Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/08/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]There is a fascinating article in a supplemental magazine issue from the publishers of Photo Techniques Magazine, "Mastering The Black & White Fine Print" (special issue #11) about W. Eugene Smith that I highly recommend reading. Besides discussing Smith's mental problems, it reveals how his most-known prints/images were not straight prints; rather, via photographs included in the article, the author of it reveals how Smith used darkroom tricks to comlete a lot of his prints even though his fans never realized (until this article) that this was so. One of the photos in the article shows Smith with two Leica screwmount bodies and lenses around his neck. The most surprising finds in this article for me were how he manipulated his famous "Spanish Wak" print and his "Tomoko in her Bath" print to arrive at the finished products. Having first seen both of these images in my youth, I was shocked upon reading this article at what he had failed to communicate to us about said manipulations, for I always assumed they were from original negatives exposed by a fortunate photographer. This does not mean I am attempting to vilify him herein, however. Terry - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html