i used to shoot film back in the early 80s.. and moved to digital but i am now back to film! mostly 120.. i am so happy to have found your chanel! i thank you very much for your videos, they are simply great, clear and so insightful.
Thank you so much Franck!! I'm glad you find our videos so helpful!! Digital is great, but traditional photography is much more of an experience. Hope you get amazing results with film!! Thanks for watching :))
It's like a first grade teacher talking to you.. The moment the picture appears on the paper, and you see for the first time what it will look like. that moment is priceless. that's what I love the most about shooting film.
Very good video! I watched the whole series in a row. He is a great teacher, he reminds me of my community college professor in America, and I like your direction and editing! Now I want to practice film developing and printing again!
+O Yoko Thank you!!! You are very kind! :) Where did you go to school in America? The college he teaches at is very diverse-there are so many countries and cultures represented by the students who go there. So glad Professor Agar inspired you to get into developing and printing your own again! Best of luck to you! ビデオを見ていただきありがとうございます！
Thank you!! I'm glad you enjoyed it! It is amazing to see the print develop before your eyes, and to be able to have creative control in ways other than digitally!!
I watched all three of these and I have to say I have a lot more respect for this process. I just bought b&w film for my camera and the guy I bought it from gave me a semi high price for developing and making prints but after watching this I fully understand why and don't mind the price. Great video by the way, very informative.
Clear, informative, and fun. There's something about the delicacy of the image from shot to print that makes using film so much more worthwhile than digital.
As young folks shooting digital it is really interesting to know how they did it during the film days and greatly appreciate the power and ease we now have in digital photography. Its also inspiring in its own way knowing the passion that surrounded darkroom work and realising I ought to have that too today.
+Tonderayi Kanoz Thanks for watching, Tonderayi :)) It is interesting to compare the similarities and differences between the two styles of photography. Glad you enjoyed the video!!
Thank you Anthony!! We hope our video helps you making prints! :) Have you seen any of our newer videos? We're having a contest and encourage you to enter: ua-cam.com/video/IPbS7K0Wmfw/v-deo.html, ua-cam.com/video/Qzyfgz0nl0Q/v-deo.html, and ua-cam.com/video/hXJYErB22VY/v-deo.html. Hurry-entries are due soon: Nov. 30. This is a perfect time to try out something you've learned or enter something you've shot during the quarantine! Good luck!! -L
This whole series is great. Thanks for posting these. I'm looking to forward to watching more. After the "making a proof" video though, I was a little sad he didn't make the print of the cat in cage he talked about!
Nathan Johansen Thanks Nathan!!!! I know--I wanted to see the caged kitty too, but he changed his mind last minute. Perhaps in a future video... We recorded two new ones last week. One will be up soon--it is about fun things to do with photography. You are the first to know!! This one will be different than the rest--some parts will be in color (or maybe all? Not sure yet). Stay tuned!!!
Thank you so much Vera!! Did you ever find the screenplay you were looking for? Did you know Johnny Depp is in an upcoming movie about Eugene Smith called "Minamata"? I'm looking forward to that one. Thanks for watching!! Good luck to you :)
This guy is awesome. So much fun to watch and listen to. I wish I had taken the time to really appreciate the hands-on process of developing film and making prints back in my photography class in high school. I would love to be keeping busy in the darkroom these days. Suddenly, using a DSLR and lightroom/photoshop just seems less engaging/inspiring. Thank you for uploading these videos. It has been a fun nostalgia trip for me to watch these :)
Thank you Sean! I'm sure many of us went through classes in high school the same way! I had a photography class in 12th grade and have a bunch of silly photos from then that still look good. Then in college I took B&W Photography again--mainly because it was required. At that time, I thought all I liked was digital. But, I put a lot more thought into film photography, and end up with really great pictures that I might not have gotten with my DSLR. Both methods are nice for very different reasons. I'm glad you enjoyed the videos!!!
Thank you!! I'm glad that you found them helpful! I enjoy digital a lot, but I really learned how to "see" and take better photos when I took Professor Agar's class!! It was also really awesome to watch as the print developed as well as to do things the way "they used to." (lol) I was surprised to find out that even with film photography you can control how your photo looks in the end by varying different things while you process your film and print.
