Mr Cad closing darkroom dept.

[MPerson]

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Put this here as it gets lonely in the 'Darkroom forum'.

 

Had the Mr Cad newsletter today and they are closing their darkroom dept.

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[Guest Mr. B]

That is sad to hear. It seems the number of traditional photographers who still enjoy exploring the majic of the darkroom keeps getting smaller each day. There was once a time when photographers took pride in their darkroom skills. Today it is easier to let a computer do all the technical work.

It seems true knowledge of exposure and the other technical aspects of photography have now been handed over so a machine can be in charge.

[adan]

There was once a time when photographers took pride in their darkroom skills. Today it is easier to let a computer do all the technical work.

It seems true knowledge of exposure and the other technical aspects of photography have now been handed over so a machine can be in charge.

 

I think that's a bit over the top.

 

First, I take pride in my "image control" skills - whether it be in a darkroom with dodging/burning, ferricyanide, water baths, and selenium toner; or on the computer using computer tools to achieve the same effects.

 

The computer is never "in charge" of my digital photography - any more than the trays, dodging tools and timers were "in charge" of my darkroom photography. They did (or do) what I wanted them to.

 

How much "true knowledge of exposure" did the vast majority of film picture-takers have - with their "one-shutter-speed, one-aperture" fixed-focus box cameras, or automated P&Ss? I guess those "machines" were in charge, too. Even 100 years ago (Kodak - "You push the button; we do the rest.").

 

Now, perhaps you want to exclude family snapshooters from the ranks of photographers - but will you also exclude the great photographers who made their careers on Kodachrome or Ektachrome or Fujichrome? (Pete Turner, Ernst Haas, Steve McCurry, Jay Maisel, David Alan Harvey). What darkroom skills were involved in putting the cassette into a Kodak mailer?

 

Remember that chemical photography itself was sneered at as "mechanical" picture-making by painters when it was introduced 150 years ago.

[PeterGriffin]

 

I think that's a bit over the top.

 

First' date=' I take pride in my "image control" skills - whether it be in a darkroom with dodging/burning, ferricyanide, water baths, and selenium toner; or on the computer using computer tools to achieve the same effects.

 

The computer is never "in charge" of my digital photography - any more than the trays, dodging tools and timers were "in charge" of my darkroom photography. They did (or do) what I wanted them to.

 

How much "true knowledge of exposure" did the vast majority of film picture-takers have - with their "one-shutter-speed, one-aperture" fixed-focus box cameras, or automated P&Ss? I guess those "machines" were in charge, too. Even 100 years ago (Kodak - "You push the button; we do the rest.").

 

Now, perhaps you want to exclude family snapshooters from the ranks of photographers - but will you also exclude the great photographers who made their careers on Kodachrome or Ektachrome or Fujichrome? (Pete Turner, Ernst Haas, Steve McCurry, Jay Maisel, David Alan Harvey). What darkroom skills were involved in putting the cassette into a Kodak mailer?

 

Remember that chemical photography itself was sneered at as "mechanical" picture-making by painters when it was introduced 150 years ago.[/quote']

 

Definitely would have to agree with Andy.

As a professional photographer for quite a few years, and owner of a camera shop . . . Just retired . . . Have converted the same skills learnt from my darkroom days to my computer, and find the difference negligible. What you have to remember is to originally take the image on your camera exactly the same as you would have taken it on film. Negate the thought that it's digital. When you do this you have a starting point. The other thing you have to get away from is the ridiculous length of time some photographers spend on computers correcting their images because the haven't taken them correctly in the first place. From the beginning treat it the same as film and I'll guarantee you won't be dissapointed.

 

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... There was once a time when photographers took pride in their darkroom skills. Today it is easier to let a computer do all the technical work. ...

 

May I suggest that you try and process an image with a computer such that it looks at least as good as one done in the darkroom by a skilled photographer?

[Guest Mr. B]

I do all the time. I have taught digital photography in high school for many years. For my personal work I still prefer the darkroom. Thank you.