Photo manipulatiuon

[antoeknee]

Always some discussion about the merits/acceptability of cropping and post processing etc.

This interesting acticle shows how much work sometimes went into darkroom manipulation.

http://petapixel.com/2013/09/12/marked-photographs-show-iconic-prints-edited-darkroom/

Never went this far in my darkroom work but defo did some dodging and burning. Also did some background substitution, much easier in digital workflow though.

[Tigger]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

I don't miss the hours and smells from a darkroom!! but like you my workflow was just some D&B - nothing like the work on those images

My old bosses wife used to do hand painting as well !! now that was a talent

[antoeknee]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Always remember going into darkroom to do couple of hours work.

Of course the 'couple of hours' seemed to fly by and often I'd be in there till the small hours. Still think its great to see the image appear in the developer.

[Tigger]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Not for me anymore, give me the comfort of a desk and not feeling like some vampire ;o) ... Maybe I have a different viewpoint as I used to work for a studio and somedays would be stuck in the darkroom all day - the worst job was printing up ID photos for the local schools, thousands of little passport size photos ...not fun

[Tigger]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

if your interested in B&W war photos - this is the studio I worked for and the photographer when he was younger was the local war photographer - some interesting old B&W photos showing what was going on http://lawrencearchive.com/Wartime/wartime.html sorry about the website its shocking

[CountDavid]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Another great printer from the black and white days was Larry Bartlett - there is a book showing some of his work - before, during and after style - like the Magnum pix shown in the link above

David

[Paulstw]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

I would love to have at least said I could develop film pics. Alas, since my poor Canon AE-1P camera died on me a few weeks ago with a sticky shutter release after 3 rolls of film I'll never know lol

[the black fox]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Remember it well ,love the smell of fixer in the cupboard under the stairs happy days of yore .and the birds I used to take photos of in them days didn't have wings either .

[PhotoStory]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

It's interesting to see how much 'manipulation' went on and it has helped me realise that some of my flatter or less exciting images may not be down to my photography, but my lack of knowledge when it comes to editing them to their full potential. I've got to learn more about dodging and burning.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

I can well remember the smells and fixers in the 1950's when I was also doing this "job" with my B&W films. Jeff, I am interested in the "wingless birds"! Are they to be found in your secret valley as well!!!!!

[antoeknee]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Did most processing, B&W, colour, slide developing and prints from slides (Cibachrome).

When I worked at a school I did some photography with students. Still remember the look on their faces as the image appeared.

[AndyA]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

It's interesting to see how much 'manipulation' went on and it has helped me realise that some of my flatter or less exciting images may not be down to my photography, but my lack of knowledge when it comes to editing them to their full potential. I've got to learn more about dodging and burning.

I couldn't agree more. I sometimes revisit my earlier images and give them a re-edit, using my new found editing tricks.

[LarryPlane]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

Just talking about B&W developing and I can almost smell the chemicals, and my eyes almost want to water. Nasty smell, but one that was full of excitement as the snaps I took earlier appeared before my eyes.

It always anouys me when I hear some young student wax lyrical about the true beauty of film and how it was pure because there was no manipulation, blindely unaware of course that dodging, burning, masking and even spot removal all originated in the hallowed halls (or cupboard under the stairs) of the holly darkroom. Airbrushing!!!! Where do they think that came from?


Even photos processed in the high street were often 'exposure compenstaed' by a human operator. A very basic form of manipulation on the (raw) negative I grant you, but most holiday snaps were better off for the operator deciding to press a +3 or -2 or whatever for each image they looked at.

In fact if you go back to the first plate photography I think you'll find they 'manipulated' the image by taking off the lens cap, exposing the plate, and at the same time wafting the lens cap around the edges of the lens to dodge out a vignette.

At the moment I have no evidence of cave painting manipulation, but I'll keep digging.

[Tigger]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

At the moment I have no evidence of cave painting manipulation, but I'll keep digging.

[the black fox]

Re: Photo manipulatiuon

I can well remember the smells and fixers in the 1950's when I was also doing this "job" with my B&W films. Jeff, I am interested in the "wingless birds"! Are they to be found in your secret valley as well!!!!!

unfortunately not nat BEHAVE !!! one day i'll tell you about the t.v personality and film actress before she became famous LOL