Black & White Master Printer in Australia

[Nicole]

Are you a black and white master printer residing in Australia? Do you know someone that has such skills?

 

[Ray Heath]

Are you a black and white master printer residing in Australia? Do you know someone that has such skills?

g'day Nicole

what do you want to know?

what is your definition of a master printer?

 

[Michael W]

I know people in Sydney that I regard as master B&W printers however they mostly print their own work. eg Gordon Undy. Or are you looking for someone to print for you commercially?

 

[Nicole]

Hi Ray and Goldie, I'd like to take a look at their work. I really appreciate such a craft. I think it's important to keep in touch and ensure you are doing the best you can for yourself and for others. I don't get to print much of my own commercial work these days due to the workload. With the lack of resources and skills in use these days it would be good to know who's still active in the field.

 

[roteague]

Try Richard White - An excellent B&W photographer from Mansfield, Victoria. He has a nice newsletter and does workshops as well.

His website is at: http://www.richardwhite.com.au/

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Robert took the words out of my mouth. Richard would have to be one of the best, and he runs several workshops on printing. He publishes an annual calendar and also has a regular column on printing in Better Photography.

 

[Akalai]

Chris at Blanco Negro in Sydney is a master!

More info can be found on his website;

http://www.blanconegro.com.au/

 

[Matthew Gorringe]

Chris at Blanco Negro in Sydney is a master!

More info can be found on his website;

http://www.blanconegro.com.au/

I popped in and met Chris this morning about some Foma paper. He is very helpful and generous with his time as well as being a master

 

[Ross Chambers]

I'm a master printer about once in 300 or 400 prints, which should please Ilford! And now I'm helping Arches out by trying to get there with salt prints.

Neverthless printing one's own does feel part of the whole process.

I'm not sure how Gordon would feel about printing for others, I recall a sign in his studio regarding negative processing which directed the students to their own bathrooms, cellars etc. for this relatively simple procedure, rather than booking a darkroom.

Regards - Ross

 

[Michael W]

I'm sure that Gordon won't print for other people, however it sounds like Nicole just wants to study good prints to improve her eye. In that case she should definitely look at work by Gordon, who is Gordon Undy of Point Light in Sydney.

 

[Nicole]

I met Chris the other day whilst I was in Sydney and must say... his work is excellent!!

 

[Maris]

Well, I'm a master printer but, and it is a big BUT, only of my own work.

I hear the appelation "master printer" and wonder what it really means. Within the physical limitations of gelatin-silver light sensitive materials I can readily produce any result that is technically feasible. Lots people on APUG can do that.

Maybe the "master" status has to do with making conspicuously appropriate judgements about tones, densities, contrasts. That's what I do all the time. The photograph is not finished until it is exactly what I want and time, effort, and expense don't count. So I'm a member of the master printers club; membership...one.

Maybe being a master involves making photographs for other people such as they would make for themselves if they could. I've worked with a lot of camera-workers who expose film but take no further part in the photograph making process apart from paying for it. My experience in asking them "How would you like these pictures to look?" is a waste of time. Usual replies are "Make 'em look great. " or "Really bad light. Musta shot 'em at three or four thou'. See if ya can get somethin'."

In the end, sliding a half decent 16x20 under the eyes of a camera-johnnie gets responses like "Wow! I knew I was good but I never realised I was this good." I try not to be cynical.

Rant aside, I would like to add my voice in acknowledging Gordon Undy of Point Light Gallery as a master. He is a bastion of fine photographic values in Australia. We have worked in each others darkrooms and agree on most things except pyro negatives. Gordon reckons they are good for projection and contact and I say contact is best. Maybe it is one kind of valid preference arguing against another.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

a few I know of in sydney would be Gordon Undy of point light, Sandra Barnard of Sandy prints, Chris @ Blanco Negro and Bob Kersey of black mountain to name a few...