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Compared to color photographs, black and white photos allow viewers to focus on the composition, individual lines, details, lighting, emotions, and especially the story behind the image. From the time photographers took the first color photograph in 1861 by Thomas Sutton until now, the vitality and influence of black and white photography remain irreplaceable.
Black and white photographs are created entirely by hand, requiring a very high level of technical skill, aesthetic sense, and emotion from the photographer.
There's a great saying that helps illustrate the characteristics and beauty of black and white photography: "If color creates light in painting, then light and darkness create color in black and white photography." This is because black and white photography is created entirely by hand, requiring a high level of technical skill, aesthetic sense, and emotion from the photographer in the meticulous "secret chamber" of a darkroom.
By "experiencing the darkroom alongside the artist," the public will be able to answer questions such as: "What makes the Darkroom so captivating? What are the standards of a black and white photograph? What makes handcrafted photography represent the highest level in photographic art, similar to haute couture in the fashion industry or fine dining in the culinary field?"
The first feeling anyone gets when stepping into the "Dark Room" will have is an unforgettable experience.
According to Pham Tuan Ngoc, the first feeling anyone experiences upon entering the "Dark Room" is an unforgettable one – its unique nature, almost a "ritual" found only in this room.
The "ritual" begins with preparing the equipment, tools, and chemicals for a photo developing session. Next, the quality of the negatives is assessed, as some need to be "restored" if scratched or moldy. This includes blowing away dust, adjusting the negatives, and then "metering." All of this is in preparation for the "unveiling" moment, and most importantly, the moment when the image and its "sparkling colors" gradually appear on the white paper after being immersed in the chemical solution.
That "ritual" begins with preparing the equipment, tools, and chemicals to get ready for a photo printing session.
It's no surprise that many have described the "moment when a black and white photograph is created in the darkroom" as a magical, overwhelming, sublime, and captivating moment, one they "repeat endlessly"—for for them, it's when all the waiting and effort—time, money, and meticulous attention to detail—is manifested in the image, bringing indescribable joy. The allure of black and white photography also lies in the beauty created in that moment of precision and brilliance of the "double shot": the emotion and intellectual depth of the master photographer's "first shot" using the camera and technical standards, and the emotion and imagination of the master photographer's developing technique become the "second shot" in the darkroom…
Artist Pham Tuan Ngoc further explains: "Compared to color photography, hand-printed photos have the limitation of only having two colors, black and white. Color reproduction is entirely done by hand, relying on light and shadow. A successfully produced black and white photograph balances light and shadow within the frame, reproducing all the textures so that viewers can almost touch everything with their eyes; not only that, but it also captures the nuances and evokes the emotions of the scene at the very moment the photographer pressed the shutter button..."
Here, the public also had the opportunity to explore for the first time a seven-step "ritual" compared to the standard three to four steps of traditional photo developing.
Notably, with the series of darkroom experience workshops with Pham Tuan Ngoc, the public will also get to explore for the first time a 7-step "ritual" compared to the standard 3-4 steps of traditional photo developing.
According to Pham Tuan Ngoc, besides his personal experience as a practitioner of manual photography, the "7-step darkroom process" is the culmination of his training abroad, following international preservation/museum-level processing standards. This includes fixing the image twice, removing the fix solution, using selenium toning, and a lengthy development process with multiple water changes to ensure the durability of both the image and the paper, preventing yellowing or mirroring after many years.
Sharing his personal journey of honing his skills and exploring the art of darkroom photography as an independent artistic practice, Pham Tuan Ngoc stated, "It's all about serving the art of handcrafted photography. Darkroom photography isn't simply about technique; it's truly an independent practice of individual artistry, filled with emotion and exhilaration, like the first shot when you press the shutter button."
"Therefore, in my opinion, the highest standard for a black and white photograph is that the photographer should either create it directly in a darkroom or have it developed by a professional photographer," he shared.
Photogrammetry is not simply about technique; it's truly an independent practice that reflects the individual creativity of the artist.
According to Pham Tuan Ngoc, the "Darkroom" is an artistic space completely separate from the hustle and bustle of life. Everything in the darkroom happens sequentially and repeatedly, yet with a sense of spontaneity. Imagine it as a blend of instrumental jazz music with the gentle sound of flowing water. Beyond intense concentration, the practitioner of darkroom photography will experience "mindfulness" in enjoying and serving this craft.
In response to the question, "Black and white photography is no longer common, and while it's expensive and time-consuming, how do artists maintain the highest standards of darkroom photography in Vietnam today?", Pham Tuan Ngoc jokingly replied with another rhetorical question, "Isn't it true that anything difficult and arduous to achieve is also rewarding?" He then clarified, "That's because the sublime beauty created only exists in a darkroom. Besides, the practice of developing photographs allows me to experiment with the art of manual printing on various materials such as sun printing, silk printing, and printing on stone… it's very diverse, transformative, and offers many experiences in creative labor; that's my artistic spirit."
It is precisely because of this convergence of excellence that handcrafted artistic photographs are considered unique creations and are increasingly valuable.
Standing before a handcrafted black-and-white photograph, the public not only engages in a dialogue with emotions, thoughts, and aesthetics, but also witnesses the result of the interaction and interplay of the "double shot" by the photographer and the imager. It is precisely because of this convergence of excellence that handcrafted artistic photographs are considered unique creations and their value continues to increase.
Many also share that the explosion of digital technology has led to a constant influx of information and images, whether documentary or entertainment, to the point where their brains are almost overloaded. The experience with the "Dark Room" results in moments of slow living, privacy, and the enjoyment of the quiet yet sparkling process of creating handcrafted beauty within the "Dark Room."
Noirfoto began with just visual artist/photographer Pham Tuan Ngoc in the darkroom he developed and perfected himself.
About artist Pham Tuan Ngoc
Pham Tuan Ngoc (phamtuanngoc.com) - an artist who brings "Magic" into his work - was born in 1982 in Hanoi and currently lives and works in Vietnam. He is a visual artist, a specialist in hand-printed photographs, and an art educator.
He is known as a record holder in the field of visual arts with many "firsts" and "biggest" achievements in Vietnam. In 2019, Pham Tuan Ngoc set a record for printing the largest black and white photograph in Vietnam, with quality equivalent to the largest and leading manual photo printing company in the US, Griffin Editions. In 2023, Ngoc introduced the Chloris Collection to the public, featuring works on the themes of immortality and rebirth, created using lumen printing technology for the first time in Vietnam. Also in 2023, Ngoc introduced cyanotype works on silk, also a first in Vietnam, with record-breaking dimensions. All of Ngoc's practices share a common theme: "Magic"—the moment when the material interacts with chemicals and other elements before becoming stunningly beautiful creations.
Ngoc's practice is based on a belief in the artistic, historical, conservation, scientific, and cultural value of handcrafted photography, the value of exquisite technical skill, and accumulated knowledge, especially in the digital age.
Possessing profound expertise in art photography and extensive practical experience across various mediums, Ngoc is frequently invited to teach or speak at talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, and other events at leading art schools and centers in Vietnam.
In 2017, Ngoc founded Noirfoto Darkroom-Gallery-Studio – the first professional darkroom in Vietnam, where he focuses on researching and honing image and printmaking techniques from the early stages of photographic history. With a passion for handcrafted photographic printing, Ngoc pursues perfection in practicing these techniques, viewing them as the intersection of art, craft, science, and history.
