At this point in my Photo of the Day project, all my output is in the digital realm. As I’m still building my Darkroom, I have no way of processing the prints optically. I have been doing digital prints from both digital files and scanned film for the past 20+ years and have the standard level of proficiency in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Given the promise that I made to myself at the start of this project - that I would not show a digitally manipulated photo that I was not able to optically print with the same corrections/adjustments in the darkroom, I sometimes ask myself as I’m preparing photos to post here (and on Instagram), how much digital processing is acceptable?
The trouble with the promise I made is how do I know how good I’m going to be in the darkroom once I build it? Theoretically, all the adjustments that I am making to these photos are adjustments that can be made in a darkroom by someone with the requisite skillset. But how long will it will take me to attain those skills? If indeed I am ever able to attain those skills? Not everybody is great in a darkroom and I well remember the frustrations I had with my limited technique the last time I was printing optically back in college.
For example, regarding the photograph above, here is a list of Lightroom adjustments I made before uploading it here:
Input sharpening
Clarity and White Point adjustments
The above adjustments are what is needed to get the file back to parity following the partially destructive process of (flat) scanning so in my view they are fair enough (and absolutely necessary).
Rotation and cropping
A basic darkroom move and therefore totally allowable.
Slight sky burn-in
Again, a relatively basic darkroom procedure especially on an uncomplicated print like this and therefore allowable.
Now, however, it starts to get a little murky with regard to matching my digital and as yet non-existent analog skillsets:Cleaning the negative (digital spotting)
Look at all those corrections! Who knows how long this would take with a spotting brush and ink on a silver gelatin print. Digitally this was a 10 minute job at most; in the analog realm I’m guessing this would be a good couple of hour’s work assuming I’m skilled enough to do it properly in the first place.
Post crop vignetting
I’m not even sure how I would do this optically. I guess it would be a circular burn tool of some sort but I’m also thinking this would be very difficult to do without making it obvious and therefore losing the subtle effect.
I’m not even sure what my conclusions are here. I think I’ll understand the dividing line better when my darkroom is finished and I’m finally underway printing. I’m super excited about printing these photos traditionally but I foresee big frustration ahead as my vision exceeds my skills! For anyone reading who prints using both traditional and digital processes I’d love to hear your views about the differences.
About the Photo
This was taken on my usual early morning walk. I just barely missed the full effect of the mist. 5 minutes earlier it had been much thicker than the remaining wisps that you can see around the base of the house across the lake. Hopefully I can go back and capture the full effect before winter is over this year.
Technical Details
Camera: Rolleiflex 2.8F
Film: Kodak Tri-X
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Aperture: f5.6
This was my first time using Kodak Tri-X in 120. It came out particularly nicely developed in Ilfosol 3. As you can see from the amount of spotting needed on the scanned file I definitely need to take better care of my negatives when processing them!
Darkroom Update
As I impatiently wait for my Intrepid enlarger I’ve been scouring EBay and Facebook Marketplace for the other bits and pieces that make up a darkroom: Safelights, print trays, tongs, print washers - the list goes on. It turns out GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome for non-photographers who don’t know the acronym) isn’t just for cameras: even though I have the Intrepid on its way to me I still bought another enlarger (Beseler Printmaker 67) to make do with while I’m waiting. Sigh. Anyway, the darkroom is nearing completion and hopefully by the next post I will actually have some silver gelatin prints to show.
Thanks for reading!
I am with Ralph here. If you ask 10 people about the ethics of the digital treatments of analogue negatives you will get 10 different answers. I think you will have to figure out what feels right for you.
I guess that's a decision only you can make. As you say, perhaps when your darkroom is up and running you might have a better feel for what's right for you. Fab pic btw.