We started using medium format cameras, black and white film and continuous tungsten lighting. We learnt how to put a small set together using various studio equipment like stands, backdrops and poly boards.
Standard contact sheet.
Followed by a light density step wedge, the first one was too bright so I dropped the aperture down a stop to let in more light. Then the last part was seeing the effect of using a different grade (changing the contrast)
The first print I did, I may have forgotten to check the borders and the frame wasn't quite in so there are black lines.
So after going back into the darkroom and checking everything was how I wanted it I printed the two images below. The top image was set at grade 2 and the one below it set to grade 5. You can clearly see the difference in contrast between the two.
I then chose another negative to enlarge and also changed the border as to get used to using the easel.
The second picture of the hammer has been split graded, if you look closely you can see the slight difference in contrast.
I have used medium format cameras in the studio and on location and also printed quite a lot in the darkroom so it wasn't really anything new, but seeing as I haven't done any printing since the beginning of this year it was great to have a refresher and get to know how everything works at the Uni.
I was more interested in what was to come next, the large format induction! I enjoy shooting film so it is really good that this semester is based on film.
I have used large format once before but nowhere near as in depth as we have been going with it. It is not as daunting as you think but it does take a lot of patience as it is a long process. There are rather a few things to check to make sure you get an exposure, like making sure the lens is closed, making sure the darkslide is in or out depending what stage you are at and so on.
So firstly, black and white 5x4, we used this as a proofing method and to get used to all the dials on the camera. We looked at keystoning which is where the straight lines of buildings (or books) bow due to lens distortion or because the film isn't straight on to the subject. This did take a while to fiddle around with and make sure it was right, definitely something to be practised.
Moving onto colour, same principal as black and white, get the correct exposure etc. With this one though we were looking at perspective by using different lenses. This one was shot with a 180mm lens, creating depth between the two objects.
Colour printing! This was awesome. Enjoyed this so much and can't wait to print some more.
It is obviously quite similar to black and white printing where you take a neg shine light through it and make step wedges. There is one difference that you have to make and that is colour balance, if the image is too red then you have to add yellow and magenta to compensate the negative. This is what I had to do to get the correct colour balance, which can be seen in the last test strip.
Half way through my step wedges I printed this:
This happened because I was using older paper that already had some test strips in and one had been exposed to a little bit of light. So even though the colour looks good and balanced I had to do another because of uncertainty.
But eventually got to the full print stage and printed this:
It was great to see all the fine detail of the cows hair and the bright colours of the car printed on this paper from the 5x4 negative shot a few days before.
I made another print at the same exposure as the previous one but added another five seconds while waving my hand around to create some vignetting.
Have a lighting workshop tomorrow, should be fun.
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