Darkroom Tribute ~ 1950s by bmac62
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Description
This is an old family photo that I have restored and to which I've added an "artistic dry brush" filter.
The subject is my father printing a photograph using his Bogen enlarger in our basement darkroom sometime in the early 1950s.
He took up photography as a 15 year old boy in 1923 and remained very active in the hobby until one month before he passed away at the good old age of 99 1/2. He had accumulated 84 years of photographic experience.
Nothing sad here. He lived an active, full life and was always learning. He took up the saxophone at age 90 and became proficient on a computer at 93. Only thing I couldn't do was move him from film to digital :-)
Thanks for stopping by... All comments welcomed.
Bill
Comments (28)
beachzz
My dad did the same thing; he was a commercial photographer when I was born. I had many albums full of fotos of myself, lost them all in a fire. He used to also draw on the fotos, cute little things like windows and flower boxes as I was, well, sitting somewhere private!! Oh, and he kept a couple of those in his wallet and showed them to every boy I brought to the house. A great shot of your dad, and wonderful postwork.
babuci
84 years of knowledge what and how whith photography. I am sure many days spent talking in a darkroom and teach you what to do. Like a filter you applied here and a fine b&w.
artaddict2
I read with great interest Bill, sounds like a great and dedicated man with an enthusiasm for things in life which were appealing to him, and as you say right up to his last years. Thanks for sharing this personal photo with us Bill. Nice bit of postwork too!
durleybeachbum
A wonderful story of a marvellous life! You have made a perfect tribute with this excellent image.
Meisiekind
What a fascinating story about a wonderful father!!! You must have learned so much from him! Stunning tribute to him and I salute him too!!! (Wish I knew my dad - he died when I was only 15 months old... not ideal.)
kimariehere
how wonderful of your father you did a fabulous job with the restoration and postwork here!!!
drace68
Great tribute, Bill. My father, too, was into photography as a hobby. Many may flat cigarette tins of 9x12 cm. negatives - The old "Lucky Strike Green" tins which "went to war" in 1942 (?), and were replaced by paper and foil packs. In the late '30s he moved on to 35mm Leica with several lenses. And the chemicals! I can still remember the sharp odor of glacial acetic acid.
kenmo
A fine tribute of a remarkable man...!!!!
DAVER2112
Wow! That brings back memories. I had a darkroom with a Bogen enlargermany years ago, It was so much fun developing the film and prints, it's becoming a lost art. Great photo!! :)
PD154
Absolutely perfect tribute Bill, great story and image.
skipper62
This one is exceptional, Bill It brings a smile and thoughts of the "excursions" you two went on in your visits over the last years.. This is a classic. All due respect, some of us just have had a thing for the little film cans that digital does not offer, and Photoshop does not smell of chemicals and stain ones fingers like a good ole darkroom. ;-) Mug is lifted in your direction this morning. Cheers, SB
THROBBE
I remember the darkroom days! I was in high school taking photography and I think we had a similar enlarger to work with. You did a great job here and I'm sure your dad would be proud of your work! Ray
Kaartijer
I used to work with that kind a stuff too... til my ex said "enough"! She didn't like the smell of all those chemicals... my father was a photo-maniac, and as well as your father, he refused to work with the digital ones, even if I bought him a digital camera, different software programs... Great tribute, Bill!
kbatty
What a fantastic image! It is apparent that photography talent runs in your family!
kansas
A wonderful tribute to your father. He surely was a remarkable man. Amazing that he nearly reached 100. Thanks for sharing.
CavalierLady
What a wonderful full life it sounds like your father lived. A touching dedication to your Dad, Bill, and fine post work! What a history of photography your family has!
goodoleboy
Splendid capture, Bill! You are most fortunate to have had a father so engrossed in learning and enjoying his hobbies during his long and productive life. My father was all business and, except for the daily news and stock market, didn't have any other interests of note.
timtripp
excellent!
moonrancher
Wonderful tribute and postwork on a vintage photo.
cfulton
Wow! Stunning tribute to a wonderful career. Cheers, Clive
debbielove
Well good for him!! I'm impressed! A mighty fine tribute to a man who could teach us all a thing or two about life.... You should be proud, Bill my friend. Good call. Rob.
Richardphotos
he was born 2 years earlier than my mother.a foto to cherish and no doubt you do
nikolais
stunning and nostalgic. great tribute, Bill!
junge1
Wonderful image Bill and what a dad you had. Amazing, definitely good genes!
texboy
A wonderful picture of your dad, Bill, and a fine tribute to him. My sainted brother got me interested in photography in the late 50s...I still have a couple of contact prints he helped me do. Let us none of us forget the old folks....
Buffalo1
A fine tribute to your father. He was a man who didn't let technology pass him by!
cjoe
This is great....the darkroom had a magical quality that digital cannot compete with.....it brings back memories!
anahata.c
a loving job of tribute to your dad, and to that amazing old place of magic and creation, the darkroom, and your roots in it through your dad...Your filtering is fine, and you retain the feeling of intense concentration that those places had, where the image became a print and where alchemy took place to turn the picture into a tactile living thing. It's poetic that your dad, despite his proficiency at the computer, never took up digital photography: Film still has qualities that one has to manufacture in the digital realm; and for all its drawbacks, it imparts a softness & light & a magic all its own. You got the magic in this treatment, and it has a nostalgia about it, which will become more and more real as digital takes over. And it's nice to see your beloved father, leaning in concentration, and no doubt making some of the same decisions you make now, thoughtfully & with heart. Like father, like son. A loving tribute, Bill.