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Buttercup · 02-19-2008, 06:52 PM

I am so excited - Just developed my first roll of film. It is drying but it looks like it came out alright. I will scan a few images later....

fotochop · 02-19-2008, 07:14 PM

having run literally THOUSANDS of rolls over the past 30 years I can say it's truly an exciting moment! you can see many of my 'historic' images of So.La. and New Orleans music at http://www.rickolivier.com

although 99% of what I shoot now is just bits and bytes... looking forward to spending some time in the (newly renovated, post Katrina) darkroom..

Zeppelinium · 02-19-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I am so excited - Just developed my first roll of film. It is drying but it looks like it came out alright. I will scan a few images later....

You gotta be kidding! With all your digital expertise you seem to be regressing. This is like driving from LA to NY in a hot car, then deciding to go back in a covered wagon.

On the other hand, I do love the tone and shadow detail you can get in a large B&W negative. Good luck.

Zep

Excella CM · 02-19-2008, 07:25 PM

The software to read a silver-halide negative is likely to be available for some milennia to come. Think your grandkids wil be able to resurrect your digital images?

NevadaGeo · 02-19-2008, 07:28 PM

Ok, tell me what did you photograph? The plain, or Buttercup?

Toldfield · 02-19-2008, 07:31 PM

Excellent! If this is going to become a habit, let me know. I seem to have a surplus of darkroom equipment here. Trays, enlargers, tanks, etc.

thecatsandi · 02-19-2008, 08:28 PM

after having developed many roles of film. It never ceases to amaze me when them come out. printing them is just as much fun.

Tom Nugler · 02-19-2008, 08:35 PM

Wow. Flashback time. Plus X or Kodachrome?
There’s nothing like holding a wet strip up to the light, right out of the fixer, to see if you got "The Shot"! Was the light right? Was the F stop on target?
PhotoShop was in the viewfinder, and if you were lucky, you only had a couple of seconds to compose, frame and shoot.
One of the enduring memories of my mis-spent youth was processing a couple of rolls after midnight in the college darkroom. Seems there was a bit of "Civil Disobedience" after a badly organized concert. We sent our weekly rag to the printer the next evening and this was the top story.
I’m thinking of having the old 35 mm Mamiya/Sekors cleaned up for our trip to Alaska this year. Those will be the photos you won’t trust to digital media.
Welcome to the fraternity of those who have spent time under a red light and nose curling chemicals.

Good luck
Tom.

Buttercup · 02-19-2008, 10:13 PM

Kodak something or another. Developed with Diafine and that is about all I can say except to say thet I learned that Diafine pushes about a stop or so so I will have to remember that little fact for the next roll.

Buttercup · 02-20-2008, 02:28 AM

Wow, such a portfolio! So many faces I have seen before and you did the "O' Sister" cover?!? Wow!! That is cool!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotochop

having run literally THOUSANDS of rolls over the past 30 years I can say it's truly an exciting moment! you can see many of my 'historic' images of So.La. and New Orleans music at http://www.rickolivier.com

although 99% of what I shoot now is just bits and bytes... looking forward to spending some time in the (newly renovated, post Katrina) darkroom..

Zep,
Not really going back. I have had my Canon T-90 for years and just started to get back into it a little. I have a "LensBaby2" and have never really got a chance to us eit much. I also have recently become interested in pinhole photography and came across a website on how to develope my film. With $100 of supplies I was in business. And I couldn't be happier to experience this.
Believe it or not I have more experience in repairing developers having completely rebuilt 2 processors for a local photographer. But that was a side job and doing that taught me a little about how film is developed, both color and B & W.
This was an old roll of 400 speed film I had so i wasn't worried about the results too much. I just went out and shot the roll so I could run it.
I am looking forward to my next roll!

Buttercup · 02-20-2008, 02:47 AM

Well, that would be wonderful! But I seem to be short of space. I have my 2 gallons of developer and my little 2 roll day tank and my changing bag. For my Darkroom I go in the bathroom and turn off the lights with the door closed (you know that is light tight) and load my film.
However - If you are looking to unload some surplus inventory perhaps we could talk. I don't know how far I will go with this but It has been quite fun and I will be shooting more but I will not be doing any color - too much work for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toldfield

Excellent! If this is going to become a habit, let me know. I seem to have a surplus of darkroom equipment here. Trays, enlargers, tanks, etc.

gyandell · 02-20-2008, 03:02 AM

That's awesome you are printing and developing. I spent many years honing my darkroom skills just to be side swiped by digital. now my darkroom is a mac. The great thing is you can pick up a complete darkroom on ebay for next to nothing.

