Platinum Palladium Printing

Platinum Palladium Printing with Leica M Monochrom from Luís Oliveira Santos on Vimeo.

Footage, edition and film direction by LUÍS OLIVEIRA SANTOS

Manuel Gomes Teixeira, photographer and Platinum Palladium printer, usually uses traditional methods with photographic film in medium and large format cameras.  Invited by the exclusive distributor of Leica cameras in Portugal, he tested the Leica “M” Monochrom. Manuel found the high quality files show a rich tonal range and adapt very well to Platinum printing.

I have yet to actually test print any images from a Leica M Monochrom myself, but friends who have all report it is fantastic.  Something to put on my list of gear to have a look at one day.  I’ve printed my own Platinum Palladium negatives for several years now.  It is an interesting and quite different process than working with regular silver based papers and negatives.  Platinum Palladium is sensitive to UV, not the regular visual light spectrum.

It takes a real dedication to fine art printing to have a darkroom of your own.  Over the years, I’ve had several and experienced the pain and the pleasure of seeing my work printed in many ways. In all those years, I don’t believe I have ever seen a more magical B&W print than one done with Platinum/Palladium.  These two precious metals give the prints huge tonal range, a tonal scale that is literally off the charts, dMax that can rival a silver print, and since you are printing with hand coated papers, you have a wide choice in tooth, weight, color, and tone.

More at www.ManuelGomesTeixeira.com