Bleaching Methods/Highlight Enhancement

I have been reading several sources on enhancing highlights through chemical reduction (bleaching) and I have encountered some surprisingly diverse techniques. In particular the methods of Ralph Steiner & Barry Thornton. Although both of their chemical formulas are based upon potassium ferricyanide that is where the similarity in chemical formulas (Steiner even uses cane sugar as means of inhibiting the reaction) and process ( Thornton uses bleaching with redevelopment) ends. Steiner also suggests the strong bleaching formula reacts with various intensity within different density areas of the print vs the more dilute formulas, a plus for highlights! Thornton's drag bleaching has some wonderful adjacentcy effects. This has made me curious as to what other methods or formulas that other B&W printers may be using within this context. Your own experiences or direction to other resources is appreciated. Regards... Annie.

Bruce Barnbaum is a major user of bleach in his printing. He has a fairly detailed explaination in the Nov/Dec 1996 issue of Photo Techniques. You might be able to pick it up at a used book store. His work is amazing, check it out if you can.

Eric

Eric...Thank you for responding to my question. I am familiar with the work of Barnbaum, I have not seen his original prints, only his book Visual Symphony. I have boxes & boxes of various darkroom publications dating back to the early 80's including Phototechniques, so hopefully I will encounter the article. Thanks again.... Annie.

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Aggie... I know what you are saying..... I savour these old publications like fine wine!! Everyone seems to be there, wonderful articles by Ctien, Hutchings, Bond...my favourites are the ones with 'Darkroom Discoveries'....many photographers whose work we now know well, presenting their 'undiscovered' talents. Cheers Annie.

I have tried the Barry Thornton technique in bleaching and found it to work very differently on different types of papers. It seems to work better on Ilford single contrast fiber paper better than othes - (I think that is what Barry uses) When used on Forte single grade fiber paper (like I use) it turns the paper very brown when using the bleach. I wtill think I need to practice it but the theory is sound and it does improve some difficult images

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Annie @ Apr 3 2003, 10:37 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Aggie... I know what you are saying..... I savour these old publications like fine wine!! Everyone seems to be there, wonderful articles by Ctien, Hutchings, Bond...my favourites are the ones with 'Darkroom Discoveries'....many photographers whose work we now know well, presenting their 'undiscovered' talents. Cheers Annie.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
I cannot agree more.

I have a file cabinet drawer+ dedicated to Camera and Darkroom. It is still enlightening and inspiratonal to choose an issue from 1989 or so and re-read - my favorite pastime while waiting for the JOBO to get up to temperature and stablize.

Dated .. much of it is, but my greatest interest is in the psyche-hands-style connection - the elusive mystery of what is the "force" behind the "great ones"...
That "study" never goes out of date.

I can draw some direct parallels with APUG. Here, we have a wonderful collection of talented photographers, and I've never seen anything here petty or mean spirited. We have succeeded in disagreeing in some potentially explosive areas,l with a remarkable respect for each others opinions - and that to me is the mark of a true artist.

Some of the information here is "over my head", some of it is irrelevent - to ME.

And ... and ... I just noticed the tiltle, "Bleaching and Enhancement" ... I am slipping off topic ... anyhow ... I *AGREE* - a bunch!!

In my article 'Tips on Printing' I give reasonably detailed instructions for selective bleaching: http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Printing...g/printing.html.

Thank you all for your valuable input.... great site edbuffaloe.....Cheers A.