Gast
Hello everyone,
Perhaps one of you experts could give me a tip.
I’m passionate about photography and would love to learn how to develop photos myself (both black and white and colour).
Does anyone have any advice on where I can find information (e.g. good specialist literature)? I should mention that I know absolutely nothing about it. Or perhaps a school where I can enrol privately? Or any other tips on how someone like me, a complete novice, can learn this?
Many thanks in advance for your replies and have a lovely day
Sandy
Gast
You can find a few things online; here’s an example:
Getting Started
. Another option is, of course, adult education centres, though they seem to be focusing more on digital photography at the moment. Photography clubs or societies would also be an idea; there’s one in my town that runs youth activities. There should be similar ones in other towns too.
Asking at a local camera shop (one that stocks chemical photography supplies) might help you find people willing to share their knowledge.
FOTOIMPEX has a rental darkroom – perhaps they can help? (if you’re near or in Berlin)
Books: Feininger, Hedgcoe (have a look for them at www.zvab.de)
Good luck, even if it’s bound to take a bit of effort at first.
Regards, Ronald
heinrich
Hello,
It’s best to take a suitable photography course (at an adult education centre or a local photography club). The good thing is that you can often use the darkrooms outside of class hours as well. This saves a lot of time and, above all, money on the initial investment in chemicals, paper, darkroom equipment, enlargers, etc. You can find the equipment second-hand very cheaply, but it will still set you back a hundred or so. You should be able to find books on the subject at the local library.
To start with, I’d recommend Otto Croy’s *Developing and Enlarging*; it’s ancient, so you might find it in an antiquarian bookshop or on eBay.
For later on, I can recommend Ansel Adams’ *The Negative, the Positive and the Camera* as well as *The Zone System in black and white and colour photography* by Fischer-Piehl. Neither author, however, writes specifically for beginners.
Best regards,
Heinrich
cfb_de
Hello Heinrich,
I completely agree. If you’re looking for more up-to-date literature to start with: Reinhard Merz, *Das Praxisbuch black and white lab*, ISBN: 3-9809801-0-3
andreasbrigachtal
Hi Sandy!
The book Franz recommends is brilliant. I recently gave it to a friend who’s just started out. I had a flick through it myself first, of course. Everything’s clearly illustrated and described. And my friend’s already managed to get her first prints right! ;) I learnt it all from my dad myself! The tip about looking over an old hand’s shoulder is the best thing you can do. Don’t they actually do that at school anymore? In AGs or something!
Andreas
Gast
Hello everyone,
thanks for your replies. I don’t think I can really join a work experience group, as I finished school quite a while ago. I’m 34, after all. I’ve made a note of Franz’s book. And I’d actually already thought of the idea of asking an experienced hand, but who would actually do that? After all, I’d just be watching and wouldn’t be bringing in any money, unlike a trainee or something. But it’s worth a try... maybe I’ll have a go at phoning through the Yellow Pages.
Anyway, thanks for the kind help. In another forum a while back, people just laughed at me. They said you can’t just pick that up on the fly... better not even try. It’s far too difficult.
So have a lovely day and take some great photos
Sandy
Gast
Hi Sandy,
I don’t see it that way with the old hands; round here there are plenty of professionals who are happy to let you look over their shoulder, pass on their knowledge, and don’t think about the money. They’re simply people who, in this age of digitalisation, want to pass on a bit of their craft. Through the adult education centre (VHS), you can usually make quite good contacts, particularly with professionals who are genuinely willing to share their knowledge.
Best regards, Sven.
Gast
Too hard? If others can do it, you can learn it too.
Regards, Ronald
Gast
Obviously, you can't learn that in a day. But you've got to start somewhere. You'll pick it up as you go along
;)
Best wishes, Sven.
cfb_de
Topic: "Old hands":
SW Magazine's list of experienced staff.
There are quite a few of them, and they probably just want you to bring your own consumables. Maybe not even for the initial training session. It doesn't cost anything to give them a ring :-)
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
Thanks … there really are loads of old hands here :-). It’s definitely worth giving them a ring! And I ordered the book on Amazon yesterday! It should be in the post today. Many thanks to everyone :-).
Best wishes from Sandy
