Category: Carp Fishing

complaints … about nothing, sometimes about those carpers crapping in my pond

T.O.P Off, Anyone?

Posted on Posted in Carp Fishing, old bones, overnight notes

and like that his epitaph is written. A flourish, a claim, self acclamation. “This is my story… hear my glory” —
HYBRID HIGH BRED HIGH BROW.

Masks and the Masquerade

He got this, he got that, but what is it that he did with them ? The very first roll off the line; what he got was bragging rights. What did his access provide him; what does that knowledge provide you. Did he actually have… does he actually have knowledge? It is good to have a mask made of “others,” providing you an at hand excuse; “I’ve forgotten it all.” punch replay: so what; what does it mean to have forgotten much, what does the forgetting get you, me, them? How will this empty satchel feed the new, the *TC?

Knowing who isn’t knowing how, else I could play drums, fly fighter bombers, replace hearts… If proximity was what mattered, I’d be a billionaire since I talked with several at tables over pizza and plans.

It’s good to have a mask of others providing you’re ready made excuse :I’ve forgotten it all. again so what ; what does this mean now .what does it make ,what does it permit.
You’ll take the bragging rights, like those who have jumped with navy seals. Stacks of empty parachutes.

From the bleachers:

  • I’m more into subtle sensitive controls than what I term “artsy/craftsy” effect
  • Yeah, I’m not looking for artsy/craftsy… I just sometimes want something a little less-technically-flawless than the exacting perfection of modern lenses.]

TC *this century/culture. The new digital first users. You call them out for not making wet prints. Okay, how many darkroom prints have you made this century? They were born in the electronic age with seemingly more interest in experiencing some of the mannerism of mechanical photography — without your understanding them.

If you are going to talk down, learn some of the language; enough to toss across the barbed wire.

My guidestar: avoid those avoiders; they are braggarts, word bullies playing bar games

CARP Fishing

Posted on Posted in A Symbol Life, bead game, Carp Fishing, olden modern, The Biz

Writing about drying prints reminded me about Pakosol and drum drying of prints, even dye transfer prints.

Even though Kodak Dye Transfer paper was much thicker than most darkroom paper, it would still curl. This curl meant that retouching was harder, since retouching was the most common purpose behind making a dye transfer, we were making the process longer, and more expensive using any but the most efficient drying method.

I have, over many years, grown to test someone’s knowledge, trying to compare what they know by practice to what they know through overhearing; their gossip BS quotient. I did this because I hired people for labwork; since I didn’t have the patience to give them trial time, I talked, a bit, like an idiot, or I questioned them like their life depended upon correct, quick answers. In a way, it did.

A comment made to a Dye Transfer Group was that we used Pakosol when glossing our dyes. Not exactly true, although it went unchallenged. People too polite, or just didn’t have enough experience, which they realized. Only one of the 100+ talkers had lab experience; he was at BK+L. He may have known the use was to wipe the borders, not immerse the print for glossing, since those of us making dyes commercially were sending them to retouchers.

Wiping to White — clearing the borders was common practice; it carried over to “flashing white” to type Rs & Cibas. Art Directors expected R(review) prints to have borders they could write/markup.

Dye transfer died because of bullshit trumping behavior. As in most idler things, most people just doodle away, preferring to talk about it; so too in the camera counter world. People learn by shopping means they learn little of use beyond the sales chatter. The gossip review. The Efke Orthomatrix sold less than a third of what was made. No one bought more than 10 boxes! US importers basically stiffed the exporter.

Amateurs want a claim to meaning. This explains, rather, it justifies the costs of an in-effective hobby.

Back to print flattening: the solution is hygroscopic — something like dilute glycerin. Pakosol had glycol in it.

kodak’s 50s advice about drying paper flat.

dampen backs and re-dry between blotters under pressure.

Print flattening solution works well by slowing drying in winter atmospheres

[ from yesterday: https://webionaire.com/2023/04/02/drying-fiber-prints/ ]