BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY:
Introduction to the Darkroom Development
PLACING THE NEGATIVE
Pick a good negative
- A good negative to print is in focus and has a good range of dark and light areas (technically known as dense and thin). Remember this is a NEGATIVE – the dark areas appear light, and the light areas appear dark.
- Decide how you want to crop the photo and how you want to frame it. Center the image if you are using a border and think about composition when you cut out regions of the negative.
Set up your negative
- Place the negative with the shiny side up (the top of the curl) and upside down in the negative carrier. When you hold the carrier up to the light the negative should fill the open space and be upside down.
- Open the enlarger head by turning the knob on the left (or by pulling the lever towards you, depending on the type of enlarger).
- Put the negative carrier in the opening downward at a 20-degree angle. The carrier will fit snuggly in the grooves made for it.
- Close the enlarger head and make sure it sits flush with the negative carrier.
© 2007 Jenna Langer Photography. All Rights Reserved.
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