The DARKROOM COOKBOOK, Third Edition

76 THE DARKROOM COOKBOOK
Brett Weston On Technique
Brett Weston was considered to be one the fi nest black and white photographers of his
generation. This is an excerpt from an interview I conducted that appeared in PhotoPro
magazine, July 1991.
Steve Anchell: You are well known for your lack of interest in technique. Typically,
you use one fi lm, one developer, one paper.
Brett Weston: As much as possible. There’s a lot of good things out there, you
just have to fi nd out what works for you and stick with it. I’m using
Oriental paper, HC-110 as my fi lm developer, and Ethol LPD 1:4,
I think, to develop paper.
SA: You’re not sure about the Ethol dilution?
BW: Not really. I don’t remember all that stuff. I have a couple of graduates
in my darkroom, I always use the same amount of water to the same
amount of developer, I just don’t pay much attention to the dilution.
SA: For many years you used pyro and Amidol. You were famous for the
black Amidol stains on your fi ngernails. I noticed when I came in that
your fi ngernails are no longer black.
BW: Pyro is a fi lm developer, Amidol is for paper. Amidol makes the
fi ngernails black. Pyro stains too, but you don’t get your hands in it
as much, it’s a different kind of stain. Pyro is a dirty developer but it’s
very crisp and sharp. I stopped using pyro for about ten years, but
I’ve decided to start using it again. I just can’t get the same results
with other fi lm developers.
SA: What caused you to switch from using Amidol?
BW: It’s a deadly poison, for that matter, so is metol and hydroquinone.
LPD contains Phenidone, which is not as toxic.
SA: Henry Gilpin has a formula using LPD as the base, to which he adds
carbonate and bromide. Do you add anything to your developer?
BW: No just LPD. I’m no chemist, you know. Although Henry is a good
man, and a good friend.