Need advice on starting off with B&W

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo: Creativity, Etc. : One Thread

Hello. I am trying to get into developing my own black and white photography. I was wondering what SLR 35 mm camera would be best for this? I was also planning on having a dark room so if anyone has a list of what I will need or tips that would be great. I am confused. For one to develop their own b&w photos, do you need an enlarger? At first I was under the impression that you only need a developing tank but then I wasn't sure how you got the film to full size. Is it better to use a tank or the trays? I also plan on eventually hand coloring my photos if that has any effect on the different supplies I will need to get. Please help!!!!!!!

-- Kerri Conrad (white_trash_pryncess@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002

Answers

Kerri, although doing black and white developing and enlarging yourself is 'simple', it involves a lot of learning, either through books/internet, working with friends, or workshops and schools. I recommend strongly you get a basic book such as Henry Horenstein's 'Black & White Photography - A Basic Manual' for starters. Then, be prepared to spend a lot of time, energy and money learning! My advice is, find a workshop or community college Photo I course to learn the basics, I find it more fun working with and learning from other people. Also you'll get a chance to practice on somebody else's equipment that way, getting a better idea of what you may eventually want to buy/have for your own darkroom.

Also, be aware of what is going on in the digital [computer] world with regards to photography.

Best wishes & good luck!

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), March 02, 2002.


I agree! A workshop will cut your learning curve way down. An enlarger is good and it all depends on how far your going to go with photography. It is needed for making your prints. If your going to print up to 16x20, look at a medium format enlarger (an Omega 760XL or a Beseler) for larger prints and solidness. For developing 35mm you will need tanks and chemicals. Stainless steel is the standard in the industry but some people find plastic easier... there again, a class would be helpful. You can use ANY 35mm camera but you will learn more with a manual "match needle" camera like a Pentax K1000 or a Nikon FE or something like that. With hand coloring, you will be using fiber paper so that the oils/pencils will easily be worked into the paper. You might want to go to a handcoloring web site like www.handcolor.com and just read some of what is on the web site. Cheers

-- Scott Walton (walton@ll.mit.edu), March 04, 2002.

Hi: the best thing you can do for yourself is to start simple. That means get yourself a good camera. It doesn't have to be expensive. One with a manual function will teach you the interrelationship of film speed, shutter speed, and aperture. Next: take a class in basic photography, which will give you access to a teacher and other novice photo bugs,(avoids a LOT of mistakes), and also will provide some darkroom experience. By the end of the class, you will know the basics, and haven't spent a mint on enlarger, lens, paper, timer, etc.,etc.--YET. You might not like darkroom work at all. Avoid a lot of the books out there, and get a simple basic text,somethng like the ones KODAK used to distribute in great numbers. Once you are comfortable with the basics, then start looking around for your darkroom equipment. Above all, don't forget to enjoy what you are doing. Photography is a relatively simple craft. After getting the foundation (mechanics) right, then the art of composition and seeing can be developed,and your own style, which is a sometimes frustrating, but mostly pleasureable, life-long pastime. ABOVE ALL, enjoy your photoraphy. It is a magical pastime or career.

-- Carl Crosby (humminboid@aol.com), April 04, 2002.

getting started

Hi Kerri, If you'd like a really easy manual to follow as far as the technical side of developing goes, I would suggest Photography for Dummies. (Not to suggest that your a dummy.) This book in particular really puts intructions (and jargon) into laymans terms and will outline what you need. Personally, I would go with trays to start, they're easy to use and makes a darkroom easier to set up and brake down. Good luck! Kat

-- Kat Morrison (brokepiggy@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

check agfa's website for a decent step-by-step B&W intro.

-- Nigel Smih (nlandgl@unite.com.au), April 09, 2002.


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