Manual Photography

As a new member, I'm just getting used to the site but haven't seen or heard anything of manual photography.
Are everyone digital photographers or does anyone share my love of taken and printing pictures manually?

I use a Praktica BCA with Ilford HP5 plus 400 black & white film.and love the process of processing and developing a film.
I would love to hear from any other manual photographers!

Danielle.

[Attached is my favorite manual picture disregarding the poor scanned quality.]

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l_0bea9787b59c679b7101947fbc9ce4ea.jpg, 29 KB

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Permalink Reply by Maeda on June 13, 2008 at 8:50am: Hello Danielle, I'm one of the manual photographers you're talking about. I use Nikon FM3A film. ISO, shutter speed, focus, apertures... everything on manual. Although I am not a pro but the dandelion picture you commented, that was taken from my FM3A. I just had that scanned. Well, the problem is if that, if you're scanning pictures, the picture gets distorted by 10%. That's why it is a must to use photoshop to restore it's sharpness. Btw, that's a nice B&W photo! great job...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sweetness on June 13, 2008 at 8:55am: I'm a hater of photo editing and photoshop but thanks for the info!
Good to see a fellow manual user.
and thank you very much! =]; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yurick on June 13, 2008 at 9:22am: Hi Danielle!
Nice question! I used manual processing at the time when I just started with photography. My father was keen on photography and he explained me the basics, and also he bought me very basic camera to start with. It was real fun to deal with chemicals and all that dark room equipment, sitting in the bathroom with red lamp :-).

Unfortunately I had a long break in photography practice due to various reasons. Recently I was able to resume it, but using already digital equipment. I would say digital is completely different culture of photography. General principles of taking a photos are the same, and even processing techniques (I mean retouching) are pretty much the same, but the tools are completely different.

And to be honest I prefer digital simply because it is more convenient to me. It is easier to setup and all that I need is a computer. And you can get the results faster and easier. But who knows, maybe some time later I'll by a film camera again ;-)

Yuri; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sweetness on June 13, 2008 at 9:30am: Thanks alot for replying!

I've found when asking people about this, that they prefer what it was that they first used when starting in photography.
I agree with the time aspect to which digital photography has the advantage.

I had to start with a Canon digital SLR when I started my job which got me into using a digital SLR.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by jadeast on June 13, 2008 at 9:38am: I used to do it all when I was using film years ago developing Panchromatic and ecktachrome, films mostly, occasional tri x but when I worked as a photography, we only used the professional Kodak films which we sent to denver and got back the next morning. I kept my own darkroom for years and printed my own enlargements. when I went digital I quit and don't miss it a bit, but I don't think it hurts anyone to experience wet photography.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Wilson on June 13, 2008 at 6:48pm: As long as I can buy film, paper, and chemistry, I will make true optical prints. I have the luxury of a full color lab with a meticulously maintained RA 4 print processor. It takes about a half a cigarette from start to dry. Oh the joy of having a stacks of contact sheets and work prints on my coffee table, my venerable color correction filters and sharpie at the ready. While I love digital photography and Photo shop, I am happiest when the lights go out.; ▶ Reply to This