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Need a good tutorial

winger

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Jan 13, 2005
Messages
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Location
southwest PA
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Multi Format
I have a shot I like of the Moulton Barn in the Grand Tetons. But I was an idiot and managed to put a small crease in the film when I put it on the reel to develop it. Yeah, of course, it's right in the sky and there aren't any clouds near it (and the sky could be nicer with a few more clouds, too). I've tried searching for a good explanation of how to put a different sky in the print, but I haven't found one. Anyone have some good pointers? Or other ways to cover up my goof? Yeah, I can fix it the other way, but I figure this is something I should try to learn.
 
Honestly I'd try correcting it via judicious blending with spotting ink
 
I'd try the print. You can do over more easily if you screw up.
 
Pretty easy to do, but no so easy to do well.

You need to make a mask. Easiest would be to make a print then cut it out. Do your base print with the barn, then place the mask using the red filter on the enlarger. Change to a different negative with a sky you want, preferably a darker one which will print through what you already have. You could mask out the sky in your first exposure for the barn leaving nothing printed. That would be the best bet. Blending the horizon could be an issue which makes it difficult to do well. Keep the masks moving, just like when you dodge.

The sky will need to be taken from the same angle to the sun and the ground at the same time of day with the same lens, otherwise it will look strange.

Hope that helps!
 
You could flip that sky and put clouds on both sides.
 
bethe
i can't wait to see your results!
i have a feeling your going to end up like
jerry ulesmann after this
 
That's quite a challenging retouching job. I'd be inclined to rotate the print easel anti-clockwise to correct the verticals and crop quite tight at the top.



I'm assuming that.s a kink in the negative causing the crescent shape on in the sky top right.

Ian
 
I know this does not address your question, but I say it anyway:

I had an old friend in Paris, she is no longer with us. She wrote text for some great photographers and film makers and about mistakes she said: we must treasure our mistakes, as they make life interesting.

You have a wonderful image there.
 
I'm with Ian Grant, a bit of judicious cropping may be in order. You can try localized bleaching and retouching the print, practice first. If your plan is to print on FB, cut a sheet into smaller squares and place them just at the bad area of the enlargement and expose a few of them. Mark your easel where they will need to be placed to capture it.
 

your friend is very wise.
i couldn't agree more with her.
=
bethe i'd leave it and weave it into the story about the image.
maybe its just me, but i kind of like how it looks like wispy clouds ..
and gives the image something no one's will have, some sort of random occurrence ..
 
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Sandwich a shot of the moon on another negative and position it over the crease.

 
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Thanks for all the replies! I will definitely report back with results (good or bad). I've always loved Jerry Uelsmann's work, so I'll have to try that method no matter what. I have a few other ideas, too.
 
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