shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
After being absent from my darkroom for 1.5 years due to moving, changing career, etc. I finally get my half-darkroom operational.
Why half? because it is basically a third of my car garage. Dark enough but only when it's dark outside. So it's dormant during the day. Not that I have ample time to print during the day anyways, so it'll do for now.
First print... again. Yay!
Gone are my ancient Gralab 100 and replaced with a digital 505 model. Wish I know how to turn off that annoying beep every time I set the time. But for the cost of almost nothing, I can't complain.
This is the smallest of my 4 enlargers. And it's the first time I fired it up. Given the limited space, this one fits perfectly. I only have the 35mm negative carrier for it. So I need to look for at least 6x6.
Significantly smaller than the Vivitar I used at my old place. This Fujimoto is easier to use and more rigid (at least for 8x10).
This enlarger also came with the EL-Nikkor which focuses on the test negative effortlessly.
And lastly, it's so nice to finally use a real darkroom sink.
This 'mini' version only spans 4 feet, but it's enough for cramped space that I can afford to dedicate for printing.
Overall, it's like meeting an old friend.
From cutting up the paper for test strips, pouring chemicals to and from trays, deciding the exposure time, and of course, the magic of seeing the image materialize in the red light, it all started to come back to me.
It'll still take me some time to go back to printing 11x14 again (and hopefully 16x20) if I can somehow magically procure more space.
But hopefully this post will tip you over the edge if you've been trying to get on with your darkroom adventure.
It's fun. It has always been fun.
Let's do it.
Why half? because it is basically a third of my car garage. Dark enough but only when it's dark outside. So it's dormant during the day. Not that I have ample time to print during the day anyways, so it'll do for now.

First print... again. Yay!

Gone are my ancient Gralab 100 and replaced with a digital 505 model. Wish I know how to turn off that annoying beep every time I set the time. But for the cost of almost nothing, I can't complain.

This is the smallest of my 4 enlargers. And it's the first time I fired it up. Given the limited space, this one fits perfectly. I only have the 35mm negative carrier for it. So I need to look for at least 6x6.
Significantly smaller than the Vivitar I used at my old place. This Fujimoto is easier to use and more rigid (at least for 8x10).

This enlarger also came with the EL-Nikkor which focuses on the test negative effortlessly.
And lastly, it's so nice to finally use a real darkroom sink.
This 'mini' version only spans 4 feet, but it's enough for cramped space that I can afford to dedicate for printing.

Overall, it's like meeting an old friend.
From cutting up the paper for test strips, pouring chemicals to and from trays, deciding the exposure time, and of course, the magic of seeing the image materialize in the red light, it all started to come back to me.
It'll still take me some time to go back to printing 11x14 again (and hopefully 16x20) if I can somehow magically procure more space.
But hopefully this post will tip you over the edge if you've been trying to get on with your darkroom adventure.
It's fun. It has always been fun.
Let's do it.