The other day I was a little abrupt. I read a silly comment just after experiencing another Blender cuckoo or more accurately, an Adrian cuckoo whilst using Blender.. You have all seen remarks like, I can’t stand photo manipulation, I can remember when everything was done in camera…Blah de blah de blah….Total balderdash. What they really mean is that they either can’t afford Photoshop or can’t work it. There is no excuse for the former as GIMP is free; there is every excuse for the latter but I just wish folk would refrain from confusing their ignorance with a simplistic ascertation that photography has ever been straight out of camera. Theirs may have been but I doubt it unless they enjoyed perusing black negatives and white prints. Laziness and ignorance are not virtues neither is procrastination though it can be an art and that is why I am writing this instead of posting a fireworks video that has never seen a camera.
I have started using film again and have been promised the use of a darkroom. I have ordered some resin coated VC paper and will swap a bottle of falling down water for the electricity and chemicals. Last Friday I realised that I didn’t have a clue what to do. I went on the internet to have a look and found lots of ‘How I Dunnits’. I then found a book that seems pretty comprehensive.
I couldn’t believe my luck when it arrived this morning and is full of illustrations, words, tables and examples. I’ll have a proper read whilst I’m waiting for the paper to arrive. I have a feeling that what with printing test strips and a test print or two I could well use the box of paper without any result that I would be prepared to share. I’ll see.
The cost of this tome……….£0.01p. I had to pay another £2.83p to get it delivered but it’s still seems a bargain. Cheaper than The Cuckoo by Robert Galbraith; an excellent book about a one legged private eye. I am enjoying it and it is wonderful to procrastinate with. I didn’t realise that it is written by J.K.Rowling who wrote the Harry Potter books.
To delay matters still further Hull City are top of something and will no doubt win the World Cup, Wimbledon and the Ryder Cup all in the same year…………Yawn.
Have fun and try and get on with the job you are supposed to be doing like I am.
Before computers and Photoshop and the like then it was a case of 'dodging' parts of a photo during the printing process. Photos have always been able to be manipulated if one was so inclined. That's where the expertise came in - if only I had had some!
ReplyDeleteJohn, it is an art. I have never used variable contrast papers just grade four paper. He has a set of filters for split grading the print. I say a set some are missing but he says it doesn't matter. Then there is the normal dodging and burning and how near you pop the hole or card to the lens. It is all just fun.
DeleteI'm delighted for you, Adrian. And now I'll go and get on with something useful (following your advice, of course).
ReplyDeleteFrances, not often I drop on a bargain.
DeleteTypical!...I stop what I'm doing (decorating) for a quick cuppa and a bite to eat...then I get into reading this only to be told that I should be getting on with what I'm doing...I can't win!!
ReplyDeleteIn the 'olden days' I used to enjoy my time when I got to use the darkroom (college) and my bath(dark)room (home)!
Come to think of it sometimes I think I'm still working in the dark!
Enjoy your new project...[;o)
PS...I'm sending you an email.
Trevor, I tend to do things by numbers. I suspect it isn't the best way.
DeleteLook forward to the email.
Photography has always been an art beyond my comprehension. I am content to let you be the artist and me a part of your adoring public. Just don't yell at us when we visit your blog.
ReplyDeleteBob, I am not an artist, only a mediocre technician. I won't yell.
DeleteI took several black and white darkroom classes and loved them! Wish I had access to a darkroom now, I'd still like to process my own prints.
ReplyDeleteLinda, you don't need much space and the gear is cheap or reasonable these days.
DeleteI can tell that you're off on a new adventure with film. You are serious as you've found a good book. Now tell me what the free gimp is and then I'm going to have to learn more about tinkering with photos.
ReplyDeleteRed, just click here and make sure you download the correct version for your computer.
DeleteGIMP
I think that a Hull City sticker would look great on the back of your van. At the moment they are reduced to only 50p but to get one sent to you I guess there would be a little postage to pay. Please see this link:-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tigerleisure.com/browse/sale/1000_premier-league-tigers-sticker.html
YP, I'll give that a miss but when they win the Monaco Grand Prix I'll hang a scarf out of the window.
DeleteGood buy! Have fun.
ReplyDeleteBill, I will try, I like the clunky old cameras.
DeleteHi Adrian sounds like a good project, enjoy
ReplyDeleteCheers Kevin, good to see you are back. I'll pop round tomorrow.
DeleteI agree, but some will never understand.
ReplyDeleteI loved my b&w darkroom, and even though I love the digital world, I miss all those hours I spent in a darkened room.
Loved your post!
Laura, I have the time so why not.
DeleteThanks, Adrian. I really did need someone to tell me to get on with it. I have things to do which must be done by Christmas and it's high time I got started. I have to get finished before I launch myself into the world of photo editing because I suspect not much else will happen after that.
ReplyDeletePauline, I just have things to do but can put them off for ever given an excuse.
DeleteGreat comments and I admire all who jump out of their comfort zone to try something new, learn a challenging skill, or open their minds to something new or something old. Just did a blog post about my views on being a 'photosnob'!
ReplyDeleteKaren, I enjoy photo editing but ever since I made an awful contact Bromoil print have decided to have a go with modern materials.
DeleteGreat photos have always been 'photoshopped' according to their era.
ReplyDeleteRowling does well with the Galbraith books. I have read/listened to the first two, and the third is on my ipod.
John, they have.
DeleteYes good books I never read any Harry Potter so was surprised to find this was written by the same person.
Un buen libro Adrian. Hoy dÃa con las cámaras nuevas y el Pc, la fotografÃa se puede manipular facilmente. Antes con los revelados en palel era más difÃcil .
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Yeah I hate the term manipulation. I find those that often say "done at camera end" etc tend to use photoshop/over process images the most.
ReplyDelete