Touch re:touch
I am in the process of scanning and post-processing 4×5 negatives from a photographic survey of Fish Plants in Western Newfoundland. I have been photographing several sites over the past 4 years and have amassed a huge pile of images. There was a problem with a good portion of the negative stock I was using resulting in pin holes and other artifacts that forced a reconsideration of how things were going to be printed in order to preserve consistency and quality.
After much experimenting, a way was found to scan the negatives using a fluid mount system on the Epson 750. If one is careful to turn off most of the “correction” tools like automatic level and curve adjustments or scratch and grain correction, it is possible to get a scan that accurately reproduces the original negative. This will allow to process the image, make necessary adjustments and corrections while staying in control of the process and produce an image that will retain many of the qualities of the silver printing process.
Wen I return to the studio, I will begin posting some of these images to the Fish Plant blog and the CURRA website. I am still betwixt and between about how to present to work in these formats without, inasmuch, reducing the impact of “unveiling” the work in an exhibition context; it is necessary to control this kind of output so that the show can have some air of freshness when it is finally put together.
– Posted from GEDEON XXIII
