Black and Light

By Hermann Groeneveld / SilvergrainClassics

Anthony Roman, Street Photographer

Hermann Groeneveld / SilvergrainClassics (HG)

Tony, before we talk about your project BLACK and LIGHT, tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

Anthony Roman (AR)

My name is Anthony Roman. I’m married and live in the state of Pennsylvania, USA. It is a peaceful environment surrounded by many farms. My wife and I love our pets. We’ve raised three cats together and consider them part of the family. Now I’m a retired Engineer, having worked in Computer-oriented R&D all my working life.

As a photo enthusiast I love cameras, photography, and the creative / artistic and technical aspects of taking photos. My photography hobby has been a lifelong learning experience that continues to fascinate me.

HG

Let’s talk about the technical aspects of your passion: Do you prefer a particular type of analog camera?

AR

I have a very wide range of photographic equipment: My collection consists of cameras of many sizes and formats. They range from small Point and Shoot film cameras from the 1980’s, to Large Format 4×5 inch cameras going back to the 1950’s, including many classic chrome SLRs and rangefinders (Leica IIIf & M3 for example). I try to keep them all actively in working condition.

HG

It sounds like your photography equipment isn’t just sitting in a display case for people to look at.

AR

No, not at all. I’m actually very active in that regard. I’m constantly on the lookout for good bargains to expand my collection. But, yes, I also use the cameras to take pictures.

Over the years, I have managed to get great bargains on vintage glass (lenses) to complement my camera bodies and now have a complete system of gear (Nikon, Contax, Canon, Olympus). I also enjoy using my Medium Format (MF) cameras from time-to-time (Rolleiflex 2.8f, Mamiya 7, Fuji 6×9, and Hasselblad 503CW). Lately, I have been busy modifying my Intrepid 4×5 Black Edition large format camera with several improvements to allow for full flexibility of the front and rear Standards. I also modified the original screw-in metal block base with an Arca Swiss Rail for smooth continuous bellows movement.

HG

How do you always choose the right equipment from your collection? How to choose the right film?

AR

When I plan a shoot, perhaps even at a location I’m familiar with, I carefully select the appropriate equipment and film, taking into account the weather and my idea of the type of photo I want to produce.

The choice of camera (Leica, Nikon, or Pentax) often depends on the character of the available vintage lenses (i.e., their deliberate imperfections) of the system.

On a gray, cloudy day with perhaps some fog, I would choose Kodak Tri-X 400, for example. To shoot at the rated sensitivity (400 ISO). Or I would increase the sensitivity to 800 or 1600 ISO for more contrast and grain. This increases my chances of success.

On a beautiful sunny day with blue skies, I would take photos with a more modern camera/lens combination. For example, with a Contax / Zeiss, with a 50 mm Planar or a 35 mm Sonnar or a similar combination. I would generally prefer a less grainy film.

Tourist In English Ruins

HG

Most of your photographs are black and white.

AR

That’s right. I take photographs in black and white for many reasons, including the nostalgic look. It allows me greater artistic expression. I’ve learned how different camera lenses and films react to light and shadow under different lighting and weather conditions.

HG

Do you develop your own films?

Yes. I develop all of my black and film in my own darkroom. This helps guarantee consistent results. I am currently using the XTOL developer from Kodak (stock) and room temperature developer / water baths. I prefer the JOBO system with its film tanks. With an additional plastic roller, I turn them by hand.

HG

What is your workaround for digitizing your films?

AR

I digitize my uncut films with a Sony A7 camera equipped with a Leica R macro lens. To achieve consistently balanced digital data, I always work with the camera in manual mode and use a remote shutter release. I use an old but sturdy and stable ‘Kaiser Monster’ as a copy stand. I keep the film flat with Lomography’s Digital Liza+. An LED light table with high LUX output ensures even lighting.

After digitization, I view the results on my computer using Adobe Lightroom. I sort out the best images and then edit them ‚lightly‘ to enhance the contrast and possibly sharpen them a bit to bring out the grain.

HG

How do you archive your data securely?

AR

I store multiple copies of a file on an external hard drive (SSD) and as backups in cloud services such as Amazon Photos, Lightroom Creative Cloud, and my Apple iDrive. I currently have access to more than 250,000 photos online.

I have stored older photos (taken before 2000) on old drives (including old DVD-ROMs). I also have twenty Kodak slide carousel magazines from the 1980s and 1990s. I am currently reviewing the material to perhaps revive it for future photo book projects.

Quicksnapshot of Amish Passerby Horse Carriage Lady

HG

What does analog photography mean to you? What do you consider to be your challenges?

AR

First of all, it’s about accepting the inevitable imperfections of the analog process: film grain, developing in the darkroom, the optical characteristics of the lens used, and the weather, to name just a few examples.

