For the Love of B&W Photography

[penwash]

I know quite a few of us here love B&W photography.
So why not have a thread dedicated for it.

Pen or no pen, all welcome, as long as it is B&W, and it's yours.
Lastly, remember this is *not* a photography forum, enjoy the photos, be gracious with your observations, and be generous with your compliments.

Let's start, shall we...

[mizgeorge]

Will - those are beautiful - where are they?

[Brilliant Bill]

Terminal building, Cape May-Lewes Ferry, Cape May, NJ USA...

[penwash]

Will - those are beautiful - where are they?

Sorry, I forgot to mention where...

Those were taken at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA.

[penwash]

Somewhere near College Station, TX.

[penwash]

I don't know enough about photography to comment intelligently, but I like what I see.

Jump in anytime, David. To know enough, we must first see enough.

[Brilliant Bill]

Since you'd like to entertain some B&W, perhaps you'll have ideas about a project I'm working.

In 1974, New Jersey photographer George Tice created an image of a Mobil gas station in South Jersey. It's become well regarded enough that if you want a print today, it's $50,000. I've been trying to do a current version of that print that can recall the original in some way. The gas station has changed, but so much else has changed it's not so easy. Anyway, I'll link to Tice's image, then two I've now got as working models so far...



And then my current renditions...

and

[Brilliant Bill]

[Wile E Coyote]

<redacted>

[penwash]

Since you'd like to entertain some B&W, perhaps you'll have ideas about a project I'm working.

In 1974, New Jersey photographer George Tice created an image of a Mobil gas station in South Jersey. It's become well regarded enough that if you want a print today, it's $50,000. I've been trying to do a current version of that print that can recall the original in some way. The gas station has changed, but so much else has changed it's not so easy. Anyway, I'll link to Tice's image, then two I've now got as working models so far...



And then my current renditions...

[CENTER]

What a fun project to take on, Bill. Glad you're sharing it with us.

George Tice is a master darkroom printer. His prints have the tonality and subtlety that would delight B&W fans everywhere.

[Yazeh]

Nothing as spectacular... some pens somewhere on the Island of Montreal...

6BF381D9-2471-417D-817A-55599608CBE9.jpg

[christof]

my contribution:



six years of writing.

[Brilliant Bill]

Pen show chaos...
.
.

[FredRydr]

Silver halide or <gasp!> digital?

[penwash]

Silver halide or <gasp!> digital?

Not easily, nor quickly, but I have come to terms with digital B&W

Though I am forever *grateful* that I had the chance to experience the anticipation when pulling those 120 rolls out of the tank after rinsing the fixer off, and the magic that never gets old, seeing images form in the tray of developer under a red light...

Dang it. You made me miss my darkroom again, Fred.

[christof]

Silver halide or <gasp!> digital?

Not easily, nor quickly, but I have come to terms with digital B&W

Though I am forever *grateful* that I had the chance to experience the anticipation when pulling those 120 rolls out of the tank after rinsing the fixer off, and the magic that never gets old, seeing images form in the tray of developer under a red light...

Dang it. You made me miss my darkroom again, Fred.

Just 25 years ago, I spent a lot of time in the darkroom. I have no regrets about that this has changed. From my point of view, digital photography has many advantages for amateurs like me.

...of course I kept all the negatives and slides. You never know.

C.

[FredRydr]

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.)

[Yazeh]

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.

Fred you're better off getting a high quality scanner to scan the negatives....

[mizgeorge]

I'd completely agree with Yazeh.

I've been using my stepson's dedicated film scanner, which did a brilliant job. I was able to print contact sheets, individual shots more importantly save digital versions for editing and printing later on.

His is an Optikfilm (Plustek) which is a proper optical scanner (not a digital camera sensor in a scanner body) but it only handled 35mm (I think). They may well have versions for other formats. The software that comes with it was also pretty impressive.

If you have the space, the flatbed Epson Photo range of scanners are also very good (especially the V550 Photo) and handle multiple sizes, even mixed and matched. I had its predecessor for many years, but have finally said goodbye to it because I just don't have the room for it to sit nearby and it needs to be connected to at least a laptop. I may come to regret that decision!

There are also lots of small standalones - including the cheap and cheerful versions on Amazon that cost less than $100 - which have the advantage of having a viewing screen, so you can do a quick run through without even needing to print contact sheets. Avoid the Kodak Scanza (sp?). It's very quick and easy to use and does lots of formats, but the scan quality is rubbish!!

[penwash]

Another dimension...


Bishop Arts District, Dallas, Texas.