To give u sound advice, i need more info. Some questions that may need clarification:
1. Did u shoot on B&W film? B&W images can be also shot on Chromogenic film which u can develop and print at any of the colourlabs. Their shortcoming is it is not as sharp as purist B&W film. Examples of Chromogenic films are: Ilford SFX, Kodak TCN400. Purist B&W film are Ilford Delta 100,400, FP4+, HP5, Pan F etc, Kodak Tmax 100,400, Tri-X, PX125 etc, Rollei’s R3, Retro 100, 400, Infra Red, Fujifilm Neopan 100, 400, 1600.
2. Assuming you shoot on B&W film. Did u do the developing of the negative yourself or did you send out to others to do? There's a difference becos for a commercial guy doing developing for u, he's likely to use recycleable chemical or a general chemicals. Face it, there's never a general chemcial that can cure all film type. Even for myself, I use diff chemcials and diff dilutions for diff film or even the diff subjects that I shoot. So, whatever u have in mind when u r shooting, the commercial guy probably don't know. He will just use whatever he's using everyday to develop it based on his formula. Sometimes, it just does not address your needs based on his process.
So, this part is important when you are trying to get a good negative. if badly proceesed, then you cannot expect too much magic to happen when u are getting yr prints done.
3. To be frank, most colourlab these days are just like scanning machines. They basically scan your negatives. Expect some resolution loss when that happens. So, sometimes, you get all those issues u mentioned above. And the other prolem with digital scanning or prints are that the contrast and tonality can never come as close as what a traditional darkroom print can achieve. If the print is really that important, you may want to consider sending it for print by some darkroom workers who do it nicely and professionally.
Having said all the above, nothing will beat you printing yourself if are particular and wanted control on the entire shooting, Developing and printing process. Well, that's wht Ansel Adams has been advocating in his teachings. I do know that in such busy society, time is always a precious commodity. The common saying "So many things to do but so little time!"
Some resources of darkroom workers:
1. Ruby Photos (don't know the guy's name though) (beside Spinelli Cafe at Peninisula Hotel)
2. RiceBall Photobookstore (at Basement of Adlephi)
3. Fee Fee at Hong Lim Complex (Beside POSBank ATMs adjacent to Chinatoiwn Point)
4. Desmond Kwan (Maestro printer in the region but has very eccentric temper, he's selective who and what he wants to print for u, but his works are wonderful)
Unltimately, it an individual's choice how high a standard and quality you want out of your negative into the final print. The Standard & quality of the final prnt is has a relationship with the printer's skill, developing process and material used and of course, price to pay.
Hope that helps.....
