David, Except for processing film I only use the darkroom sink to re-fill ink-jet carts. I wouldn't give up real film ever, I don't think. Scanning makes, to me, an important aesthetic connection with the real and the virtual photograph. Digital printmaking has taken over completely and greatly increased my productivity and enjoyment. I find working at the tube surprisingly similar to darkroom work. They are equally difficult and challenging. I agree that digital work increases opportunities for social interaction - for better or worse - "wana go fer coffee, I got some new prints?" AZ Build a Lookaround! The Lookaround Book, 2nd ed. NOW SHIPPING http://www.panoramacamera.us > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: One more reason to stay in the darkroom > From: "David Dyer-Bennet" <dd-b@xxxxxxxx> > Date: Sat, January 01, 2005 4:05 pm > To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" > <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > "kpp@xxxxxxxxxx" <kpp@xxxxxxxxxx> writes: > > >>I do the same thing in Photoshop, it's annoying though. I am starting >to think that a decent digital camera and regular copy work is better >than scanning...Curtis > > > > Well, I will try going to the darkroom for that spoecific purpose. > > > > BUT what I find preferable to computer work is that a darkroom > > (especially a club or a rented one in a proffessional store) is far > > more socialising than staying indoors infront of the pc. (and i keep > > my internet browsing for the internetcafe!). It is the first time i > > have melt the seat fabric while Photoshoping, something that has > > never happened during my SAT and Uni exams. > > > > On the other hand i enjoy the company of my club members in the > > room, and the Ah! when the dark areas of the print first show > > up. And there is nothing more ego-boosting than being in the > > darkroom helping two beautifull women to develop their first B&W > > film! LOL > > Ah. My experience of darkroom time is all of isolation, away from the > others in my dormitory or my home. When I'm working at the computer, > at photography or anything else, I'm more exposed and more accessible; > people can stop by and say hi, I can see email, I can answer the > telephone, etc. > > > Honestly and Seriously now, what seems we have forgotten is that > > interaction boosts creativity. Just seeing anotherone's work or > > talking about it breeds new things. And that cannot happen around a > > computer. Can it? > > Much more easily than in person. I see photos from people I've never > met every day, and discuss photography with them. In fact I'm doing > it right now. And these bits of discussion can be slipped in between > working on actual photos, so they don't even take much of my time. > > And of course we can sit around the computer and talk about the photos > in person, if the people are here in person. And I can take my > computer *with me* (laptop) to do things with people elsewhere. > > All in all, it makes being a photographer much less lonely to do it > digitally. > -- > David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b@xxxxxxxx>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> > RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/> > Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> > Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>
