Michele’s Freeminding

On Saturday I tried to print my first B&W photo ever.
Let me tell you it was kind of a mystical experience.

The results weren’t bad, but not even perfect — I’m aware it’s something that needs great amounts of patience and dedication.
But the whole point was seeing the image materialize on the white paper under a bland red light and reliving the moment in which the photo was taken: what I’d thought was special, how I’d visualized it and how I’d expected the photo to be.

It can either be a rewarding success or a successful failure.
A successful failure because by realizing what’s bad about that particular photo, you can understand how to improve your mastery — both shooting and printing.

Contact sheets are nice for a quick glance at the roll, but they say nothing about each photo — especially if we’re talking about 24*36 rolls, given they’re so small.
You need to see it big to know. To know if it’s a photo worth hanging, or one worth junking.

Starting to print my own photos makes me feel like I’m starting to be on the right path to become a real photographer. Even though I know I still have lots and lots and lots to learn before being able to call myself so.

This post was written 2 years, 6 months ago on January 24th, 2006 late at night.