I decided to use LD20 developer, which is more difficult to work with than Dektol, but sometimes the results can be alchemic, or, magical. I made 4 prints, 2 of which were too dark, but the overall feel was quite nice. The developer turned the sky a soothing pink/orange. However, I wanted to be true to the original idea, which was an overall grayish, cold tone.
After washing the 4 prints, I decided to dip one of the darker ones into a selenium bath. Normally selenium will considerably lighten the orange/pink tones, so I hoped this method might save the 2 darker prints. I was surprised to find that with the Foma paper I am using, the selenium only affected the darker tones, turning them a pleasant warm ochre/rust/red. The lighter tones were left completely unchanged. I proceeded to dip the remaining 3 prints into the selenium.
Still having a sky which was too warm, I decided to dip the prints into gold toner, knowing that the lighter tones would become a steely blue. The prints needed only 10-20 seconds in the toner, and I was able to stop the toner reaction part way, thus creating a sky which has a mixture of blue and pink.
Right now it is hard to judge the prints because I need to look at them after they dry down, and to see them flat, so in 1 or 2 days I will have a better idea of how they look and feel.
Feeling energetic, I managed to make 5 more prints from 3 different negs. It was a great session overall, about 6 hours of work. I have to be careful not to work too long, however, because I fear a relapse of loss of energy which afflicted me for 2 or 3 years.
The prints I made for David B. are now dried and flattened. They look pretty good, so I will be sending them to him soon.
Wyalusing, WI, No. 2, For David BurgerPrinted 2008
Wyalusing, WI, No. 1, For David BurgerPrinted 2008
Music I listened to in the darkroom today :
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