Re: Editioning

Lisa:
Using the sun for your exposures are going to be inconsistent. If it is a
partly cloudy day it will take longer. If you are printing in the summer it
will take a shorter exposure than in the winter.
 
If you want something dependable I suggest this. Using a cardboard cutout
window and the critical part of the image you are most interested in over this
opening: Take your sensitized paper under this and give it a unit of
exposure like 15 seconds then move the sensitized paper so a new area is exposed and
give it 30 seconds, then the next area will get 45 seconds and then 60
seconds and as far as you want to go. Over exposed areas will also give you a
solarized print Continue this until you have reached what you would call over
exposure.. The reason for this is to be sure that you are comparing the same
part of the negative each time you do an exposure. It is a good idea to
write on your sensitixed paper exposure what the exposure time is for that
exposure. This will give you as perfect an exposure that you can get. Remember
that the sun light is constantly changing, so pick a day with no clouds. Using
this method will assure you of the best results possible.
 
Your test strip will have several images Each image will have a greater
exposure than the last one all the way from under exposure which will be light
all the way to an image that is over exposed which will be very dark. Looking
at the series of exposures on your test strip you can readily decide which
exposure gives you your desired results. Then you will be ready to make your
final exposure using the entire negative area.
 
My students felt like they had discovered photography when doing this. Good
Luck.
 
Bob Wicks, Professor Emeritus Art & Photography
Harrisburg Area Community College
Received on Wed Jun 30 11:11:07 2004