Darkroom Fun

[Dinky]

Its been several years [late 1960's] since I worked in a darkroom environment and remember well the process from loading of the film in its individual tank, the chemical process [development, stop bath and fixer a.k.a.,hypo] to the enlargement end result [printing].

I recall working with the larger 120 film format and the enjoyment making enlargements on my Beseler enlarger. What quality and resolution:D I just got through looking at all of the photos on Clay Coleman's website [http://claycoleman.tripod.com/] from his years of scuba diving and Clay, if you read this post. I remember the Mamiya C220 camera very well, I never owned one but developed film from a buddies camera. I remember the Kodak Tri-X black and white film and the D76 developer, to process this film.

What FUN it was in those days!!

I wonder, is anyone on this forum doing any B/W shooting with a SLR film camera while scuba diving and, developing and making your own prints?? If so tell me what kind of setup you have [darkroom equipment]. Yeah, yeah I know, its much easier to drop the film off to a local retail shop and have them process it and make whatever size prints you desire.

I gotta find something else to do after I get certified, get some scuba diving experience under my belt in the coming months leading up too and in my retirement years [starting sometime in 2009].;)

Dinky

[Bodie]

Dinky,

While your probably nuts to shoot dedicated B&W underwater, here's what I've used recently for 35mm B&W architectural photography. (You might be shocked as to how similar it is to your list).

Jobo CPE 2+ w/ lift arm rotary developer
Kodak D-76 stock solution and all the other matching chemi's
Beseler enlarger (the schools, not mine unfortunately)

Kodak recently stopped manufacturing B&W film (including Tri-x) so film choices are getting expensive and harder to find. Illford still makes a good product line that works well with D-76 (HP5 and FP4 are what I use).

Until recently I used a Canon EOS 650 from the eighties for land shots, now I borrow a Elan 7e. For underwater film I have a Sea & Sea housing for the Canon Rebel G with a few ports and lenses. Used a Sea and Sea YS-120 ttl with it and Fuji Velvia E-6 film.

The Jobo can do anywhere between 1 and 5 rolls of 35mm at a time and can take any type of chemicals (I've done both B&W and E-6 developing in it).

If your interested in the developer, or the Rebel's w/ housing message me, I'm looking to clean out the storage room of stuff...cheap.

[Dinky]

Dinky,

Kodak recently stopped manufacturing B&W film (including Tri-x) so film choices are getting expensive and harder to find. Illford still makes a good product line that works well with D-76 (HP5 and FP4 are what I use).

If your interested in the developer, or the Rebel's w/ housing message me, I'm looking to clean out the storage room of stuff...cheap.

I have to first figure out where I can construct/build up a real darkroom in my house. I have a decent sized closet here in my "computer" room and I could utilize it by building a shelf to layout the trays but I might not have any room for a enlarger. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Now an alternate is my garage, which is enclosed with an automatic door opener. Let me consider that. As for the developer and Rebel equipment. Will have to pass at this time.

One final note. I am in training as a student in scuba diving and working towards my certification. So it will be awhile before I get to actually do some underwater photography.:p

Have a super great day [Wednesday] and if you are a football fan, enjoy the game Sunday between the Giants and the Packers.:rolleyes:

Dinky

PS: Sorry I did not get back to you sooner. Got several things going on plus my wife has been sick the past couple of days and THAT has my attention!!!

[Jonathan Bird]

Kodak recently stopped manufacturing B&W film (including Tri-x) so film choices are getting expensive and harder to find.

Oh man, what is the world coming to? An end of an era.

Dinky, forget it man! Go digital and do B&W in photoshop. Seriously. You have a lot more control over the image, no nasty chemicals that are bad for you and the environment, and you don't have to lurk like a mushroom in a dark room.

I spent probably months of my youth in darkrooms and I get a little nostalgic about it every once in a while, until I think about what a pain in the butt it was!! I got pretty good at sliding the film into the spiral film holders for processing in the pitch darkness though! I'll bet I could still do it.

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Clay, if you read this post. I remember the Mamiya C220 camera very well, I never owned one but developed film from a buddies camera. I remember the Kodak Tri-X black and white film and the D76 developer, to process this film.

Hey Dinky! I still have that C220. I still have the darkroom, too, but it has been steadily filling up with storage stuff for the last 10 years. I can't remember the last time I actually did any work in there, but the enlarger (Beseler), trays, etc. are still there waiting for me. -Clay

[Warren_L]

I used to do a lot of B&W (mostly FP4) with D76, back in the day. When I finally got around to learning how to do cibachrome, I then decided I didn't really need to do this and went digital....

