[trixtroll]

I guess it’s kind of an acquisition….I got a 10 session pass to a community darkroom, in a neighboring community.

I had an “orientation” today, but can’t wait to go back and print a couple images from my 645 and develop a couple rolls of tri-X that I’ve been carrying around for months. Hopefully it’s like riding a bike.

[RobA_Oz]

I guess it’s kind of an acquisition….I got a 10 session pass to a community darkroom, in a neighboring community.

I had an “orientation” today, but can’t wait to go back and print a couple images from my 645 and develop a couple rolls of tri-X that I’ve been carrying around for months. Hopefully it’s like riding a bike.

The smell of fixer will bring it all back. Neurolinguistic programming at work, probably.

[rvandenbrink]

I guess it’s kind of an acquisition….I got a 10 session pass to a community darkroom, in a neighboring community.

I had an “orientation” today, but can’t wait to go back and print a couple images from my 645 and develop a couple rolls of tri-X that I’ve been carrying around for months. Hopefully it’s like riding a bike.

I found it to be like riding a bike, but then I found that over time it was more work (and WAY more money) than the enjoyment I was getting out of it. I still have my film gear, but shoot almost all digital now.
Pretty sure that I'll be getting rid of my chem the next municipal hazardous waste day, will likely pitch all the glassware etc then too.

[WPRESTO]

Sometimes I enjoyed seeing a B&W image come up in the developer tray, when I had done the printing just right, but mostly I remember darkroom work as a confined space (4X10 feet, dry enlarger surface at one end, wet processing trays at the other end, and a large rinse/cleanup sink narrowing the width of the standing space to three feet rather than four) full of noxious fumes, sometimes with a deafening exhaust fan running, and in the winter, because it was in a corner of the basement, gradually becoming aware that my feet were really, really cold. Putting in a rubber anti-fatigue mat helped both with the cold and the leg fatigue from standing for several hours on a cold cement floor. At times, it seemed like a medieval version of solitary confinement.

[ChrisPlatt]

As Walt mentioned it's like magic watching the image appear in a well-made print.

However in other respects my darkroom experiences were mostly quite the opposite.
Those many long printing sessions are among my most treasured photographic memories.

The darkroom in the Anthropology department at CUNY - Queens College in the 1980's was very warm and welcoming.
It was equipped with five Beseler 23C XL enlargers and everything required to make excellent 35mm and medium format prints.

Fresh chemistry was always provided for our use. We did have to provide our own printing paper.
It's not cheap - especially on a student's budget - so one learned to judge exposure times quickly.

Later when I framed out my own darkroom in my parent's basement I tried to make it spacious and as comfortable as possible as well.

In my experience with proper ventilation fumes from standard chemicals are barely detectable.
And IMO the scent of fixer on your hands is the true mark of a photographer!

Chris

[pepperberry farm]

this should round-out my 645 system:

one SMC A 645 75mm 2.8

one SMC A 645 150mm f3.5

[trixtroll]

I found it to be like riding a bike, but then I found that over time it was more work (and WAY more money) than the enjoyment I was getting out of it. I still have my film gear, but shoot almost all digital now.
Pretty sure that I'll be getting rid of my chem the next municipal hazardous waste day, will likely pitch all the glassware etc then too.

Sadly that’s true. I was averaging 4-8 rolls per month (35mm) from 2000-2008, then the cost led me up buy a K10.

I came back to film in 2021 and have been maintaining an average of 1 roll per month, but it’s been mostly medium format lately. I really enjoy my 645 and the images that it produces.

Chemistry is provided in the fees, so the community darkroom should be fairly cost effective. Maybe I’ll even make some friends there.

[pepperberry farm]

this one arrived this week: FA 645 35mm f3.5 AL (IF)

[Gary H Perth]

For my little Fuji X-A3, I found a special local price for the Fujifilm 50-230mm zoom. This is for when I am lazy and cannot be bothered screwing the Takumars on and off. It's sharp and AF is quick. I will be trying it in comparison to the Sony 55-200 on my A6000, and the Pentax 55-200mm on the K-01. Just for fun, and only when I get to doing it.

Meanwhile here is a pic from the Fuji at 230mm.

[D1N0]

One of these. Its bound to wreak havoc with my online marketing profile


I want to try to deyellow some old glass with it

[tim60]

One of these. Its bound to wreak havoc with my online marketing profile


I want to try to deyellow some old glass with it

Tell us how the off instructions use goes.

[D1N0]

Tell us how the off instructions use goes.

First have to find the right nail polish to apply to my Takumar

[ghpicard]

First have to find the right nail polish to apply to my Takumar

It will probably not work. There is no "radioactive" or "thorium" gel nails in that advertisement. You should check the advertisement thoroughly before buying

[D1N0]

It will probably not work. There is no "radioactive" or "thorium" gel nails in that advertisement. You should check the advertisement thoroughly before buying

Glow in the dark nail polish maybe. Thorium isn't really a marketing word. It will only appeal to nuclear power aficionados

[WPRESTO]

Glow in the dark nail polish maybe. Thorium isn't really a marketing word. It will only appeal to nuclear power aficionados

Thorium, isn't he the son of some Nordic god?