Just watched all the Agar videos and loved them. I'd love to see one on the Zone System of metering. Thanks for all the hard work pumping these awesome videos out.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! Zone System of metering is added to the list! Thanks for your kind words and suggestions! We're taking a little break but will be back soon! Now where did that list go.... :))
Vanden King Professor Agar says, "Sorry if there is confusion! The longer you expose film the more dense it will get and produce a lighter print. The trick is to balance exposure and development between the subject's original contrast and what you want for a final print. For further information, see Ansel Adams' Zone System "The Negative." This book will keep you busy this winter (and next)!" Sincere apologies for the delay in answering your question!! I hope you are making beautiful prints!!
You can tell Professor Agar that he has inspired me to build a darkroom after watching his vid's! I just wish I was in the area so I could take his course! I'm starting late in life (at 41), but found an enlarger from a local high school and I'm super excited to get started! Thanks so much for the vids!
escher2112 That is not late in life (especially when compared to some of us...). Awesome!! You are going to love having your own darkroom!! Glad you enjoyed the videos. Professor Agar has others he would like to do on more advanced B&W topics--stay tuned!!! :)
Not sure if there is an enlarger specifically for that purpose, but you could turn your jpeg into a negative by inverting it in Photoshop and then printing it on transparency paper/film. Our enlargers can handle very large negatives--check what size the enlarger you want to use can handle and print your inverted photo that size. Good luck!!
great videos.... before watching your videos I've never even thought about how films were developed back in the days, 2 days ago I bought a 35mm camera and after watching you videos I feel like I could develop it myself..... I hope to get the chance to do it cause I feel like it gives you a more intimate connection with the pictures you take, I feel like if you develop your films the final result it's you all the way rather than someone else doing it for you.... thanks for teaching us, really appreciated...
Awesome Luca!! Give it a try-you can do it!! You're right, there is a completely different feel and appreciation for film photography-for photos that you take, develop, and print yourself. It's truly a work of art, created from start to finish by you! The professor demonstrates different ways to develop film and several techniques you can try while printing your negatives on this channel. I hope you get a chance to try some of them!! Thank you for watching our videos! Good luck to you!! :))
Michael Parker Barbara London and John Upton have great books on photography. Professor Agar recommends London and Upton's "A Short Course in Photography." Another excellent book he recommends (he calls it the "Holy Grail" of photography books) is Ansel Adams' "The Print." London and Upton's books might be a little more expensive (if new), Adams' book is $25 on Amazon. Enlarging hasn't changed much, so even an older book will have valuable information in it. Good luck to you!!
Am I thinking backwards on exposure? The way you point it out in your video, shows the image being darker at the longer exposures. I thought that the longer exposure would have more light absorption and hence produce a lighter proof?
Thank you sweetcandysmile !! Color processing uses different chemicals and equipment (and more expensive to get into). It's also very important to be accurate with temperatures and agitation control. Here is a great article on color printing, provided by +acp404 : photo.net/learn/darkroom/color-darkroom.
Thank you for such a comprehensive and excellent series for a newbie like me! When focusing, is there a placeholder sheet of paper in the easel to keep the distance from the lens to the target paper consistent? Or is that not important considering depth of field is increased sufficiently by stopping down the lens after focusing?
From what I understand, it is a complicated process. Color processing uses different chemicals and equipment and is more expensive to get into. It is also extremely important to be accurate with temperatures and agitation control. Here is a great article on color printing, provided by acp404 : photo.net/learn/darkroom/color-darkroom
Itzholmes You were probably looking for digital information :) A dark room is... a very dark room (lol) used when making enlarged prints from negatives. Digital and film photography use different cameras and processes. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Using film is rewarding, but sometimes more work. And of course you have to wait to see your photos....
+honkeytn Professor Agar says, "Yes I did. But if you print with Ilford Multigrade paper and Multigrade filters you can start with a no. 2 filter for the initial print. If and when you change to a higher or lower filter the time remains the same until you get to a 5 filter." Hope this helps!! Thanks for watching :)
I do print with Ilford Multigrade paper but have a Kodak Polymax contrast filter set, because that's what I got when I bought my darkroom setup from a local photographer who had retired. i don't think my negatives need more than 3+ or -1 contrast filter so once again I thank you for a clear explaination.
Hi prof.Agar.. i enjoyed watching this channel.. thankyou for the tims making it.. i just got an enlarger last nite..hehehe.. the thing i have been looking for on google but could not find is.. is there any rule of thumb or formula to use for exposore time when you stop down the aperture 1,2,3 stops for the final print (after test shot).. i saw him do that on other vid,but he mentioned that it is a heavy math.. when he stop down from f11 to f16 he doubles the time .. is there any formula or time table i could use ?
