Fine Art: Techniques and Tools

FINE ART: TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

Since his youth, the photographer Fausto Donnini was a passioned supporter of the fine art analog photography in black and white. Then, he has deepened his studies of the "Zone System" by Ansel Adams and the best techniques of the Fine Art Photography production.

In his work, the author makes use of Kodak T-Grain films, in order to obtain a highest exposure range and major sensivity, which allow a greater extension of the tonal range.

The film development process and the printing process are composed of at leat five chemical baths (the three classical chemical baths, with two water baths interleaved), so the water brings the pH of the solutions to neutrality.

The process of exposure - for a given time - of the paper to the projector light is proportional to the light/temperature relationship of the chemical baths. In this way, the author attempts to obtain the best chemical expression, so it is not interrupted, which is an important thing for a good fixation and a long term storage of the produced print.

During the printing process, the photographer Fausto Donnini makes use of the densitometer, to calculate the range of contrast. The densitometer (an electonic instrument) usage allows to the author a certain level of interactivity, giving him the opportunity to customize the printing operation, and provides him a valid method of quality work.

In order to obtain long time storable prints, it is possible to make use of selenium toning, without affecting the quality of the grey scale.

The processing of the baryta-coated paper of the photographic printings is performed on special grids, in order to prevent the growth of fungi and to avoid the need of ironing of sheets with a hot roller.

WORKING METHOD

The working method applied to the printing and in general to the processing of the photographs of Fausto Donnini, with printed black and white fine art, is applied with the utmost care to each image produced.

The working method is not limited only to printing: it is global and addresses the overall treatment of the culture of photography in black and white.

The completion of each photograph in black and white, for the author, is not limited to the accuracy of a particular segment of the various stages of treatment, which eventually lead to realization of the printing itself and its presentation: the black and white photography is a culture, is the possession of methods in dealing with the various segments of processing.

The photographer's work begins with a careful analysis of the light of the scene being photographed and is conditioned by photographic support being used. Subsequently, the use of appropriate chemicals for developing film, can be decisive for the outcome.

An emphasis on lights and shades of the scene can be performed with remarkable results and differentiated by the texture of the film. In the processing of the film, during the process of development, the author does not simply use the traditional three chemical baths, but the proceeding interspersed with intermediate water baths and careful washings.

The same thing happens in the printing process: the chemical bathrooms are interspersed with water baths, this affects the pH of chemical solutions and improves the conservation of the printings. The final drying process is critical and affects a lot on the lasting of printing.

The black and white analog photography is a particular style of work, it requires adequate time for processing, and a wide vision of things, gained by experience.