Darkroom class for $250, worth it?

Darkroom class for $250, worth it?

  • Yes, go for it

    Votes: 60 75.9%

  • No, spend the money on DIY experience

    Votes: 19 24.1%
  • Total voters
    79
  • Poll closed .
Remember to allow for age.

To someone who's 60 or 70, $250 is a lot more than it is to someone who's 20 or 30.

Allow also for the course leader's skill. Do you admire his/her prints? If not, the course is far less valuable than if you do.

Cheers,

R.
 
Last edited:
Dear Paul,

When you're 60, you remember when beer was 1/5d (17 cents) a pint; when you could buy a house for £1600 ($4000); when gas at the PX was 17 cents a gallon; etc. Old men tend to think money is worth more than it is, and to forget how much a box of paper costs compared with 40 years ago.

In other words, what looks expensive to me may look like good value to someone 40 years younger.

Cheers,

R.
 
Having done it myself, I wholeheartedly recommend the DIY path.

While *some* classes (read Roger's comment above on finding a good teacher) are good for learning things, they are also a good place to pick up myths and weird habits that upon further inspections are based on "my teacher said so" (actual conversations with students).

DIY path is slow and requires *a lot* of reading, but in this day and age, the materials and forums are good sources, and the sense of accomplishment when your prints are complimented by experienced printers who has no reason to do that just to please you, is immense.
 
For $250 + the cheap access afterwards it is worth it. You would probably spend that amount on "mistakes" in a short time!
Film processing is actually easy, once you have standardized on a film/developer. Wet printing is a different story altogether. The subtle differences in papers, developers, judging negative densities and the impact on the prints can use up a lot of expensive paper.
You also have the advantage of instant feed-back and rather than having to guess what went wrong - you can ask someone who knows.
Even basic skills like burning and dodging use up a lot of paper to get right.
In bl/w photography there is a point when you pull the finished print out of the last wash cycle and you realize that it is "magic". You can study the chemistry, you can analyze the process - and it is still a magical moment.
Dont just do the course - also find out if there are any galleries that shows photography nearby. Go and look at the prints - nothing teaches appreciation than seeing good, really good prints! You then have a "target" for your own printing.
There are many, many more good photographers than good printers. Most of us can pull out a decent print - few can do a master print.
 
If the guy is good, it is money well spent, though you did not say how many hours per week of instruction time.

Community College courses have certainly gone up, but worth a look, same criteria, see if you can view some of the guy's work.

Aside from the obvious benefit of the instructor's direct teaching, a good course organizes the concepts for you and requires you to put in the time in possibly a sequential, logical, format.

As far as the money, if you are looking for a low cost hobby, it is not going to be photography. ;-)

Some public schools have community service courses as well.

Folks taking the Geology course I teach pay around $1K and it is a state school.

I did teach some courses through the Arts and Crafts center at the University, and the Community Services Department of the local BOE, but such a long time ago that the costs were crazy low and so was my pay.

The whole ball of wax is an additive process, you pick up some here and there, but sometimes a little direction may yield an epiphany or two. Any successful course should allow you to produce some good prints and that in itself is of value.

Regards, John
 
JohnTF said:
As far as the money, if you are looking for a low cost hobby, it is not going to be photography. ;-)
Click to expand...
Photography is today a low cost hobby. Good cameras can be found for small change. 35mm Film is not expensive. One does not need to pretend one is Garry Winogrand. Prints don't have to be large. No need to emulate Gursky. Chemicals can be made and sourced cheaply. And the darkroom gear? Although some bits are slightly appreciating over the past few years from its absolute low 5-10 years ago.. its still, more or less, old metal. For the price of a tank of gas one can get enough gear, film, paper and chemicals to get started.. Sure one can spend more.. look for the ultimate in gear.. or collectibles.. but to just shoot pictures.. there are few cheaper hobbies.. other than perhaps feeding pigeons in the park--- providing, of course, its not forbidden..
 
Photography is today a low cost hobby.
Click to expand...

I would say, photography "can be" low cost hobby. Different people have different expectation from this hobby. Even film based or digital P&S can produces great shot, as people said, most importantly is the eye behind the viewfinder.
 
Hi,
I took the same class over at the camera doctor. Go for it! Overall the class is a good deal. Steve, the owner, wants you to buy your paper from him but at inflated prices. The darkroom is well equipped but rather small so if there is a full class be prepared for some crowding and frustration. While you are taking the class..the 7 week span of time........access to the darkroom is free. I got into the habit of taking Wed off early from work and getting there about 2 so I could play unitl class started at 6:30.

Usually Joe teaches and he is a very good guy with a wealth of knowledge. You cnat go too far wrong for the money.

I will send you a PM with some additional info.
 
Unless there is a very good teacher, not worth it. Buy a book and read it and experiment with RC paper and small prints. Print until you can recognise a quality print when you make it. This is an art that takes some time to master.

Get some books at a library on darkroom or plain B&W photos so you can learn what to look for, goog shadows and detailed highlites.

There really is but one rule. Exposure controls detail in the darks and time in developer controls highlight detail. Print for the highlights to be right and adjust print contrast with filters or paper grades to get the blacks right. It is that simple. 4x6 is all you need to do to learn. RC is fine. Keep notes.

Start with one film and one developer. Tri X and D76 is hard to beat until you get proficient. Bounce around films/developers and you will never get anywhere.
 
Edward C. Zimmermann said:
Photography is today a low cost hobby. Good cameras can be found for small change. 35mm Film is not expensive. One does not need to pretend one is Garry Winogrand. Prints don't have to be large. No need to emulate Gursky. Chemicals can be made and sourced cheaply. And the darkroom gear? Although some bits are slightly appreciating over the past few years from its absolute low 5-10 years ago.. its still, more or less, old metal. For the price of a tank of gas one can get enough gear, film, paper and chemicals to get started.. Sure one can spend more.. look for the ultimate in gear.. or collectibles.. but to just shoot pictures.. there are few cheaper hobbies.. other than perhaps feeding pigeons in the park--- providing, of course, its not forbidden..
Click to expand...

I can imagine bird watching to be reasonable. ;-)

I started out with a box camera and moved up to a $4 darkroom with Xmas lights for safe lights, but I rather think the logical progression is quite normally not to remain at that level, performance and financial wise. ;-)

It's all relative, for a student of mine, the five cameras I recently sent her, helped, but she did get a four year degree in photography, which involved a class trip to Paris and some serious exhibits.

Well, she could have just bought some postcards.

I think the key words are "getting started".

Regards, John
 
I disagree about the solitary pursuit thing. If true none of us would be here at RFF.
A good group of students creates a synergy that enables one to learn more,
from the instructor and one another. The enthusiasm of others is contagious!

Being taught by someone selling me the products used wouldn't be my first choice.
However unless a nearby school offers a similar course I would consider enrolling.
 
I think once you spend 7 weeks, you will look back with no regret. Might not be totally happy with your prints after that, but your course will probably give you experience to differentiate why you are not happy with it.
 
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