Giving birth to a photo
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 entry was posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 at 23:43
Tags: photography
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So, after all the fuss, could we see it? ;op
Actually, my scanner sucks really bad and at the moment I have other places to throw my money into. Such as getting an LCD display, buying some more stuff for the dark room and getting a Creative Suite license. Plus, I have to keep away some money because I’m planning a photographic reportage in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Long story short: I’m lazy! ;)
Anyway, I’ll post a picture of me with the first tries on “Flickr”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/flydown/ as soon as possible. :)