Thanks Thomas.
Operative words are "were" a professional photographer. Got out of that ~20 years ago after a bad accident left me unable to shlep the heavy equipment around or stay on my feet for hours in the darkroom. Spent a few years wandering the wilderness - and now I make the "internet work".
Much has changed. But the method of getting from A - B is still familiar ground.
it is certainly easy to get mired in too many variables. And if it mires you and gets in the way, get rid of it. For me - it was about having to duplicate or reproduce looks that were brought to me. If I would have had to constantly "experiment" to figure it out every single time, it would have drove me mad. It was examine, measure, think, test, record, print, etc. Keeping great notes and knowing how to reproduce them was a great value. We had no "google" back then. So if you didn't have notes or an article on it, it was _gone_.
Certainly go with what works for you. It's your art, and your vision. Substance is so very important, as technically perfect boredom is something I have created (too much of) on demand for others.
In the commercial world - you keep your mouth shut, and produce whats requested. Then, when they are not around, make one or two that sing - and slip the sample in - Sometimes an Art Director realizes that if they just 'let you drive' you may do a better job than what they are requesting. Other times, pride gets in the way. Sometimes it's a client that wants this years catalog to look just like last years - regardless of the fact that it could use a serious facelift. I have worked with some great AD's and some lame ones. But it put me in a crucible of learning and producing that I am glad to have.
Now, I am able to just relax into it, knowing how to swim, but having to learn all the currents at this location. HP5 and FP4 seem to be about the same and Tri-X. HC 110 looks to have changed, but I have not bought any of the new stuff or tested it. D76 is still the same, and I understand that Rodinal is gone - but not really. Paper - Man that has ALL changed. So I am testing - and shooting, and having fun all over again. I feel almost naked without a densitometer, but I know how to work without one.
So it's all new again, and all the same old stuff again. Exciting times. my D2 and D5 are back from the dead.. and another d5 in the resurrection process. Found my old print dryer, Print washer is long gone - processing tubes seem to be OK. Trays, tanks reels. all coming together. Bought some 4x5 stainless tanks off the bay, and getting a new darkroom built out. Right now running makeshift but functional. By summer I hope to be able to step into the revolving door that leads to magic land of fixer fumes and bask in the warm Sunshine of my Thomas Duplex. My happy place.
And btw - my film of choice for much work is HP5+ and Developer is D76... it is a really good versatile combination for sure.
Warmest regards,
Blaine
Operative words are "were" a professional photographer. Got out of that ~20 years ago after a bad accident left me unable to shlep the heavy equipment around or stay on my feet for hours in the darkroom. Spent a few years wandering the wilderness - and now I make the "internet work".
Much has changed. But the method of getting from A - B is still familiar ground.
it is certainly easy to get mired in too many variables. And if it mires you and gets in the way, get rid of it. For me - it was about having to duplicate or reproduce looks that were brought to me. If I would have had to constantly "experiment" to figure it out every single time, it would have drove me mad. It was examine, measure, think, test, record, print, etc. Keeping great notes and knowing how to reproduce them was a great value. We had no "google" back then. So if you didn't have notes or an article on it, it was _gone_.
Certainly go with what works for you. It's your art, and your vision. Substance is so very important, as technically perfect boredom is something I have created (too much of) on demand for others.
In the commercial world - you keep your mouth shut, and produce whats requested. Then, when they are not around, make one or two that sing - and slip the sample in - Sometimes an Art Director realizes that if they just 'let you drive' you may do a better job than what they are requesting. Other times, pride gets in the way. Sometimes it's a client that wants this years catalog to look just like last years - regardless of the fact that it could use a serious facelift. I have worked with some great AD's and some lame ones. But it put me in a crucible of learning and producing that I am glad to have.
Now, I am able to just relax into it, knowing how to swim, but having to learn all the currents at this location. HP5 and FP4 seem to be about the same and Tri-X. HC 110 looks to have changed, but I have not bought any of the new stuff or tested it. D76 is still the same, and I understand that Rodinal is gone - but not really. Paper - Man that has ALL changed. So I am testing - and shooting, and having fun all over again. I feel almost naked without a densitometer, but I know how to work without one.
So it's all new again, and all the same old stuff again. Exciting times. my D2 and D5 are back from the dead.. and another d5 in the resurrection process. Found my old print dryer, Print washer is long gone - processing tubes seem to be OK. Trays, tanks reels. all coming together. Bought some 4x5 stainless tanks off the bay, and getting a new darkroom built out. Right now running makeshift but functional. By summer I hope to be able to step into the revolving door that leads to magic land of fixer fumes and bask in the warm Sunshine of my Thomas Duplex. My happy place.
And btw - my film of choice for much work is HP5+ and Developer is D76... it is a really good versatile combination for sure.
Warmest regards,
Blaine
