Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Photography: Old & New

It was a rather somber day when I gave away all the chemicals that I have accumulated over the years of dark room work. As it happened the couple that got them were both medical doctors. Hopefully they make good use of them.

There is indeed much that modern day software can do to duplicate the work of the traditional dark room. Yet there is something magical seeing your print wet and perfect in the dark room.

I have often been asked about some of my photos:

Here are some of the technical details.

Both are taken with Nikon FM2 180/2.8 ED lens. The lens was probably the best of the hand held pre-digital lens Nikon ever produced and I still use it with my Digital Body. 

Mademoiselle
Film: Kodak Tmax100 Kodak developer.
Paper: Oriental Seagull (3) FB.
Developed using diluted Kodalith Developer. Further toning using Kodak Selenium toner for enhanced tones.
 ©1995 Am Ang Zhang

New York
Sharp-eyed photographers would notice Pan Am sign thus dating the picture.

Film: Ilford 400 developed by pushed Rodinal developer to get the sharp and huge grains.
Paper: Oriental Seagull (3) FB.
Developed using diluted Kodalith Developer. Further toning using Kodak Selenium toner for enhanced tones.

 ©2008 Am Ang Zhang

It is vital to get the sharp focusing of the grains.

Photoshop can in the quadtone mode assign different tones to different levels at will and the level adjustment will enhance what is often a gamble on Lith. Modern printers cannot quite produce the exhibition quality of good Fibre Base Paper of old.
© Am Ang Zhang 2012

Lith Style Photographic work.

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