Print More, Scan Less.
Last week, I jumped on a train and headed up to Manchester, a city I once called home. As the train approached Deansgate station I couldn’t help but notice the skyline that now dominated the city. Brickwork and steel girders fused with towering modern skyscrapers reaching up to the heavens as a testament to Manchester’s ambition and determination.
As I mooched through the bustling streets, memories flooded my mind along with a wave of amazement at the tremendous transformation the city had undergone since the 90s. While these changes were undoubtedly striking, nostalgia pulled me towards the once familiar side streets which were now dressed in a fresh coat of graffiti, radiating personality and gritty charm.
Under the guise of a shopping trip, I had packed my Nikon L35AF. No chance of sneaking the RZ67 into my man bag for this one. The L35AF is my trusted companion for walkabouts like these when I want to capture the essence of the side streets without drawing attention.
I set the iso to 1000 (max for this camera) and pushed the development accordingly. The negs looked good when dry but the scans looked… meh, lifeless, dull and fuzzy, yes, fuzzy! The grain wasn’t excessive, it’s just how a scan of a 35mm negative can look. I could sense the potential for superior results in the darkroom.
Under red light it was a delicate balance between capturing the essence of the scene and maintaining the appropriate level of grain. But this was more about reproducing the detail and sharpness that I knew would have been fixed onto the negative. The result is more than just a print—it’s the drive to print more, scan less.
Bunsen Street, Manchester — 8 x 10" Silver gelatin print from a 35mm neg pushed to 1000iso on Ilford Multigrade RC V Glossy.
I have a couple of these prints available (mounted). Hit me up if you fancy one.
