Angel Hair (Ancient Bristlecone Pine Detail)

The resurgence toward traditional film/darkroom photography keeps gaining momentum. Traditional photographers now have the finest products, including film choices and the most vibrant variable contrast enlarging papers ever produced, to give you astounding printing control and stunning visual quality. Through Bruce’s photographs, books and workshops, he is recognized as a leading figure in photography today. He is in demand for his clear, understandable way of explaining the thinking and methods of photography, indoors or outdoors with a camera; indoors working with your negatives. This "Complete Photographic Process" workshop takes you through the full black and white film/darkroom process from beginning to end —from exposure and development of the negative, to printing negatives in a traditional darkroom, to mounting and spotting the display print— and does it in just six days — May 27 - June 1, 2027. Here’s what you’ll learn during that time:

• The traditional b&w silver print remains the gold standard for quality imagery available today! It remains unmatched by digital approaches for tonal richness and subtlety. This workshop, based at Bruce's home/studio, shows you why.

• The Ansel Adams Zone System of negative exposure is explained in a way that removes the feared difficulties of grasping it. In fact, it’s quite straightforward and remarkably simple. Bruce’s explanations makes it all clear and simple. It is not only easy to grasp, but it’s the starting point for expressive photographs having lasting impact, not just momentary “likes.”

• Bruce demonstrates that a traditional film/darkroom user has all the control that one could ever want or need. Seeing those controls put to use via Bruce’s printing demonstration, and then personally putting them to use yourself with hands-on printing of your negatives, is an eye-opening experience. Bruce proves this with the following analogy: It’s difficult to write an essay about how to tie a shoelace, but it’s simple to tie a shoelace once you see how it’s done.

• During this workshop you’ll develop your own negatives, exposed during the workshop. You’ll print your negatives — either those made during the workshop, or those made previously, and brought to the workshop with your review prints —allowing you to create your image from beginning to end. The traditional photographic process has all the control you’ll ever need. This workshop employs traditional materials—b&w film, variable contrast enlarging paper, darkroom chemistry and the finest enlargers. It emphasizes the most critical concepts of light, composition, relationships of elements within the scene, and your relationship with your chosen subject matter. To our knowledge, no other workshop gives you the opportunity to work with such fine products, printing your own negatives, overseen by an expert educator like Bruce.

The most important part of photography is seeing and imagining, and the second most important part is carrying those qualities through to a final meaningful image. The traditional silver-gelatin b&w print conveys that vision with unmatched brilliance and subtlety. You'll learn an enormous amount about creating a mood and interpreting a scene, turning it into your own vision. You'll learn how to express yourself better about the world that is important to you, and how you can create whole new worlds. Even if you do digital work, you'll learn a great deal of value from this workshop. Why? Because digital techniques are derived directly from traditional methods. (For those who want a more complete discussion of traditional and digital approaches, see “Thoughts on Digital Photography” on this website.)

Today’s b&w darkroom is radically different—and far more versatile—than it was in the past. High quality variable contrast papers give you unequalled quality and control. They turn the darkroom into a contemplative place — a sanctuary — where you can work at your own pace to create fine art. In this workshop our emphasis remains focused on one central goal: producing meaningful photographs. 

Accommodations: Participants can stay at Bruce's home or their guest house, or at the nearby “Paca Pride” guest ranch, or camping on Bruce’s property, or at U.S. Forest Service campgrounds nearby. Once you sign up for the workshop, we will send you complete information about all accommodations. Just fill in the form and return it to us, and we'll make all reservations on your behalf, beginning the Saturday night (May 26), just before the workshop begins, and ending Thursday night (May 31) prior to the close of the workshop. We ask all students to plan your travels so you don’t miss any part of the workshop.

More Details About the Workshop: The workshop is in a beautiful setting, in Washington’s rugged North Cascade Mountains, just over an hour’s drive north of Seattle. Bruce’s darkroom/classroom/gallery facilities are in his home, surrounded by over a hundred acres of forests, meadows and marshes, all below Mt. Pilchuck, towering more than 4,000' above the home. There is immediate access to forest and mountain hiking trails nearby on U.S. Forest Service lands.

The improvements you will see in your imagery during the workshop extend up to the astounding. You’ll learn about the extraordinary contrast range that film encompasses — far greater than most photographers understand, far more than is normally taught — and how to fully use that range to get the most out of your negatives. You’ll see demonstrations of printing by a master printer, including unique methods of burning and dodging and potassium ferricyanide bleaching for refined control and additional print brilliance. Rounding out the demonstrations will be selenium toning of prints, full archival processing of prints, plus mounting and spotting of prints for gallery or museum display. 

To register for this workshop via the website, please return to the top of the page, and click on the button Add to Cart. Fill out the information, including your choice of a deposit ($350…nonrefundable, but it holds your space in the workshop)) or full payment ($2300…refundable, minus the deposit) for the workshop. Payment can be made using your Visa or Mastercard credit card (sorry, no other credit cards). If you register with a deposit, the full payment will be due 6 weeks prior to the workshop. You will receive an email response to your application shortly. (If you are applying for more than one workshop, please do this for each workshop you wish to attend.)

If you do not use Visa or MasterCard, or prefer to not use credit cards as payment method, we accept registration with a check (deposit or full amount) and an application. Please download, print out, and fill out the the application (click on: Workshop-application.doc or Workshop-application.PDF). Specify whether you will pay the deposit or full payment, and make the check payable to Bruce Barnbaum. Mail the check with filled out application to the address below. We will notify you by email to confirm your resignation.

Bruce Barnbaum Workshops

P.O. Box 1791

Granite Falls, WA 98252

If you have specific questions, please contact Bruce by phone at (360) 691-4105 or by email: barnbaum@aol.com.