My Own Photography

Sandwiching negatives is one of my favorite things to do in photography and I figured I'd share on of my very own images to prove how much fun it is. All you have to do is place two different negatives in the negative carrier and expose the picture on to the photo paper. Its pretty simple process and time adjustments will have to be made, but the pictures always turn out pretty sweet and sometimes you can combine some of the opposite stuff to get images that can look amazing.

Photogram fun.

I was trying to think of something unique to blog about for this post, but nothing really came to me at first. So then I decided to rummage through my old photography binder and came across my photogram over a pictures. They aren't really anything special, but they are pretty cool to watch appear when you are in the darkroom.

This is just one example that I could find of this process, but the basic concept is just to expose a image for the right time and with the photo gram already placed upon it. This can create some crazy images and in some instances make the image look like its doing crazy things like snowing and such.

Keh.com

I don't really know how well known this website is, but I bought my film camera from here, so I'd thought I would share the link! It has great prices and ranges from almost brand new camera to very used ones. The website does a great job of rating and ranking the cameras, plus it has a great variety to chose from.

Check out great used cameras at Keh.com!

What kind of camera?

A lot of time finding the perfect film camera is hard to find. You have to ask many questions when buying and there are so many different types its impossible to choose. Canon, Kodak, Nixon, and so many others have put out different types of cameras in all different types of formats including medium and large.

Not trying to persuade a certain way, but I myself use a Canon AE-1 just like the one pictured above. It isn't much, but it has the old type of feel to it that I just love about cameras. Here are some images of other types of film cameras that might be interesting to check out.

Artist Spotlight: Jerry Uelsmann

If you want to know about a famous photographer, who shined bright in darkroom photography, you'll have to check out Jerry Uelsmann. He is known around the world for his photographic montages made in the darkroom with multiple enlargers and negatives.

Check out his website HERE for more pictures and a biography of this famous photographer.

Holga Cameras

This isn't really a post about darkroom photography, but it does have to do with a certain type of film camera. Recently I was in my university's bookstore and I discovered this sort of toy camera that was sitting up behind the counter. After questioning the man behind the counter I learned that this was in fact a Holga camera, which is a camera that sort of likes to distort color images.

After further inqury and a bit of interest the man convinced me to buy the camera and give it a shot. I discovered it is actually very simple to use and after playing with it a bit online, I even ventured it out and tried out myself, though I have yet to go get the pictures developed yet. The bizarre colors and distortion of this camera make for some great fun, and great memories to share.

Examples of Holga Camera Photographs

Burning and Dodging

Burning and dodging are simple techniques used to to lighten and darken certain parts of the photograph instead of just the whole image in general. There are many different ways to go about this process, but it is very simple and easy to accomplish the photograph you were looking for.

Double Exposure

Another cool technique that can be done in the darkroom is a double exposure. This is down with another very simple process that I will briefly explain.

The first thing that needs to be done, is two negatives have to be examined and chosen as the two perfect matches to make a beautiful image. Once the two images are picked, exposure times for both pictures must be found. So each image has to be developed first before they can be developed together. Once the two exposure times are found, the real magic begins.

First you must pick the base image and place it into the enlarger. Expose it for the amount of time you have already found. Once it has been exposed you then replace the first image with the second and continue the same process.

Some the crazy photographs are created this way. The developing process is done the exact same way as a regular image and in the end there will probably have to be a little adjustment will have to be made if one picture appears too much darker than the other, but that can also be a uniqueness about them.

Solarisation

One of the coolest things you can do in the darkroom is called solarisation. It is a type of effect where the picture is exposed just right so you can see the outline of all your images, but also gives off a dark eerie image.

The process is actually really simple. To start it off, you have to figure out your prints original exposure time. The real complicated part doesn't even start until you reach the chemicals. When your picture first starts to develop in the developer, you must quickly take the image out and expose it under a light for approximately 3 seconds. This causes the photo to keep its original outline, but become considerably darker throughout the details of the picture.

After exposing the photo, you continue the developing process as if it were a regular image. When you are done you get some pretty photographs, that otherwise could of looked bland if just developed regularly.

Interview with An Amateur Photographer

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Wolfe's Camera Shop

For those in the Topeka area, Wolfe's Camera Shop is the place to go for all your camera needs. Check it out sometime if you are just stopping through, or want to find the perfect camera just for you!

Wolfe's Camera Shop


View Larger Map

Photograms

One of the great things about photography is that you don't even need a camera to make art!

In every photography class I have ever taken, we have always started out with photograms to get us used to the enlargers and chemicals in the dark room.

The process is so easy! All you have to do is simply lay objects on a film paper, shine the enlarger light, develop the print, and BAM you have a photogram!




It doesn't even matter what objects you use for this project. Opaque, transparent, or even an object with crazy designs cut out can make for an awesome print. I have even accomplished this project by just using my own body parts such as my hands or even my hair to create cool designs. 

Pinhole Cameras

When starting out in Film Photography, it is very to just start out with the simplest form of camera, which is a Pinhole Camera. The basic functions of a camera are present, without the hassle of lenses, f/stops and shutter speeds.

Focus isn't even an issue when photographing with a Pinhole camera as the image is captured exactly as it is. The hardest part is keeping the box still for long exposures so the image doesn't look fuzzy or blurry.This can be done by just setting the camera down on a flat service to use to steady and make the perfect pictures like the ones shown in the pictures posted.

Introduction

Hello! Welcome to Trix on Pix, the photography site dedicated to everything Darkroom photography. Come back later to find out how to make your own darkroom in your house, a pinhole camera, and crazy techniques to use in the darkroom or with a film camera.