Richard Vanek - Black and White Photography

I didn't make any note in my journal this weekend and it wasn't because I did nothing ;-) Just opposite. I have matted the print of baby portrait I did Friday and get paid for it.
As you see those last three prints I made a little experiments with them. sunny doorway and rabbit's house I have printed using carbon ink only. This gave them slightly warm tone which nicely fit with light in those two pictures. What I have also try was again print on Ilford Smooth Pearl paper. Print has a quite bronzing in it so I spray it with three layers of protective spray. It looks better now but paper have bit raw feel in hands. I need to find different way to do this coatings or just keep mate papers only, for the moment.
I also refine my backup strategy and I hope it will work better than previous on demand backup which was ok until something terrible doesn't happen. I have also develop next four rolls and it seems some nice shots will be there.
As a last I am experimenting with bigger prints. Even I can't make bigger than A4 size on my printer currently I can stitch them together under glass. I have place for five big (up to A2) format in my living room. So I am doing those prints and will see how do they look on wall.
So far for now...

I just realize something interesting. After I had discussion with a seller of Amaloco product about two different fixer Amaloco is producing, I start using stop bath again. Well to tell you little bit more. I am using Amaloco X89 an alkaline fixer. He was telling me that I need to use acid stop bath with as the development process is not stopped by this type of fixer. Or I should use Acid fixer instead and than there is not need for stop bath.

Yesterday I have developed batch of Maco up100p films and use 8 min for them and stop bath as well. They turn out to be much, and I mean much less dense than when I didn't use the stop bath. Also highlights are better controlled. Interesting.
I am just afraid I need to change all my times if I do use stop bath now with this fixer. And maybe I should, if it does have such a big effect. maybe also my films are not fixer perfectly. I have stopped using stop bath about two years ago when I have start using Paterson Aculux 2 developer.