Re: [Leica] Print Development Time

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Dan Post wrote:
><snip>
> For a low-tech solution, Ansel describes a factor development kind of thing
> in, I believe, his Print book.  Can anyone verify this?  If I remember
> correctly, this technique involves locking down parameters based on when
> certain values appear as the print develops.  All other print development
> times will be a factor based on the appearance of these same values.
> 
> Hope this helps.  Good luck.
> 
> Best regards,
> Alan Huntley
> 
><snip>

The "Yankee" approach to printing which for me is "yanking" out the print not at
a specific time but when it looks good in the safelight had always been
considered lowest level technique for me. A definition of no technique or
commitment to quality work.
That Ansel would get involved with techniques such as this is a inspiration as
his mind always remained not entrenched but always opened. He said there are
advantages consistency wise with this technique. I've read his description of
these techniques a dozen times and I think to get into it and/or appreciate it a
workshop would be required. Safelights are of course also an issue as you are
developing by inspection, waiting for a tone to appear and then going on from
there. It didn't appeal to me.
Ansel also stretched known parameters by getting involved so I hear with the
Phillips Tri color head which made automatic ring arounds in his black and white printing.
So many people picture him with his view camera and western clothing and would
assume he would be the epitome of die hard archaic Zone 64 technique. When quite
the opposite had always been true.
Mark Rabiner