Dodging & Burning
Dodging and burning are techniques that allow you to selectively manipulate the exposure of specific areas of a photograph. They take skill, practice, and a bit of trial and error to master, but can significantly improve the contrast and quality of your prints!
Dodging = blocking the light from the enlarger to decrease exposure and lighten a specific part of an image. This is done for only part of the exposure time e.g. if the exposure is 8 seconds, you might dodge part of the image for 4 of those 8 seconds to lighten it.
Burning = exposing part of an image for a longer amount of time to darken it. This is done after the initial exposure for an additional amount of time e.g. if the initial exposure is 8 seconds, you might burn part of the image for an additional 4 seconds to darken it.
In both cases you must move the dodging or burning tool constantly so as not to create line on the print like you see when making a test strip. Rather, you want to create a gradient or feathered edge between the dodged or burned areas and the rest of the print.
Dodging Tool Burning Tool
A photographer dodging (lightening) a part of the print during the exposure process.
Below is a photo of the Clock Tower at the Redstone Inn printed by my student Samantha Contreras in 2018. The first version on the left was exposed for 8 seconds @ f/11, and you can see that the bottom of the photo is rather dark with very little detail visible. The second version on the right was dodged on the bottom for 4 seconds (half of the total exposure time) revealing more detail in the balcony and railings.
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Below is another example of a photo taken of our social studies teacher at GSHS Mike Schneiter by my student Sergio Montes in 2016.
1. The top print is the original shot exposed for 10 seconds @ f/11,
2.The middle print was exposed with a #3 contrast filter at 10 seconds again but this time @ f/8 to compensate for the filter (which blocks some of the light as it passes through the enlarger lens).
3. The bottom print is exposed for the same time and f/stop as the middle print with the contrast filter only this time Mr. Schneiter's face was dodged for about 3 seconds which lightened it and draws more attention to him as the subject of the photo. It could probably use even a bit more dodging on the bottom half of Schneiter's face.
Below is another example of a photo taken of our social studies teacher at GSHS Mike Schneiter by my student Sergio Montes in 2016.
1. The top print is the original shot exposed for 10 seconds @ f/11,
2.The middle print was exposed with a #3 contrast filter at 10 seconds again but this time @ f/8 to compensate for the filter (which blocks some of the light as it passes through the enlarger lens).
3. The bottom print is exposed for the same time and f/stop as the middle print with the contrast filter only this time Mr. Schneiter's face was dodged for about 3 seconds which lightened it and draws more attention to him as the subject of the photo. It could probably use even a bit more dodging on the bottom half of Schneiter's face.
Below: Cat on left, 3.5 contrast filter, un-dodged. At right 3.5 contrast filter, dodged to lighten the cat, Kassidi Johnson, 2018.
Below is an example I found online that incorporates both dodging and burning. In the original photo at left, the building is underexposed. It has been dodged in the middle image, and in the third image the sky has been burned in providing more contrast. Since black and white film is more sensitive to blue light, skies can often look "blown out" or overexposed and burning them in (so you can tell the difference between sky and the white border) is a common practice. This can also lend some drama to your image i.e. a darker, more contrasty, or even ominous/stormy feeling.
Now test yourself. Which areas have been dodged and which areas have been burned in the image at the right below?
Want more?
Digital Photography School Article on Dodging/Burning
Wikipedia's Page on Dodging/Burning
Youtube Video On Dodging & Burning Part 1
Digital Photography School Article on Dodging/Burning
Wikipedia's Page on Dodging/Burning
Youtube Video On Dodging & Burning Part 1
Youtube Video On Dodging & Burning Part 2