Always Room for Improvement!

I couldn't get to sleep last night even though I was tired. I just wanted to fall into a deep sleep and it just wasn't happening! Too many thoughts racing thru my head, "...is there enough contrast? I don't think so. Will people think I've done a great job or just a good job? I don't know. Tomorrow I'v got to re-print a couple of my selections as I'm not perfectly happy with those.

Today I got busy and went into the darkroom. Increased the contrast with Magenta at 20 on the colorhead enlarger. I couldn't believe the difference - amazing. I'm thinking, OMG do I have to re-do all my prints? No, not happening. The remaining ones I was happy with, so I only had three to do. Got that done and I think I'm on my way to relaxing a little. Mailed out my cards today and sent out the emails last night for the Blue Moon Gallery show, which isn't until February 12th, however, I wanted people to save the date!

Framing completed!

Today I picked up the special order frame for my diptych. Came home and immediately set out to cut the glass, which went well. I had 22x28 sheets of non-glare to cut for my 11x14s, so I cut the glass for the 13x26 diptych frame. Then I proceeded to cut the mat for the diptych - you know, two openings. Well, it only took 3 tries. The first time I wasn't paying attention and the mat moved in the mat cutter and wasn't lined up correctly. The second time went faster, but then I forgot to turn the mat around and the bevel went the wrong way! In other words, it beveled under and not out towards the opening. So the third time was the charm, but not to say without a few close calls!!

Once the diptych was framed, it looked absolute fabulous! I'm so glad I ordered the frame and went with one frame v. two. Diptychs are usually framed in one frame with a 1" break in the mat. The only thing left is to re-print one of the framed photos. I think I can do better. And then I'll be sending out my emails and mailing the postcards the end of the week for the Blue Moon Gallery show. Tomorrow I'm working at the High Hand Gallery - so nothing for the show gets done manana!

Perfecting Fiberbase Prints

Today I am heading back into the darkroom to perfect two of the 10 prints for the upcoming February show. Since I just checked online that the delivery of my amber light is still 4 days away (what's up with that! It's in Sacramento!), I'll be developing in complete darkness which is okay - probably better.

Yesterday I finally had to break down and go buy food for us. ; ) I've been busy! I mean I've been known to make a meal out of nothing, but we were past the nothing stage. In addition, I bought more fb paper and other chemicals. One good thing about yesterday was that I met a young lady who was a photography major and it was nice to chat with her. I gave her my card and asked her to email me. Oh boy, a new photography friend!

Then last night I took a break after fixing my hubby a lovely dinner of sea scallops in an apricot glaze over a bed of Chinese rice noodles, and finally loaded the software for my new camera (Canon Rebel EOS T2i) so that I could upload a pic or two for my husband - that took another hour and a half. I'll share that picture with you. He's into astronomy right now. Bought himself a pair of 100 lb binoculars, but is hinting about buying the big telescope! When he gets into something - he jumps in with both feet. Usually he puts the binocs on the tripod, but last night he took another approach: it included the cat!

Darkroom Madness

So here it is the 19th already and I've only had one post on my blog 2011! That's not good. I have been working feverishly in the darkroom, perfecting my prints and the whole 'process' at the same time! It's madness. It's all about the learning curve, trusting yourself and keeping doubt out. It's hard, it's stressful (especially with a deadline), but it's rewarding too. Ron keeps me in stitches when I come out and ask him if he would come and look at a print. He likes me in my apron, pencil behind my ear, and lately me wearing masks. He says I look like a scientist! I was having problems with the chemicals - they were starting to get to me, even though the exhaust fan was on, it wasn't enough. The masks seem to be doing the trick.

Working out the process included, rechecking my enlarger for it's alignment, reading books and my notes from my previous classes and searching on the internet for 'how-to's' when I had unanswered questions on the whole process. I purchased a used commercial seal press which ended up weighing 60 lbs!! Ron is building me a table to perch it on. Buying release paper and tacking iron - hadn't done that yet. And then realizing I should be using an amber light (for multigrade paper) v. the red light. Although, in classes we used a red light - nothing was ever mentioned otherwise. However, I noticed some of my prints looked 'muddy' and the contrast wasn't quite there. I knew about dialing in magenta and/or yellow on the colorhead enlarger, but finally figured that one out: M = more contrast; Y = less contrast.

To take care of the muddy affect, and while waiting for the amber light to be delivered, I just worked in the darkroom - IN THE DARK! I know my way around the darkroom well enough to do this - not to say it wasn't easy, but it went well. And the difference wasn't major, but it made for a much better photo. I could see the difference in the contrast and the muddy look was gone.

In the meantime, I also ordered and picked up my frames for the whole series and put them together last night just to make sure they were all there and there weren't any damaged ones. Now I need to start cutting the mats and dry mounting the prints. Will try harder to keep the blog up in 2011.

Happy New Year 2011

Can you believe it?? 2011! I remember as a young 5th grader thinking about the year 2000...boy that scared the heck out of me back then!! And I was right! Life today is scary!

But on with the fun stuff! ; ) I've been frantically busy working out all the kinks out in the darkroom. I've developed 3 out of 10 prints, all while working out the drying process. I started out using the blotter for the fiber base prints. You have to time it just right - no longer than an hour or you end up with blotter particles all over your print. So I had this ingenious idea for my husband to cut out the bottom of two of the drawers from a print file that I had purchased from the local camera store going out of business. He jigsawed the bottom out of two drawers. Then I went and bought some fiberglass screen material and stapled it into the bottom. If you don't know, fiber base prints need to dry face down on screens, if you don't use blotters or hang them to dry, but that's tricky too. The screens are working great.

Then in the meantime over the weekend, I went online to eBay and found a Seal 200 commercial press and purchased that for less than half of what you pay new. Plus, it's commercial. I don't think I can go wrong with that. Then I can use the press to help flatten out the fb prints and also mount them to the mat board using the press.

Also, as a Christmas present to myself, I purchased the Canon EOS T2i which was on sale at Best Buy. $200 less than the camera store, plus I had a credit there. Haven't spent alot of time learning it yet, but will definitely work that in as I will need to start using the digital for the High Hand Gallery. I've been designated the photographer of the artists' works.

So, yeah, that's what I've been doing! Happy New Year!