom practitioners where we go through parts of the art, craft, magic & dirty business in a Q&A fashion. I know, that's not really a substitute for hands-on training, but I think most of us realize that if you already have a basic skillset, you can often make a lot out of even a written or recorded description. And of course, one endeavor doesn't exclude the other.

Perhaps this is something (and I'd like to signal in the rest of the forum staff on this as well) we could play a role in as an online community/platform. While we may probably not start organizing workshops etc., when it comes to disseminating information, we have a role to play. I'm willing to dedicate some time and effort on this for sure.

 

[Pieter12]

I think your best bet would be to try and locate an excellent darkroom printer and approach him or her for private lessons. But be aware that not everyone who has the skills is a good teacher.

 

[jimjm]

There's Bruce Barnbaum up in Granite Falls, Washington.

 

[Andrea Calabresi]

@koraks
I think that your idea of the interview series can be very interesting for all.

Indeed who is already skilled can learn a lot just from texts and examples, though with certain practices like darkroom printing, or music, learning with an instructor, or just sharing opinions looking at real prints (not screens or books) can make a huge difference. The subleties that differenciate a fine print from a good one need to be shown on the actual prints.

This thread maybe can become a starting point to make a list of people and places where it is still possible to get superior education in darkroom printing and photography.

 

[koraks]

I agree that hands-on and in-person tuition and knowledge exchange can never be substituted with reading, videos etc. They can be mutually reinforcing.

This thread maybe can become a starting point to make a list of people and places where it is still possible to get superior education in darkroom printing and photography.

Perfect! Let's hope some more names are being offered.

 

[Carnie Bob]

Okay, gotcha; I understand your position and I agree with it.

I agree it would be desirable if the present, still-living generation of pro/expert darkroom printers could pass on their craft in some way. Either through workshops or through apprenticeships. I really like that @Carnie Bob chimed in; what he quite modestly didn't mention is that he's really making a difference in this regard by having a select few (or at least one) long-term apprentice working with him on a daily basis. I think that's the sort of thing we really need to keep the art alive.

As to workshops, I think we need to also realize that some people are really good at darkroom printing (in some of its wide range of aspects and forms), others are really good at teaching, and a very select few are good at both. Then there's the practical matter of time, motivation etc. to put together a curriculum. I think this is where most of the potential embers die out. If you're a reasonably successful commercial printer, I imagine that's what you aim to do with as much of your working time as possible. Teaching would come on top of that and takes a lot of energy (even though you get a lot in return as well).

One other thought that I have been entertaining for some time, but that I just haven't gotten round to, is to do some kind of interview or article series on darkroom practitioners where we go through parts of the art, craft, magic & dirty business in a Q&A fashion. I know, that's not really a substitute for hands-on training, but I think most of us realize that if you already have a basic skillset, you can often make a lot out of even a written or recorded description. And of course, one endeavor doesn't exclude the other.

Perhaps this is something (and I'd like to signal in the rest of the forum staff on this as well) we could play a role in as an online community/platform. While we may probably not start organizing workshops etc., when it comes to disseminating information, we have a role to play. I'm willing to dedicate some time and effort on this for sure.

Thank you for the kind words, we do ongoing workshops in the darkroom now and one can see them by joining the monthly newsletter we send out , the join up can be accessed on the silvershack website - right now we have three upcoming , and we just finished three basics, I have also when asked dealt on a day by day basis with printers who want to upscale their knowledge, I am doing one this Sunday. I feel strongly about passing on knowledge and am a open book about my methods of printing, it is a shame that some printers monitized there skills to the point they protected their knowledge and would not share and guess what, they eventually get old and pass away. The young woman working with me now three years is learning all aspects of the printing business we do so my wife and I can live above the shop and still be kind of relevant and help her time to time when she needs my help, this will allow me to work on my solo projects. I cannot say how sad it is that we lost Bill Schwab a little while ago , he was the most open printmaker I have ever met .

 

[Carnie Bob]

I think your best bet would be to try and locate an excellent darkroom printer and approach him or her for private lessons. But be aware that not everyone who has the skills is a good teacher.

Good point, as well the student must be able to actively pursue what they learned to completely take advantage of what they were being taught. I am naturally quite cranky and swear alot so I may be quite inappropriate for some settings. I think I am getting better at it but I can say with certantiy I would be a disaster in a school setting with young students.

 

[Molli]

Ellie Young at her Gold Street Studios and Gallery in Victoria, Australia has year round workshops, predominantly in alternative printing.
I get her newsletter and, prior to Covid a lot of those workshops were being given by international printers, Tim Rudman amongst them.

Workshops - Gold Street Studios

If a workshop you wish to attend is full, ask about the waiting list, alternative dates or personal one-to-one workshops available on most processes or techniques. Contact Ellie on ellie@goldstreetstudios.com.au An overview & examples of all workshops taught at gold street studios: Overview Page...

www.goldstreetstudios.com.au

There are three public darkrooms somewhat local to me where teaching is a big part of their business model. What their level of expertise is, I couldn't say, but the interest in the craft is certainly there given the enthusiasm in their reviews, the resulting artwork displayed and the booked out sessions.

As Mr. Carnie mentioned, losing Bill Schwab hits on so many levels. His enthusiasm for 'Photostock' and the teaching/gathering/communal darkroom he created are just two of them.

 

[Molli]

Good point, as well the student must be able to actively pursue what they learned to completely take advantage of what they were being taught. I am naturally quite cranky and swear alot so I may be quite inappropriate for some settings. I think I am getting better at it but I can say with certantiy I would be a disaster in a school setting with young students.

That made me laugh. I don't have the experience or skill set to teach darkroom work, but I do have the patience and I could certainly cover the basics and I love finding ways to teach and seeing people learning new things..... I just can't be in an enclosed darkroom with anyone! Yes, my darkroom is small, but it's just having people in my space that makes me twitch. I'd last 30 seconds before I pushed them out with a broomstick.

Besides, the one time I let a friend sit in while I finished up some prints, he decided to check his phone.