Black & White Photography 2: Fine Printing and Alternative Processing

10 February 2014 - 17 March 2014

18 HOURS

MONDAY

18.00 - 21.00

Tutor:

Morwenna Kearsley

This course aims to both consolidate your existing photography skills and to help you develop new skills. Over the duration of the course, you will work primarily in Stills photography darkrooms where you will have the opportunity to experiment with the following printing methods; tray printing with fibre-based paper, split-grade printing and giant (over 1m square) enlargements.

You will also have the chance to experiment with a range of alternative printing methods including solarization, photograms and liquid light.

We will try as much as possible to structure the course around you and your photographic interests.

Some previous darkroom experience is required. * Please bring a few of your own 35mm B&W negatives to the first session *

Course Outline

Week 1:Refining Darkrooms Techniques: Printing and Editing
Learn to Split-Grade print your existing negatives on resin and fibre-based paper.

• Black and White Darkroom Refresher/Contact Sheet Printing
• Magnifying the Contact Sheet: Selecting and Enlarging Prints
• Printing the Photographic Enlargement: Using Filters, ‘Dodging’ and ‘Burning’
• Tray Processing with Fibre Prints

Week 2: Medium Format Cameras Lighting techniques for Photographic Studio Portraits. This will include using medium format cameras such as a Hasselblad and Mamiya.
• A presentation of portrait photographers and their work
• Introduction to Studio Lighting and using an electronic Light Meter
• Shoot in Studio

Week 3: Medium format film processing and printing
You will hand-process the medium format negatives shot in the studio. This will give you the opportunity to enlarge 120 negatives and practice the printing techniques you learnt in week one.
• Hand-process medium format films
• Refine printing techniques
Task
• Bring in a selection of translucent objects for alternative processing session
• Bring in a paper of your choice (watercolour, plain etc) to use with liquid light

Week 4: Alternative Photography Techniques
Experiment with various alternative-printing methods including Photograms and Solarization.
• Photogram demonstration
• Solarization demonstration
• Liquid Light paper preparation

Week 5: Liquid Light and Giant Enlargements
Collectively as a group, we will print a giant enlargement (over 1m square). You will also have the chance to experiment with printing onto Liquid Light emulsion.
• Make a giant enlargement as a group
• Experiment with liquid light emulsion

Week 6: The Fine Print
Working towards printing a final set of photographs. This final session will allow you time to print with some 1-1 tuition. We will discuss some printing techniques to help you get the most from your negatives. Once all the final prints are printed and mounted we will have a final presentation session.
• Mounting and Framing Presentation
• Work on final prints for mounting

Stills uses ILFORD PHOTO chemicals on this course that can potentially pose a risk to pregnant and breast feeding women and asthmatics.

We take every care to ensure good working practices and adequate ventilation in our darkrooms. If you feel you may be adversely affected, please see below for links to the Safety Data Sheets on the relevant chemicals you will be using during the course, or visit the Health and Safety section of Ilford’s website for further information.

General Guidance Notes for Pregnant and Breast Feeding Women and Asthmatics

From a risk assessment standpoint, provided all necessary control measures (such as good working practices, adequate ventilation, and the use of appropriate PPE) are in place then pregnant and breastfeeding women should be able to continue to work safely with photochemical products.

Inhalation is the main route by which fumes and gases enter the body, making good ventilation a high priority. Exposure to irritant chemicals that would not affect most people may provoke an asthma attack in a person who already has asthma. For example, low levels of the gas sulphur dioxide can be produced by some ILFORD PHOTO processes. Most individuals would be unaffected but asthmatics may suffer adverse affects.

•ILFORD PHOTO products include no known human carcinogens, and no substances to which phrase R46 (May cause heritable genetic damage) or R64 (May cause harm to breastfed babies) applies.

•Most ILFORD PHOTO developers use hydroquinone, and their classification therefore includes  R40 (Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect) and R68 (Possible risk of irreversible effects).

•Some ILFORD PHOTO chemicals use boric acid or borates. These substances are classified as toxic for reproduction. As a result, the classification of some of the powder developers includes R60 (May impair fertility) and R61 (May cause harm to the unborn child).

SAFETY DATA SHEETS

Ilford ID-11 Stock Developer

Ilford Multigrade Developer

Ilford Ilfostop

Ilford Rapid Fixer

Ilford Health and Safety General Information

or call us on 0131 622 6200.