Practical Photography: Working in dark room with Andy Sanderson

Hi Everyone ! 

• Today as usual I would like to talk about my practical experiments with black and white printing, and how it all is going so far.So for past few weeks I was still working on my black and white printing, but last week (Tuesday/15/11/16) I had a privilege to learn from a Master of Printing Andrew Sanderson, who travels across UK to teach University students printing techniques and discuss their work. I must admit I am amazed by the way Andy took our one day session in Dark room. First he introduced himself, talking about his 3 books he wrote about photography printing, and about his photography experience, such as working for prestige cover magazines or advertisements. Once we went to the dark room, he was talking mainly about techniques and what we can do in printing to make our lives easier.  First thing that he have shown to us, is how we should contain our photos or any experimental pieces. For example:
• Our negatives should be presented in the same order as in contact sheet that we have produced first, and to be filled in the same folio sleeve.  This will make easier to find the right negative that we would like to expose after we had a look at our contact sheet and decided which picture to print. 

• Make sure all our test strips are named with notes of time of exposure, so we won't get confused with too many test strips. 

• Before you start doing anything with exposure, make sure your dark room is dark with the awful red light on, so you won't cause troubles once you take your paper out to expose any films. 

• Make sure your station is working correctly and has the right equipment that you will need to use to make your prints. This will help you safe your time looking for equipments etc. 

• While working with liquids Devos etc, make sure the mixes are right and aren't mixed up etc. 

• The last process of the printing which is washing your print out in a cold water must take 10 minutes. Personally I have never been told that, instead I was told to do 30 seconds wash up in a cold water and thats going to be enough for the picture. But Andy explained to me, more time the picture stays in the water then the better results it will bring. Why ? Because the silver ingredients that are in the paper need to take time to expose on the picture correctly.  Therefore you can take your picture out after 30 seconds of soaking it in the water to have a look what is the result but if you happy with your result put it back to the water for another 10 minutes to make sure the silver colour in the paper is fully exposed on the picture. 

All pictures are downloaded from his web page: http://www.andrewsanderson.com/

Printing Tips and advice:
 Sanderson's Work 

I mentioned about Andy's books that he published therefore, to give you a bit of clue who I am talking about in here, I'd like you to have a look at his fabulous black and white pictures he attached in his books. I must admit, the pictures are fantastic ! No wonder why.... Andy have been working as a Photographer since 1975, and knows almost EVERYTHING about Photography and B&W printing, so I am definitely going to buy all his 3 books ! 

Its a Still Life Picture-  A bit strange, because it doesn't represent too much, but I still choose it because I like the contrast of this B&W print.
Category: Still Life

                                                             Name of the print: Bent Nail 

 This Picture is a Landscape print. Personally, I really like the dark trees and that "little" animal at the end of the trees "tunnel" . Very unique piece of print I must admit ! :)
Category: Landscape

Name of the Print: Cow in

Clearing
 This picture is in "interior" category and is just so simple, but because it is so simple and there is nothing to be so impressed about, it's just natural and beautiful ! It just represents everyday life interior that are in our households.Category: At HomeName of the Print: Basket Planet Chair  

Another Picture from 

"Landscape" category. Honestly I don't know what it is, but because the texture and the light and shades are so mysterious , this picture seems to be even more interesting to me than any other prints Andy has made. 

Category: Landscape
Name of the Print: Cracked Mud  

This piece of print , to me is absolutely wonderful! Maybe because I love photographic flowers and nature overall... But the background shades and "smudge clouds" are just fantastic way of presenting nature in a different way !
Category: BatonicalName of the Print: Dried Lily  

This Print is just hilarious! You don't see what's made of, because first you see the funny face features, like teeth eyelids and nose. Then you see it's a tree trunk ! Pictures like this just makes us smile and laugh, therefore usually in psychological therapies people going through black and white prints that represents humour and positive life.
Category: HumourName of the Print: Face in the Tree 

Another funny side of photography prints!
First you see funny face but then you see this face is made out of pocket in jeans or trousers!Just made my day to be honest with you !Category: HumourName of the Print: Laughing Trouser Pocket   

When I have been collecting the pictures of Andy's website, I've seen this print, and I was just melted ! This seems to be very simple picture with a little toy duck situated on the floor, probably under some house object. But to me this picture represents sad child's memories. Sometime on some of the child abuse adverts, objects are representing in that kind of way. Black and white picture with toys on the floor etc.  So a bit emotional picture to me.
Category: At HomeName of the Print: Lost Duckling 

And the last but not the least picture to show you. The picture actually reminds me of route 66 in America. Why ? Because The road seems to be straight, and heading to some village homes.
The trees and rest of the nature features are nicely made dark. I think the reason behind it is, because Andy wanted the viewer to focus on the further scenario than what's going on around it.Category: Paper NegativesName of the Print: The Dip 

I could talk about Andy for very long time, but I can't unfortunately. However if somebody looking for good inspiration then you should look for his books and visit his web site, facebook or instagram! You'll find much more prints out there with specific description of each print.
Personally Andy is very nice guy who is always keen to help anybody who needs his advice.
Never thought person who is partly teaching me print in black and white will be my inspiration.

To be continued....