Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/03/08

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Subject: [Leica] Magnum & the Dying Art of Darkroom Printing
From: richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man)
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:52:58 -0800
References: <CAF8hL-HpyhQB+uuK58u24jo0YtLna7z7kJfkgvZWB-Ki93Ngdw@mail.gmail.com> <CB7DDA8F.1B47F%mark@rabinergroup.com>

"Who is Steve Macleod"

Well, don't know about him personally, but Magnum London has this to say:
http://news.dphotographer.co.uk/news/uncategorized/magnum-photos-professional-practice/

Steve Macleod ? Creative Director, Metro Imaging
Steve has worked in the photographic industry for twenty years. He is a
photographer and is highly regarded as a Master B&W Printer.  He works at
the highest level in the imaging industry ? consulting closely with many
galleries, agencies and publications; as well as individual artists and
photographers. He has published several books on photographic process.

He is an executive director of Foto8 Magazine and HOST Gallery in London, a
life member of Frontline Club and an Associate Lecturer speaking on topics
as varied as Professional Practice through to technical application of the
photographic process.




On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 12:39 AM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> 
wrote:

> Darkroom work should be set up to be a supreme mystery and that gets us off
> the hook for ever having to try to figure it out. In reality you do it you
> learn.
> If these highly detailed diagrams for printing are all over the internet
> lets see just one.
> But I'll you a hint again: Avedon. He made one. Its quite comical. I bet
> that could be found.
>
> The other thing is the "he". Who is this so called master printer?
>  Steve Macleod!?!
> The first in my life I've ever seen that name.
> But some publishing house printed 3!! of his books.
> Never seen them at Powells. Never seen them at the Strand in NYC.
>
> Its horsepucky.
> Anyone whose done any darkroom work at all would know you'd not be able to
> put on tenth of that information written in pencil into a print.
> Its the Emperors new clothes. You have to pretend he's not naked.
>
> --
> Mark R.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/winterdays/
>
>
> > From: Richard Man <richard at richardmanphoto.com>
> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 23:51:15 -0800
> > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Magnum & the Dying Art of Darkroom Printing
> >
> > I'm waiting for some real darkroom wizard like Marty and Alastair to
> speak
> > up, but I have this book by Steve Macleod
> >
> http://www.amazon.com/Master-Printers-Workbook-Professional-Technique/dp/28804
> > 67330
> >
> > that he shows how he marks up the photos, presumably also after he has
> > perfected it. I understand that printers do that so they know how to
> print
> > the photo later, at least to get a reasonable starting point. May be
> Pablo
> > Iniro is a bit "too much details" but the general idea seems to be good.
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 10:23 PM, Richard Man
> > <richard at richardmanphoto.com>wrote:
> >
> >> I would assume that the notes are written after the different
> >> manipulations are perfected. Certainly I have seen a lot of such markups
> >> from other master printers.
> >>  On Mar 7, 2012 9:07 PM, "Mark Rabiner" <mark at rabinergroup.com> 
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> I cant figure out if this is an example of a kind of obsesive
> compulsive
> >>> psychosis or an attempt at humor. There is also a famous one of a head
> >>> from
> >>> Avedon. An image marked up way past any reason or comprehension.
> >>> I'll tell you what I think it is its drugs in the 80's.
> >>> But it might be Public relations. Your clients are supposed to think
> that
> >>> even though you  yourself are not making the prints the relation
> between
> >>> you
> >>> and your assistant or printer is so involved that its worth all the
> >>> ridiculous money they are paying you for the job and or print.
> >>>
> >>> In reality when you go through sheets and sheets of paper in the
> darkroom
> >>> its a rather organic process of trial and error. And you cant be
> reminded
> >>> of
> >>> it from a mark up or controlled by someone giving you a marked up thing
> >>> like
> >>> that. The printer has to sweat it out themselves. Adams called it a
> >>> performance of a score. But your head is not buried in the score. You
> have
> >>> to look up from time to time and cue your orchestra.
> >>> --
> >>> Mark R.
> >>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/winterdays/
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> From: Philippe Amard <philippe.amard at sfr.fr>
> >>>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> >>>> Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 22:21:14 +0100
> >>>> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Magnum & the Dying Art of Darkroom Printing
> >>>>
> >>>> Nice document
> >>>>
> >>>> OTT: since manipulated comes the latin word for hand, as in handled -
> >>>> I agree that LR is just on the right track then
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks again
> >>>> Philippe
> >>>>
> >>>> Le 7 mars 12 ? 18:25, Robert Baron a ?crit :
> >>>>
> >>>>> If you've never seen a notated print map, look here:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>
>
> http://theliteratelens.com/2012/02/17/magnum-and-the-dying-art-of-darkroom-p
> >>>
> r
> >>>>> inting/
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If that is necessary to achieve an excellent print from a film
> >>>>> negative,
> >>>>> why would it be inappropriate to do similar manipulation to achieve
> an
> >>>>> excellent image from a digital negative?  Or to put it another way,
> >>>>> why
> >>>>> wouldn't it be a necessary part of your work?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --Bob
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> 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
> >>>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
>



-- 
// richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>


In reply to: Message from richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man) ([Leica] Magnum & the Dying Art of Darkroom Printing)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Magnum & the Dying Art of Darkroom Printing)