Re: [Leica] The Joy of BD's Darkroom

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

I'm blushing.....

But blushing aside...there is no question that a wet darkroom
craftsperson can turn out truly superb works of art....But the day when
one could dismiss digital printing as less than a real photographic
process, or just quick junk, is long past....And....while I certainly
think that Jay overstates the quality, etc., of my prints, I would point
out that whatever I have learned about this form of printing I have done
on my own, sitting in front of my home computer, with nothing to guide
me but my own instincts, a copy of The Digital Darkroom, and the tips I
have picked up by Email from fellow LUGers....I'm not suggesting that
"any idiot" can do this well, but I would guess that any decent
photographer, or printer, can learn to do it well on his or her
own...there is something really inutitive about this process, and about
PhotoShop, despite the fact that it has a really steep learning
curve...I find that as I struggle up the curve, I hit a "holy shit!"
point every so often where I stumble on something - that was probably
right under my nose all along - that makes an enormous difference in the
quality of my output....to say nothing of the fact that printers get
better by the day.....

B. D.

Who really does have great respect for those of you who turn out quality
silver prints - because I've never been able to do it well enough to
please myself...:-)



goldman@math.umn.edu wrote:
> 
>         A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of lunching with BD and
> looking at a batch of his piezo prints.  It was a revelation.  As soon as
> I can find sufficient time, Iım going to a digital darkroom.
>         Over the years I have done some darkroom work, but it was never a
> real thrill.  It was the only way, short of spending a lot of money to get
> BW prints.  I am not a real craftsman, but if I spent sufficient time, I
> could get a good print.  BDıs prints were better than mine.  Sure, I know
> or have seen the resultıs of terrific darkroom workers that can produce
> rich glowing prints on fiber paper.  I even have some.  I know that John
> Sexton could make wonderful prints for me - but my pictures arenıt that
> good and nor is my pocketbook that large.
>         BDıs prints, content and quality, were really good and I would
> never have guessed that they were digital prints.
>         I also forsee all kinds of possibilities with the computer.  I can
> make a page for a book or album with several pictures of different sizes
> and all laid out as I want it.  I know this can be done by more primitive
> means and for those who love that way, fine.  Iım going digital.
> Jay