Darkroom Dynamics

TONING

Gary Hallman

Several years ago an extraordinary experience confirmed for me the range of pure sensual pleasure photographs can offer. The event was the viewing of a large group exhibition from the Museum of Modern Art in New York called “The Photo Eye of the Twenties.” I found most striking the contrast between my experience of many of the images through halftone black-and-white reproductions in books and catalogs, and the presence of the beautiful prints on the exhibition walls. Although products of a variety of black-and-white processes, the prints displayed a rich range of colors characteristic of the unique papers or toning baths ...