carlacryptic

As much as I love and admire film cameras and darkroom work, I am personally empowered by digital cameras and PhotoShop.  I use Nikon cameras (first coolpix models from the 800, to the 5000, to the 8800; now a D40X) for their light weight, ergonomic body design, the sharpness and clarity of their lenses, and because they allow me to do extreme closeups and macro photography without specialized lenses.

I can know how to develop and print film using silver processing but I never learned to develop and print color.  I sent all of my color film out for developing, with varying success.  Because my husband is also a photographer and maintains a full darkroom, I have access to his equipment, tools, and cameras (small, medium, and large format).  But, it's the digital platform which I use on a daily basis.

I use PhotoShop, LightRoom, Paint Shop Pro, and Painter in connection with my photographs.  I don't usually alter the images if they are of people, places, animals, or things.  I do alter images for my mail art objects.  I've been a mail artist for about 30 years and I used to have to create my pieces using color xerox machines and, often, other people's images and type.  Now I use my own images exclusively.  It's wonderful to be able to do that.  I also use photographs as 'brushes' in Painter and that's thrilling.  If you have Painter and haven't tried it yet, you owe it to yourself to do so.