G R E E N  M A N  P H O T O G R A P H Y -- R o n  H a m m o n d

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After I figure out how to do something (especially something I do infrequently), I tend to write it down.  Having done so, I am glad to share the information with anyone who needs it.  Don't assume that if it works for me, it will work for you.  Try it out before you depend on it or make a big investment in time or money.  Caveat reader.

If you want to print a copy of any of these for your own use, please do so.  PDF files (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader -- free from Adobe's web site) are attached to most of the items. 

Slides from prints

 

 

If you work in black and white, you often need slides of your prints to send to galleries, publications or competitions.  Making high quality slides from your black and white prints isn't hard but I sure didn't get it right the first time.  This article describes my process.

Split filter printing.

 

 

Split filter printing is the sequential use of a high-contrast and a low-contrast filter to produce a print on variable-contrast paper.  It is certainly a common and very useful technique to give the print a base exposure with one filter and then burn areas of the print with a different filter.  Split filter printing produces similar results but with, in my opinion, better control and better ability to pre-visualize the results.  I had used split filter printing quite a bit and found it both very frustrating and, occasionally, a very useful addition to my darkroom tool bag. 

I developed an approach to split filter printing that allows me to use it as extension of my normal printing process.  If you use discrete filters as I do, split filter printing is one way to fill in the cracks between grades.  Much more importantly, split filter printing combined with dodging and burning gives you a measure of control that is impossible to achieve with any other technique I know -- especially if you have only two hands.

If you practice the zone system and do mostly landscape or studio photography and have excellent control over the contrast and density of your negatives then read no further.  If, on the other hand, you are a street photographer as I am and often have negatives that require a measure of darkroom histrionics then you may find this article very interesting.

Getting Organized

 

Two friends and I were asked to give a short program for our photographers' salon, Group f/5.6, on how we organize and keep track of our negatives and prints — in the modern jargon our workflow. 

The three of us have different ways of doing our photography.  One shoots color slides and prints digitally.  One shoots 4x5 black and white and does both silver and digital prints.  I shoot 35mm and medium format and do silver prints. 

We also have different workflows — but they all three work.  This is my contribution to the program.  Check Paul Butzi's and Katrina Kruse's websites to see if either of them have written up their workflows.

The art of being disturbed

 

Photographs and other images are an ethical and a religious issue as well as an art issue to me.  This article explains why.

Matting and mounting

 

I was asked to do a one-session workshop on mounting, matting and framing photographs.  This pdf is the notes from it.  The local sources for tools and materials are, well, local but you may find the other parts helpful.  Left click on the link to view in Adobe Acrobat.  Right click on the link to download.

How to get hung

 

I was asked to do a presentation for our photographers' salon, Group f/5.6 on getting work hung since I have been fairly successful at doing so (not at MOMA but one step at a time).  The venues mentioned are local but you may find the other parts helpful.  Left click on the link to view in Adobe Acrobat.  Right click on the link to download.

Making Books of your Photographs

 

I have done several hand-made books of my photographs; projects ranging from an appointment calendar to a book of nudes.  Hand-made books are a lot of work to do but the results are very satisfying and another way to display your work.  I was asked to do a presentation for a local photography group, the UW Photographers.  You may find inspiration to try a book from this.  

Lootens on bleaching

  The venerable book "Lootens on Photographic Enlarging and Print Quality", long out of print, has the best description of using Farmer's reducer for local bleaching that I have ever seen.  The process he describes is very controllable and not difficult to do.

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