Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>snippet<. For >> many years a wonderful photographer and master printer called Barry >> Thornton used to develop and print my films/occasional picture - >> unfortunately [and this really is a time when the word I use is simply not >> fitting for its task] Barry died a little while back...it seems selfish >> and cavalier [mentioning death and the search for quality photographic >> printing in the same sentance] to reduce this text to the next part about >> searching around the UK to find someone else who could produce a print as >> fine as a [leica] lens is able to take but I have tried for nearly two >> years and to no avail. >> >> so my question - does any UK lugger [or indeed any lugger] know of someone >> who can and will [for remuneration] produce the sort of fine print that >> many of you [equipped with years of experience and/or real >> darkroom/photoshop experience] are able to achieve for yourself. >> >> if anyone has any recommendations please let me know, it would be a real >> favour! >> >> Leopold >> [England] > > Welcome to the lug Leopold when you say > as fine as a [Leica] lens is able to take but I have tried for nearly two > years and to no avail. I'd like to key in exactly what you mean. It seems like you are saying that the results you get from black and white printing in the darkroom are very frustrating and not doing your great negs from your great gear justice. People just don't realize how long and how much effort it takes to start cranking out the stuff the level of quality of they are used to seeing. What could have happened worse is that what often happens. People crank out a bunch of way off stuff out of their darkroom and loose all perspective and get real un discerning. Might claim a more "causal" approach or some rationalization. Like that filter you use when you look in the mirror. Not getting adequate quality out of your darkroom work would make it hard to know just what your Leica stuff is capable of doing for you. But lots of this is just size. You could be looking at your dried 8x10's with a good loupe maybe. I did for years and still do. But you've got to get into 11x14s and really 16x20's before you become really amazed at what high quality gear and technique can bring to an image. That's where it opens up if it is 35mm or medium format. Look at those with a loupe maybe. I did for years all most prints and still do. I guess I use a magnifier thing when I spot them. You'll start to attach mystical qualities to your lens and film dilution combination if you are able to figure out a layout where you can crank out larger prints. I say break out the old tripod sometimes. Maybe its getting a little dark out and you've got medium speed film in maybe it's not. Printing 16x20 will make you want to do this. Use a tripod sometimes. And realize that 125th of a second with a 50mm really is not as safe as you think. There's always something. Mark Rabiner Photography Portland Oregon http://rabinergroup.com/