DIY

[Keith (M)]

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Thanks for posting your first results, Andrew. The important thing is, do you like the results? Do you feel encouraged to carry on in the world of b&w film - hopefully you do but beware - it is addictive! (My M7 has just been joined by a Rolleicord Vb . )

[MX5Bob]

Analogies are, well, analogies.

 

SNIP

 

Same in the era of LIFE and LOOK - the photographers spent most of their time in the field, and let the in-house labs do the processing. But again, the in-house techs knew the photographers' tastes and could deliver what they wanted. In a lot of their books, the shooters gave credit, by name, to their personal printers.

 

Gene Smith, by contrast, would spend up to 12 hours on one print. He was definitely in the "Leonardo" class - but also borderline psychotic.

 

 

Smith also employed a few printers in NYC. His shot of Schweitzer is an infamously difficult negative to print.

[57andrew]

Keith, this is a difficult question to answer after 1 roll of film. My choice of film for bright conditions was probably wrong. The high contrast, somewhat grainy texture suits some images but not all. There are probably only about 4 or 5 shots on the roll I like. But that doesn't mean I don't like the medium, just I need to think more about when to shoot film and especially what film to choose. I certainly feel encouraged to experiment more. Whether I will stay with film longer term I'm not sure but I certainly won't move back exclusively to film. I love the M9 and X1 too much for that.

 

Here is another shot, slight crop but almost full frame.

 

When I shot film - or rather slides - originally it was almost always colour and almost always Velvia or Sensia. This is in that sense not going back for me but going into a new area altogether. I can't remember what film my father gave me 40 years ago when I processed B&W but I know I moved to colour transparencies fairly swiftly. The folly of youth.

 

Thanks for the response.

 

Andrew

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[Keith (M)]

Agreed - I would certainly not move back exclusively to film, I love the results from my M9 too much to do that but must admit that my 5D MkII is currently gathering dust. On the other hand, I find the whole procedure of taking and developing film images absolutely fascinating...