This week I stumbled across a website of work by Derek Langley who has produced over 400 sepia and black and white images of various places that include London,Oxford and the Lake District. I was particularly interested on his shots of Cambridge as it is my nearest City and I frequently visit there. I am always looking for new ideas and options for shooting and I have a keen interest in black and white photography.
I looked through 245 images in total. The sepia images seem as though they are trying to appear older than they are. I am torn with this idea between thinking that the photographer has created a lovely old quality but also that they could be almost seen as dishonest in their appearance. I much prefer the black and white images as I find them much more striking. Some of the images depict areas of Cambridge that I have not visited and I now feel keen to explore a bit more. I has not been made clear on the website why the photographer has chosen to produce in black and white and I am always quite conscious of producing black and white images just for the sake of appearing "arty".
All of the photographs are silver gelatin black and white photographs and the sepia toned images are created from the black and white photos using thiocarbamide toning. I was unsure what this was as I have no experience of darkrooms or producing photos any other way that digitally. I decided to research it to find out more. From what I understand the print is bleached until the required reduction is achieved. It is then thoroughly rinsed until all of the residual yellow stain from the bleach has gone. It is then toned with the thiocarbamide toner, rinsed again one the full image density and returned. It can then be dried off. A dark room is not need for this process and I am considering giving it ago as it is apparently relatively easy once you have practiced the process once or twice.
Bridge of Sighs - sepia.
Clare College - black and white.
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