news!

"The Master Photographer's Toning Book"

24th July '10
Update: Tim Rudman's toning book has arrived (1000 copies) - buy it here →

Since this book sold out both UK and US editions, and the publisher decided not to reprint for such a niche market it has been commanding extraordinary prices for second hand copies on the internet. The highest reported price was on Amazon for $999.99. Whilst this is clearly unusual the book is regularly advertised for several hundred $s or £s, so there was clearly an unsatisfied demand.

Tim Rudman moved to acquire the rights, and we have become partners with him in arranging a new reprint that will ensure the same high quality production as the original. Clearly a 'missing link' in traditional know-how, we’re delighted to be able to make it available again.

The book will be officially launched by Silverprint Ltd in London on September 1st 2010, although books will be available from Aug 1. There will be a launch event in our premises on Saturday September 4'th, 1.00pm where Tim will give a general talk, show prints and sign copies. Please RSVP if you would like to attend, as numbers will have to be limited. Further information about the book can be found at www.masterphotographertoningbook.com
"One of the best organised and most informative technical books on photography I have ever read." Unblinking Eye

Current exhibition: From Outside Yamaguchi - James Medcraft

16th July '10

Photographed during a visit to Southern Japan in late 2008, 'From Outside Yamaguchi' explores a western visitor's emerson within an unfamiliar physical and cultural environment. Focusing on the notions of alienation in a seemingly welcoming environment, this selection of images from the project focuses on the cultural and social aspects of western influence on this delicate social environment.
For more information please visit: www.jamesmedcraft.com
(On show from 22/06/2010 - 20/08/2010)

Impossible?

15th July '10

Implausible but clearly not impossible, after the demise of Polaroid a new film emerges for Polaroid 600 & SX70 cameras. Termed the 'Impossible Project' a consortium who are clearly not afraid to put money where their mouths are have floated the investment to bring this about. Using base material researched by Harman Technology, both the 100 & 600 ISO cartridges are now available, and 8 produce black & white images. Both cassettes are priced at £18.50 including VAT.

NEW Universal Enlarger

15th July '10

It's not often a new enlarger comes along. Paterson are perhaps the 'wettest' photo supplier (in the best sense), and have recommitted their support for traditional photography by launching a new enlarger at a great price.
The new Paterson enlarger is all-metal, and covers 35mm up to 120 formats. Designed to meet the needs of schools, colleges and darkroom enthusiasts, it fills the gap left by the winding up of Meopta enlargers.

• Accepts 35mm & 6x6cm negatives, supplied with masks for both formats
• Virtually all metal construction
• Can be supplied with or without choice of 50mm or 75mm lenses
• Head can be rotated through 90° for floor projection
• Built in filter drawer for variable contrast filters
• Red swing filter
• Supplied with 75 matt Quartz enlarger lamp

PA45 Back Returns

22nd March '10

Just as Polaroid was vanishing last year, the 5x4" back for the equivalent Fuji instant films disappeared along with it, as demand stepped up. At last there has been a new making and we have plenty in stock. The Fuji 5x4" instant films are 'pack' films, a larger version of the medium format packs, and like them deliver 10 shots.
Buy it here →

New Panoramic Zero Image 612B

19th March '10

This new budget-priced pinhole camera from Zero Image can be described as both panoramic & multi-format. Using any medium format 120 film, internal baffles can be selected to cover formats 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, as well as at full bore a mighty 6x12cm panoramic coverage. The wood is teak, and is made to the same specification as the considerably more expensive 612F, but costs have been shaved by designing to eliminate the spring back.
Buy it here →

A Star is Gorn?

19th March '10

It's now 10 years since we produced Randall Webb's influential book, 'Spirits of Salts', a beginners primer covering all the main alternative processes. The original edition is now out of print and you'll find it on Amazon at £60+ However, we had our own imprint produced in tandem with the original, and this is still well in print right here at the original publishers price of £20. Why pay more? Our imprint is wire bound, intended for workshop use & will drop open at the selected page & stay there.
Buy it here →

New Adox FB MCC Premium

18th February '10

The Berlin based photo distributors ‘Fotoimpex’ have put a lot of commitment into supporting innovative new photographic materials. The latest is the re-make of Agfa Multicontrast. Where the the old Agfa and the new Adox diverge is that the base of the new paper is brightened to a higher level, and carries a new code - ‘110’.The paper finishes to give the slight warmth that characterised Agfa MCC. However this warmth is kept in check by the very white base, and overall the impression is of richness and vitality rather than the chocolate warmth of a portrait chloro-bromide paper. The surface when air dried and flattened in a heated mount press gives a very satisfactory smooth gloss.
Buy it here →

