Monday, April 30, 2007

Darkroom

I went to darkroom to print some photos today. They raised price! Now it costs $13 per an hour for color darkroom. But it is not a big problem. I guess it is still good deal. My concern is that someday they have to close all darkroom. I started c-prints a few years ago as a pastime. I was not serious at all. Then, I realized I really liked it. I like it not only because of its quality but also because of its process. It is a slow way to materialize what you shoot. It start with film in your camera, processing at lab, printing contact sheet, editing, and ends with printing in darkroom. My favorite moment of this process is when I look through contact sheets before going to bed. It is time when I review my photos. I see good lighting, interesting composition, fantastic smile, some failures, and some hint to improve. This is how I developed my view as a photographer. So, I don't know what I would do without darkroom. I hope they last longer than my career.
ょう貸し暗室でカラープリントしてきました。いきなり値上げ!一時間あたり13ドルになりましたって、そんなにたいした影響は無いんですが、この先彼らの商売が先細りして閉鎖になると困ります。というのは、ここ2年くらいずっとカラープリントを自分でやってて、だんだん面白くなって来て、どんどんプリントしてるうちに作品がまとまってきたからです。撮ってから仕上げるまでに、フィルム現像に始まり、ベタ焼き(フィルムサイズのプリント、とでも言いましょうか)、じっくりと見て選んで、実際にプリント、という過程をたどります。その最中で画面の構成や光の具合などを確認したり、よくないところを分析して次につなげたりといった学習、研究をするわけですよ。そこがおもしろいなぁといつもわくわくするんです。だから暗室がなくなったら困ります。がんばってくれ!俺も仕事持って来れるように頑張るからさ。

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Just C-Prints? You must try some R-prints and Ilfochromes in order to be a member of the "club"! Time to be a man Masato and try ALL the processes!!

Hope you are doing well. We leave for Uruguay in less than 10 days!

A.M. Polvere