I Hand Tint Black and White Photos the Classic way. I have developed a 2 zone technique. In Zone “A” which is subject or object to film. Zone “B” which is film to print. In zone “A” I look for points of interest in the fore ground, middle ground and back ground. I will also look for points of interest at the bottom, in the middle and top. I shoot between f/5.6-f/8.0. Exposure time is usually around 1/60- 1/250.
I develop my Black and White prints using the same f/stops that photo was exposed in Zone “A”. I expose my prints in the dark room the using the same f/stops which prints were shot. In Zone “B” my Exposure time under my enlarger is about 10%-20%. I process my prints using Archival methods which require stripping my prints and then toning them either Selenium, gold, Copper, Sepia, Platinum-Palladium, Antique, Coffee, Tea, Nickel, or Burgundy wine.
When I Hand Tint my Prints, my Points of interest will be Hand colored to give the print a three dimensional effect. I have control of my depth of field, balance and proportion, and composition. The results are based on each scene. I can take any negative even though I did’nt shoot Zone “A” and obtain a work of Art. I can manipulate Zone “B” and create Real eye candy. Pacco J Pompei
My 2 Zone Technique.
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