In Print

There is no substitute for seeing images in print. Whether it’s a photo sent to your inkjet printer from your computer then pinned on the wall, a photo book printed by a web publishing company, a scratched old photo from way back, or a favourite image you’ve taken and sent off for printing and then taken to a local framing service for hanging in your home, they all mean something. A printed image is tangible. It has personal value. Holding an image in our hands or seeing it hanging in front of us, triggers something in us. We may take images for granted because we see so many these days, especially on social media platforms while using our plethora of electronic devices. The content whizzes past and we become immune to it all. We lose the connection and more often than not, these images don’t resonate with us. But a picture is worth a thousand words, they say. And a picture displayed in your home is a very special thing. You’ve taken the time to decide on the size, the frame, maybe the mount, maybe the paper it’s printed on, maybe how it was printed, and of course where to put it. And when it’s up on the wall, it becomes much more than just a photo.

In 2020, during the Covid lockdowns, I light-proofed my garage and started making darkroom prints of some of my favourite images I’d taken on film. Printing was the natural next step in my analogue photography journey and I was very fortunate to have been able to create such a set up. Making a print from a negative I’ve processed myself, really completes the process for me. If I really like a photo I’ve taken, I don’t feel like I’m going full circle with my work if I don’t make a print. I’m really proud of all the prints I’ve made. Darkroom printing is a craft and it is sometimes not without frustration, but one thing it definitely is without is speed. It’s a slow, methodical but hugely enjoyable process and the end result has an allure of magic. Seeing the image appearing on the paper in the developing tray really is a sight to behold.

I intend on making some of my favourite darkroom prints available for purchase. At the moment, I can print up to a max size of 16×12 inches. If you’ve seen any black and white film images on my site (tagged film) and you would like a print, please contact me and I’ll be extremely happy to discuss it with you.