Greetings,
There has been enough interest in my free Open House Nov. 19th from 12 – 2 pm for me to actually put together a presentation and succinctly tied together all 5 components of my Process in the time frame allowed. 12 noon – 12:30 meet and greet light refreshments. 12:30 – 1:30 demo & presentation in my darkroom and the remaining 1/2 hour a Q & A. If coming from any distance and would like to talk about my Video Series or Mentorship Program please feel free to come by between 11:30 am and 12 pm, I have an engagement at 3 pm so there will be no time after 2 pm.
Essentially my Power of Process is about Separation, hence I call my process the Separation System. My Power of Process consists of 5 components; Light & Composition…Exposure & Negative Design…Pyro Processing & Extreme Minimal Agitation Technique…Split Contrast Printing & Multi-Contrast Silver Papers…Split Toning for Color & Archival Permanence. Within each of these components are incremental steps I take to create greater Separation through spacial relationships, tonality and contrast relationships as well as various techniques I’ve perfected during the last 35 years. My Process is completely Organic, I do not use any computer aided tricks, contrast altering masks or other artificial means to affect my final prints. Quite frankly, I can accomplish all that through progressive negative design in concert with my film processing technique and Multi-Contrast papers.
If you are serious about analog Black & White film photography this will be a few hours well spent. There are 35 framed, gallery lit images in my darkroom and entryway not to mention the half dozen large prints in the main living area. Most of the imagery on the walls is mine, but there are some by other well known B & W photographers who I draw inspiration from and I hope you will as well ! The darkroom itself is 440 + sq. ft, it can comfortably hold 30 + people so please bring a friend.
Please see this link for an unsolicited critique of my prints by a well known ULF photographer and regular magazine contributor.
Unable to attend see this link for many of the Images on Display
Thanks, Steve. I’m a serious (not necessarily skilled) 35MM film photographer and have been since the mid-1960’s. For half of that time I did it all – purchased bulk rolls of tri-x and plus-x, developed it, and printed it in a darkroom in my basement. As my life became busier I outsourced everything post exposure to either a lab or Photoshop Elements. I still don’t do anything I could not have done in the darkroom. Now that I’m retired I plan to go back to developing the film, but probably no further. I still feel your workshop would be of benefit. Any thoughts? Thanks, Peter Anstey, Norfolk, CT
Thanks Peter for reaching out. While some of my process may seem applicable to just sheet film photographers and possibly more advanced than some may want to venture. In the video series I go into how to construct a composition, when and what good light is. The way I design my negatives, while unconventional, the principle is all made possible because of Multi-Contrast papers which all of us use in today’s world. I would strongly recommend coming to the free Open House on the 19th since you are within our small state and I’ll explain why I do things the way I do, I validate in side by side comparisons and people are free to draw their own conclusions on how involved they want to pursue my Process. Thanks again for commenting and hope to meet you on the 19th