[Leica] the future happened yesterday

[scott at adrenaline.com (Scott McLoughlin)]

B.D.

I don't think we disagree that much. I'm learning to print
digital B&W images myself!  I'm a 38 year old fart :-)

So far I've gone the "EZ" route with MIS EZ warm/cold
inks and a little cheap C84.  Initial results are promising,
but now I'm at the point where I'm swimming around a
bit with calibration issues, different papers, curves for
same, grain and well, you know better than I do :-)

Anyway, I've a software development background and
still find it all a little daunting, so I was just thinking of
my more technology challenged relatives :-) 

I wasn't so much comparing DIY digital vs. wet, as DIY
vs. turning over negatives to a nice lab. I haven't sampled
all the local labs here in Wash, DC, but L'Imagerie made
some very nice B&W prints for me, and folks speak
highly of a dedicated B&W lab over the river in VA.

Scott

B. D. Colen wrote:

>Sorry to disagree, Scott, but the learning curve involved in turning out
>really high quality black and white digital prints is no steeper than
>the learning curve involved in turning out really high quality silver
>prints from film. In fact, it may be less steep. For some reason I don't
>get allot of people are cowed by the fact that turning out the digital
>prints involves using a computer and mastering some Photoshop skills. I
>say I don't get it because I've done it, and I've done it on my own,
>without courses, despite the fact that I'm not some computer-raised
>Gen-Xer, I'm a 58-year-old old fart who grew up souping tri-x in the
>kitchen.
>
>Yes, I still love film - and my Ms. And in some weird ways I wish
>digital had never come along - at least for b&w  (I can't conceive of
>now even thinking about using film for color work - digital just
>eliminates too damn many problems to not be the obvious choice.) But I
>do love black and white film...but I find I can get essentially the same
>look using digital now.
>
>B. D.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org
>[mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
>Scott McLoughlin
>Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 5:34 PM
>To: Leica Users Group
>Subject: Re: [Leica] the future happened yesterday
>
>
>Emanuel Lowi wrote:
>
>  
>
>>My trusty dealer tells me that he now sells 3x worth
>>of Sandisk memory cards vs. film, daily.
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>Who feels like some luddisaurus trapped in a Jurassic
>>tar pond?
>>    
>>
>
>-----CUT-----
>
>So many thoughts.
>
>(1) I buy all my film online mail order. Lots cheaper
>and bigger variety. Same for almost all of my gear. I
>never really think about it, but I guess lots of folks
>must be keeping retailers in business.
>
>(2) I have a D70, and it hasn't bowled me over yet.
>If I had to choose between the D70 and FP4+ and
>about any decent manual camera (just for example,
>souped some yesterday), the FP4+ would win hands
> down - for me.  To my eye, the images are just so
>much lovelier.
>
>(3) I don't know about the same comparison with
>Reala or NPH, my color films of choice right now.
>I don't shoot all that much color, and I'm not much
>of a slide film shooter.   Again, I don't usually think
>about it, but I guess most camera-wielding folks shoot
>color.  Maybe digital is more attractive here if you
>get the white balance down just right.
>
>(4) After many decades (more than I am old), is the
>notion of achieving some kind of "ultimate quality"
>from a small format camera now unimportant. Was
>this idea just some kind of accident of technology
>and economics?
>
>PJ work is shot for cheaply printed magazines or
>newspapers.  In my own lifetime, consumers have
>flocked to Instamatics, Polaroid, 126 and APS
>format cameras. I remember when my dad bought
>me a Canonet as a not so well-healed boy - Wow,
>a "real" camera using 35mm film!  I guess I get a
>bit of the same tingle using my Leica M6 today :-)
>
>But maybe digital is letting us know that "good
>enough and cheap" is the real driving principle of
>small format photography?  I don't know. I, for
>one, kinda like my M6.
>
>(5) I don't have too many romantic memories of
>using film or anything. But right now, a good
>composition, decent lighting and a good exposure
>will yield a negative that a (vanishing, yes) good lab
>can turn into a beautiful, nicely enlarged print.  I've read this is
>possible with good "digital darkroom" skills, but the learning curve and
>time commitment is very steep. What about folks that just can't master
>the intricate digital workflow process?  A good lab is a real partner in
>producing images.
>
>(6) Just thoughts and worries that maybe some of the
>more experience folks on this list might help me sort
>out.  Might medium format or large format photography
>be a better "safe haven" than small format for folks who
>want commercial support in producing lasting, high
>quality images? Is there any safe haven?
>
>Scott
>
>  
>
>>Emanuel Lowi
>>Montreal
>>
>>______________________________________________________________________
>>Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
>>_______________________________________________
>>Leica Users Group.
>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>  
>