day 30: self-portrait challenge

It is done.

This last and final photograph (yes, it's a real film developed and printed photograph) is of me and my great mentor Mike Riches. This is just outside the darkroom, "on the bench" as we call it -- WHERE ALL THE MAGIC HAPPENS. I set up my tripod and clicked my remote, and developed the film (in HC) and then printed a print - filter 3 on f5.6 for 8 seconds - Ilford pearl, standard paper.

This is me in my usual askance stance and paying attention as he explains and gives advice on increasing a filter, adding time or opening up a stop (or to burn or dodge also) on a particular photograph.

He has taught me that only film can produce real photographs.
In this I agree.
Digital images really have no soul. And are just not as beautiful. When a good black and white print is made and dry and you hold it in your hands, there is nothing so capturing and magnetic.
He has taught me more than this and I couldn't have been luckier to walk into PCC's SE campus and darkroom to find such a mentor. Almost as if my steps were guided. Hahahaha!
I will begin a list of daily "assignments" (from Mike) to shoot for my next 30-day challenge. I will begin this January - so check back!
Photo gods be with me..