Having a break from digital

[Geoff Marshall]

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Just been checking my stock of 35mm film and decided it’s time to use some. I seem to have accumulated a lot of colour, black and white and transparency film recently so this year I will be shooting film and using my new to me V Lux 114 as a back up camera on days out. I may setup the darkroom equipment as well, it’s been a long time since I did any actual wet prints. 🙂

[nefarious]

Ah I wish I had room for a darkroom! I used to love developing and printing back when I was a postgraduate and had access to all the equipment (and the spare time!)

[Geoff Marshall]

1 hour ago, nefarious said:

Ah I wish I had room for a darkroom! I used to love developing and printing back when I was a postgraduate and had access to all the equipment (and the spare time!)

I have to set it up in the bathroom or kitchen which is why it doesn’t get used much, my wife is very understanding but gets fed up when I take over these rooms. 

[nefarious]

1 hour ago, Geoff Marshall said:

I have to set it up in the bathroom or kitchen which is why it doesn’t get used much, my wife is very understanding but gets fed up when I take over these rooms. 

I bet! I don't think my Mrs would be understanding at all!!😂

[Tom R]

I, too, have discovered the "joys" of sending films out to labs and depending upon in-house scanning, etc. But, the tradeoff in domestic peace has been worth the extra costs. I realize that for some the "extra costs" are prohibitive ...

 

TR

[lykaman]

Now and again I get "That Urge" to use film (the sound of the wind on) But then sending out to Labs and waiting for up to 10/14days immediately takes away the urge..  I love being able to transfer direct from camera to my computer - via Fotos or Canon Apps.. L

[Keith (M)]

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I enjoy downloading my images into LR and perusing them - but it does not come close to pulling the wet negs of the reel and seeing that there are images there!  

[gbealnz]

Good on you Geoff, enjoy the return. I never left, but spend time with both mediums, and don't get all twisted out of shape with "this is better than that".

Even after this long, (50+ years) I still get a kick out of seeing the print appear in the tray, magic, truly is.

Shooting film, and then processing it, and scanning is a pleasant experience, and after all, isn't that why we do it?

Gary

[lykaman]

This Post' reminds me of the feelings when driving an everyday Automatic car, suddenly your passed by a little sports car and you hear the driver change gear as he passes you.. Nostalgia - Notwithstanding, darkroom work is exhilarating..   L

[Geoff Marshall]

1 hour ago, gbealnz said:

Good on you Geoff, enjoy the return. I never left, but spend time with both mediums, and don't get all twisted out of shape with "this is better than that".

Even after this long, (50+ years) I still get a kick out of seeing the print appear in the tray, magic, truly is.

Shooting film, and then processing it, and scanning is a pleasant experience, and after all, isn't that why we do it?

Gary

Hi Gary

my grandson is just getting into photography and showing a interest in film so may have to show him how to do some darkroom work, I think he will probably get addicted to it. 

[gbealnz]

Snap, same thoughts here, grand-daughter, only 9 at present, but I suspect she will soon want one of my old analogue cameras, and be enquiring enough to try some darkroom magic.

And that's the key, it seems a dying art, something those that have done it find most unusual. But ask perhaps a 100 "photographers" on the street about processing B&W (or colour even) and you get a blank Photoshop stare. Those that have grown up in the digital age have truly missed out.

Anyway, nothing wrong with that. Enjoy your return to the whole process, and pass it on as well.

Gary

[ianman]

3 hours ago, paulmac said:

A tip for washing film if you don't have a water filter is to wash it in the normal tap water and then for the very last bit of the washing time, take the film spiral out of the tank and wash the empty tank out from the tap and then let the tap water run through the spiral so that any debris is washed away. 

Thanks for that tip Paul. I have incredibly hard water here and often get marks on the developed negatives. Using a hose (similar to this but mine is a different brand) I get cleaner negs and apparently it cuts down water use too.

I've a couple of rolls to develop so I think I'll try your tip soon 🙂

I've never used a squeegee, as I'm too afraid some crud would get caught up between them and the negs and scratch the whole length.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I always put out 3 2L graduates of water and that takes care of processing film in a 1/2L (2 stainless reel tank). If you have hard water I would buy distilled water to mix your stock chemicals and do the processing. So what does the 6 liters of water accomplish:

1) Prewet, feel I get better consistency

2) Mix liquid developer, I use TMax developer

3) Rinse after fixing 

4) 9-10 changes of water, after fixer remover. It is water changes that wash the film, in college we did testing on this, put a dye and 5 changes of water visually cleared the dye, so we doubled that, seemed prudent, I still have college negatives. It took 10 minutes with running water to visually clear the dye.

5) Mix photoflo

As for squeegees make sure you clean them after each use, takes 10 seconds, I alway soak mine in the photoflo before I use it. Cuts down on drying time and water spots.

[Keith (M)]

For years I have used Ilford's recommended spiral tank water-change method.  Quick, easy, saves water - has always worked for me.

 

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[Ouroboros]

4 hours ago, ianman said:

 

I've never used a squeegee, as I'm too afraid some crud would get caught up between them and the negs and scratch the whole length.

 

I rinse my right hand  under the tap and put one end of my film between my index and second fingers, apply light pressure with my fingers  and run my hand down the film.  I was taught to do it this way in college and I can't recall scratching any of the 1000's of films I've processed over the past 50 years. 

[ianman]

4 minutes ago, Ouroboros said:

I rinse my right hand  under the tap and put one end of my film between my index and second fingers, apply light pressure with my fingers  and run my hand down the film.  I was taught to do it this way in college and I can't recall scratching any of the 1000's of films I've processed over the past 50 years. 

Thanks! Yes that's how I do it too once they are hanging in my shower!

 

[ianman]

46 minutes ago, Keith (M) said:

For years I have used Ilford's recommended spiral tank water-change method.  Quick, easy, saves water - has always worked for me.

Does the tank need to be full or just the same amount as the developer (300ml IIRC)?

[gbealnz]

With respect to water and the rinse. We have bore water here, lovely to drink, but quite heavy with minerals etc, so the deposits can be annoying. I wash as per usual with the tap water, but at the end I fill the tank with "different" water, from our sons address where his town supply is "cleaner" (same with my coffee machine). A soak in this cleaner water, then some "Photoflo" style wetting agent (dishwashing detergent) and hang to dry, sometimes with a finger squeegie.

 

[Keith (M)]

2 hours ago, ianman said:

Does the tank need to be full or just the same amount as the developer (300ml IIRC)?

I fill (500mL) the tank as per Ilford's method.

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[Stealth3kpl]

15 hours ago, Keith (M) said:

For years I have used Ilford's recommended spiral tank water-change method.  

 

 

I use this method.

Pete