Bruce Barnbaum Website

[Ed Sukach]

I've never know a photographer who doesn't consider darkroom work pure drudgery. Sometimes supremely exhilarating, yes. But always necessary, and always drudgery. Especially when you have to clean up after a session is over and you're tired, and it's late, and you've got to be bright eyed and bushy tailed in a few hours when you're back in the real world. Perhaps Mr. Barnbaum doesn't have to clean up his own darkroom. Replacing the traditional wet darkroom with a computer can make it all a pleasure again, and THAT, not dogged dedication to a grueling archaic process, is what makes for great photography.

I do NOT consider darkroom work to be "pure drudgery." I have been under real time pressure, and ... "Clean up after ..."?? Unique concept.

What to me is far worse, is the clicking of keys on this infernal machine ... trying to manipulate a scan to something approaching half the quality of the original print.

One of the most frustrating experiences I ever went through consisted of trying to make a "Custom" 16 x 20 print of a white house, taken on a cloudy day, surrounded by grass of indeterminant "green-ness" -- between seasons. This was from a Kodak "Gold" 35mm negative. I never made an acceptable print... after *many* tries. Frustrating, disheartening... overall unpleasantness ... but not boring or "drudgery".

Immediately above my desk is a ship model of the Flying Cloud. Built entirely from the keel up... every plank, spar, mast, shroud, stay, davit and lifeboat... with the only exceptions being the ship's wheel and the anchor. Building that model consumed over three YEARS of time (I've been giving serious thought to carving a wheel and anchor from scratch). Drudgery ... no. A "Grueling, archaic process"? I hadn't thought of that work in quite that light. Maybe so.
I could run down to the local model store, and buy an injection-molded plastic "Flying Cloud"... arguably "more perfect",... pop the pieces apart ... assemble G12 to E16... and be done in a month or two.

That to me is a direct parallel to film and digital photography. One - the plastic one, is cheaper, easier, more cost effective ... but there is no question in my mind which one I would rather have in this glass case above my desk. Not even close.

 

[Joe Lipka]

Drudgery in the Darkroom? Only when you are developing sheet film in a tray. I hate that.

I have seen Bruce's photographs, seen the 16 x 20 LensWork Gravures of Cathedrals and he is the real deal (but we have pretty much agreed on that). The first photographic workshop I attended was an Owens Valley Workshop with Bruce in Coos Bay, Oregon. That workshop pretty much got me headed in the correct photographic direction.

As for photographic medium, I can appreciate any media if it is produced with craft and sensitivity, but for me to love a photograph is has to be metal on paper.....

 

[michael9793]

I do NOT consider darkroom work to be "pure drudgery." I have been under real time pressure, and ... "Clean up after ..."?? Unique concept.

What to me is far worse, is the clicking of keys on this infernal machine ... trying to manipulate a scan to something approaching half the quality of the original print.

One of the most frustrating experiences I ever went through consisted of trying to make a "Custom" 16 x 20 print of a white house, taken on a cloudy day, surrounded by grass of indeterminant "green-ness" -- between seasons. This was from a Kodak "Gold" 35mm negative. I never made an acceptable print... after *many* tries. Frustrating, disheartening... overall unpleasantness ... but not boring or "drudgery".

Immediately above my desk is a ship model of the Flying Cloud. Built entirely from the keel up... every plank, spar, mast, shroud, stay, davit and lifeboat... with the only exceptions being the ship's wheel and the anchor. Building that model consumed over three YEARS of time (I've been giving serious thought to carving a wheel and anchor from scratch). Drudgery ... no. A "Grueling, archaic process"? I hadn't thought of that work in quite that light. Maybe so.
I could run down to the local model store, and buy an injection-molded plastic "Flying Cloud"... arguably "more perfect",... pop the pieces apart ... assemble G12 to E16... and be done in a month or two.

That to me is a direct parallel to film and digital photography. One - the plastic one, is cheaper, easier, more cost effective ... but there is no question in my mind which one I would rather have in this glass case above my desk. Not even close.

Ed,
Thanks for that thought, that puts it into perspective of how I feel and why I went back to silver over pigment printing or whatever they call it this week. I do it for the same reasons and that makes me happy.

Mike

 

[RAP]

Drudgery? I call sitting in a chair, playing with a mouse, expending far less energy then lifting a beer mug to my mouth, watching as my belly, hips, grow, and lower back shift to the right. I have personally cut my web time by about 75% and have lost pounds and inches. Was it the Greeks or the Romans that believed a physically fit body was necessary for intellectual, artistic and cultural achievements?

 

[Bill Mitchell]

I stand by my thesis.

 

[Francesco]

You know what makes darkroom work a blast - when you have the confidence to know that the negative will come out as you visualised and executed it - when you have a beautiful negative in hand and know that the print will make it all seem worthwhile. All procedures of course accompanied by a bottle of wine (red preferred, white if that is all I got). Heck, anything with wine is good!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Well, standing over a sink shaking the can is drudgery, but listening to the news on the radio while standing over a sink shaking the can is better exercise than listening to the news on the radio and lounging on the couch.

 

[mark]

I stand by my thesis.

