Documenting dark room experiments
The darkroom is where all film is processed. In a darkroom it is essential to use the following equipment in bold to ensure the images are focused and come out how they were intended.
Photograms-A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a photo-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The result is a negative shadow image varying in tone, depending on the transparency of the objects used. Areas of the paper that have received no light appear white; those exposed through transparent or semi-transparent objects appear grey.' A photogram uses an enlarger which is a form of projector that shines a light through the negative and enlarges the negatives of the image captured onto the photographic paper. The enlarger requires a safelight, which is a red light allowing the creator to set up the photogram without exposing the image to any white light, the images are orthochromatic meaning that a dim red light will not damage the images. Once the photographic paper is placed under the enlarger and the image is curated, you can use the focus finder to ensure the image will show up clearly.
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The darkroom has 3 trays of chemicals; used to hold developer, stop and fix. Followed by the holding bath , containing water. The image must be left in the developer for 1-2 minutes ensuring the image is fully coated by the chemical. This is where the image will take form and the negatives begin to do dark. Then you must use the print tongs to move the image into the stop. This halts the image into developing any further. This should be left for 30 seconds. then the image goes into the fix which must be tested to determine how long it is held in.
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Test strip and prints A test strip is a series of exposures on a single piece of photographic paper, that is made to test the right amount of light required for a particular negative. It is important to make a test strip before you start creating your negatives, as you are then able to figure out the best amount of time to expose the paper, in order to produce the best images.
When creating my test strips i set up the photogram how I wished for my final print. I then collected a piece of black card and covered most of the frame except from one section (the first strip) under the enlarger for 2 seconds, I then progressed revealing another inch until the whole image was covered. Once the photogram was developed I could work out which exposure best suited my set up and used that for my final image.
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These are my final images after working with the test strips-
The images initially came out well however the developer smudged the white point somewhat.
Pinhole Camera
The pinhole camera is a simple form of camera based off the camera obscura. We made our pinhole cameras by using a beer can & lid to act as the camera, holding the photographic paper, a roll of tin foil, black gaffer/duct tape to prevent the can from being exposed which will be removed when taking the image and a black card to line the inside if reflective
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Above are the images I took using the pinhole camera. They were firstly taken as negatives and then I had to sandwich print them so the negatives would convert to positive
Foundation Assessment
Some understanding of process and technique but there are gaps in your descriptions and analysis (A01)
The outcomes that you have are sound but there are images missing (A02) The standard of the recording needs work and you need to make sure that you compose the images on screen. (A03) Make sure to improve your focus when working in film in later occasions (A03)