For the Love of B&W Photography

[Brilliant Bill]

I went into the last local traditional camera and film processing shop in the region, and asked if I could have contact prints made of hundreds of old 120 and 35mm film strips. I wanted contact prints to sort and cull the negatives and choose full-size prints. He was eager to help, but he replied that neither he nor any labs do contact prints of film anymore.

If anyone knows of a lab in the USA that does B&W (and color) contact prints, please share. (Or is there a digital equivalent I can do with my MFC printer/scanner? I would assume the negatives have to be backlighted to scan...right? I am reluctant to delve into digital equipment to do a one-time job of viewing thousands of negative images. I gave up on finding a decent negative scanner a decade ago, but maybe things are easier now.)

Fred, I'm sure there are commercial places still providing scan services, but to do hundreds, you're going to spend a lot for high quality scans. I suggest you go to ebay, find a good quality used scanner, do the tedious chore of scanning yourself (hours and hours of pure boredom from my experience), then resell the scanner if you never intend to use it again. I'd guess your net cost would be $100 or less -- far, far less than any commercial scanning service!

Here's a sample of B&W film scanned to digital. I think it was Fuji Acros film from a Canon D1 camera:
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[christof]

scanning all my color slides is another project of mine (...which probably never will happen)

...taking new pictures is much more fun!

[christof]

...does this count as B&W too?

[christof]

...another B&W pen photo:

[christof]

...back in analog days, photos like these were only possible with diaphoto dye:

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Hi,

b&w on film? Sure!
Here Eggs of water snails (Planorbis planorbis) before the hatching.




Best
Jens


Made using a Microscope with Zeiss MC63 camera on 4x5" film, then printed on Centennial POP paper. Gold toner.

[christof]

Great photo Jens!
...would love to own an original.

[FredRydr]

...Made using a Microscope with Zeiss MC63 camera on 4x5" film, then printed on Centennial POP paper. Gold toner.

Love it!

[Yazeh]

Shimmering afternoon light on stainless steel[

20210413_182208.jpg



Painting the atmosphere on the ceiling...
20210413_202653.jpg

[BlkWhiteFilmPix]

Fred,

B & W photo lab in Portland, Maine still does contact printing. https://bwphotolab.com/film-processi...lm-developing/

Picto in NY may do contact printing. The original office in Paris prints for Magnum photographers. https://pictony.com/about/

So might Hank's in Mt Vernon, New York. https://www.hanksphoto.com/

Best wishes

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Great photo Jens!
...would love to own an original.

Thank you, Christof!

These are tiny contact prints (just 4x5" / ca.10x13cm), but look good on the wall...
At the moment I have no ones left to offer, sorry.

Best wishes
Jens

[christof]

no problem Jens.

here's another digital B&W photo:

[christof]

[penwash]

The camera is from the 1950s and the pen probably around 1920s.

[mathogre]

The Austrian Cultural Forum in NYC. September 2019. Enjoy!

[Schaumburg_Swan]

Dear Christof,

nice - the ideal pen stand for a Lamy 2000... are these rare?

Best wishes
Jens

[christof]

The cube was sold with the first Lamy 2000, and I'd rather say "difficult to find" than rare. But maybe Rolf Thiel has one for sale?
C.

[Schaumburg_Swan]

The cube was sold with the first Lamy 2000, and I'd rather say "difficult to find" than rare. But maybe Rolf Thiel has one for sale?
C.

Thanks, Christof,

I will look out for it.

Have a good day
Jens

[Brilliant Bill]

Pen shows aren't the only "shows" good for street photography. Philadelphia Auto Show, 2012...

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[Yazeh]

Jens a couple of links:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Rare-heavy-L...8AAOSwx8Nf3Ek-

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Modernist-De...YAAOSwHY9gXJlH