High School and College gave me the chance to hand develop film photographs known as silver gelatin prints. I love that I started with film since I believe it allows me to appreciate photography more since I have not only experienced the process but also learned all about the history behind it.
In hand developing the roll of film and then hand developing the print as well you begin to understand how a moment is captured and if you had your camera on the wrong setting you might have lost that one moment. The darkroom is a great place to be. I loved experimenting and the trial and error that comes with developing prints by hand. To make a print not only do you have to practice before you get it right but it takes a good deal of educated guessing. You have to find the perfect amount of time to expose the paper to the light coming through your negative and then while doing so you can correct some exposure issues and that has to be guessed correctly as well. You then get to see what you have created by using three chemical baths to bring out your image. The silver in your paper reacts and exposes your photograph. Once that is done you have to wait for it to dry before you can take it home to treasure it. Although it sounds like a lot of work it is a fun and interesting process I would definitely recommend everyone learn or try. You can end up with great photographs that will last forever.
Although I am now very much a fan of digital photography, I will always love film.
Below is one more of my favorite silver gelatin prints.
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I love everything about photography and wanted to share more about what goes into my work and the people I get to interact with. Archives
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