[nemo]

The old line " close the door you'll let the dark out!"
So true were the days.. sadly, while I was in the dark spending hours and sometimes whole days making B&W images as large as 40 x 30's a strange thing was going on... the world of digital.. About a year ago I came up with the great idea of going into the darkroom and make 4 images .... After spending 3 hours of getting my lab ready.. it hit me .. "what tha am I doing?" I took the film strip scanned it in and with in 30 minutes with photoshop I was done..
I have a great B&W darkroom and I hate that it just gathers dust... So, If anyone is interested I would be willing to give it to someone who would use it... If your out there just respond.
I must admit prints made from the true art of B&W have a look that can not be matched.

[Clay Coleman]

Nemo! Where in the world have you been? I was in Venice, Florida a while back searching for fossils, and I went to the gallery of Clyde Butcher--one of the last few large format nature shooters. His work is stunning, and after one of our party made me out to be some kind of big shot, I was invited to tour his darkroom (Mr. Butcher wasn't there, unfortunately). Wow. They were printing 8x10 negs onto huge paper--something like 5x7 feet. Have a look at http://www.clydebutcher.com/ to see if you're not inspired to get back into the darkroom to do it "old school" one more time! -Clay

P.S.: I just visited Mr. Butcher's web site and I see now that you don't have to be a "big shot" to tour the darkroom!

[Dinky]

Have a look at http://www.clydebutcher.com/ to see if you're not inspired to get back into the darkroom to do it "old school" one more time! -Clay

P.S.: I just visited Mr. Butcher's web site and I see now that you don't have to be a "big shot" to tour the darkroom!

WOW...I just took an early morning [2:20am] peek at the website and I need to review the entire site in a day or so, when I am fully awake!! I'd love to be down in Florida and able to visit the Venice Gallery & Studio. My son and oldest daughter live in the Winter Garden, Kissimmee area and I am thinking about visiting them sometime in March. You can be sure I would throw in some time to drive over and visit the gallery. :p Thanks for the link Clay.

Dinky

[Carsten Wolff]

Re, Bodie's remark: "Kodak recently stopped manufacturing B&W film (including Tri-x) so film choices are getting expensive and harder to find. Illford still makes a good product line that works well with D-76 (HP5 and FP4 are what I use)."

That is not correct, esp. for Tri-X: SOME versions in SOME formats only (Tri-X320 vs TRi-X400, or 35mm vs rollfilm vs sheetfilm for SOME versions.....).
Tri-X is according to Kodak's website, "the world's best selling b/w film" and there seem to be no plans to stop making e.g. 400 for 35mm or 320 in 4x5".

[tkelly]

I love the smell of Dektol in the morning, it smells like victory!

Digital cannot compete with the clarity, tonal range, and detail of a large format print from large format film. However, the pain in the *** of it all and the considerable cost in time, money, and equipment, signal the end of the film age.

The thing I miss about the darkroom is that the process was tactile and involved all the senses (except taste). You had to think ahead of time and know where you wanted to go. With digital you can try anything so long as you work on a separate layer. There is no risk, or cost of trying new things with digital.

Seeing a print evolve out of the negative and onto a white piece of paper, in the red light of the darkroom, is a magical and trans formative experience for a young photographer, and that experience is all but lost today.

[Jonathan Bird]

Seeing a print evolve out of the negative and onto a white piece of paper, in the red light of the darkroom, is a magical and trans formative experience for a young photographer, and that experience is all but lost today.

True. But I'm not going back!

[Clay Coleman]

I recently had Mike Verbois as a guest at my Shack on the Lower Grand River in Louisiana. Mike was an instructor at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, and he sent me a book titled "Silver Seas" by Ernie Brooks. It's a whole book of black and white underwater photography. I really enjoyed looking through the images--certainly different from what you normally see.

[Jonathan Bird]

That's a gorgeous book, and no photoshop!!

[Carsten Wolff]

I'm in both camps, digital and analogue; am having too much fun with photography at-large to limit myself :). Admittedly, I rarely do the 35mm format these days*, but have found new ground in the larger formats.
I set up a new darkroom with Durst 5x7 ("3S") and MF (M605) enlargers and a DeVere 405.
Color murals I get done digitally at West Coast Imaging.
B/W prints to very large sizes** I do myself, although yesterday I just did 20 or so nice and permanent 5x7" contacts. This in under 30 min and for <$5 (probably less than $2) in consumables.... (paper is cheap these days) and no empty cartridges, no banding issues, real greys, superb tonality.... :) You can tell I'm happy, can't you?

*(well, I do play with 35mm occasionally - and somewhat masochistically - , above water)
**biggest so far: 2x6ft off 6x17cm film and cut-down Ilford MG IV paper roll.

[tkelly]

Carsten,
Have you posted any scans on the web? I'd like to see what you are doing.

[Viz'art]

I recently had Mike Verbois as a guest at my Shack on the Lower Grand River in Louisiana. Mike was an instructor at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, and he sent me a book titled "Silver Seas" by Ernie Brooks. It's a whole book of black and white underwater photography. I really enjoyed looking through the images--certainly different from what you normally see.