When I take photographs, I am guided by my decisions for a particular situation. Of course, this is always linked to my idea of what the result should look like. Which, in turn, is based on decades of experience.

HG

Where can people find you?

AR

I’m active on Flickr and Instagram (Tony Roman Photography). And of course, I have a website. I also have several postcards that are sold internationally through a company called Art Unlimited in Amsterdam under the name Tony Roman.

I am a photo ambassador for Leica and Hasselblad: some of my photos have been selected by the companies to be featured on their websites.

HG

Do you have any advice for someone embarking on the path of analog photography?

AR

It’s important to go out and take pictures as often as possible to gain knowledge and experience about what works and what doesn’t. Over the course of my many years of experience with film photography, I have slowly increased my success rate from 10% per roll of film to about 60% now. I know that I will never be 100% successful with every picture. This is just a little guide for all beginners in analog film photography. I would like to point out that analog film photography always carries the risk of the unpredictable. But it is often the unexpected results that make a good picture.

Paris Bicyclist Riding Along Seine River

HG

With BLACK and LIGHT, you have created an enchanting black-and-white coffee table book. How did you come up with the idea?

AR

Since I am a big photography enthusiast and know my way around computers, I thought it would be relatively easy to understand the book process offered by Blurb fairly quickly. But it did require a bit of a learning curve. With perseverance and enough time to try out different approaches, however, it is doable.

HG

Would you like to share your experiences so that we can pass them on to our readers?

AR

It was really exciting and not always as easy as I had initially thought.

I decided to use Blurb’s Lightroom plug-in ‚Book Wright‘ to print my favorite photos on high-quality paper with high-quality book binding. At first, I found the software easy to use. It automatically places the photos on the page, aligns the margins, and ensures that the resolution is suitable for printing. For a few book pages, the cost is completely acceptable.

For more control, Blurb recommended using the plug-in tool under ‚Book Area‘ in Lightroom (LR). So I stored about 400 images in a collection in Lightroom and let the software automatically insert my photos into a specified book and page format.

Unfortunately, I now had to deal with certain limitations, partly due to my inexperience: The software intervenes in the automation process if certain conditions are not met. Parameters such as image resolution, individual image sizes, and, last but not least, the possible number of images to be printed in relation to the paper thickness influence the automated part of the workflow. Ultimately, this means that a lot of meticulous manual work is required to achieve a harmonious layout.

Once the book was finally complete, Blurb showed me the basic cost of printing a single copy. Wow! That blew me away! But after all that effort, I decided to go ahead with the project anyway. Blurb offered to sell the book either on their website or on Amazon. I hadn’t originally planned to sell my work, but I liked the idea of sharing my photos. Blurb added a small fee for distribution. Then I had to decide how much I wanted to charge for my license fee. I wisely kept it low. Nevertheless, I was surprised by the final sale price. It was much higher than I had expected. But I started the project anyway.

HG

What conclusions do you draw from your experiences? What advice would you give to photography enthusiasts who want to produce their own coffee table book?

AR

The decision on whether to offer your coffee table book for sale should also be made before starting the project. Carefully calculating the production costs and a possible sales price protects you from unpleasant surprises. It is essential to compare different service offerings on the Internet (there are a lot) and obtain reviews from other photographers.

The total number of pages and images must be balanced in advance with the final cost per book. A conscious reduction not only keeps production costs within the planned budget. It also reduces the time required for processing and allows each individual image to be shown to its best advantage.

HG

Your photo book BLACK and LIGHT is available in print on Amazon at a price that is unusually high for a coffee table book. However, it is available at a very reasonable price as a PDF version from Blurb. Despite all the unforeseen surprises for you, this was certainly a tough decision.

AR

Yes, absolutely. Because this book was a labor of love. I believe my photos have a style that differs from that of other photographers. They are the result of years of experimentation with analog film cameras, lenses, and developing in my home darkroom. These photos are among my favorites.

HG

In your opinion, what makes a good photographer?

AR

To be a really good photographer, you need a ‚holistic approach’. This includes having a very good understanding of the logical, mechanical, and optical aspects of photographic technology (cameras, lenses, film) and its limitations. However, you mustn’t neglect the emotional and artistic side of photography. You should constantly train and develop these aspects. For example, to sense and recognize the mood of a situation or scene in front of you. After all, it’s important to work out your own feelings and interpretation of a motif. To convey your vision to the viewer of the image. So that this becomes a “shared vision” that others can also enjoy.

Copenhagen Airport Abstract

HG

Thank you, Tony, for sharing your insights into your work. The SilvergrainClassics team wishes you joy and success with many new projects.

Contact

Tony Roman Photography
Tony Roman’s BLACK & LIGHT series
Books by Tony Roman
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