Growing up, all my images were printed. Digital didn’t exist. You couldn’t look at the back of the camera to see your shot or use a computer to review, edit and upload your images. When you finished a roll you took it to the local camera store to have it developed. If you were so inclined you had a dark room in your house or school. I would convert my bathroom into a darkroom, pasting a “Do Not Enter” sign to the door. My middle school and high school also had darkrooms. I developed and printed everything I shot, good or bad. It was a process I had to learn over time.
I still have some of those prints. I love having something tangible to hold and enjoy. During COVID, like others, I looked for projects that used my hands. I learned how to make sourdough and I started working with my old film cameras again. I didn’t go so far as to develop my images, for many reasons, however, I did start printing again. When I received the film scans from the lab I printed every image on 5 X 7 matte paper. Shooting black and white, I loved the look and feel of the matte finish. I don’t have a fancy printer, just a standard inkjet photo printer. I’m loving the results. It took a bit of time to understand the Lightroom Print module. There was a learning curve. A few test prints and I was dialed in. I’ve added a white border to remind me of the way I printed when I was a kid. Every image had a border. I’ve never liked full bleed images. Just personal preference.
As I printed my images I noticed a big difference between what I saw on my computer screen vs what the print looked like. I learned about my monitor and the specific settings that needed to be changed so that the two would align. I could go into all the details but know that every display and printer are different and need different types of calibration or combination of settings. I found mine and couldn’t be happier with the results. My advice would be to research your own printer and monitor combination to discover the necessary steps.
The image above shows the back wall of my office. I regularly switch out these images. It is like an art instalation in my own space. As I get older nostalgia plays a big part in my art. Remembering what it was like, as a kid, to experience images. What it felt like to hold and work with a manual camera. Avoiding what I call “IG” or instant gratification. Delaying the enjoyment of the image but instead enjoying the process more. No menus or digital filters to worry about. Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO, my best friends in the creation of the image. Keeping it simple and taking my time. A mindful moment with camera in hand.
Until next time…
John