Gary Yandell Photography

ArtStream · 02-20-2008, 06:48 AM

Congratulations Tim!
Darkroom work is magical.
Ahh, the pungent smell of fixer takes me back to the bygone day of yesteryear.

Now was a time when Polaroid used to produce an instant 35 mm. Yes, it was a cassette just like regular film. Had a neat little contraption you placed the film cassette into, close the lid, turn the crank, and out popped a roll of developed film.

It was a positive film as rather than a negative film.
It was called PolaPan.

Than there was the Polaroid Daylab...

From a design sense, Polaroid was the Apple of today, cutting edge technology, design and function.

Sad to see them make all them bad choices, or should I say no choices at all.

They just stopped making the instant film ya know.

Those little square images hold a dear place in my heart, like Kodachrome prints.

Ahh, the old days!

Michael

PS, have fun Tim and be sure to watch those temps and don't skimp on the film washing

Zeppelinium · 02-20-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Well, that would be wonderful! But I seem to be short of space. I have my 2 gallons of developer and my little 2 roll day tank and my changing bag. For my Darkroom I go in the bathroom and turn off the lights with the door closed (you know that is light tight) ...

Tim, you can actually get a whole film processing lab into the wet bath of a Caravel, but you gotta install some narrow shelves and figure out how to turn the fan and light on and off from inside. Having a 4x5 tripple tank even makes it possible to do medium format. Washing is the problem--there's never enough water when you're out in the boonies.

Zep

vswingfield · 02-20-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtStream

Congratulations Tim!
Now was a time when Polaroid used to produce an instant 35 mm. Yes, it was a cassette just like regular film. Had a neat little contraption you placed the film cassette into, close the lid, turn the crank, and out popped a roll of developed film.

Yeah, got a "brand new" never out of the plastic one in the box on the shelf behind me. Got it at the state outlet for surpluss equipment along with an Omega enlarger.

ArtStream · 02-20-2008, 10:08 AM

Wait, wait, let me get my "Topcon model D"
On second thought I might need help, it's kinda heavy and the mirror slap might knock me off balance

Michael

rickandsandi · 02-20-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Kodak something or another. Developed with Diafine and that is about all I can say except to say thet I learned that Diafine pushes about a stop or so so I will have to remember that little fact for the next roll.

Good for you! I have to admit my most favorite was Kodak Tri-X pushed to 1200 using Diafine. I loved the harsh contrast and grain. The begining of my photo existance thrived on this process. Often I would shoot two cameras at the same time capturing the image I was going after both loaded with Tri-X and then I would develope each roll differently to acheive seperate results without losing the work I had done in shooting. Still shooting Nikons but boy you couldn't beat those F3's! Still shoot with multiple bodies these days but photoshop ES3 has changed my darkroom from red and green (infered) lights to white.

Buttercup · 02-20-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtStream

PS, have fun Tim and be sure to watch those temps and don't skimp on the film washing

I was watching the temps and even had a thermometer to keep my rinse temps good. But I understand that Diafine is pretty forgiving to temp variations which is good because I am not really set up for fancy stuff.

Yes, Photoshop as a darkroom is quite easy. Digital is fine but there IS something about analog images that digital just can not touch.

I am impressed at the number of people responding to this thread!

Toldfield · 02-20-2008, 11:31 AM

While I was buidling my darkroom I seemed to be the Southern California repository for unwanted darkroom stuff. I have everything I need and would hate to see the extra go to a landfill. If I have it you can have it.

Zeppelinium · 02-20-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I was watching the temps and even had a thermometer to keep my rinse temps good. ..

In low humidity, tray temps will fall 5 degrees in 30 minutes (if they are not in a bath), even when the air temp is at or above the tray temp. I have that problem big time here in the semi-arid and high (7300') Colorado stepe.

Zep