Darkroom Dave: Split Grade Pirnting

Not far from the Ilford tree, the master printer trained at Ilford labs known as Darkroom Dave on Youtube offers and alternate process to achieve good print exposure without dodging & burning.

The technique of split grade printing, by using filters with multigrade paper, is demonstrated from start to finish by Dave.  Rather than using a single filter, such as a number 2.5 grade filter, he uses two filters, often a number 1.0 filter and a number 5.0 filter.

The lower the number, the lower the contrast.  Dave suggests using a 1.5 filter instead of a 1.0 filter for more contrast in the finished print, or a 0 filter for a less contrasty look.  He always uses the 5 filter.

Watch Dave make is his magic work in the darkroom, from determining the exposure, through trial prints to the finished product:

Ilford Photo Darkroom Guides: Dodging and Burning

Photographer Rachel Brewster-Wright leads us through the process to dodge & burn a print in the darkroom.  She demonstrates the technique, compares before and after prints and shows the printing process in action.

Note some of the characteristics of the print as it is being developed.  It looks much darker when it comes out of the developer tray under red light compared to when it is dry and shown in white light.

This is typical of any print, and why exposure must be judged only after the print is washed and dried and viewed under white light.  Some expert printers may be able to judge exposure of a wet print, but that certainly does not include Your Blogger and likely not any novice printer.

Enjoy!

COVID-19: Stay Safe, Stay Home

The global pandemic could be worse.  Officials are locking down borders and asking citizens to stay home, if possible.  This is to contain the virus, squelch it out and remove the risk.  The outcome in the best case is that almost nothing happens, few people die and the coronavirus becomes a bad memory. 

Then the self-sacrifice will be well worth the outcome.

But only if people self-isolate and prevent the spread of the virus.

Soap kills the virus, so wash hands, wash surfaces and keep things clean with soap and water. 

In the meantime, some videos coming up to while away the time and learn something useful about film photography.

Zine: Monochrome Mania

A blog with a zine, our cohabitators at Blogspot, Random Camera Blog, have released a nicely printed and bound, first edition of Monochrome Mania.  Only $10 and insanely cheap shipping (by the standards where this Blogger lives), gets one a copy of the newly printed zine.

The contents of the first edition are all about B&W films of ISO 50 or lower. Fill out your knowledge of the slow films available today, with Monochrome Mania.