I’ve always admired Roy DeCarava’s shadows, especially their seductive positivity. They feel like deep pools of energy, rather than simply the absence of light.
That is the way I would start (the blank bits between frames), then I would assess what was happening in the highlights at that exposure. In theory, if your exposure and processing are correct it should all fall into place. This doesn’t always happen though, because each scene brightness is different. If the highlights are not showing detail, then a second exposure through a 00 filter will bring those in. If the highlights are grey, then you have a low contrast negative and should make the test again with a full grade higher. Does that help?
Wow, there are some really fantastic shots in here. The ‘Everything Reduced’ one is my favourite.
I’ve had a bit of a play with photographing shadows digitally, but I'm not sure if I’d be brave enough to try and get it right on film… I may have to use this as inspiration to go and give it a try 🤔
Your captures are excellent, Andrew🖤! Thank you for such an interesting read. When it comes to using shadows in a creative way, the first name that comes to my mind is Søren @harbel !
We collaborated on a shadows diptych challenge together and I must say I'm still proud of the result👇🏻!
I’ve always admired Roy DeCarava’s shadows, especially their seductive positivity. They feel like deep pools of energy, rather than simply the absence of light.
Hi Jon, I just had to look to remind myself of his work. It looks like he was uprating his film at least one stop, judging from his shadow detail.
For darkroom work, do you think it’s important to determine exposure time for maximum black with a blank(unexposed) negative?
That is the way I would start (the blank bits between frames), then I would assess what was happening in the highlights at that exposure. In theory, if your exposure and processing are correct it should all fall into place. This doesn’t always happen though, because each scene brightness is different. If the highlights are not showing detail, then a second exposure through a 00 filter will bring those in. If the highlights are grey, then you have a low contrast negative and should make the test again with a full grade higher. Does that help?
I very much enjoyed this. Just yesterday I was chasing shadows, here is one of the photographs I took:
Thank you William. There is no picture attached.
Sorry it won’t attach for some reason, but this link will take you to it:
https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3416762384922969680
I like the strong blocks of black in that William.
Wow, there are some really fantastic shots in here. The ‘Everything Reduced’ one is my favourite.
I’ve had a bit of a play with photographing shadows digitally, but I'm not sure if I’d be brave enough to try and get it right on film… I may have to use this as inspiration to go and give it a try 🤔
Thank you. Give it a go, you have nothing to lose and no one is judging you.
Your captures are excellent, Andrew🖤! Thank you for such an interesting read. When it comes to using shadows in a creative way, the first name that comes to my mind is Søren @harbel !
We collaborated on a shadows diptych challenge together and I must say I'm still proud of the result👇🏻!
https://open.substack.com/pub/harbel/p/just-suzys-slow-life?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2ypvyh
Thank you.
Very thought provoking, thanks buddy.
Thanks mate.