Technichal intro

Lauren, there's a whole community on Apug, the resistence as it where, Analog photography users group. It's great for technical information. For instance, I'd gone out and exposed 8 rolls of 2 1/4 film at 1600 iso and remembered reading an apug post about diafine being excellent for this, usually it's d 76 or something, I happened to have the diafine on hand, enough for a gallon of dilution a and b respectively. I was able to develop 4 rolls at a time using only one two gallon can of diafine. A little tip like this saved me a couple of hours processing time. Loads of large format people there too, maybe even you? I just don't want to switch to digital, I've had to use the digital stuff semi professionally, drudgery with digital cameras has turned me off of them. I feel they can mess up your work with traditional gear. Timing and things like that get skewed.

one of my pet hates is the term "analogue" photography. there is really nothing analogue about it. the term arose only as a sort of nominal opposite to digital. it is film photography. actually i just call it photography.

like you lauren, i like getting my hands wet. i recently moved cities however - changed jobs too. the place where i used to work had a darkroom and it was mine to use. suddenly i am darkroomless and have to start one up in my new place...

i got to thinking of you. i remember loving a photo of your darkroom. you use 5x7 a lot don;t you? do you enlarge them or contact print? i have a couple of 4x5's and am thinking of shifting up to a larger format - probably 8x10 but there is something about 5x7 i rather like...

btw - i am simply in awe of your work. but you know that...

Actually nearly everything I do is 4x5. The only 5x7's are the 'home' series and my current series the devil's alphabet. Size and $$ restrict my 5x7 usage to particular series whereas 4x5 I use like a portable camera, for individual shots as well as series.
The idea of 8x10 is enticing, but last year I went to see a 8x10 Deardorff (my 4x5 is a Deardorff) and it was beautiful but just too big and the film is more than I can afford now. They're awfully pretty though and I would love 8x10 contact prints.
I'm glad you like the work.

ah - i thought those sets were 5x7. the aspect ratio is unique. so you contact print them?

Always. The detail of a contact print is just so beautiful. I recently purchased a dozen or so magnifying glasses-little ones-that I hand bead lanyards for and hang them next to the prints so when I do show people can play and look closely at details.
It serves no practical purpose, the prints are perfectly viewable as is, but it's kind of fun.

I love your traditionalist way of working. I recently went digital only to save time after several years of silence (job, family, other engagements). But i don't use photoshop and i avoid manipulation other than what could be done in a darkroom as well (contrast, b/w + 1 color etc.).
Anyway, didn't want to tell you my life, I just wanted to congratulate you with your outstandig work and philosophy!!

If you are working digital you may as well become familiar with all photoshop can do. Besides you can get more than 1 colour in the darkroom. :)
But whatever makes you happy is how you should work. I do love darkroom so and there's never been a picture I could not make.
I appreciate your taking the time to look.

Well, I can work with photoshop, but i simply prefer pure photography. Like you i guess.
With b&w+1 color, i meant, "photographs in b&w with just a smudge of colour". That i sometimes applied to a photo by computer, since it can also be done in the darkroom. Apart from that, only contrast, balance etc.
Have a nice weekend and succes!!

Thanks and right back at 'ya.
:)