Who still uses a darkroom?

[sgoetzin]

Yes I do. I do have a fully equipped darkromm where I process my b&W films and prints. For the FB prints I recently acquired a vertival wascher and a baryta press to get the prints flat. Just a pleasure to be in the DK, listen to good music and have fun. It's like meditation to me. I don't see the time passing by.

Serge

[jfurrer]

My wet darkroom is therapy for me . . . last thing I want to do is spend MORE time on the computer. It's a release, a getaway.

And yes, a bit of a comforting throw-back to a passed era, but one in which I grew up.

I shoot and print 4x5 from a Wista, 120 medium format from an ancient Pentax, and 35 with my MP. Just one mult-format enlarger, a dinosaur Besler MCX.
Tank develop in Diafine, except for 4x5s which take the drum.

It's all tuned to the hilt, I make 12x15 inch prints from my Leica negatives with no problem -- the grain structure is even and tight, at normal viewing distances not noticable even in skys and other large flat fields.

Jim Furrer
Littleton, Colorado USA

[Michael Hiles]

Clearly darkrooms and wet processes are far from dead - blessings on everyone who turns off the white light.

All my prints are made on fibre-based silver paper, and I think they are beautiful. I don't do many (there is a limit to my wall space) but I get requests, and this weekend I am going to a cousin's daughter's wedding and I am giving them a framed 10x15" hand-made B&W print, tastefully matted and framed. Hope they like it. I am sure they will not get anything else like it.

[Double Negative]

That is a great darkroom, Jim.

[danmitch]

Just about to start D&P again after a gap of many years. Hoping to get the equipment this week to develop B&W and then look at doing some work on the loft at the end of the year.

There are some great pictures of well known London darkrooms in Richard Nicholson's project from just over a year ago at Richard Nicholson Photography - 'Last One Out, Please Turn On the Light'

Best - Daniel

[aesop]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

That is a great darkroom, Jim.

...agreed, Double Negative, jfurrer's darkroom is the way foreward. I definitely need to start thinking about upgrading my makeshift Captain Caveman version.

[austking]

I do. Set up a darkroom two years ago for the first time at age 74. Spend 2-3 afternoons a week in there. Don't own a digital camera.

[nikau]

Originally Posted by Double Negative

That is a great darkroom, Jim.

Agree. How come the ones I used to have at home never looked like that!

[kenneth]

Just spent a couple of hours in the red light area printing some pictures I took in Crummackdale two weeks ago. Pan-F which was most enjoyable and about as much fun as you can have with your cloths on. Would hate to do it digitally. Even bought some fibre based paper this from Jessops now I have convinced them to buy a fridge to keep paper and film in. And if you can't cope with the chemicals there is always coffee

Shutterbug: Coffee, Tea, Or Vitamin C

[erl]

The nostalgia of this thread, that I accidentally stumbled upon, has fired me up! Now I must fire up my (forgotten) darkroom. It is beautifully equipped for processing both film and prints in both B&W and colour. I have more film cameras than I can 'poke a stick at' so I have no excuse to not "return to heaven". You know, I think digital is more seductive than sex! At least I spend more time with digital. I must muster the willpower to resist. Better the devil you know. Darkroom here I come.

[Jeff S]

I built 4 darkrooms in 4 houses over the last 18 years. Jim's from Colorado reminds me of some of my own. Last year, however, I moved again and decided not to build another one, and instead took my first plunge into digital...including switching my film Ms to M8.2. This thread is starting to make me feel bad...so STOP it now!!

Fortunately, I gave a good friend of mine, who now lives nearby, my Leica Focomat V35 and my darkroom sink. I might just have to plan a visit to his house

Jeff

[thephotofather]

I'm 95 pct complete with my Darkroom.
Over the last 4 months or so I've been scouting craigslist for items. The good news is that they've been relativitily inexpensive, people are dumping. The not so good news is that film is being revisited in a big way now. Pro's are going back and blogging etc... Lot's of young folk getting into it, so prices are going up, almost every week, and I scout a lot.

Last week the 60" sink went in and had my bud build me a stand out of 2x4's and seal it. He also built a add on stand for my Jobo 2300 processor. Vents and a Neg dryer cabinet. (a must for me) Last week I processed my first Color rolls ever. They were perfect and WAY better then most labs. No more sending from NJ to Cali to the labs for me! I hit a button and come back 30 min later.

For digital and web I scan via Drum. Life is good.

[thephotofather]

Originally Posted by Michael Hiles

Interesting.

I would like to hear how people eliminate or minimize dust on negatives (and subsequently prints) when printing in the classic darkroom. What do you do? How well does it work?

Film dryer cabinet directly from the Photo-Flo. You can make one yourself many different ways including a plastic zip up cloths hanger thingie.

[stnami]

........... I still teach in one

[dpattinson]

My darkroom: Photofusion, London, UK | Darkroom Hire Facilities

A very good alternative for anyone living in London.

[jfurrer]

Thanks, I've I'd three darkrooms in the past 30 years; stuff that worked well I moved from house to house, stuff that didn't work I tossed.

Best part, that doesn't show in the pic, is this timed around I got a FLOOR DRAIN near the sink!


Jim Furrer
Littleton, Colorado USA

[boilerdoc]

Absolutely! Jim's DR makes me envious but mine works just fine. I'm helping a friend get his DR built in his basement. He has my old Omega D2 as a starter gift!
Mine is Leica Focomat 1c, Besseler C23, and a Durst 1200 Multigraph (temporarily in the shop). I'm in there at least once a day either printing, loading film, cutting negs, or just standing and enjoying one of life's, now rare, pleasures......
Steve
God! How I love that Focomat!!!

[vickersdc]

Yep, I still process and print my own B&W stuff - currently using a Jobo Duolab for film dev, trays for paper dev and a Durst M805 Color enlarger (although as it stands at the moment I'm not that pleased with it).

It's all in my garage, but I can only develop / print paper when it's dark outside! At least I can develop film whenever though

[Bateleur]

YES, I use a darkroom exclusivly! While not being a refuge it is certainly a place to reflect and consider the magic of real photography!

Regards
Charles

[dankhong]

Yes.....I still shoot both film (B&W) and digital (mainly for colour).

I develop the films, then send them to the pro lab for scanning to digital. They have a professional grade lens and so capture the images better than the Epson V700 that I tried.

After a lapse of 4+ years, I finally revitalised my darkroom last weekend and printed a set of B&W prints on Ilford MGIV paper and developed in Ilford multigrade developer (1+9). It was great feeling to see images appear in the developer, and the familiar smell of the traditional darkroom chemicals is nostalgic.

At the end of the day, I still have my negatives for archival purposes, scanned digital images to play around on my Mac and printout in my inkjet printer, and the ability to make those rich B&W silver halide prints in my darkroom.

Dan K.
Singapore