Testimonials Archives - Dave Butcher

JR, Scotland, 20-October-2013

Richard — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:31:29 +0000

A good Sunday to you both, hope you have enjoyed some rest and relaxation since I left on Wed afternoon. The journey back was horrendous. I didn’t make it to my sister until 10.50pm and between pelting rain, huge HGVs, gusting wind and Manchester in the rush hour felt a nervous wreck. Next time I will fly/bus it. However the days tuition has been of great help. I thought you would like to know Dave that after a day in the darkroom, using split grade I have produced A print I can 95% say I am pleased with – a dappled sunlight in woodland. Thank you. The photographer I was trying to remember for his Japanese prints is Michael Kenna and the reason I couldn’t shoot the winter tree further to the right is of course a whopping pylon! Is April 18th/19th any good for a two day location/darkroom tuition booking?”

JR, Scotland, 20-October-2013

The post JR, Scotland, 20-October-2013 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

JR, Scotland, 5-December-2013

Richard — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:31:00 +0000

Hi Dave, good to hear from you and pleased to hear you are planning to reprioritise in 2014. I continue to benefit from my time with you – more confidence in the darkroom. Unfortunately I have been quite unwell since I returned. I am keeping my schedule for the beginning of the year clear at the moment until I see a significant improvement in energy levels. I will be back in touch in January to see what time you still have free for a weekend with you. I am looking forward to some snow and have the film loaded in readiness. In the meantime all the very best to yourself and Jan”,

The post JR, Scotland, 5-December-2013 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

BG, 16-December-2013

Richard — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:30:29 +0000

Dave, Many thanks again for a brilliant day last Saturday. Got home at 8.30 and relieved I did not have to attend the bowls club social as Christine was at least as tired as myself! I had a flash of inspiration about the lost negatives and found them where I guessed, still held in the contact printing box where last used. I wonder if you can comment on my enlarger, as I recalled it is indeed a Durst F30 with 75 watt bulb, (can take 150), condenser lens and F 4.5 x 50 mm Minolta lens. I have attached a few pics. The negative tray looks straightforward. The condenser lens is removable and it looks like there is provision for a filter above it in the holder. Does this make sense? The filter would be 65 mm square to fit. i.e. your style of filters with the projecting handle would not fit. Saw some filters like yours on eBay( new, £55) but looks like I need to research further options. Very best regards to Jan and thanks again to her for a tasty and attractive lunch. Regards”,

The post BG, 16-December-2013 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

JD, Northants, 30-April-2014

Richard — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:30:06 +0000

Hi Dave, Just a note to thank you and your wife for the day I spent with you on Sunday. Best wishes”. JD, Northants, 30-April-2014

The post JD, Northants, 30-April-2014 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

MT, Cheshire, 12-March-2017

Richard — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:43:38 +0000

Hello Dave and Jan. Thank you both very much for my darkroom day. You provide, as always, great hospitality, a relaxed atmosphere and a great deal of helpful tuition, just hope I can retain a high percentage of it. I also found that turning over negative holder, as yours, made it sit down better and eliminated the bit of stray light that I was having to block out. The small bits like that all add towards a smoother workflow. Thanks again,

The post MT, Cheshire, 12-March-2017 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

LHM extract from blog post, Dumfries, 8-August-2016

Richard — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:42:36 +0000

It is a good thing as an artist to continually train, push forward, develop and improve, so I set myself a challenge to book a course with an Ilford Master Printer. Dave Butcher, who is based in Derbyshire, worked for Ilford Photo for 21 years, including running the photographic printing department and more recently has become a genius teacher. The course was split over two full days and time was spent working from my own medium format 6×6 negatives and included using all four different enlargers in the darkroom. The experience of using this range of equipment, although confusing at first, was invaluable. Now it is time to put all I’ve learnt into practice and disappear back into my own darkroom enlightened and much improved.”

The post LHM extract from blog post, Dumfries, 8-August-2016 appeared first on Dave Butcher.

AGB, Cambridge, 11-July-2016

Richard — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:41:41 +0000

Hi Dave, I just wanted to say a big thank you for a fabulous weekend. When I book courses blind, I am never quite sure that they’ll deliver what I originally had in mind. I have to say that I got exactly what I needed from you and a whole lot more! I now have the confidence to start up at home and I understand the basic process well enough to experiment. I suspect that I’ll take some time to master the basics and then come back to you for the next stage… I’ll certainly keep in touch. It was so kind of you to give me enough equipment to get going with. You’ll be pleased to know that I have also invested in a Leica M4 (it was that or the M6 and I liked the classic look of the M4 a little more!) after some heavy research last night, so I’m well on the way! Also, please thank Jan again for her kindness and hospitality. She’s very understanding to have strangers invade her home like I did! You both were so welcoming and I’m glad we’re no longer strangers ?All the best and take care”, AGB, Cambridge, 11-July-2016

The post AGB, Cambridge, 11-July-2016 appeared first on Dave Butcher.