LATEST WORK
Winter 2012

This winter has afforded me some time in the darkroom. I've had an opportunity to print a few photographs from film images that I had developed over the past year. "White" is the theme of this photograph. "Winter's White On Winters Run" is rendered here with two now discontinued materials: Agfa Multicontrast Classic 111 photographic paper and Kodak Tri X Professional 320 120 roll film (It is still available in sheet film). I have six 120 rolls in cryogenic suspension for nostalgic purposes.

ADOX, a German company, is now producing some of the legendary Agfa materials, even if under a new name. Agfa's discontinued Multicontrast Classic 111 photo paper has been brought back into production as ADOX MCC 110. ADOX bought the very same equipment that Agfa once used to coat their photo paper and films. Now the same equipment that once produced Multicontrast Classic 111 for Agfa is now producing MCC110 for ADOX. I have heard that ADOX even hired some of the engineers who worked for Agfa to develop new "Agfa like" products, such as, ADOX 400 Pan a resuscitation of Agfa's APX film. I love that they have included the old term "Pan" in the name of this new film. (for you kids out there "Pan" is short for "panchromatic"- sensitive to all colors) I hope that ADOX can survive and thrive in this down and digital economy. May God preserve ADOX!

I have used Kodak, Ilford, and Agfa products for many years. During that time I have felt a certain loyalty to the yellow giant. It has been sad to watch Kodak discontinue their black and white photographic paper and certain film products with the claim that it is no longer profitable to provide them to the public. The digital age has changed many things. Kodak became the giant as the leader in photo products, but ironically became too big, under waning demand, to continue as the leader in black and white photographic materials. ADOX, like ILFORD and others, deserve our support and business for their primary commitment to classic b&w photography. At this point in the game we should take advantage of their paper and film while they are providing it for us - if you ignore your friends they will go away. I must say, however, I will always shoot Tri X "Pan" as long as it is available. Start freezing it now - I have.

This photograph was captured with my nostalgic Rolleiflex T (vintage 1970). I brought it with me on a summer photo shoot to Baltimore's inner harbor. I put a few rolls of film through it and came home with some great images - many that I have yet to print. The Rollei is a well made german camera that is a lot of fun to shoot. I have always got a kick out of the old waist level viewfinder twin lens cameras. Rolleiflex cameras are very hot among collectors and Rollei enthusiasts - like me. I love all of the diagonal lines and the texture of the old cobblestones in this print.

This photograph and the one above were printed on the new ADOX MCC 110 premium photo paper. After just one printing session I found it to be very similar to Agfa's MMC 111. The only differences I noticed was that the ADOX paper has a faster emulsion speed - about 1/2 stop, a slightly more neutral black image tone, the glossy surface is a bit less glossy, and the paper base seems to be just a tiny bit thinner. The differences are very minimal and you would never notice unless you placed them side by side. Essentially, this paper is like having the Agfa paper again which makes me very very happy. Thank you ADOX! I will have to stock more of this in 12X16. The machines that coat the photo paper are the last of their kind making the Adox paper process uniquely nostalgic. I love the fact that in this digital era we can still obtain these old familiar materials to work with.

My Latest Work Blog is seasonally updated with new photographs. And my Featured Photograph page showcases a different photograph daily. Come visit the darkroom again for more eye candy. There's nothing more enjoyable on the web than a good photo blog.

I am pleased to share Makeshift Darkroom with you.

Ron