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Re: I'm new to this. . .how do I. . .

Phil

10:23 15 Mar 03

Re: I'm new to this. . .how do I. . .

David Poinsett

8:38 16 Mar 03

Hi Ron,

Are you printing a lot? Are you trying new things? Are you working on refining the things you already know? Do you have access to seeing original fine art b&w prints in person? Have you participated in any workshops?

I have had a darkroom on and off for the last 35 years. I got into large format work a little over a year ago. I thought I knew a lot about photgraphy before that. I was amazed at how much more there was to learn at practically every level. If you have studied the BTZS book then you probably know what I mean.

After I started with LF, I thought it would take me several months to start producing the kind of high quality prints I had in mind. While I had a few early successes, it has taken a year to consistently print images at the level I am aiming for.

Yes, managing contrast is important but so is every other thing that contributes to the final appearance of the print. That includes the subject and the way it was photographed, the type of film, how it was exposed, how it was developed, the kind of light source used in the enlarger, print exposure, paper and paper developer, toner, and your own subjective sense of what looks "right".

You must be somewhat inclined to undersatnding the technical elements of photography or you would not be looking at BTZS methods. Learn them. Practice them. Pay attention to how it affect the results. Ask questions. You will get there.