Yet another image from our archives. Taken in 1987 in Warriston – Edinburgh. Once again our muse was Alison, one of our most favourite models. Shot on 10×8 negative with the 12″ Dagor on TMax 100 and printed on Record Rapid paper using my DeVere cold cathode head. Split toned then a variety of gold/sepia/copper toners. This is  reproduced from a 5×4 copy negative of the original 20″x24″ image with no digital work. The original print was selected from around 20 images made and toned of this shot and they now now reside in a Kodak box in the attic! Over 40 images made up the NAKED RUINS exhibition which was shown in the KJP Gallery and at the Galerie La Belle Angel in 1988. I should add that this shot had no additional lighting and no reflectors were used.

Faye and I have been incredibly busy for the past couple of weeks but looking and hoping for a slightly quieter week ahead so we can catch up on several ideas and projects. First we have the first of a series of 4 workshops at Loxley Colour and places for this are now very limited so if you don’t want to miss out then call and reserve your place before Wednesday the 4th of this month. The second workshop to be announced is on Monday the 25th of October, WEDDINGS – Marketing, Branding and Promotion followed by a spectacular shooting session. Our BOUDOIR ACADEMY workshop’s have an additional date, Monday the 1st of November at Hollin Hall, http://www.hollinhallhotel.com Cheshire. Limited to only 6 delegates business and practical sessions. We still have 2 places available for our final Art Nude workshop of the year to be hosted at the stunning Maunsel House in North Somerset, http://www.maunselhouse.co.uk on Tuesday the 14th of September.

One of our tasks is to get to grips with the copying of some of our old work from the original negatives. So today we start with the first of these images from our archive. This image was created back in 1986. Shot on our 10×8 Gandolfi using my grandfathers 12 inch Goerz Dagor uncoated lens from the 1930′s. TMax 100 was the film stock processed in TMax developer.  The print was created using 20″x24″ Agfa Record Rapid, pre the changes, and developed in double bath of Dektol and Selectol Soft. Following a good wash the image was then split toned with Kodak Selenium toner followed by another wash before a variety of toners were used on the image. So long ago now but I think a Gold toner followed by a blue or green toner. Many prints were made for this image, still in a box in our attic, before I got the right mixture of toners. The final image was then overmounted using museum archival board before framing. The exhibition, REVELATIONS, when completed early in 87 comprised some 20 framed images all on the same theme and all shot on 10×8 film stock. one very interesting observation is that all this was achieved without any digital help! This image was reproduced from a 5×4 colour transparency  copy of the original print. Faye is currently scanning more so if you want to see them let me know.

Ok, another blast from the past. Today we have an image taken by my grandfather in 1930 which was awarded the ‘Picture of the Year’ by the Royal Academy of Professional Photographers. The image depicts the Master, Treasurer and Assistants of the Company of Merchants.

Any ideas how it was taken?

Came across this image recently and thought it may be of interest. It shows my grandfather undertaking a panoramic group photograph, could be an Edinburgh University Medical Graduation or perhaps one of the Merchant Company Schools. When I joined the business in 1969 we were still using the camera and I remember vividly processing the, up to 6″+ lengths of film followed by printing hundreds of prints in a giant lightbox contraption and processing up to 50 exposed lengths at one time! This was also in the days before ready build staging so it was, on the ground, sitting, standing, standing on benches, standing on chairs and then standing on tables, at times chairs on tables. No H+S in those days! The best were Edinburgh University College of Art who took great pleasure in running round the back of the group once the camera had passed them thus appearing twice in the one panorama.