Professor Agar says "As you open up your aperture lens ( f16 to f11), you let twice the light out so you would cut your time in half to compensate your exposure. As you stop down your aperture lens-which is usually the case (f 5.6 to f8), you cut the light in half so you need to double the time to compensate for your exposure. Most beginners blast their exposure with too much light and short exposures. Not good (as Trump would say). It is better to adjust aperture and time to about 15-20 seconds, giving you controls in dodging and burning as well as consistency in exposure time." Hope this helps! Good luck to you!!!
Thanks!! He is a great teacher!! You are the first to know (you and whoever reads this), two new photography-related videos in the very near future!! :)
This is so amazing, I would love to be your student , I wish I had taken photography in high school when I had a chance. I started working at a portrait studio a couple years after graduation and really caught the bug. It's so interesting to see how things from film were carried over into the digital world (like the proof sheet) I never realized a film proof sheet was made just by laying negatives across photo paper. Also the "dodge" and "burn" tool of photo shop and what that really means in the print making process. I never thought of it like "burning this area with light" (making it brighter) or "this area is dodging the light" (making it darker) And wow you have to make so many prints just to get your one final image! Is there less expensive photo paper you use when making your test images and then higher quality photo paper you use for your finished print?
+babyjenks1784 Thank you so much!! Professor Agar often uses Arista RC or Ilford RC for the test strip and Ilford Fiber for prints. Buy a small 8x10 pack of each. Cut test strips and lay them adjacent to make a paper speed comparison. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching :)
Is there any problem if i do not use any easel and i set the papel on the wood support of the machine?? Pd: thank u pretty much for the vid. Only a very few people upload such a great vids like that.
+Pol Prats Not really. If you put masking tape down, it helps you know where to lay the paper. The easel keeps the photo paper nice and flat :) Thanks for watching!!
Fantastic lecturer. A vanishing art that is lacking in this electronic age. The only problem is availability of materials. film-cameras. It does put the fun back in photography as a totally creative artform. Sourcing off the internet may cost a lot.
Obrigado Nuno Benavente!! I mentioned this to Professor Agar. He is getting ready to do another video--it's between this and another frequently-requested topic. Stay tuned... :))
Can Prof Agar answer this question: Should a variable contrast filter be used when making a test strip on B&W? Here is my problem: I make a test print w.out a variable contrast filter at F8, for example. From the test print I select an exposure time, for example 6 seconds. I develop the image and decide it needs additional contrast but want to keep the highlights. I insert a #3 variable contrast filter (or whatever number). I expose another sheet of paper for 6 seconds and then develop. The image (always) comes out 1 to two stops lighter compared to the image without the variable contrast filter (I'm only using filters from #2 to #5). Is this normal? I'm not complaining since I'm able to increase my exposure time so as to have more time to dodge/burn. But if I can anticipate this I can adjust at the onset and save time and paper. Thanks.....Matt
Professor Agar says, "No, make your test strip with the filter. But do you know if you need a filter? I usually don’t so I make my first test strip with no filter. I might still not know if I need a filter so I go ahead and make a print. At that point it is obvious to me if I need a filter. I then guess at the added time needed or make another test strip. If you are using Artista or Ilford start with a 2 filter when making a test strip. If you find you need a higher filter you can insert the new filter but keep the time the same until you get to the filter 5 when you must double the time." I hope this answers your question and helps you with your photos. Thanks for watching Mathew! Good luck to you :))
Thanks from Tasmania! 🙌 A quick question, though - what affect does aperture have during the printing process? E.g how would setting it at 2.8 affect the final print compared to 16 or 22? Other than letting in more/less light
From what I have learnt from the ilford site, the main difference you would get is the length of working time. With f/2.8 you would have a very short working time, so if you had D&B to do you will need to be really quick. Also as with any lens, they tend to work better a stop or two down from their maximum.
@ Georgia Lilley: Professor Agar says, "In theory a good lens is equal at all apertures. Reality through testing indicates a 'sweet spot' where one aperture seems to bring out the best sharpness." Good luck to you!!
@ Ashley Scott: From Professor Agar, "Both comments are true. I find most beginners produce bad prints because their aperture is too big and they do not have enough time to do the burning and dodging successfully." Thank you for your thoughts and for watching our video! Best of luck to you!
