anitasanger
Well-known
So I've been out of the black and white game for about 3 years. I fell head over heels into the dark world of DSLRs and only recently decided to make the long climb out and head toward the light. Rather than dust off the trusty old K1000, I decided to fulfill a lifetime dream. After a few months scouring eBay, I finally purchased an M6 classic and a Summicron 50mm. It feels so good to be shooting film again, but that's a whole story in itself.
My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting NYC for 3 days earlier this month. While walking around throughout the city, I put 10 rolls of tri-x through my Leica. When we got home, I anxiously ran out to the garage and gathered up all my old darkroom gear. After washing away all the dust and thoroughly rinsing out my old chemical jugs, (this was very interesting) I set off to buy chemistry at my favorite photography store here in Tulsa, OK.
I walked to the back of the store where they've always kept the darkroom chemistry. The shelves were loaded down with tripods, lighting equipment, pelican gear, SD cards and every other DSLR knick-knack one could imagine - but no chemistry. Oh well, it had been several years since I'd been in to buy chemicals, they'd probably moved them. I scoured the store high and low, to no avail. I flagged down a store worker and asked him where they'd moved the d76, rapid fixer, stop bath, etc…
The man looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads and a pair of feathered wings. "Oh no, we haven't carried chemistry for about two years, he said." I was somewhat taken aback and asked him why. He then launched into a diatribe telling me that people don't do darkroom work anymore, and that digital was the way of the future. I told him that I enjoy both. He told me that even though his store has a black and white lab, he shut it down because he didn't want to only develop 5 rolls a week. I asked him if I could buy chemistry anywhere online. He told me most likely not,
Somewhat dejected, I told him that I'd been going there for years and I'd go ahead and take 10 rolls of Tri-X 36. He gave me that look again and I almost turned around expecting to see a pair of giant eagle wings flapping at my back. "Umm Tri-X? Hmm, let me just look here," said the man frantically keying data into his computer. After a few minutes of wading through his digital inventory, he went to the Kodak film dispenser hanging on the wall right beside his head. "Hmm, this is only 24 exposures, but my database says we have the 36 in stock." Then the man began rifling through an array of drawers behind the counter. After about 10 minutes he finally found 6 rolls of Tri-X 36. I bought them.
The trip to my X-favorite photography store was a strange experience. Rather than being sympathetic or understanding, the man made me felt like I did something wrong. Like it was preposterous that I would inconvenience him by asking to purchase some black and white celluloid, not to mention…chemistry. (GASP) He probably would have broke his neck to offer me wide variety of multi-gigabit SD cards. But I digress.
When I got in the car, I hopped on my iphone to see if chemistry was available, and of course it was. But I do believe in supporting local businesses, so I hit the yellow pages to see if there were any more photography stores in town. There was. I called them up and explained the situation I'd just experienced at the previous store. The lady was very sympathetic and even appalled. She knew the rival store well and there was a genuine quality of shock in her tone. "I had no idea they stopped carrying chemistry? Do they even carry fibrous photographic paper?" "Unfortunately," I said. "Film photography and darkroom work are fine arts," the lady said. "What are they thinking?" I shared in her sentiment.
I told the lady that I'd been going to the other store for about 15 years, and that I will now be using her store for all my photographic needs. She was very appreciative. I gave her a list of what I needed to see if it was all in stock. They had everything except my D76. She said that they had recently ordered a case of 100 D76 1 gallon powder packs and sold out! She said that many schools in the Tulsa area are still happily using film and dark rooms, and that a local school recently bought all of her stock. I was very encouraged by this. It proved to me that there is still a great demand for these anachronistic hobbies, some stores just refuse to recognize it. I guess there is more money in selling the latest and greatest DSLR to the same customer every two years.
Anyway, I thought some of you may find this interesting and or encouraging. Here's to our unbreakable film machines and the beautiful celluloid they render!
Luke
My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting NYC for 3 days earlier this month. While walking around throughout the city, I put 10 rolls of tri-x through my Leica. When we got home, I anxiously ran out to the garage and gathered up all my old darkroom gear. After washing away all the dust and thoroughly rinsing out my old chemical jugs, (this was very interesting) I set off to buy chemistry at my favorite photography store here in Tulsa, OK.
I walked to the back of the store where they've always kept the darkroom chemistry. The shelves were loaded down with tripods, lighting equipment, pelican gear, SD cards and every other DSLR knick-knack one could imagine - but no chemistry. Oh well, it had been several years since I'd been in to buy chemicals, they'd probably moved them. I scoured the store high and low, to no avail. I flagged down a store worker and asked him where they'd moved the d76, rapid fixer, stop bath, etc…
The man looked at me as if I had sprouted 3 heads and a pair of feathered wings. "Oh no, we haven't carried chemistry for about two years, he said." I was somewhat taken aback and asked him why. He then launched into a diatribe telling me that people don't do darkroom work anymore, and that digital was the way of the future. I told him that I enjoy both. He told me that even though his store has a black and white lab, he shut it down because he didn't want to only develop 5 rolls a week. I asked him if I could buy chemistry anywhere online. He told me most likely not,
Somewhat dejected, I told him that I'd been going there for years and I'd go ahead and take 10 rolls of Tri-X 36. He gave me that look again and I almost turned around expecting to see a pair of giant eagle wings flapping at my back. "Umm Tri-X? Hmm, let me just look here," said the man frantically keying data into his computer. After a few minutes of wading through his digital inventory, he went to the Kodak film dispenser hanging on the wall right beside his head. "Hmm, this is only 24 exposures, but my database says we have the 36 in stock." Then the man began rifling through an array of drawers behind the counter. After about 10 minutes he finally found 6 rolls of Tri-X 36. I bought them.
The trip to my X-favorite photography store was a strange experience. Rather than being sympathetic or understanding, the man made me felt like I did something wrong. Like it was preposterous that I would inconvenience him by asking to purchase some black and white celluloid, not to mention…chemistry. (GASP) He probably would have broke his neck to offer me wide variety of multi-gigabit SD cards. But I digress.
When I got in the car, I hopped on my iphone to see if chemistry was available, and of course it was. But I do believe in supporting local businesses, so I hit the yellow pages to see if there were any more photography stores in town. There was. I called them up and explained the situation I'd just experienced at the previous store. The lady was very sympathetic and even appalled. She knew the rival store well and there was a genuine quality of shock in her tone. "I had no idea they stopped carrying chemistry? Do they even carry fibrous photographic paper?" "Unfortunately," I said. "Film photography and darkroom work are fine arts," the lady said. "What are they thinking?" I shared in her sentiment.
I told the lady that I'd been going to the other store for about 15 years, and that I will now be using her store for all my photographic needs. She was very appreciative. I gave her a list of what I needed to see if it was all in stock. They had everything except my D76. She said that they had recently ordered a case of 100 D76 1 gallon powder packs and sold out! She said that many schools in the Tulsa area are still happily using film and dark rooms, and that a local school recently bought all of her stock. I was very encouraged by this. It proved to me that there is still a great demand for these anachronistic hobbies, some stores just refuse to recognize it. I guess there is more money in selling the latest and greatest DSLR to the same customer every two years.
Anyway, I thought some of you may find this interesting and or encouraging. Here's to our unbreakable film machines and the beautiful celluloid they render!
Luke
