Taken by my wife, Peg
My dad was an amateur photographer (there’s a picture of him in the pages of the blog). I remember he brought back a TLR from Germany after WWII and the fridge was always filled with rolls of 120 film. He also shot rolls and rolls of 8mm film. I remember an old story of him and my mom setting up a temporary darkroom in the bathroom of my grandfather’s house, where they lived right after they got married.
When I studied theatrical design in the mid ’70’s, I took a photography course where I learned darkroom technique (Klaus Schnitzer’s course at Montclair State). Klaus believed in three things: “Nikon cameras, BMW cars, and Ilford FP4.” Well a fourth thing, he also believed in Edwal FG7. I don’t think he was very happy with my development as a photographer while I was in his class. I believe he still teaches. I’ll never forget Klaus’ worst biting commentary (not about my work, thank goodness) “It’s nothing but a schnapshot!” I’m pretty sure he expected more of me than I gave him. I’d be curious if today he came to this blog, what he’d think.
Starting in that class, I only shot FP4 developed in FG7 for years. Occasionally I’d use Microphen and HP5, but very rarely, and I didn’t feel confident with in. I built a darkroom in my parents’ basement with my friend John Sharkey.
Unlike most photographers of my generation, I never shot a roll of Tri-X until 2008. I know that makes me kinda unique, but there it is. I still prefer HP5’s tonality to Tri-X, politics aside. Go Ilford! I’ve read on the net that the ‘new’ Tri-X isn’t as good as the ‘old’ Tri-X, that Kodak has nerfed it. Oh well, if that’s true I’ll never get to enjoy the true value of Tri-X.
Every roll, every frame, I find myself both remembering what I knew and learning something I never knew. It’s an adventure. Please take a look at my images, leave comments, and let me know what your think. I’ll learn a lot from your thoughts.
Thanks for looking.
