Pics from the lab...

I have been working in the darkroom not for about a month and a half. I have developed film, made contact sheets, and a bunch of prints. We are using Ilford RC paper, in my case the peral finish. I am shooting mainly with Ilford HP5+ 400. I have also used Plus X 125, and TMAX 400, but my preference is for the HP5.

I took the chance to snap off a few pics from the classroom, and our tiny lab. There is a larger lab I work in on Fridays, but I have not had the chance to grab any shots in there yet.

I will be posting some of my prints as soon as I can scan them. Our scanner at home is not working, so I am hoping to do some at school soon.

My station can be seen in the 3rd pic, straight in with a small cart underneath.

Click for larger pics...
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2692.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2691.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2690.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2689.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2688.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2687.jpg
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...h_IMG_2678.jpg

I have always enjoyed working in the darkroom and seeing what develops, LOL, Seems like now that I have gone digital and using Photoshop. It just doesn't have the magic to it that being in the darkroom has and watching a photo appear on a blank sheet of paper, Jeff

I always enjoyed the whole developing process too. I wish I got more skilled in the enlarging process, but I haven't touched one since high school.

post 1000. woot!

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Originally Posted by Grandpaw

I have always enjoyed working in the darkroom and seeing what develops, LOL, Seems like now that I have gone digital and using Photoshop. It just doesn't have the magic to it that being in the darkroom has and watching a photo appear on a blank sheet of paper, Jeff

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Man, you got that right. I started out on film when I began shooting in 2000, but I never dev'd my own film, or printed my own negs, with exception to what a ran through my package printer at the lab in Michigan.

This is real photography. Photography's essence. Everyone photographer should take photo 1. It is a real eye opener.

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I always enjoyed the whole developing process too. I wish I got more skilled in the enlarging process, but I haven't touched one since high school.

post 1000. woot!

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I have plans to buy an enlarger and set up a dark room. I want to keep this artform alive.

Congrats on 1000 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Well I certainly don't miss the darkroom one bit.

I used to spend most of my spare time in winter doing the year's black and white prints (and sometimes some colour but that was much more difficult to get right). My hands used to smell of fixer. Horrible.

And I now know - from scanning some of my prints - that I was printing too soft. I never got maximum black because I wanted more detail in the mid-tones - something that is easy to do now with digital.

Congratulations on your class John. I took a beginning photography glass at the local collage back in 2004 and your lab photos bring back some memories. I ended up setting up my own darkroom at home since the school was a half hour away. (Remember Chunk who use to frequent the forums? That's who I bought the dark room equipment from.) Once the class was done, I think I only used the darkroom twice. The last time was a couple of years ago. I would be willing to give you a good deal on all of it, but I'm guessing it would cost more to ship it to you than what you could get if for locally.

I am so glad for you John. Nothing like learning the darkroom process. You should have seen the hole in the wall darkroom I learned in 40 years ago in college. The process has not changed a bit in all these years.

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Originally Posted by Old Timer

The process has not changed a bit in all these years.

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And isn't that the best part about it? I could step back in time 40 years and feel right at home in a darkroom. I love digital, but the latest generation needs to learn where it came from, and how to get along without it. Also, it's just a ton of fun! :D