Hello sir, enjoying watching your tutorials. I like film myself, think there is just something special about it. OfcourseI shoot digital photos mostly, but lately i am interested in experimenting with film. Its 2020, do you still shoot film? what do you think of future of film photography. Regards from Austria
Nicely done. I know you cant cover it all, but it would be useful to point out picking the exposure the is correct for highlights (whites), then ising contrast to bring the rest of the print up to contrast.
Probably the best 3 videos on this subject on UA-cam. Superb and thank you.
+Martin Gillman Thank you Martin!!!!
i agree
Thank you Sarah!!!!
Martin Gillman Really! I Also Agree. I like the way he explain... Very helpful videos!
Thank you Massimo!! Your comment was "lost" until now. Thanks for watching!!
I came just for the development video, ended watching everything. Thanks for sharing.
Saulo Silva Awesome, Saulo!! Thank you!! :)
Saulo Silva Trangent same for me :D
+kingappia Thank you!! Glad you enjoy the videos :))
big thank you to you and professor Will Agar. keep film alive, believe in film.
i used to shoot film back in the early 80s.. and moved to digital but i am now back to film! mostly 120.. i am so happy to have found your chanel! i thank you very much for your videos, they are simply great, clear and so insightful.
Thank you so much Franck!! I'm glad you find our videos so helpful!! Digital is great, but traditional photography is much more of an experience. Hope you get amazing results with film!! Thanks for watching :))
It's like a first grade teacher talking to you..
The moment the picture appears on the paper, and you see for the first time what it will look like. that moment is priceless. that's what I love the most about shooting film.
That moment IS priceless!! Seeing the beauty appear that you've attempted to capture is amazing!
Very good video! I watched the whole series in a row. He is a great teacher, he reminds me of my community college professor in America, and I like your direction and editing! Now I want to practice film developing and printing again!
+O Yoko Thank you!!! You are very kind! :) Where did you go to school in America? The college he teaches at is very diverse-there are so many countries and cultures represented by the students who go there. So glad Professor Agar inspired you to get into developing and printing your own again! Best of luck to you! ビデオを見ていただきありがとうございます！
I have watched nearly all these videos, VERY VERY helpful!!! Thank you so much!
You're welcome!! Thanks for watching!
Thank you!! I'm glad you enjoyed it! It is amazing to see the print develop before your eyes, and to be able to have creative control in ways other than digitally!!
I watched all three of these and I have to say I have a lot more respect for this process. I just bought b&w film for my camera and the guy I bought it from gave me a semi high price for developing and making prints but after watching this I fully understand why and don't mind the price. Great video by the way, very informative.
Thanks Joshua S! Most places only develop color film, so black and white film gets sent out for processing.
Clear, informative, and fun. There's something about the delicacy of the image from shot to print that makes using film so much more worthwhile than digital.
At last, a very clear demonstration. Thank you Will much appreciated. Looking forward to your next video!
Informative, simple & fun. William Agar strips away the mystique making the darkroom accessible to everyone. A brilliant series of videos. Bravo!
Thank you for your kind words Jon!! We are glad you enjoy our videos! Best of luck to you!! :)
All three videos were awesome! Great professor!
All of your tutorial videos are easily the best i have seen yet. You deserve so many more views.
This guy explains eveything MUCH better than my teacher did.
So glad our videos help you!! Thanks for watching! Good luck to you :)
As young folks shooting digital it is really interesting to know how they did it during the film days and greatly appreciate the power and ease we now have in digital photography. Its also inspiring in its own way knowing the passion that surrounded darkroom work and realising I ought to have that too today.
+Tonderayi Kanoz Thanks for watching, Tonderayi :)) It is interesting to compare the similarities and differences between the two styles of photography. Glad you enjoyed the video!!
Finally a comprehensive video on darkroom printing!
Thank you Anthony!! We hope our video helps you making prints! :) Have you seen any of our newer videos? We're having a contest and encourage you to enter: ua-cam.com/video/IPbS7K0Wmfw/v-deo.html, ua-cam.com/video/Qzyfgz0nl0Q/v-deo.html, and ua-cam.com/video/hXJYErB22VY/v-deo.html. Hurry-entries are due soon: Nov. 30. This is a perfect time to try out something you've learned or enter something you've shot during the quarantine! Good luck!! -L
This helped so much to explain how the test trip timing matched with choosing the right exposure. Thank you!
