Today’s digital darkroom

THE DIGITAL DARKROOM (no film, no negatives)  ‘Digital Captures’ comprised of color and exposure data captured on a digital sensor in the digital camera have replaced ‘frames of film’.  All the digital data from the digital camera is downloaded to the computer, and there it can be manipulated in the computer to alter the image to the photographer’s creative demands (shown above).  After your session the photographer goes to work on the digital data.  Exposure, color saturation, contrast, sharpness, tint and hue ,shadows and highlights, can all be adjusted as a ‘digital file’ within this ‘digital darkroom’.  Further adjustments can be made during the final reproduction stage when you have your copies made.  This fine tuning process, even at the final stage when you make your copies, eliminates unwanted outcomes.

THE DIGITAL SESSION  In-Session Review makes ‘reshoots’ obsolete.  Now, you can see your photographs as they’re being created.  You’ll be able to see what your hair looks like and we can stop to make adjustments.  Is that wardrobe you brought the right choice?  You’ll know right away.  Is your make-up to your liking?  You’ll see it under light and you’ll have the opportunity to make changes until it’s just right.  In a sense you reshoot as you shoot!  Nice.

ONLINE CONTACT SHEETS are now broadcast to you in a private WEBPAGE (below) which you can in turn email to others for consideration.   They can indicate their favorites, the photographer can share his selects as well, and the need to travel all over town by foot to show your shots has been eliminated entirely.  If you prefer to have paper contact sheets these can also be produced for you from all the digital captures of your shoot, or just the top contenders.  The WEBPAGE is the fastest method to see your session.  Contacts may require a few days to be produced.  You may also request a CD of your session to view on your computer if you don’t have internet access or wish to have a tangible record of your session for archival purposes.

3. MASTER PRINTS from your digital computer files are the final ‘output’ you receive before you make your quantity copies.  The same lab who produces your master print is the only lab which can produce your copies.  Color calibration between computer and final output device is essential.   The color values on your computer monitor do not reflect the color values of the final output from which your master prints will be reproduced.  When you approve of your master print, adjustments to tone, color, contrast, exposure can all be made to meet your satisfaction.  This final master which bears your signature of approval becomes the match print for all copies to be made thereafter.  Your files are stored at REPRODUCTIONS for future copies.  And your photographer will always have all the data from your entire session in his digital archives.

4.  DIGITAL RETOUCHING is performed on the color digital files within the computer environment.  ‘Air brushing’ and ‘etching’ are now obsolete.  Digital Retouching is the single most dramatic advancement in this new digital photography process.