[Leica] Getting into printing.. need advice?

[amr3 at uwm.edu (Alan Magayne-Roshak)]

Original message:

From: Luis Miguel Casta?eda Navas <octabod@gmail.com> 

>I have worked for 25+ years on a wet one, and I still appreciate it   
>for B&W far over digital (and I do high end stuff on both systems) for   
>what I shoot, cannot tell the same about color where there is no point   
>on handprinting. 
.........................................................................................................
My sentiments too (42 years wet darkroom experience).  I feel I've 
accomplished 
something tangible in the (B&W) darkroom.  For color that is meaningful to 
me, I'll
shoot slides. I can't seem to get attached to 0's and 1's (Digital is de 
rigueur  for clients;
I'm speaking of personal satisfaction). 

Mies van der Rohe said, "God is in the details.", so I still can't get over 
the fact that
at a micro level the digital process has turned any diagonal or curved image 
elements 
into squared-off pixels.  It just bothers me that these have saw-toothed 
edges.  
Film has grain, I know, but it's random and more closely supports an analog,
curvilinear reproduction.

If I had to work 40 hours a week in the darkroom, it wouldn't be fun.  But I 
enjoy the 
experience when I control the time spent there, amongst the smells, the 
sound of 
running water and music, and the charm of seeing the image appear.  It's 
like a vacation
from work, where I sit in front of a monitor more than I would like.  In a 
darkroom there is also 
the opportunity for physical activity while waiting for the processes - 
moving to the music, etc.  ;~)

Alan

Alan Magayne-Roshak, Senior Photographer
UPAA POY 1978
University Information Technology Services
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Office Phone: 414 229-6525 | E-mail: amr3@uwm.edu
Department Phone: 414 229-4282
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/