I don't enjoy the shooting, but the rest of the process is fun. B&W portraits are what interests me, but trying to come up with creative shots while the subject is waiting terrifies me at times. Once the shot is done I enjoy the rest. Processing isn't exciting but it is kind of soothing, gently rocking the tank while listening to a CD. Printing (i.e enlarging) is fun and the satisfaction of doing a 12x16 print of a shot that you love is hard to beat, especially when the subject then praises it!
I haven't done any B&W work for more than six months as I have moved into a new house. I have almost finished converting the laundry to a darkroom, but haven't had a chance to use my newly acquired Jobo CPP and Beseler 45M. At least I have the *ist-D to play with. Being a tech sort of guy it is hardly surprising that I enjoy playing with equipment. I find landscapes incredibly hard, I just can't "see" them when I look through the finder regardless of how pretty the countryside is. Despite this I've just built myself a 6x14 panoramic out of an old Kodak folder. The delight when the first film came back sharp and without any light leaks at all was huge. Composition is even more hit and miss because I haven't worked out a viewfinder yet, but with a 90mm angulon you get a largish chunk of the scene in. Paul Ewins Melbourne, Australia > If you shoot for fun, what gives you the most fun, the shoot > or the results or both?