Ernie's book is excellent, and the guy is just as nice a person as he is a good photographer. I have met him on several ocasion and he is the kindest and warmest of individual out there, a true role model for anyone aspiring for a long term relationship with underwater photography and a testament that talent does not come from technological advencement.

[Jonathan Bird]

Ernie's book is excellent, and the guy is just as nice a person as he is a good photographer. I have met him on several ocasion and he is the kindest and warmest of individual out there, a true role model for anyone aspiring for a long term relationship with underwater photography and a testament that talent does not come from technological advencement.

Very true. Ernie is a true gentleman.

[Clay Coleman]

Mike Verbois was also a very nice guy. He had a camera modified for infrared, and he took some neat photos of my area. Have a look at https://picasaweb.google.com/105133020717720482311/LouisianaIR41711700PM?authkey=Gv1sRgCPeFvorvis7T1g E&feat=email#

to see some cool IR images. Images 14-22 are from my boat or camp, and I really like #22 of my pier.

[Jonathan Bird]

IR is cool! Nice pics! Someday I want to visit your camp!

[Clay Coleman]

IR is cool! Nice pics! Someday I want to visit your camp!

Anytime! Fall and spring are best for gators, eagles are here during the winter. Come on down; the guest bedroom at The Shack even has a door! http://claycoleman.tripod.com/id406.htm

[Jonathan Bird]

Hey Clay,
I just checked out the pics of the camp and the pics of the lower grand wildlife you posted. You really should do a book about that! Really awesome pictures!

And happy to see the camp has AC! That's my kind of camping!

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Hey Clay,
I just checked out the pics of the camp and the pics of the lower grand wildlife you posted. You really should do a book about that! Really awesome pictures!

And happy to see the camp has AC! That's my kind of camping!

Jonathan

Hey, thanks, man. I plan to submit to a local publisher as soon as I get more "pretty" scenic shots. If I ever sell the package, now is the time with the "Swamp People" hype. Re the a/c: The Shack is perfectly livable year-round. The only thing we don't have is an oven for baking. Very comfortable place even with the recent 100 degree temps and 90% humidity.

[sorvju-f]

Hey, thanks, man. I plan to submit to a local publisher as soon as I get more "pretty" scenic shots. If I ever sell the package, now is the time with the "Swamp People" hype. Re the a/c: The Shack is perfectly livable year-round. The only thing we don't have is an oven for baking. Very comfortable place even with the recent 100 degree temps and 90% humidity.

I do not know why art is so much easier to do with B&W pics...maybe because it is more timeless like art should be.

They have promised to us here in Finland bad mosquito summer. I am more afraid of mosquitos than crocodiles.

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

I am more afraid of mosquitos than crocodiles.



We have so many mosquitos that we need TWO mosquito magnets in our yard!

[sorvju-f]

We have so many mosquitos that we need TWO mosquito magnets in our yard!

Really...in Boston...have to stay out from there...how about crocodiles?:D

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

You are perfectly safe from crocs there!! The snow tends to kill them!

[Clay Coleman]

It has been proposed in our legislature to name the mosquito the official state bird of Louisiana. No kidding. In fact, that was one of our legislature's better ideas. BTW, no crocs in Louisiana--only gators. Florida is the only US state with crocs, and they're rare there.

[sorvju-f]

You are perfectly safe from crocs there!! The snow tends to kill them!

If that the reason I am happy that every winter there is snow in Finland:p

Jukka

[sorvju-f]

It has been proposed in our legislature to name the mosquito the official state bird of Louisiana. No kidding. In fact, that was one of our legislature's better ideas. BTW, no crocs in Louisiana--only gators. Florida is the only US state with crocs, and they're rare there.

How about gators...are they biting people?

To have mosquito like national bird is to me big question mark...do Lousiana get some incomes from tourism?

Jukka

[Clay Coleman]

Jukka: The mozzy as state bird was a joke, but it was officially introduced in the Louisiana government. From my experience with alligators, I can't imagine getting bitten by one unless you were near a nest or if you were swimming in murky water and thrashing around (even then, a bite is extremely unlikely). But I do hear reports of people being bitten every now and then. But then, there was that time at Avery Island when a smallish one actually charged me, then chased me. It bit my tripod. So, I guess you never know. As a rule, my main problem is getting close enough to them for a good photo.

[sorvju-f]

Jukka: The mozzy as state bird was a joke, but it was officially introduced in the Louisiana government. From my experience with alligators, I can't imagine getting bitten by one unless you were near a nest or if you were swimming in murky water and thrashing around (even then, a bite is extremely unlikely). But I do hear reports of people being bitten every now and then. But then, there was that time at Avery Island when a smallish one actually charged me, then chased me. It bit my tripod. So, I guess you never know. As a rule, my main problem is getting close enough to them for a good photo.

Thanks for your reply Clay.

...mozzy...new word to me...I like that...like the sound they are keeping...do you know where the sounds come...from the wings?

Good it was just tripod. Biting...sounds like same than with sharks...bite normally is more or less accident.

Jukka