Making work Prints

As the term work print refers to a preliminary print from the negative there is no difference to the first print that many of you already make. Perhaps what is different, is that this initial step is to ascertain the appropriate grade of paper to use, what areas need dodged etc. Gradually over a number of attempts, or in some cases many attempts, the combinations of main exposure, dodged areas and burning in come together as a cohesive and convincing unit.

Adams had this to say about the process of making prints.

"The creativity of the printing process is distinctly similar to the creativity of exposing negatives; in both cases we start with conditions that are given, and we strive to appreciate and interpret them. In printing we accept the negative as a starting point that determines much, but not all, of the character of the final image. Just as different photographers can interpret one subject in numerous ways, depending on personal vision, so might they each make varying prints from identical negatives"