Well this was a journal but I've been pointed out that it might make a good news article so here it goes.


Anything you (or somebody else) can achieve at a darkroom, is NOT a photomanipulation. Here is a list of different techniques I've used at a darkroom or playing with the camera. (and god knows I wished I wasn't that lazy and would scan more of my traditionally printed images...-sigh-)

FIRST OFF: have you ever been to a darkroom? Are you familiar with the process of developing and printing? This question is obviously for those who haven't, because those who have would never have a doubt of what belongs or not to the PHOTOGRAPHY >DARKROOM category.

OF COURSE THE IMAGES YOU'LL FIND IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE PROCESSED and NOT like they were first captured. That is the point.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLURRING: (including radial and gaussian)
- With the camera- motioning/double exposure, over/under exposure, using low S numbers, manual (un)focus
- With the enlargers lens - un-focusing
- At the enlarger - moving the paper

TEXTURING and VIGNETTES
- Using vegetal paper or other semi-opaque filters to block the light from the enlarger.
- Treating the printing paper before exposing it to the enlarger
- Using specific vignette filters
- Using traditional techniques to paint or scratch the final print
- Embossing, engraving, marking the paper

One technique I loved when I was at Uni, was the one of not submerging the printing paper in the chemicals but instead, brushing them over it. It takes time, but the results are amazing. If you want a rough look, you can use a very hard brush too; texture is amazing.
You can also use a sponge or cotton, you can use a toothbrush soaked in it, and rubbed against a strainer. Possibilities are endless.

ADJUSTING/ALTERING COLORS AND LEVELS/CURVES
- With the camera: Using UV filters or color filters - Using white balance and exposure (-5.0 - +5.0)
- At the enlarger: Using color filters
- At the enlarger: Overexposing the paper/underexposing the paper or reducing/extending times
- Using traditional painting techniques on the final print

PHOTO MONTAGE
- With the camera: double exposure
- At the enlarger: mounting negatives/ cutting and pasting negatives (of course this will not come out smooth, since the borders of the upper layers will produce shadings that will be printed in the paper)
- After printing: cutting and pasting collage-like


There are other facts, involving ISO numbers, special lightning conditions and more evolved techniques, etc. But for some reason, I'm a bit worried about the amount of people that believe adjusting colors can be even remotely compared to photomanipulating.

The results of Darkroom techniques, both traditional and digital, are more rough, more intense, more evident. It involves a lot of experimentation and even time spent not exactly knowing where you're going or what are you doing.

The results of manipulation of images to create a TOTALLY DIFFERENT scenario/scene are or must be smooth, seamless and flawless.

Thank you for reading. If I have time I will collect a series of features. But I won't promise.



_{My permission to reproduce this article -with proper credit- is granted}