My photography journey, Third Milestone
In the previous chapter I mentioned about the printing process I had started to work.
As the size matters, I wanted to print images larger than a letter size, I decided to buy a Jobo processor, so I could develop rolls and images with a controlled temperature which is key with color images. Again, I wrote to the Jobo factory in Germany, the same process as with my Rollei, and I would be collecting a big box from the Lufthansa cargo area few weeks later. I still use the processor to develop B&W film that I take from time to time.
Returning to Chile, I found a Ciba distributor, which at that time Ilford had purchased the Cibachrome division from Geigy, so they changed the name to Ilfochrome. They had large quantities of chemicals and 50×60 cm paper size, which I could develop in my Jobo processor. Although I did not have a colorimeter, I was able to generate contrasted prints, almost matching the slide.
Shortly after affordable film scanners appeared in the market, and I would start scanning the best images I took with my Rollei. Photoshop was just coming out, with limited functionality. Also, I started working with Apple computers and high-quality monitors.
The scans were average compared to the professional scanners; however Nikon came out with a professional scanner for medium format film and negatives, which was a success and sold out in many places. B&H was on back order, the local Nikon provider in Chile did not have a date for delivery.
Due to my work, I had to travel to Europe, visiting London, Paris, Frankfort, Milan and Geneva. I had called in advance to the top photography stores in all cities, except Geneva, the scanner was sold out on all of them.
During this trip, my wife came along, while in Geneva she wanted to visit a clothing store, which was at walking distance from the hotel. On our way, I saw a small photo store, and in the window, surprisingly I could see the scanner I was looking for. Asked if it was for sale and obtained a positive answer. I was suspicious why this scanner was on display, when in the rest of the world was sold out. Three blocks up the road I found a larger photography store, I asked my wife that I would do a quick query while she looked the clothing.
Short story, we would be returning to the hotel on a taxi, with a large box and an angry wife.
The scanner became another milestone, as I was able to generate large files that could be sent to the local shop that had a Lambda machine where I started printing images on color photographic paper up to sizes of 120×120 cm, retiring for the moment my Jobo processor.
At that time, I would use Photoshop to clean the dust particles of strenuous items that the scanner software did not clean, leaving the color and image enhancement adjustments to the lab technician.
Will continue with the digital photography on another chapter.
Sony had just released the Alfa cameras, and the local office in Chile would lend you the cameras for testing, I tried the A700, A850 and A900, which I used on different tours. Even Sony financed the exhibit I made on a gallery. After testing these cameras, the pixel number were still small compared to what I obtained from the scanner and the medium format film camera, so decide to wait till Sony or other brand would come out with larger pixel count art an affordable price.