Great videos and very illuminating. This is reaching a wide audience.Thank you from here in England. :)
+Philip Paynter Thank you Philip!! Glad you like Professor Agar's videos!! Thanks for watching way over there in England!!!
Thank you Professor for teaching with a passion! Easy to understand especially for a beginner like me.
This whole series is great. Thanks for posting these. I'm looking to forward to watching more. After the "making a proof" video though, I was a little sad he didn't make the print of the cat in cage he talked about!
Nathan Johansen Thanks Nathan!!!! I know--I wanted to see the caged kitty too, but he changed his mind last minute. Perhaps in a future video... We recorded two new ones last week. One will be up soon--it is about fun things to do with photography. You are the first to know!! This one will be different than the rest--some parts will be in color (or maybe all? Not sure yet). Stay tuned!!!
Come across this in my research for a screenplay involving a photographer. Brilliant. So clear and instructive. Thank you!
Thank you so much Vera!! Did you ever find the screenplay you were looking for? Did you know Johnny Depp is in an upcoming movie about Eugene Smith called "Minamata"? I'm looking forward to that one. Thanks for watching!! Good luck to you :)
perhaps the best darkroom video on youtube, straight to the point and clear. thank you!
The best(?!)! Thank you so much!!! Glad you like our videos! Thanks for watching :))
The best videos seen yet. Thanks for posting.
+Brent Zakahi You're welcome Brett :) Thanks for watching!!
Very inspiring. I wish I had a teacher like you back in my college days.
Thank you!!!
Best video ive found so far about this topic. And entertaining too!
Randonneur80 Thank you!! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching :)
Randonneur80 ich bedanke mich!
This guy is awesome. So much fun to watch and listen to. I wish I had taken the time to really appreciate the hands-on process of developing film and making prints back in my photography class in high school. I would love to be keeping busy in the darkroom these days. Suddenly, using a DSLR and lightroom/photoshop just seems less engaging/inspiring. Thank you for uploading these videos. It has been a fun nostalgia trip for me to watch these :)
Thank you Sean! I'm sure many of us went through classes in high school the same way! I had a photography class in 12th grade and have a bunch of silly photos from then that still look good. Then in college I took B&W Photography again--mainly because it was required. At that time, I thought all I liked was digital. But, I put a lot more thought into film photography, and end up with really great pictures that I might not have gotten with my DSLR. Both methods are nice for very different reasons. I'm glad you enjoyed the videos!!!
Thank you!! I'm glad that you found them helpful! I enjoy digital a lot, but I really learned how to "see" and take better photos when I took Professor Agar's class!! It was also really awesome to watch as the print developed as well as to do things the way "they used to." (lol) I was surprised to find out that even with film photography you can control how your photo looks in the end by varying different things while you process your film and print.
Wow! That contrast stuff really does make a difference. Really good!
Thank you Kittens! Glad you liked the video :) Good luck to you!!
Just watched all the Agar videos and loved them. I'd love to see one on the Zone System of metering. Thanks for all the hard work pumping these awesome videos out.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! Zone System of metering is added to the list! Thanks for your kind words and suggestions! We're taking a little break but will be back soon! Now where did that list go.... :))
Thank you Daniel! Glad you enjoyed them!!!
Thank you!!! That was very nice of you to say! I'm glad you like them :)
Thank you so much!! It was really fun to make! Stay tuned!! Hoping to have another photography one soon :)
Excellent tutorials, I just watched these and they are really informative.Thank you for uploading them.
+Frankie Glossman Glad you liked them Frankie! Thank you!! :))
awesome teacher!...awesome series!....awesome video!....thank you!!
Thanks Darryl!! ❤️
I really enjoyed this mini series, you should do more!
Thank you!! You'll see another one around June.
Great! this guy is a natural born teacher
Glad you enjoyed the video!! Thanks for watching!! :)
Vanden King Professor Agar says, "Sorry if there is confusion! The longer you expose film the more dense it will get and produce a lighter print. The trick is to balance exposure and development between the subject's original contrast and what you want for a final print. For further information, see Ansel Adams' Zone System "The Negative." This book will keep you busy this winter (and next)!" Sincere apologies for the delay in answering your question!! I hope you are making beautiful prints!!