SO why are you registered and participating on a site that deals almost entirely with what you call drudgery, and shuns quite loudly what you consider to be fullfilling? It does not make sense.

By the way Drudgery is sitting in front of a computer working on a photograph, that would look better if it had been done through an archaic process.

Photo.net seems to have a lot of people who feel and think the way you do.

 

[mobtown_4x5]

"I stand by my thesis."






Why are you here?

 

[Aggie]

Is not a thesis a long laboroius discourse that has taken months if not years of research and refining? You made a bland statement not a thesis that would have been a scholarly work. YOU may not like darkroom work. It is a falacy to lump everyone else into your same mode. You have a mind set that is impenetrable and archaic in reverse. A closed mind is a waste. No amount of talking/posting by us would ever penetrate the barrier you have put up. As they say, "If you don't like the kitchen, get out!"

 

[Bruce Osgood]

I stand by my thesis.

Trust me, that ain't no thesis.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance.

 

[photomc]

Your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance.

Bill, not sure how you expected folks to react to your comments. Consider that this IS an Analog Photography User Group site...if you are not inclined to enjoy Analog photography that is fine, just don't expect everyone to embrace your attitude. No reason to get into a flame war here.

 

[scootermm]

Your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance.

Pot: BLACK
Kettle: BLACK

 

[RAP]

Obviously some great music makes the time go faster when doing film. How about some Manhein Steamroller, Fresh Air 1 thru 5, or even some Gaelic Storm. Dancing a jig while while trying to time 15 sec agitation intervals with PMK is a pretty good cardio workout.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Sorry. It should have read: AGGIE, your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance. Suggest that you look up THESIS in a dictonary before you post such nonsense.

 

[mark]

Bad day Bill?

DO you honestly believe that sitting in front of a computer monitor is more fullfilling than working in the darkroom, or were you being sarcastic?

If you were not being sarcastic then can you please explain the reasons behind your belief? I personally do not understand the draw myself. Then again I love the traditional process from beginning to end.

 

[kwmullet]

well... obviously the darkroom experience isn't everyone's cup of tea. I'm inclined to think that folks shouldn't be compelled to engage in any activity that they need anesthesia or supplementary stimulation to get through. If there's a nasty boil on the face of net culture, it's the inclination to represent one's own perspective as objective truth for all.

If this piss, bitch and moan fest continues in this thread, I hope Sean locks the thread or moves the crabby stuff off to some rhetorical getto where the whining won't show up on the new message search.

Maybe it's getting to be about time for Sean to focus on the larger, more enjoyable issues and farm out the hall monitoring to a rotating group of two or three babysitters.

-KwM-

 

[Ed Sukach]

Sorry. It should have read: AGGIE, your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance. Suggest that you look up THESIS in a dictonary before you post such nonsense.

OK ... I am going to agree with Aggie - FULL BORE. There is an old Chinese proverb: "Watch closely he who screams loudest."

Aggie voiced an opinion. Disagree if you will - that is the raison d'etre for opinions ... but the "ad hominem" attack is, to me out of bounds.

If Aggie is arrogant and ignorant ... include me under that banner. It is a good place to be.

 

[JHannon]

Obviously some great music makes the time go faster when doing film. How about some Manhein Steamroller, Fresh Air 1 thru 5, or even some Gaelic Storm. Dancing a jig while while trying to time 15 sec agitation intervals with PMK is a pretty good cardio workout.

ROFL, LOL Rap, love the idea. I can just picture it. How about Riverdance? Too much agitation?

 

[RAP]

No, my darkroom sink is only 12" deep. Not even enough room for my surfboard.

 

[Aggie]

Sorry. It should have read: AGGIE, your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance. Suggest that you look up THESIS in a dictonary before you post such nonsense.

Direct from Mirriam Webster:

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=thesis&x=11&y=12

When you make the STATEMENTS you did in a thread about Bruce Barnbaum, you will receive responses back from those of us who know him personally, and have taken his classes. Your small sampling of your peer group is not to lable EVERYONE the same. It also pointed that Bruce did not enjoy said activites.

As to the contention of a thesis, it was not a thesis by any means. You have a start of a theory not fully realized. From that point you would research and study until you have your data. Then upon further refinement, you would writie about said findings fully documented and supported with research data. This would give you a thesis. Postulation of an unfounded thought does not make it a thesis.

You have not once posted a picture in the galleries here. Many beginners have found it helpful for them to learn and grow. If what you have is not analog, there are many websties that cater to just digital work flows.

As to the personal attacks against just me when others also said it was not a thesis, try again. Then again to save this website another flame war, learn of what you say first. You do not know me personally. You do know know my background. You do know know my work habits. You very good at avoiding facts.

 

[jovo]

Some very upbeat folks just don't know their arsis from their thesis.

 

[KenM]

Sorry. It should have read: AGGIE, your ignorance is exceeded only by your arrogance. Suggest that you look up THESIS in a dictonary before you post such nonsense.

Welcome to the board Dick.

And welcome to my ignore list.

 

[Dave H.]

hook, line AND sinker....

Lee made the comment about posting this article into a digi forum and watching the screaming rants....

Bill has done the same.

untwist those undies people... it's the internet.

D.