Photography as an object

This is where we talk about the printing phase. After the all the gear, the camera choices, digital or film, the subject, the lighting, the planning, the execution, the processing, the editing, the revising, more editing and then comes the final image. On the computer screen or negatives. Digging into the hard drives or negative binders to find that great shot to show someone. Super duper anti-climactic.

But standing in front of the final print hanging on a wall in just the right place truly gives a sense of satisfaction.

Printing is an art of it’s own. Understanding colour, density, contrast, paper choice can bring an image to life. And whether in the darkroom or at a digital printer, the medium is different but the game is the same.

In the darkroom the chemistry combinations, pure technical knowledge or crazy experimentation, the quality of glass of the lens, the filters, the light, focusing, dodging and burning, cropping, the developing process, the fixing and the wash bath each play a role in the final result.

At the computer the screen calibration, the way the computer talks to the printer, the inks, the paper, the levels, the curves, the contrast, the colour, the colour profiles, the fine tuning, machine related trouble shooting, the cables and hard drives. All make you want to throw the printer through a window. Patience is required.

And did I mention the cost? Do I need to?

Photography is a multi layered process but one doesn’t have to be good at every element in order to get to the final result. However, understanding what is involved at each step and what the options are can open up possibilities and at the very least, can build a respectful relationship to this medium that has become so easy to ‘just take a photo’.

It’s nice to sit back to appreciate the final result and the work that stands behind it.