Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/07/29

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Subject: [Leica] was: XTOL rant now Rodinal rant
From: philippe.orlent at pandora.be (Philippe Orlent)
Date: Sun Jul 29 05:45:13 2007
References: <20070728024637.020271BF28D@ws1-1.us4.outblaze.com>

Hi Marty,
Looking forward to the Diafine rant :-)
Philippe



Op 28-jul-07, om 04:46 heeft Marty Deveney het volgende geschreven:

>
> I'm really glad these were useful - stay tuned for the Diafine rant.
>
>> In awe for your knowledge.
>
> You are too kind; you really should be impressed by the broad,  
> eclectic and classical science education I was lucky enough to  
> receive at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia  
> about 15 years ago.  When I did my degree, science students could  
> take electives from the engineering school in optics, chemistry  
> (including photochemistry) and astronomy, toname a few.  I sat in  
> on some of these classes even when I wasn't enrolled.  I had a  
> great time there.
>
>> I just jumped in this thread, and it took me a long time to go
>> through all this (and to try to understand it), but if I'd still be
>> doing B&W analog, I'd know what combination to go for now.
>
> Deciding on a film, paper & developer(s) combination was hard when  
> there was so much choice.  For anyone interested in mixing their  
> own chemistry, the options multiply rapidly.
>
>> One of my big frustrations in the era where there was only one
>> possibility to get a photo print was a two times sequence of
>> development: develop film, project, develop paper. Infinite
>> combinations possible.
>> And I never found the right one: it was impossible for me to get the
>> tonal and print quality that I saw on photo exhibits.
>
> A lot of this lies in how you use the materials as well as what  
> they are in the first place.  When I was doing a lot of it, I was a  
> pretty decent darkroom technician, but most of this came down to  
> have good teachers and practicing a lot.
>
>> At least digital and PS made that part of photography a lot easier:
>
> For you 8-)  I find digital capture and manipulation much more  
> difficult, although I think a lot of this lies in certain tonal  
> aspects of chemical capture that aren't replicated in digital  
> capture.  I've spent quite a bit of time lately trying to figure  
> out if my M8 is my best friend or worst enemy.
>
>> I'm very happy that now I only have to (try and) concentrate to catch
>> the right moment in the right light. That alone might become a life's
>> queeste.
>
> The technical side of things is just one aspect; in photography,  
> the craft feeds the art and vice versa, which makes it an  
> interesting dual challenge.  Once confortable with the technical  
> side, the challenge becomes aesthetic, at least until you decide to  
> change medium.
>
>> 'Much of this is derived from tests, but much of it is also just my
>> opinion.  If you have a long-lasting, almost physical love for
>> analog, please don't worry about defending your preference - I can
>> see why you like it.  I just don't (any more :-)
>
> If the photos look good, it doesn't matter.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Marty
>
> Who deep down wants to settle on Neopan 400 in Xtol and print on  
> Oriental Seagull glossy developed in E72 . . . but doesn't  
> currently have a darkroom.
>
>
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>
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In reply to: Message from freakscene at weirdness.com (Marty Deveney) ([Leica] was: XTOL rant now Rodinal rant)