You can tell Professor Agar that he has inspired me to build a darkroom after watching his vid's! I just wish I was in the area so I could take his course! I'm starting late in life (at 41), but found an enlarger from a local high school and I'm super excited to get started! Thanks so much for the vids!
escher2112 That is not late in life (especially when compared to some of us...). Awesome!! You are going to love having your own darkroom!! Glad you enjoyed the videos. Professor Agar has others he would like to do on more advanced B&W topics--stay tuned!!! :)
+escher2112 Did you ever build that darkroom? Hope everything is going well for you and your photography!
Thank you! Lots of amazing photos were created in that darkroom!!
This was an excellent and helpful video!
Fantastic series!
Thank you Daniel!! We are glad you enjoy our videos! Good luck! 😊
Not sure if there is an enlarger specifically for that purpose, but you could turn your jpeg into a negative by inverting it in Photoshop and then printing it on transparency paper/film. Our enlargers can handle very large negatives--check what size the enlarger you want to use can handle and print your inverted photo that size. Good luck!!
acp404 Thank you for the link to information on color printing!!
thank you for these videos. i made my first print today and i learned it all from you and some books and forums
Congratulations joar!!!!! That's awesome!! I hope you've made many since!! 😊
really awesome! You're a very good teacher
oh wow the work that goes into developing film is crazy
+Reef Raf It's a lot of work, but it's very satisfying also :))
great videos.... before watching your videos I've never even thought about how films were developed back in the days, 2 days ago I bought a 35mm camera and after watching you videos I feel like I could develop it myself..... I hope to get the chance to do it cause I feel like it gives you a more intimate connection with the pictures you take, I feel like if you develop your films the final result it's you all the way rather than someone else doing it for you....
thanks for teaching us, really appreciated...
Awesome Luca!! Give it a try-you can do it!! You're right, there is a completely different feel and appreciation for film photography-for photos that you take, develop, and print yourself. It's truly a work of art, created from start to finish by you! The professor demonstrates different ways to develop film and several techniques you can try while printing your negatives on this channel. I hope you get a chance to try some of them!! Thank you for watching our videos! Good luck to you!! :))
I learnt so much from these videos, thank you!
Greets from Argentina
+Magui Lemos Arias ¡¡Hola Magui!! De nada. Thanks for watching in Argentina!!!
Oops! I pressed the return key too fast but I wanted to thank Mr. Agar and I look forward to more of his videos.
+Elba Iris Natal Lol Elba!! Happens to me all the time! Thanks for your kind words :) Best of luck to you!
You're welcome!! I'm glad you liked it :)
Have been working with DSLR for obvious reasons, just ordered an old Canon Av-1, thanks for the videos:)
Landscape Cards Great!! Thanks for watching :) Good luck to you!!
enjoying his videos this semester love to watch this pro Teacher
Glad you like the videos, Sonia! Good luck to you!!
Thank you!! Glad you enjoy them :)
@Dan Will You can buy new for too much, or you can buy used at photo stores or eBay. You could also be given one that someone is getting rid of...
This is what i have been looking for :) thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and your time
Thank you Ilija!! Glad you liked our video! Best of luck to you!!!
Such a fantastic video. Clear. Easy. Fun. Thank you! I have just purchased an enlarger; can you suggest a book or two?
Michael Parker Barbara London and John Upton have great books on photography. Professor Agar recommends London and Upton's "A Short Course in Photography." Another excellent book he recommends (he calls it the "Holy Grail" of photography books) is Ansel Adams' "The Print." London and Upton's books might be a little more expensive (if new), Adams' book is $25 on Amazon. Enlarging hasn't changed much, so even an older book will have valuable information in it. Good luck to you!!
@PicPerfectUK Thank you for your help with the exposure question! :)
Great vid. Very informative!
Am I thinking backwards on exposure? The way you point it out in your video, shows the image being darker at the longer exposures. I thought that the longer exposure would have more light absorption and hence produce a lighter proof?
Very clear instructions and intresting to watch is there one on colour development?
Thank you sweetcandysmile !! Color processing uses different chemicals and equipment (and more expensive to get into). It's also very important to be accurate with temperatures and agitation control. Here is a great article on color printing, provided by +acp404 : photo.net/learn/darkroom/color-darkroom.
Thank you for such a comprehensive and excellent series for a newbie like me! When focusing, is there a placeholder sheet of paper in the easel to keep the distance from the lens to the target paper consistent? Or is that not important considering depth of field is increased sufficiently by stopping down the lens after focusing?
Very nice and interesting. Do you eventually have a video on color film? Is there a different method or equipment of making a color print?
