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Complex Image manipulation .... in the dark

PostPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:01 am
by Sheetshooter
In the light of comments made elsewhere about image manipulation capabilities in the traditional wet darkroom I thought I might post a link to the work of MISHA GORDIN. On his site it is clearly stated that the work is not carried out digitally, but under the glow of the ruby red.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:59 pm
by Nnnnsic
Some nice work there.

It depends doesn't it?
I mean, if you're doing colour image manipulation, you're working under both the natural light and then absolute darkness (I always hated working in colour darkrooms).

But yes, with black and white, it's either with a ruby red glow or an orange glow, depending which part of the darkroom safe-light you turn on. We had ours set to normally use the orange glow as it tended to provide the same safety that red guarantees with the ability to see more light.

Some of the things I would test would be taking images on IR film without the IR filter (I was a poor uni student... still technically am... lol) and then use computer printouts of monsters on top of my paper to push the images from each onto the print. It was usually a 2-3 minute open light situation at my enlarger, but it was worth it.

Experimentation in darkrooms is a must for everyone, especially those who've only worked with digital. You really get to see what your imagination is capable of doing without the use of a computer.

You can always print your digital negatives to slides at 35mm or 120 or even large format and try it.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:39 pm
by Hlop
Nice arts .... But you know, it reminds me of the case when I was serving in the army and needed to make a hole in concrete wall.With absense of proper tools hole was made with screwdriver and that's an example how many things are being done in Russia :) You don't have proper drill - use screwdriver, you don't have fly swatter - use stool, don't have normal computer - use enlarger and red light :)

But I should admit he has some very interesting and artistic stuff in there :)

PostPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:22 pm
by Sheetshooter
Mikhail,

I feel your post says far more about your own understanding of the medium than it does about Misha Gordin's (or anybody else for that matter!)

Cheers,

PostPosted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:25 pm
by kipper
Mikhail, don't have a drill or drillbit then use a screwdriver and hammer?

Geez, that sounds like tradespeople in the Victorian Building Industry :)

Re: Complex Image manipulation .... in the dark

PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2005 12:54 am
by Willy wombat
Sheetshooter wrote:In the light of comments made elsewhere about image manipulation capabilities in the traditional wet darkroom I thought I might post a link to the work of MISHA GORDIN. On his site it is clearly stated that the work is not carried out digitally, but under the glow of the ruby red.


That is quite an impressive gallery of work SS. I did not know that such amazing creativity could be achieved in a darkroom.

Not knowing very much about the science of film development – I am left wondering “how the hell Misha did that” and achieved these curios and wonderments???