• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Dirty Photography

eddie

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
3,259
Location
Northern Vir
Format
Multi Format
Actually, the posts by Ken and Bill lead me to a question I've had since coming to APUG. Without wet printing, how does one know that they're producing negatives which are optimal for wet printing?
 

Ken Nadvornick

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
4,943
Location
Monroe, WA, USA
Format
Multi Format
One doesn't know.

That is the fundamental problem I have with everyone who posts an image from a scanned negative or plate, then checks "Yes" down in the "Is this print for sale?" box. They might be pretty certain they could match it, but pretty certain and certain could end up being miles apart when it comes time to turn out the lights.

And I wouldn't know that until after the check cleared.

Another one of my personal extensions to the policy guidelines here is that if I post a negative scan, I never check yes in that box. (Not that anyone would ever be interested in my stuff in the first place.)

Ken
 

StoneNYC

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format

Since I only print from scans, Any prints are still optical-ish (light jet) then I don't feel like I'm doing anything wrong by clicking the "this print is for sale" box, because the print is still on print paper. And it was made with film. I dunno, it gets all funky with this site, I'm sure I would have already informed the person ahead of time about my process.
 

eddie

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
3,259
Location
Northern Vir
Format
Multi Format
Except for a few transparencies, every post of mine is from a print.

But, the real reason I posed the question isn't about the print being for sale. It's about the people who "plan" on getting into wet printing down the road. Will the negatives they've scanned make the best prints possible, when they do get darkrooms? I realize that the negatives may look good, and a good print should be able to be coaxed out of them, but can the negative make a great print, without a lot of darkroom gymnastics?

I only ask because I don't think I've ever scanned a b/w negative. It seems to me that adjustments are so much quicker on the computer, as opposed to the darkroom ( at least 5-10 minutes, if judging wet. Sometimes 24 hours, if judging dry.), that close enough may be considered good enough for web purposes. I think, if your goal is to eventually wet print, eventually should be today. Tomorrow is too late...
 

Toffle

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
1,930
Location
Point Pelee,
Format
Multi Format

are you drunk?
 

eddie

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
3,259
Location
Northern Vir
Format
Multi Format
I think I expressed myself poorly. Let me try again...
When testing film/developers, most of us do so in relation to the final print. As such, the paper choice is an integral part of testing. When I used a lot of Forte papers, my development times were different than what I now use with MGIV, to get the tones where they are supposed to be. My N+ time had to be different for each paper, so a VII would be a VII on both papers. So how can you know if your development regimen is correct when you don't even know what paper you'll be printing it on?
 

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,477
Format
4x5 Format
eddie,

Here's one way: "Send me one of your negatives and I'll print it for you."

I forgot to mention that a negative that prints EASILY in the darkroom is DIFFERENT than established standards of quality. The easy-to-print negative sacrifices a small amount of these important traits: SPEED, RESOLUTION, GRAIN.

The corollary is, from an optimal quality standpoint, the very best negative for darkroom printing is likely to be difficult to print.

So, if you don't print in the darkroom, but intend to... Be careful who's standards of quality you choose to make your negatives meet, because you might end up with some excellent but difficult to print negatives.
 

StoneNYC

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format

Hmm wonder how mine will be...
 
OP
OP

jaydebruyne

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
150
Location
London, UK
Format
35mm
For instance, I uploaded a negative scan to the galleries...



The bad thing that happened? I didn't print it until three years later...


Love the print over the scan. Did you add any adjustments to the scan or is that a raw scan?
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid

that is a pretty extreme way of looking at the guidelines for the apug gallery.
the idea that a photograph has to be something as you describe ( a straight print ? ) is absurd.
nowhere have the "rules" of the gallery ever stated that, just as never have any of the rules said film scans are disallowed.

it is extreme views of separatism and purity and "closed doors" making this site a closed society that worry me more than digital "taking over"

OP

make your scans, post them, learn how to make wet prints and if you want, post them,
then do whatever you want and don't let people with extreme views of what photography is or isn't sway your decision on what you do.

have fun!
john
 
OP
OP

jaydebruyne

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
150
Location
London, UK
Format
35mm

Hey Michael,

So I tried it your way. And loved your way. I added just a simple levels adjustment and I prefer it over my first attempt.

What do you think? (I've attached both for ease of comparing. 1st one is levels only adjustment, 2nd one is 1st attempt with way too much processing).

Jay
 

Attachments

  • 7 3k.jpg
    428.6 KB · Views: 126
  • 7 - Curves.jpg
    445.4 KB · Views: 138
OP
OP

jaydebruyne

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
150
Location
London, UK
Format
35mm
OP

make your scans, post them, learn how to make wet prints and if you want, post them,
then do whatever you want and don't let people with extreme views of what photography is or isn't sway your decision on what you do.

have fun!
john

I intend to do nothing else!

Cheers, John.

Jay
 

Michael W

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
1,594
Location
Sydney
Format
Multi Format
Funnily enough, I prefer the one done my way.
If you look at her cheek on the shaded side you'll see it looks correctly dark, whereas on your initial one it looks lighter in the area that should be dark. Probably something odd coming from one of the blend modes you used.
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid

HUH?
what isn't allowed is hectic digital manipulation
and using digital negatives to make analog prints ..

max's etchings for example are made using
a digital negative but then a copper plate gravure

very different than a silver print, hand painted emulsion print
that is then hand colored ..
 

Dinesh

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
1,714
Format
Multi Format
Actually I agree with him, many of your images aren't allowed here and should be on DPUG since alternative processes are against the rules here from what I've been told.

Once again, please stop posting misinformation.
 

StoneNYC

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format

Yea digital anything isn't allowed even if the end is a physical chemical print, any hybrid workflow is TECHNICALLY not allowed... And I got a lot of flack in the beginning just for scanning my negs... I've since since a change in the strictness, I think it's just the old strict guys gave up... Lol
 

Dinesh

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
1,714
Format
Multi Format
I said "that's what I've been told" which I WAS told before, over a year ago... Things are changing...

Can you please point out to me where you were told that "alternative processes are against the rules ".
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid

stone

you stated a few weeks ago you don't bother reading threads you start because you are too busy ( or something like that).
this must be all that far off since you claim negative scans are not allowed every chance you get, ignoring the posts that state the opposite.
for every thread you ask + say " i have been told " negative scans are not allowed
10-15 posts follow and say that is total BS
you were never in trouble for posting negative scans, unless you DESATURATED color images to CONVERT them to b/w.
THAT is the kind of manipulation, and digital trickery that the guidelines talk about, not negative scans.

it has been like that since the beginning,
nothing has changed in 11 years.

maybe you should actually read threads you start and you post to ?
and as dinesh, and others have stated, stop posting misinformation.

btw.

if alternative process images are "against the rules"
why is there an alternative process sub forum?
 

StoneNYC

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format
Can you please point out to me where you were told that "alternative processes are against the rules ".

No, as I said it was over a year ago, and as you know I have a lot of posts and threads I follow, I can't easily find something so long ago.

It may have actually been in a PM and anyway I wasn't the one who said it I was agreeing with the other guy... Sheesh why don't you jump on his back since he said it...
 

Dinesh

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
1,714
Format
Multi Format
.. Sheesh why don't you jump on his back since he said it...

Excellent point, I will do so. Who told you that "alternative processes are against the rules "?
 

StoneNYC

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format

Ok now you're totally misquoting me....


I never said I don't read my own threads...

I said something about being too busy to get to a computer to read threads... I haven't been to a computer in over 2 weeks....

OP the main issue is that when you post in the galleries you're supposed to have the image represent the final optical print (or try to make it look as close as possible): so the idea is if you can't do it in the darkroom you shouldn't do it in PS...

However John, this means I SHOULD be able to take a Kodachrome image and convert it to B&W because I COULD print it on Harmon direct positive B&W paper as a print (since Cibichrome is no longer available) and that would be acceptable, so why can't I post a transparency image converted to digital? Because you guys have your heads in the sand and make one rule one day and another the next and all to fit whatever agenda you have at that moment... So get off my rear about this stuff ok?

OP ignore the infighting we are all good folks, just like any family, sometimes we bicker but please don't be put off by this stuff.
 
OP
OP

jaydebruyne

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
150
Location
London, UK
Format
35mm
OP ignore the infighting we are all good folks, just like any family, sometimes we bicker but please don't be put off by this stuff.

Don't worry. I'm actually learning a lot about the 'rules' from the debate in hand

At the end of the day, I will always be honest about my images, the processes I've used to get to the final stage and my methods. If it turns out that it's incorrect for this forum, I'm sure I'll be told (in a constructive way, of course). So I will learn as I go along. Initially, I plan to scan negatives as I can't afford to buy wet printing equipment right now.

I will check out darkrooms in my area as another poster suggested after the new year.

Cheers
Jay
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid

i am sure you could do that in the darkroom, most people can stick a slide in an enlarger and make a print from it,
even if it means making a paper internegative .. its basic stuff but the first line of the uploads page clearly states:

" Please refrain from posting any images that have been manipulated digitally such as converting color images to black and white ... "
which means, even though it is a simple adjustment in PS or whatever it is you are using, it is not allowed in the gallery.
but posting your darkroom print is definitely allowed, as much as posting an inverted negative, or a slide.

its too bad whoever it was that PMed you or told you that film scans or alternative process photography filled your head with such nonsense.
maybe that person misunderstood what the difference between alt process photography was and hybrid photography, where
a digital internegative ( or whatever ) is used to make a traditional print ? whoknows, but what he or she told you was wrong ..

the only adgenda of this site is to be an analog website, no one's heads are in the sand and seeing in 11 years the site has grown to 60K + members
and subscribers that keep the site going, and sean to steer it with the membership and moderators, it seems to be doing quite well carving out a nice niche
where people can come here and learn about analog image making. it could have easily become another run of the mill photography website but .. its not ...

this post from sean is from 2011
but is as relevant today as it was then ...



====

have fun jay !
john

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)