pesphoto
Veteran
when you click the link be sure to read the commentary by the photographer at the end when you scroll to the right.....kinda sad really.
http://www.richardnicholson.com/darkroom/
http://www.richardnicholson.com/darkroom/
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
Wow...what a sad commentary...not only that but did you see all that photo paper...
I also agree that printing is so much a part of photography for me...
Seeing...Recording...Developing...Printing...
I enjoy every step...that's what photography is for me...I would hate losing any one of these...
And before someone suggests I could do it all on a computer I'll just say it wouldn't be the same...
I also agree that printing is so much a part of photography for me...
Seeing...Recording...Developing...Printing...
I enjoy every step...that's what photography is for me...I would hate losing any one of these...
And before someone suggests I could do it all on a computer I'll just say it wouldn't be the same...
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pesphoto
Veteran
Well said! I keep going back to look at the images. I love seeing all the little details in each darkroom.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I don't have a permanent darkroom set-up so I don't have that look like in the shots posted...I also remember the darkroom we had in high school and how different it looked when the white lights were "On"...The things we do in the "Dark" ...
:angel:
:angel: 
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
That's very cool!
I choose not to be sad, but I have done my part in picking up a (cheap ) one and start to print myself, I'm ordering my second bottle of developer today
With a little opportunity, I hope to be able to teach this to young kids. My daughter is guaranteed to know how to print the old fashioned way, if she chooses to pick up photography as a hobby that is.
I choose not to be sad, but I have done my part in picking up a (cheap
) one and start to print myself, I'm ordering my second bottle of developer today With a little opportunity, I hope to be able to teach this to young kids. My daughter is guaranteed to know how to print the old fashioned way, if she chooses to pick up photography as a hobby that is.
jwhitley
Established
Thanks for posting that; I found it to be gorgeous and inspirational.
I feel blessed to be an exception to the observation in the endnote that, "there are no young printers." I'm even in the process of building my first darkroom. In my thirties, I'm stretching definitions of "young", but I've met quite a number of brilliant folks from high school and college age on up in this area who are learning traditional printing, learning it well, and making it their own. The twin pillars of the Photographic Center Northwest and the Photography program at Seattle University are a significant part of this. At risk of putting my words in others' mouths, for us these techniques and skills are new, unique, and beautiful, not fading things being replaced by digital. Digital is simply a different media with its own attributes and challenges. There's also great interest in various kinds of hybrid work, merging digital techniques with both alternative processes and traditional silver materials.
I feel blessed to be an exception to the observation in the endnote that, "there are no young printers." I'm even in the process of building my first darkroom. In my thirties, I'm stretching definitions of "young", but I've met quite a number of brilliant folks from high school and college age on up in this area who are learning traditional printing, learning it well, and making it their own. The twin pillars of the Photographic Center Northwest and the Photography program at Seattle University are a significant part of this. At risk of putting my words in others' mouths, for us these techniques and skills are new, unique, and beautiful, not fading things being replaced by digital. Digital is simply a different media with its own attributes and challenges. There's also great interest in various kinds of hybrid work, merging digital techniques with both alternative processes and traditional silver materials.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I started printing when I was 15 back in high school...
After that I bought my first enlarger sometime in the early to mid 80's...A Vivitar VI with the Color Head and just a few years ago was able to upgrade it to print 6x7 negs...
Just this last Summer I found a Beseler 23C II with Color Head at a garage sale...so now I have two enlargers...I would love a permanent darkroom but I will take what I can get when it comes to printing so for now it's using the downstairs bathroom...
Now would be the right time for one to shop for and/or buy darkroom equipment...peole are almost giving them away and some really are...
I was at Freestyle a few weeks ago and asked if they "Sell" enlargers and the salesman replied that they do sell them...I wanted to make myself clear so I asked again if the are "Selling" and then I added "actually moving them out the back door" and he said "Yup".
I didn't mention my garage sale find...
After that I bought my first enlarger sometime in the early to mid 80's...A Vivitar VI with the Color Head and just a few years ago was able to upgrade it to print 6x7 negs...
Just this last Summer I found a Beseler 23C II with Color Head at a garage sale...so now I have two enlargers...I would love a permanent darkroom but I will take what I can get when it comes to printing so for now it's using the downstairs bathroom...
Now would be the right time for one to shop for and/or buy darkroom equipment...peole are almost giving them away and some really are...
I was at Freestyle a few weeks ago and asked if they "Sell" enlargers and the salesman replied that they do sell them...I wanted to make myself clear so I asked again if the are "Selling" and then I added "actually moving them out the back door" and he said "Yup".
I didn't mention my garage sale find...
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Sam, I am currently using a Vivitar 365 color enlarger. I especially like the ability to manipulate the contrast using the built-in color filters. I don't think mine can be upgraded to do negs larger than 6x6 though
I am mulling about getting a local pro's Omega D-2 which is for sale with all the doodads.
And since I already have the Vivitar in my house, I'm trying to convince my dad to let me turn one of the closets in his house to let me install the 4x5 enlarger
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
Will,
The kit I bought for the conversion contained a new set of condensor lenses and a new neg holder...most of the prints made with the Vivitar have been from 35mm negs...
I bought the Color Head years ago to do color prints but it never really worked out that way...Now I use the head for Multicontrast filters just like you...
The Beseler is now being used for the larger negs 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x7 although I could do them on the Vivitar I would prefer to keep it for 35mm...
While living at home I built a Darkroom outside under my parent's patio...I was able to tap into Power and Water quite easily and it was used for many years...It was about 5x10' in size...small but big enough for what I needed at that time...I would kill for that darkroom today since I have to set it up in a bathroom for now...
The kit I bought for the conversion contained a new set of condensor lenses and a new neg holder...most of the prints made with the Vivitar have been from 35mm negs...
I bought the Color Head years ago to do color prints but it never really worked out that way...Now I use the head for Multicontrast filters just like you...
The Beseler is now being used for the larger negs 6x4.5, 6x6 and 6x7 although I could do them on the Vivitar I would prefer to keep it for 35mm...
While living at home I built a Darkroom outside under my parent's patio...I was able to tap into Power and Water quite easily and it was used for many years...It was about 5x10' in size...small but big enough for what I needed at that time...I would kill for that darkroom today since I have to set it up in a bathroom for now...