The nearly-intoxicating scent of photographic fixer wafts up from the last tray on the table as I slide a white piece of paper into the developer. Bon Iver's soothing voice fills the empty silence of the large room, lit only by a few red lamps. I stand in front of a row of trays, rhythmically tipping them back and forth, back and forth. I watch the developer wash over the photo paper as an image slowly begins to emerge. The image steadily grows darker and darker until I realize I had the f-stop on the enlarger set too high. Overexposed, dammit.
It's a long process, really, but it can be relaxing. That is, when you're not running short on paper when you're critique is merely days away.
However, it's all worth it when you get it right. You put the negative in the enlarger, hit the button on the timer to expose it, slip the paper into the developer, and watch as the tones and shapes develop. Then you put it in the stop bath, then the fixer.
There's just something about being in the dark room watching as the images you took on a little 35mm point-and-shoot come to life right in front of you. It beats scrolling through them on an LCD screen any day.
I have my final critique tomorrow. Honestly, I'm a little nervous. It's a little nerve-wracking to pin your work up on a board next to others and stand there as people talk about it. Not to mention I'm just a freshman taking a 300 level course. But I'm pretty confident in my work, so there is that.
Well, here goes.
(some scans of my prints)
[ listening - Eet / Regina Spektor ]
Holy mackerel. These are beautiful. YOU are beautiful and wow, i've always wanted to someday develop my own shots. And the way you describe things, it all sounds so wonderful, and good luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I hope you get to one day, it's a really great experience. (totally jealous of your banjo skills, by the way)
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