From what I understand, it is a complicated process. Color processing uses different chemicals and equipment and is more expensive to get into. It is also extremely important to be accurate with temperatures and agitation control. Here is a great article on color printing, provided by acp404 : photo.net/learn/darkroom/color-darkroom
Thank you! I will let Professor Agar know you enjoyed this video!!
Itzholmes You were probably looking for digital information :) A dark room is... a very dark room (lol) used when making enlarged prints from negatives. Digital and film photography use different cameras and processes. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Using film is rewarding, but sometimes more work. And of course you have to wait to see your photos....
Very helpful, thank you for posting.....
So helpful! thank you so much!!!!
+Chezkalyn Lopez Thank you Chezkalyn! Glad you enjoyed the video!! Good luck to you :)
Very nice videos! Thank you
Very clear instructions.
Thank you Sarah!!
Thanks that was very helpful !
Isn't that cute? Love that. 3 films that will greatly help me get back into film photography. Thanks.
Thanks!
Really amazing.
Thanks for watching Cloro!! Good luck to you :))
this video helps me a lot, thank you!
zijun wang Awesome, zijun! 谢谢！
Thanks, I leaned alot from this. I have my own darkroom,having a little trouble getting started.
Great!! I'm glad these videos help you!! There are more coming so keep watching :))
Quick question for the Professor. Did you change your exposure time when you added the contrast filter? Thanks, love your videos.
+honkeytn Professor Agar says, "Yes I did. But if you print with Ilford Multigrade paper and Multigrade filters you can start with a no. 2 filter for the initial print. If and when you change to a higher or lower filter the time remains the same until you get to a 5 filter." Hope this helps!! Thanks for watching :)
I do print with Ilford Multigrade paper but have a Kodak Polymax contrast filter set, because that's what I got when I bought my darkroom setup from a local photographer who had retired. i don't think my negatives need more than 3+ or -1 contrast filter so once again I thank you for a clear explaination.
You're welcome!! Good luck in your photography!
oh wow! What a great lecture! :-) very like this videos!
Thank you Sebastian!!! We're so glad you enjoy our videos! Thanks for watching :))
well soon I will make my first b&w print. Will send you the results!
Best of luck printing!!! Hope they turn out amazing!
Awesome videos!
+ValiRossi Thank you!! Glad you like our videos!! Good luck to you
Very helpful video. Thank you.
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
Hi prof.Agar.. i enjoyed watching this channel.. thankyou for the tims making it.. i just got an enlarger last nite..hehehe.. the thing i have been looking for on google but could not find is.. is there any rule of thumb or formula to use for exposore time when you stop down the aperture 1,2,3 stops for the final print (after test shot).. i saw him do that on other vid,but he mentioned that it is a heavy math.. when he stop down from f11 to f16 he doubles the time .. is there any formula or time table i could use ?
Professor Agar says "As you open up your aperture lens ( f16 to f11), you let twice the light out so you would cut your time in half to compensate your exposure. As you stop down your aperture lens-which is usually the case (f 5.6 to f8), you cut the light in half so you need to double the time to compensate for your exposure. Most beginners blast their exposure with too much light and short exposures. Not good (as Trump would say). It is better to adjust aperture and time to about 15-20 seconds, giving you controls in dodging and burning as well as consistency in exposure time." Hope this helps! Good luck to you!!!
brilliant videos!
Thank you Steve!!! Blushing.... :))
Great Video, i would have loved such a Teacher my self, and such nice Darkroom :)
Thanks!! He is a great teacher!! You are the first to know (you and whoever reads this), two new photography-related videos in the very near future!! :)
Trangent I would love more photography related Videos :)
sarg0nagel We recorded one last week and will do another this week. The next video uploaded will be about matting photos....
Bless you prof
Thank you LIΔ !! Glad you enjoyed our video! Good luck in all your creative endeavors!
This is so amazing, I would love to be your student , I wish I had taken photography in high school when I had a chance. I started working at a portrait studio a couple years after graduation and really caught the bug. It's so interesting to see how things from film were carried over into the digital world (like the proof sheet) I never realized a film proof sheet was made just by laying negatives across photo paper. Also the "dodge" and "burn" tool of photo shop and what that really means in the print making process. I never thought of it like "burning this area with light" (making it brighter) or "this area is dodging the light" (making it darker) And wow you have to make so many prints just to get your one final image! Is there less expensive photo paper you use when making your test images and then higher quality photo paper you use for your finished print?
