I just want to say....

[tkamiya]

I just want to say, I spent 2 hours in darkroom perfecting my print. I think I got it..... only to realize my negative is UPSIDE-DOWN! GAAAAAHHHH!

 

[cliveh]

I just want to say, I spent 2 hours in darkroom perfecting my print. I think I got it..... only to realize my negative is UPSIDE-DOWN! GAAAAAHHHH!

But does it look better that way round?

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Been there done that!

Jeff

 

[BrianShaw]

Does it really matter?

 

[BMbikerider]

Flip it over and print again> however if there is complex shading and dodging that is a different matter.

 

[tkamiya]

Yes, it does matter. Amazingly, some image flipped around gives quite a different impression. Reprinting now....

It did matter quite a bit more today because I'm short on paper supplies.

There's quite a bit of dodging and burning but they aren't all that complex. The only difficult part is.... the motion now has to be reversed. You know, once you get going, they become automatic? That now will have to be the other way around...

swish, swish, shake, shake, swish.....

 

[Jeff Searust]

I no longer take pictures of tattoos with any sort of writing...LOL

 

[tkamiya]

 

[Dan Henderson]

Once in awhile I make a negative that just needs to be printed inside out. I am a firm believer that if you keep a light touch and give the negative room to breathe it will reveal how it wants to be printed.

 

[winger]

I have a shot that's now titled "If I only had a Rose" as a tip of the hat to the song "If I Only Had a Brain." The first time I printed it, I flipped it. Then, once I'd realized it and tried to redo it, I eventually discovered that the contrast filter I'd written down was not entirely accurate as I'd had two filters in the drawer for that flipped print. I don't want to think about how many pieces of paper got wasted. And to top it off, it's originally a color neg and I decided it looks much better in color.
This did lead to my always leaving the filter drawer open when I'm done to signify I've checked that it's empty - no more double filters.

 

[tkamiya]

This was a productive day. I finished two prints I've meaning to print for almost a year. Yay. Now my box of 11x14 is empty. Time to reorder....

 

[BrianShaw]

Yippee!

 

[EKDobbs]

Sorry, but out of curiosity, what harm comes from printing it through one side or the other? Does it really look drastically different?

 

[BrianShaw]

Sorry, but out of curiosity, what harm comes from printing it through one side or the other? Does it really look drastically different?

Apparently it does to some, especially the photographer who remembers "reality". In my experience, not often to those who otherwise wouldn't notice a difference... unless there is a sign with writing on it in the frame.

 

[tkamiya]

Sorry, but out of curiosity, what harm comes from printing it through one side or the other? Does it really look drastically different?

You should try it sometime. Pick a few image and flip it right side left. Depending on image, it will give you totally a different impression. I heard somewhere what one perceives in this kind of translation has to do with one's background, ie. nationality and places you grew up. I forgot the details on how eastern vs western background affects how one perceives.....

But for this particular image, it looked different enough that I found it objectionable.

 

[EKDobbs]

Ohhhhhh. See, here I was thinking that it would reduce contrast or something if you printed it through the dull side. I always flip negatives if I don't like the way the composition flows. Signs or text be damned.

 

[michaelbsc]

... I always flip negatives if I don't like the way the composition flows. Signs or text be damned.

Good for you. I think photography should be a medium for expression. So many people get stuck.

But that isn't too much problem here. This place is full of experiments.

 

[Bill Burk]

Ohhhhhh. See, here I was thinking that it would reduce contrast or something if you printed it through the dull side. I always flip negatives if I don't like the way the composition flows. Signs or text be damned.

When I see a backwards sign, the first thing I think is... Oh, wetplate

 

[EKDobbs]

I do my best to avoid text in my compositions for this exact reason. Only serves to distract 99% of the time.