Magnum Darkroom notes, any could explain?

Fatih Ayoglu

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Hi all,

Could anybody explain the notation on Magnum darkroom prints?

Like this one;

I guess they print on a fixed grade paper, but like what does it mean +5/0? Or just 4/5 I understand plus ones are for burning but still don’t understand the notation. Then for dodging they have only -8
 

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It's the amount to dodge and burn the image in seconds (decrease exposure or increase exposure in the printing stage) to balance the picture, a basic darkroom technique but also applicable to digital techniques as well. So if the sky is too light you burn the area (add exposure), if a face is too dark you dodge the area (lighten the exposure).

Like here of Don McCullin's darkroom notations

 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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Sorry maybe I wasn’t clear.
I know what dodging and burning are, I apply them myself as well.

I’m asking specifically what +5/0 means or 4/5 in that matter as back in the day they had only fixed grade paper.

Initially I’ve thought, maybe they burn 5 stops on grade 0 and 4 stops on grade 5 but then thought can’t be as they had fixed grade paper only.
 

cliveh

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They are complete bullshit to make you think they have some superior knowledge of printing.
 

koraks

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Fatih Ayoglu said:
I’m asking specifically what +5/0 means or 4/5 in that matter as back in the day they had only fixed grade paper.
Click to expand...

Was that also the case when the print was made on which the darkroom notes are based? Maybe they reprinted an old negative, maybe even for the express purpose of their 'darkroom notes' series.
Pieter12 said:
Do you know when those notes were made.? It could very well be a newer print on VG paper.
Click to expand...

My guess exactly!

Fatih Ayoglu said:
Initially I’ve thought, maybe they burn 5 stops on grade 0 and 4 stops on grade 5
Click to expand...

There you go. I'd go with that and not loose any sleep over it.
 

MattKing

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Clive and I disagree a bit .
I can't opine on the Magnum notes themselves, but one of the things we like to do at my darkroom group meetings is discuss "works in progress" prints.
And notes like that are the sort of notes that make those discussions both worthwhile and usable when we go back to the darkroom afterwards with a mind to incorporating the results of:
1) our discussions; and
2) our ruminating about our own thoughts with respect to how the work print actually "works".
The shorthand used for notes like that seems to vary with the photographer. They may reference things like burn times, dodge times, base times. They might refer to variable contrast controls. They might even reference localized bleaching. It is hard to say.
 

ic-racer

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Anyone's guess. There is no standard notation.
 
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Fatih Ayoglu

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I think he meant about Magnum printers not the notes specifically. Because I do notes as well on the prints or a piece of log paper where I draw the scene.
 

cliveh

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pentaxuser said:
cliveh, what do you do instead of making notes on the changes you need to make a better print, if I may ask?

pentaxuser
Click to expand...

I don't make any notes about printing, as I just print.
 

MattKing

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cliveh said:
I don't make any notes about printing, as I just print.
Click to expand...

Which means you have no perceived need to communicate or record the details of your process.
Some of us have different preferences and needs.
 

cliveh

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koraks

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cliveh said:
Just look at the scribbles and notations. They are meaningless.
Click to expand...

They make good sense to me as combinations of time, grade and the type of motion used with a mask/card. They don't look meaningless to me at all; in fact in this particular example I can pretty much work out what the approach was without any further explanation from the maker.

It can still be a work of fiction of course, but it at least looks like decently convincing fiction if that's the case.

As internet lore says, "haters gonna hate". Whatever floats one's boat.
 

cliveh

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Then I take my hat off to you and perhaps you can show us some of your masterful prints?
 

Bill Burk

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My guess is /0 means with the 0 yellow filter and /5 means with the hard 5 filter.

And the scribbles mean “move the dodger while you do it”
 

koraks

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cliveh said:
Then please explain the scribbles?
Click to expand...

They appear to refer to burning while moving the mask in such a way to create a smooth outline to the burn area. You know, by wiggling the mask (or hand), for instance in a circular motion around the figures. Or to and fro in the sky to burn in the bright part. I think it's kind of obvious really.
 

MattKing

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They are clearly some sort of shorthand.
And like any sort of shorthand, their value to others will be limited if the meaning and interpretation "key" isn't at hand.
 
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