Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]<html> The following is from BJP online news:<br> <br> Darkroom closure <br> <br> The Guardian and The Observer is closing their wet darkroom this week after a long and distinguished history with six of the darkroom technicians facing an uncertain future, although some positions will be available in the scanning department, writes Reuel Golden. <br> <br> The closure is a sign of the times as papers become more reliant on digital technology and picture desks increasingly source picture agencies for images, rather than using staff photographers For example this year Guardian Newspapers Ltd signed a contract with Allsport where for an annual retainer, it can use editorially as many pictures as it likes taken by agency photographers. <br> <br> In this digital environment, where pictures are electronically captured, stored and transmitted, it is believed that management within the group regarded a space-consuming, 18-hour seven-day operation as economically unviable. <br> <br> ... <font face=3D"Monaco">Subscribe at <a href=3D"http://www.bjphoto.co.uk">http://www.bjphoto.co.uk</a> <br> <br> <br> </font>At 05:52 AM 10/30/98 +0000, you wrote:<br> >Bob Maxey wrote:-<br> >=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0= =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 I do not see<br> >traditional methods<br> >> disappearing too soon, but it seems to be headed that way. Less and less<br> >> people in the dark and less and less materials available from Kodak makes<br> >> me wonder if one day, we will have just a few papers available.<br> ><br> >There is an article in our UK mag Amateur Photographer last week saying<br> >that the opposite is happening. It was based on interviews with Kodak<br> >Ilford Paterson Nova etc, all reporting increased sales of darkroom<br> >equipment, particularly upmarket equipment, fibre paper etc <br> >Some=A0 quotes:<br> ><br> >"It seems the darkroom may be gaining recruits from the many people who<br> >were lured by the creative potential of digital imaging but=20 were<br> >disappointed by the experience."<br> ><br> >"People don't get the same buzz from making a digital print as they do from<br> >a conventional one."<br> ><br> >"I work on a computer all day. The last thing I want to do when I get home<br> >is sit at another one. I want to get in the darkroom and create something<br> >with my own hands."<br> ><br> >Professional/journalistic needs of speed and transmission are a different<br> >matter, but for fine art and hobbyists the future may not be too bleak.<br> ><br> >Mike<br> > </html>