Variant 123

17th February '10

This warm-tone Foma paper has been waiting in the wings, we now have good stock in all sizes from 9.5x12" through to 20x24". A matt stipple finish reminiscent of old Agfa Portirga, with a similarly warm emulsion, on warm fibre-base, slightly lighter weight than standard double weight. It comes close to filling the gap left by the old Kodak Ektalure, and for those that remember it, Royal Bromesko. Beautiful old warm retro paper. (Picture courtesy of Shane Gilliver)
Buy it here →

New Exhibition ~ Trevor Crone

24th November '09
These white chairs seem to be a metaphor of social issues, consumerism, our throw away mentality, social status, etc. The portfolio to date consists of 12 photographs and as such I feel is complete, only if an unusual scene presents itself to me will I feel the desire to photograph it. So far I have resisted all attempts of communication of the white plast read more...→
This exhibition is running at Silverprint shop space from 23rd November '09 to
24th January '10

FOMA 532 - Bromoil's Future

12th October '09

Since the demise of Kentmere Document Art there has been a problem sourcing a suitable paper for the ancient art of Bromoil.
[Quick tutorial ~ an FB print is put through a special dichromate bleach which enables it to accept ink in proportion to the image silver - after inking the result is a highly permanent print which is effectively an etching].
Thanks to experiments by alternative process expert Terry King we're pleased to somewhat belatedly announce that FOMA 532 (Nature) and 542 (Chamois) work beautifully with Bromoil, either directly, or with transfer, in which the image is offset onto another paper. Full details on the process from Terry's site;
→ www.hands-on-pictures.com/Tutorials/Bromoil.html

Rolling down the years

7th October '09

Roll film is today a non-topic - there's 120, and that's it, no further knowledge required. But at one time there existed a multitude of roll film formats, 26 distinct varieties according to one authority, which were culled mainly in the 1940's and 50's, and what is left can be counted on one hand. But the whole roll system was a legacy left by Kodak, dating back to the dawn of consumer photography, and what we're left with is a mere appendix of what was on the market a century ago...
→ read more
→ or donwload this news as PDF format (143kb)

Free Workshop ~ Saturday 28th November '09 ~ 1.30pm onwards

25th September '09
This workshop is now fully booked, call us near the date for cancellations

Silverprint are delighted to offer a half day workshop run by Trevor Crone and Harminder Singh, who have recently published a book 'Times Present' which showcased Trevor's photographs and writings by Harminder on how we can become more creative in our photography and produce more satisfying images.
Trevor will bring along his large format camera and you will have the opportunity to become familiar with the cameras -there will be an interactive workshop approach with the opportunity for you to ask questions and bring your own camera along.
Harminder will introduce some of the key themes from the book in a practical and straight forward way -he invites you to bring along some of your work in progress and discuss the ideas: you will leave with some fresh directions for your work.
There will, of course, be Trevor's and Harminder's photographs to view, to see some of Trevor's latest work from his trip to Iceland go to www.arenaphotographers.com/
We look forward to seeing you and if you have any queries please contact us via the www.timespresent.com .
Please contact Shane at Silveprint to book your place, as we have limited space.
Call him at: 020 7620 0844 or email him at sales[at]silverprint.co.uk
His exhibition will run at Silverprint from 23rd November '09 to 24th January '10

New Carriage Charges

23rd September '09

We are pleased to announce that after an overhaul of our carrier arrangements we can now offer much more competitive rates to areas which have previously been difficult to supply.
We can now supply a single shipment including up to 20kg, at the reduced rate of £9.20 (inc VAT) to;
Scottish Highlands & Islands
Northern Ireland
Channel Islands (the VAT element is not payable, so the charge will be £8.00)
Carriage to the rest of the UK remains at £6.85 (inc VAT).
However carriage will now be free of charge to ALL UK destinations ( inc H&I, NI, CI) for orders of £100+ (inc VAT).

New Exhibition at Silverprint shop space - Judith Lyons

23rd September '09

Created in the darkroom without a camera or film, each print is the unique and unrepeatable result of the collision of light, the subject matter and photographic chemistry. Through this work, my intention was to investigate the ability of the photographic process to reveal the interior spaces of plants and flowers, a world which is normally invisible to the naked eye. The resulting images explore the ontological dualism inherent in the photographic image, namely the constant tension and oscillation between the visible and the invisible and between presence and absence.
Visit us to see this new exhibition, from September 23rd to November 20th 2009

For more information please visit: www.judithlyonsphotography.co.uk