+babyjenks1784 Thank you so much!! Professor Agar often uses Arista RC or Ilford RC for the test strip and Ilford Fiber for prints. Buy a small 8x10 pack of each. Cut test strips and lay them adjacent to make a paper speed comparison. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching :)
Your students are lucky. In the mire of UA-cam styrofoam I find substance. Thanks Will.
+Dd Ccc Thank you for your kind words!!! Glad you enjoyed the videos!
Hey nice video! Where do you get those enlarger from and how much are they?
Is there any problem if i do not use any easel and i set the papel on the wood support of the machine??
Pd: thank u pretty much for the vid. Only a very few people upload such a great vids like that.
+Pol Prats Not really. If you put masking tape down, it helps you know where to lay the paper. The easel keeps the photo paper nice and flat :) Thanks for watching!!
What a lovely person!
MrGoPro59 Different chemicals and seriously accurate temperature/agitation control.
Thank you very much for this video
Great videos, thanks
Thank you @Nigel Cortijo!! :))
Fantastic lecturer. A vanishing art that is lacking in this electronic age. The only problem is availability of materials. film-cameras. It does put the fun back in photography as a totally creative artform. Sourcing off the internet may cost a lot.
Your welcome and thank you for the article
sweetcandysmile :)
Wow, how far we've come.
+It's All Good Man Haha yes we have :) Thanks for watching!
Nice! it would be great if we could see a video on an advanced technique like split filter grade printing!
Obrigado Nuno Benavente!! I mentioned this to Professor Agar. He is getting ready to do another video--it's between this and another frequently-requested topic. Stay tuned... :))
Superb. Many thanks!
+Barry Smart Thanks for watching Barry!! :)
Can Prof Agar answer this question: Should a variable contrast filter be used when making a test strip on B&W? Here is my problem: I make a test print w.out a variable contrast filter at F8, for example. From the test print I select an exposure time, for example 6 seconds. I develop the image and decide it needs additional contrast but want to keep the highlights. I insert a #3 variable contrast filter (or whatever number). I expose another sheet of paper for 6 seconds and then develop. The image (always) comes out 1 to two stops lighter compared to the image without the variable contrast filter (I'm only using filters from #2 to #5). Is this normal? I'm not complaining since I'm able to increase my exposure time so as to have more time to dodge/burn. But if I can anticipate this I can adjust at the onset and save time and paper. Thanks.....Matt
Professor Agar says, "No, make your test strip with the filter. But do you know if you need a filter? I usually don’t so I make my first test strip with no filter. I might still not know if I need a filter so I go ahead and make a print. At that point it is obvious to me if I need a filter. I then guess at the added time needed or make another test strip. If you are using Artista or Ilford start with a 2 filter when making a test strip. If you find you need a higher filter you can insert the new filter but keep the time the same until you get to the filter 5 when you must double the time." I hope this answers your question and helps you with your photos. Thanks for watching Mathew! Good luck to you :))
Awesome! Thanks!
+Victor Diaz Thank you Victor!! :)
Thanks from Tasmania! 🙌 A quick question, though - what affect does aperture have during the printing process? E.g how would setting it at 2.8 affect the final print compared to 16 or 22? Other than letting in more/less light
From what I have learnt from the ilford site, the main difference you would get is the length of working time. With f/2.8 you would have a very short working time, so if you had D&B to do you will need to be really quick.
Also as with any lens, they tend to work better a stop or two down from their maximum.
Ashley Scott thank you! ☺️
@ Georgia Lilley: Professor Agar says, "In theory a good lens is equal at all apertures. Reality through testing indicates a 'sweet spot' where one aperture seems to bring out the best sharpness." Good luck to you!!
@ Ashley Scott: From Professor Agar, "Both comments are true. I find most beginners produce bad prints because their aperture is too big and they do not have enough time to do the burning and dodging successfully." Thank you for your thoughts and for watching our video! Best of luck to you!
Hello sir, enjoying watching your tutorials. I like film myself, think there is just something special about it. OfcourseI shoot digital photos mostly, but lately i am interested in experimenting with film. Its 2020, do you still shoot film? what do you think of future of film photography. Regards from Austria
Nicely done. I know you cant cover it all, but it would be useful to point out picking the exposure the is correct for highlights (whites), then ising contrast to bring the rest of the print up to contrast.
Thank you! Great idea for an upcoming video....