Re: Research Question - Darkrooms closed?

Having read some of the responses to this issue, my comments tend to
reenforce what's happening.

For press photography, the electronic photography beats wet photography
hands down. In the context of a college education for job, computer aided
photography is a must.

In the context of a University education, education for better life, the
need to understand photographic process mandates the understanding with wet
darkroom processes. It starts with a negative. Moving into computer aided
photography, I would bet, becomes much easier as a better understood medium
after some form of wet darkroom training. This would become a good research
project.

As for the word 'historical' or 'historic' processes. I would go with
Historic Processes, Proven Methods in the Photographic Arts.

Note: It is my understanding that Alt. or Alternative processes came out of
the phrase 'An altervative process to commercially prepared materials.'

S. Shapiro, Carmel, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Sullivan" <richsul@earthlink.net>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: Research Question - Darkrooms closed?

> Thanks to Judy, Liam, Ender, and Diana and the ones I missed. And if any
> more come to mind please post.
>
> I can't go into to much detail as to my reasons for this particular
aspect.
> It's a hot button political issue.
>
> It does relate to a program I have been asked to design that greatly
> expands the teaching of historical processes and integrates photographic
> processes into other programs such as ceramics, fiber art, printmaking,
> book arts, etc. It's pretty ambitious and includes a 2 year, 4 year, and
> MFA program. It is all at the early proposal stage and is far from being
a
> done deal.
>
> I have decided to use the term "historical processes" instead of
> alternative or non-silver. It goes over better in the academic setting.
> Alternative sounds a lot like it might involve acupuncture, and
> non-silver... well! My school had used the term "obsolete processes" in
> some contexts if one can imagine that, and then to think the school also
> teaching business marketing!
>
> Perhaps "historical" is not perfect but does have a sophisticated ring to
> it. I give a heavy dose of history in my classes. I go into a lot of
detail
> as to living in a world where people were not inundated with images minute
> by minute. That the search for a permanent process, and I focus on the
> invention of carbon printing, which was serious business involving sealed
> envelopes being sent by courier under guard to the local scientific
> societies, patents and massive follow up lawsuits. Students today can
> easily view these processes as quaint photo 101 endeavors and miss the
> tremendous impact the development of photography had on society in their
> day. I also have a view that much of the early development was centered on
> making printing plates and not parlor pictures. I believe Niepce and
> Daguerre were attempting to make a printing plate and had to settle for
the
> parlor print. Note that it was many years before a decent photomechanical
> process was developed and photomechanical reproductions outnumber prints
by
> megafactors. (new word?)
>
> Interestingly enough, the secret that eluded everyone on carbon printing
> for a long time was solved by transferring the gel and developing from the
> back side. Gee that sounds so simple. Why did it take so long?
>
> I digress but as I finish this proposal I will post it.
>
> --Dick Sullivan
> Center for Photographic History and technology
> At 09:17 PM 10/8/2004, you wrote:
> >Dick,
> >
> >I don't know why you want the info, but maybe something else to look into
> >would be how many traditional camera clubs have packed up, and how many
new
> >digital clubs have sprung up. Plenty here in the UK.
> >
> >
> >Liam
>
>
>
>
Received on Sun Oct 10 16:21:12 2004