B&W Developing: Let's Help Out!

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
Local time
11:21 AM
Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Messages
36,582
I have faced what many people here are facing and that is the lack of a local lab that does B&W developing well. Many of you do your own developing, and this is highly encouraged. Others send off their B&W film to commercial labs.

A while ago, I posted a thread about the troubles that I got from my local lab. Your combined input convinced me that I had to go outside Pensacola to get my B&W developing as I am not yey ready to bounce back to do my own developing.

At first, I asked for a volunteer to develop one roll of Agfa B&W film for me, so that I made sure that it was not the film causing the washed out negatives.

One gentleman at nelsonfoto.com offered to develop the film for a marginal fee which he then decided not to take from me. The second gentleman got not one roll but four rolls. Of course, I asked for his permisson and I also let him set the fees.

I got the four developed rolls and they look fine. I will continue with this gentleman this way. I get customized developing and I can ask questions afterwards about the developing process.

My idea here is as follows: If there are RFF members who cannot or do not want to do their own B&W developing, and if they do not have access to a local lab that does agreeable developing, wouldn't it be great if we provide a way for them to ask RFF members who do their own developing and who don't mind helping out for other RFF members for an agreed upon fee?

I think that this approach can make B&W developing available to all.
What is your opinion? [ I know, I know; do it yourself is best]


Raid
 
I would be happy to help out once in a while.

What would worry me, though, is messing something up. Murphy's Law would almost certainly rear its ugly head, and I'd feel horrible for some screw up.

I don't know if I'd do it on an ongoing basis, but on occasion, to help someone out as you have mentioned, I'd be more than happy.

Just a thought,

Kent
 
I do this for 2 of my classmates already. But yes, I have messed up 1 roll (not enough developer in my 3 reel tank), and that is a concern.

If given enough info about the shooting conditions, I'd be willing to do this in general. I charge my friends $2.50 a roll, which is a lot less than the $10 it costs in the city at the labs. Actual costs are lower, of course, but sometimes I develop film for them when I don't have any of my own to develop.

allan
 
I can't believe I didn't bring this up before (DOH!), but Ken Norton, from the OM list does custom b&w work. He's a good photographer, great guy, and is meticulous. Not exactly cheap, but for $10 you get b&w processed and digital proof.

http://www.image66media.com/b&wlab.html

Once I get proper facilities reconstituted, I'd be happy to contribute to this effort.
 
I don't mind developing my own film, but chances are someone may want a different developer for their film, or something like that, or they'll want it pushed to crazy speeds, or pulled. The maths involved, and the stress, and the pressure of knowing these could be someone else's best photo's you're about to ruin is too much.

Then again I feel all the same feelings when I send a film off. I'd prefer to mess it up myself, only one person to blame then. I'd prefer not to send out films in the first place if I can help it.


Good luck to those who may want to do processing on behalf of other members, I wish you the greatest luck, but I think I'll be selfish and say 'no' to the idea ;) - besides, it's more satisfying (and faster) doing it yourself*


*as long as you don't get a backlog, or shoot 5 films each day.
 
I wouldn't mind doing some rodinal 1+49 or diafine negs for some small fee (ie. return postage, cost of neg sleeves)

But I cannot scan, and would not print proofs (I have a gross backlog of my own stuff to print, let alone doing others!)

It would have to be on a non-pro basis too, I wouldn't want to receive some wedding pics for instance!
 
That c-41 process black and white stuff from ilford and kodak is really quite good.
There's always that too.
 
raid said:
A while ago, I posted a thread about the troubles that I got from my local lab. Your combined input convinced me that I had to go outside Pensacola to get my B&W developing as I am not yey ready to bounce back to do my own developing.

At first, I asked for a volunteer to develop one roll of Agfa B&W film for me, so that I made sure that it was not the film causing the washed out negatives.


Raid
Click to expand...
I remember that post. I would offer but like most, the thought of messing up is just too much for me. I hope you will manage to find a solution.
 
Now there's an idea.

If the developers "advertised" the films they normally developed, develop-wantees could match themselves up.

I often end up developing only one roll of film in my two reel tank or three rolls in the four reel one, which is a waste of chemicals.

As everyone has already said, this isn't going to be a shop, so you have to take the chance of buggery
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't mind, in fact I could use a little extra dough every once in a while, but I would rather hone my skills more first. I've only been developing for a little while and I wouldn't be confident in my ability just yet. However once I'm confident I could do development and digi proofs for a pretty small price. A great idea though. We should talk to George about adding a section kind of like the classifieds for this.
 
Last edited:
I also support that the person requesting assistance with B&W developing should first state which type of film he/she is using and whether special processing is required or not.

Raid
 
I get beads of sweat on my brow as the winding strokes on my plastic reel get shorter and shorter as I wind.....will I get the entire roll onto the reel?...will it kink?......are my now increasingly sweaty fingers in the changing bag leaving an oil deposit on the film?......am I going to have to start all over?....
And that's just my OWN stuff...
 
I, like others have said, would be very wary of developing other people's film without detailed information on exposure. I know how I use a meter but not how Fred Bloggs does. There are enough variables in my own technique without introducing another person's.
 
It's pretty simple:

"These are the films I process, these are the developers and protocols I use. This is the 'loss/damage' disclaimer."

Whether it is worth the risk to either the service provider or the "customer" is a decision on both their parts.
 
ferider said:
Why would you do that instead of sending it to a mail-order lab other than to save money ?
Click to expand...

Choice of chemicals, if someone was offering pyro, for instance, I'd more than likely send off a roll of FP4+ and Tri-X, EI per their recommendation, if only because I've been intrigued but not tried them yet.

AFAIK most lab black and white goes through either D-76 or T-Max.
 
ferider said:
Why would you do that instead of sending it to a mail-order lab other than to save money ?

Roland.

PS: http://www.acecam.com/lsb2ndex.html
Click to expand...

Roland: I have paid the gentleman what I would pay to a professional lab. There was no discount.
I prefer mailing it to an individual to get individual attention for my film.
There is no other reason.

Raid
 
fgianni said:
Maybe giving the money to a fellow RFF member rather than to a lab is enough?
I am also sure that a RFF member will put more care in developing my negatives than any lab.
Click to expand...

Francesco: These were my reasons. Plus, this thread is not about my needs for B&W developing. I have solved mine. I just offered food for thought on helping others.

Greetings,

Raid
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom