Do you challenge your assumptions of your aesthetics and processes in photography?

When I first learned to print over 30 years ago, multigrade paper was recommended by my photo teacher. Back then, I bought a pack of graded paper and struggled using it and I never printed on it again until next weekend. I bought some graded Oriental and Ilford gallery paper a few years back at a thrift store. I told myself, that I have a few hundred sheets of the stuff and might as well give it a go again. If it became too hard to use graded paper, I could always fall back on my MG paper. My assumptions were that I won't have the flexibility of my usual multigrade paper and it's going to be difficult to use. To my surprise, the old Ilford Galerie paper was pretty easy to print on and it's really beautiful stuff. From me trying something different, I sorta understand about how photographers in the past exposed and processed negs for graded paper. Graded papers made photographers more aware of the black and white process from the beginnings of exposure, processing of film and the final print. I would guess photographers in the old days exposed and processed film for grade 2. Glad I got out of my comfort zone. I just heard a great saying recently. "A comfort zone is a beautiful thing, but nothing grows there".

Graded papers are graded papers. There is no mystery of magic to them. If you use a #2 paper and need more contrast, use #3. Need more contrast? Use #4. Simple.

I give myself new photo assignments.

faberryman said:

Graded papers are graded papers. There is no mystery of magic to them. If you use a #2 paper and need more contrast, use #3. Need more contrast? Use #4. Simple.

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I respectfully disagree. I think the discovery of something new and expanding my horizons is magic. For me, there's a danger of thinking always having the answer, not exploring and having new experiences. I feel like a kid of not liking tomatos then rediscovering them as an adult. We change as human beings and we should let old notions that don't serve us anymore and hopefully have my mind blown somewhere down the road.

jnanian said:

sorry to ask, but do people actually critique people's work in camera clubs?

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Yes.
And sometimes the best critique comes from those with the least experience.
As long as the "club" maintains an atmosphere of respect (and the people I'm involved with do) than they can be really helpful, and really fun too!
It is a really valuable experience to learn how others see your work.

thanks matt good to know!

as i said i have never been, and online is kind of the wild west ...