AboutDon Wood Expertise I have been a professional photographer for 26 years. Wedding, portraits, passports, copies, groups pix, reunions, etc. Specialty in photography of large groups. I also have worked in newspaper photography for most of my photographic years. I have built and maintained a b/w darkroom, and a color darkroom.
Experience I have been a professional photographer for 35 years. I am transitioning to digital photography so I might be able to help in that field. I'm retired now but am still able to be helpful in the field. I have built a b/w, color darkroom, worked in a color lab, worked in the newspaper field both in darkroom and as a shooter.
I am writing to ask some questions about yourself. I'm writing a paper for a
graduate class on photographers who still use darkrooms and film. I'm
specifically looking at the community aspect of this technique which I know is
dwindling in the digital age. I just have a few questions and anything you
could pass on would be greatly appreciated.
How do you identify yourself as a photographer in regards to your process?
Should the traditional darkroom process still be taught to budding
photographers?
What do you see as ethical issues in digital photography? Are those same
issues present in traditional photography?
Thank you so much.
Answer It has been nearly 7 years since I last used my Dark Room. I can see the need of a Fine Arts photographer, Scenery, landscapes etc however, realistically, few photographers can make a living doing this, it's a nice hobby for a working photographer.It would probably take quite a while of working (starving) at this aspect before you built up enough of a reputation to be able to command the fees necessary to pay your bills. Make a survey of labs that cater to the pro photographer. You'll find that many are out of business compared to the numbers 10 years ago or they offer both processes, digital and traditional.
Ethical issues are the same whether using digital or traditional. It is just easier to do using the computer, printer, and scanner. You must use premium equipment to produce the pictures.
I think beginning photographers should at least have the rudiments of developing so that they know the process. It will also have the benefits of learning how to manipulate the camera for accurate exposure rather than using the auto exposure feature. Not to say that Auto Ex is bad, you just have to know when to override the camera to produce the desired results you have envisioned.
I hope I've helped, if I can help further, please use this forum.
Don
