Argh!!!!!!

A

Ash

Selflessly Self-involved
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:bang: :bang: :bang:

Oh man, this is THE most stupid thing I have ever done (in relation to a darkroom).

I FINALLY get my darkroom sorted. With the help of my father I buy the MDF boards for the shed windows, mulch ground cover as blackout material for the door, an LPL 6700 for multigrade paper b&w etc etc etc...

So I spend £25 on a brand new box of Ilford MGIV 10x8 paper.

The darkroom is sorted, it gets to twilight so I know the minor light leaks in the shed will be dulled or gone completely, and I get a dozen prints, a few are rubbish, but a few give me a little confidence I'm still capable of producing a silver print.


Taking a short break, stretch, flick through another batch of negs for printable shots. It's about 11:30 pm, I've been in my darkroom for maybe 2 hours.



I turn on the light to check a print that's in the fix....



Yep, that's right, I left the ilford paper box open with the bag open too :mad: :eek:


So now ALL the remaining pieces are ruined. I'd used less than 20 sheets :(

I think about 5-10 sheets from the top will be fogged at least halfway, and ALL the sheets have about 1/2 inch black fogging.




I now have to spend MORE money and look like a right idiot when I go into town tomorrow to buy another box :(




Worse still.... I'm meant to be printing a helluva lot of pictures to get a portfolio together for Wednesday (for a foundation degree interview).

Even if I wasn't bothered about the wasted paper and money, it's now a wasted night and more time wasted to get the paper from town and start all over and be extra-cautious.



I really hate myself sometimes :bang:




Looks like I have about 80 sheets to cut down for test strips. GRRRRR
 
Why not try to figure out where most of the black fogging shows up and use the rest of the paper for smaller prints, like 5x7? Myself, I keep a secondary, smaller portfolio for travel or street shooting.

Or load some of it for pin hole photography and make paper negatives out of them.

What I usually do when I get a fresh box is divide it in half and put some into another box to store elsewhere partly for this reason (and partly so I don't get carried away with sloppy printing when I think I have a lot of paper to waste).
 
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you might get lucky - sometimes they don't fog as much as you think they will - depending on the angle of the light, etc.

I like sienarot's idea of printing smaller, depending on how much fog you have.

At the very least, you can use this paper for testing and such, save some time when you get more paper if you take good notes on your settings and actions (burning, etc).
 
If it makes you feel any better, Ash, everybody who has spent any time in the darkroom has made this mistake or even worse. Just be glad that all you did was mess up some unexposed paper rather than ruining some exposed film of images that you really cared about. And sienarot's idea of separating a fresh box of paper is a good one.

-Randy
 
This reminds me of many years ago working in a film processing lab, a guy there once dropped a film cannister in the dip and dunk room and without thinking turned the light on to find it, in the process ruining all the films already loaded ready to be processed. In this light yours was a minor mistake that we all make, just accept it as the learning curve that it is, and enjoy your printing.
 
I find that every time I crank up the darkroom again, I make some of those obvious mistakes. They just go away after you've gotten into the groove. BTW, I ONLY print 5x7. I love that size and 11x14. because they seem to fit the 24x36 frame better. Keep at it, Ash
 
Been there more than once. Don't fret. There will be some sheets that are still usable at a smaller dimension, often on 1/4 inch or so. Just go on.

I also think 5x7 is a great dimension for images. 5x7 on 8x10 or 11x14 mounts are wonderful. I even like to trim the mounts to more interesting dimensions...Very long and narrow mounts with 3 or more small prints cascading down.

Keith, I also had a couple of Contax cameras but I so much prefer my Kiev 4a's. I really don't know why since they are basically the same.
 
I know exactly what it feels like. But everyone who prints in a darkroom is fated to do that at least once Ash, so at least you can put it behind you now.

I haven't done any printing for a few years now, but I always used to keep two boxes and transfer half a dozen sheets at a time from my full box of paper to the "work" box, and then immediately reseal the full box. But then, I guess smartarses trying to tell you what you should have done aren't really much help now, so I'll just leave you with my sincere sympathies.

And best of luck for Wednesday.
 
You too, eh? Having done this at least once I usually transfer about twenty sheets at a time into another bag as my "working" stock and put the rest away until it runs out. Sometimes it's only the edge that fogs and the sheets can be used for smaller prints as has been suggested. I like full frame 9x6 on 10x8 paper.
 
Thanks everyone.

I'm still kicking myself over it, but I feel a little less angry this morning.


Back into town in a couple hours, more paper, more dev.



Immediately after realising, I placed a sheet from the top and from the bottom of the stash. The bottom should be fine for cutting down. The top is buggered, obviously.


*sigh*
 
RML that's exactly what I did this morning :D

----

I walk into the camera shop. The two old-ish (Clerk1 = 50's? Clerk2 = 40's?) guys are working, Clerk2 is the one who served me yesterday. I'd chatted to him for the while I was in the shop, explaining my need for the stuff.

Anyway, I'm waiting for the other people to be served. A guy is talking about his perfect camera being "putting the Canon 5d bits INSIDE the 1d" as the 1d mkII is so much nicer to handle (I agree) but the 5d has better image rendition or something I don't know, I got bored of listening :D

I get served after a minute or two..

Me: A box of 100 sheets 10x8 please
Clerk1: Gloss or Lustre?
Me: Top one, Gloss
Clerk2: Run out already?
Me: Uhhh not exactly, ruined the boxload by turning on the light, didn't I?

pause

Clerk 2 (pointing): HAH! Student!





I had to laugh, it was a classic moment.



Bloody heavy to carry around all day, over to Calne (an hour's bus ride) and back to see girlfriend, then skateboard back from town centre home (no more money left for bus home from town!).
 
Ash- that's really a bummer- sorry to hear it. I think ruining paper is a rite of passage every printer has to go through. If it helps any, I'll second the suggestion that you try to use some of it- the majority of the sheets in the middle should be fine, even if they will have fogged edges. If you make smaller prints in the middle of the sheets you should be fine.

Take a look round for a paper safe. You should be able to find one cheap. I have a few clamshell-type paper safes of various sizes, and find them very handy. I load 20 or 30 sheets at a time into one, and keep the rest of the paper in the bag and box they came in in my darkroom fridge. This way even if I'm a dolt and turn on the light I can't ruin my whole stock. At the very least, keep the old paper box and split your stock into what you think you'll use in a given darkroom session in one box, and the balance in another, carefully closed up.

After having spoiled my share of paper a few times, I have made it a habit to always check that my paper box and/or safe is closed before I turn on the light.

Finally, I'll make you an offer. I was given a set of 8x10 paper safes a few years ago, so I have more than I need in this size. I'd be happy to send you one for the cost of shippping. PM me if you are intereseted.

Better luck with your darkroom work, and good luck with the interview next week!

(Edit for spelling!)
 
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Man you have not even begun to plumb the dpeths of stupid. I have done so many stupid things - often resulting in damage to my beloved camera gear that I sometimes wonder if I should sell it all and become a Benedictine monk. Maybe I am being harsh on myself but on average perhaps once a year or year and a half I will bump, lose, drop, get wet, scratch or some how manage to do something that makes me cringe when a modicum of forethought would have avoided it. Not a high rate maybe but when you have been into photography for 15 years thats a lot of damage. Just grin, suck it up and realise that you are HUMAN. cheers/
 
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