Bio

www.zwartwit.org is a website by Jaap-Jan Helder and Mark Mombarg, dedicated to something we enjoy doing: making traditional black-and-white photographs. Using traditional analog cameras instead of digital ones. Shot on film, and afterwards processed in a darkroom. Preferably printed on fibre-base paper, because we like those best. Using lith and toning to enhance them, not Photoshop.

Our interest in "fine-art" photography turned serious about 15 years ago, inspired by the man on the picture. This man, living in Cairo, was the proud owner of a camera almost as ancient as the pyramids down the road. He showed us what was possible using simple equipment. After we had tried to impress him with our SLR's, he disappeared under the dark cloth connected to his camera and took a picture of us. Without the use of film; he simply covered his lens with his own hand, loaded a piece of photographic paper somewhere inside, counted loud while exposing and dropped the paper in chemicals also hidden in his device. This print served as a negative, exposed to the bright Egyptian sunlight, with a piece of unexposed paper underneath. Back into the developer, and there was our portrait Cairo-style. We had to admit our way of taking pictures was a lot slower, and probably less fun..




After this trip we both decided to spend more time in the darkroom. At this moment, we are using both 35 mm and medium format, preferably printed on Forte Polywarmtone paper (as long our stock lasts). We own the copyrights of all pics on this site. If you want to buy or use one, please contact us. Feel free to use this link for comments, critique and other enquiries.