There's just something special about it...

S

squeaky_clean

Back to basics...
Local time
4:17 AM
Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
144
So, I just got back this evening from my first photography lab. And tonight, we got to develop our first roll of film! I just have to say, there's just something about it... A sense of accomplishment when you pull those negs out of the dryer and you see that you actually did it right...! :)

Suddenly photography went from taking pictures to making pictures. I can't wain until next week when we get to start printing our stuff! I will be sad when the semester is over, b/c then I will no longer have access to the darkroom. But I sure intend to make the most of it until then! Yeah, film might be on it's way out, but so what? I am going to use it as long as I possibly can, and enjoy every minute of it.

I don't know if I can put into words per se, but there really is something special about doing this whole process myself. It's no longer just a picture I took; it's a picture I made. There's a connection to the image that wasn't quite there before...

I've found my art, and I'm happy. :D
 
I fully empathize with you. The wet darkroom experience is totally unique, and there is a powerful sense of creation that one enjoys in developing film and prints manually. It is so tangible and real.

It is very good to read these accounts from others, thanks for posting.

Keep up the good fight!
 
Yes, it is an awesome experience that first time you pull your negs out of the dryer! Just wait till you make your first print and the images start to appear on the paper, as if by magic, its awesome!

I faced the same problem as you, after my photo class was over, I couldn't use the darkroom. However, I had made nice with a couple of the lab techs (who were just other students, maybe a year or two older than me) and they let me use the darkroom when it wasn't too busy. Not sure if thats an option for you at all, depends on how strick your school is. Your other option wll be to setup for development at home (not expensive at all) and then buying a used film scanner (which can be had for cheap if you shop right). Thats probably getting ahead of things, but its nice to plan ahead.

Good luck in your class!
 
I hear you. For me it is always that moment when it comes out of the wash, and you see all the negatives developed to (almost) perfection. It is such a magical process for me. Blank film goes in, negatives come out. And I am always delighted and surprised when something comes out. ;) Keep it up.

Drew
 
I recently started developing b/w film again. I love the smell of the chemicals again. Sounds silly to those who don't know the feeling I guess.

But Kyle is right. It isn't hard to develop b/w at home as long as you excercise some care for dust and temperature control. I don't have a darkroom, but dark (and make sure they are by using towels or something) bathrooms or closets work for putting film in tanks. I don't know if I will ever have an enlarger again. But I have the Epson 4870 flatbed which does up to 4x5 so not having a darkroom and enlarger isn't the impediment to making prints it might otherwise be. Consider it. OTH, if you can use the school darkroom, enjoy!
 
You know, this is blasphemy for sure, but my Canon printer produces prints with the same pungent scent of a wet print.

But no way it looks as good, feels as good, or has even nearly the effect on my happiness that a night in the dark(bath)room does. Not even close. :D
 
squeaky_clean said:
So, I just got back this evening from my first photography lab. And tonight, we got to develop our first roll of film! I just have to say, there's just something about it... A sense of accomplishment when you pull those negs out of the dryer and you see that you actually did it right...! :)

Suddenly photography went from taking pictures to making pictures. I can't wain until next week when we get to start printing our stuff! I will be sad when the semester is over, b/c then I will no longer have access to the darkroom. But I sure intend to make the most of it until then! Yeah, film might be on it's way out, but so what? I am going to use it as long as I possibly can, and enjoy every minute of it.

I don't know if I can put into words per se, but there really is something special about doing this whole process myself. It's no longer just a picture I took; it's a picture I made. There's a connection to the image that wasn't quite there before...

I've found my art, and I'm happy. :D
Click to expand...

Wait until you see your first photograph appear in the developing tray. Then the addiction will begin!

To quote another 'You know its got bad when you're found in an alley with a cable release in your arm...'


Welcome to red light of the darkside!

Andy. :)
 
Wet Dreams...and the smell of fixer at 3 am. When I was in school the darkroom was open 24 hours a day, so myself and a classmate would pull all-nighters, crank up the stereo, and print away. I still remember slapping up damp prints in class at 9am, trembling from all of the Yuban, feeling ready to take some serious critiques. Im sure you will enjoy it all.
 
Welcome to an old and noble craft.

I've always thought of the negative as rough notes for the photograph. In the darkroom is where you craft the final image for presentation to the rest of the world (and the place where you study your experiments and hide your grievous mistakes).

Ansel Adams used to compared the negative to the writing of a musical score and the printing of the photograph as conducting a symphony.

I now scan negatives and shoot just with digital, but during my many years in a darkroom, I learned so much about photography that couldn't be taught anywhere else. My darkroom today is a computer, but for the most part I'm replicating what I used to be able to do in a darkroom ... burning and dodging, changing paper grades, adjusting exposure (and, yes, spotting out dust afterwards).

“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams...” Arthur O’Shaughnessy [1844-1881]
 
I must admit that after I got a film scanner I have been a bit more laisy, but everytime I do some darkroom developing I do feel the magic :)
Nowadays I only do it maybe once a month, but it still is very rewarding, and makes me wanna do more :)
The red light, the image apearing on the paper... :) It is magic!!

Sergio
 
Great post squeaky_clean! I'm about to embark on my first negative development and it is inspiring to read this thread!

 
peter_n said:
Great post squeaky_clean! I'm about to embark on my first negative development and it is inspiring to read this thread!

Click to expand...

I seond peter!! Great post, and I too am planning some time this weekend to develope some b/w that I have been needing to get done. When I first did this process at the local adult school I too felt I had found my art. :D

Jeff C.
 
Thanks all!

I can't wait until I learn how to print...! I am fairly certain that I will be in the darkroom A LOT this semester. :) We only have to turn in 2 prints a week or so for class, but I intend to print a lot more than that... I already bought a 100 ct. carton of paper! :D
 
Ah I love it too! A friend of mine is always trying to rationalize the perks of digital to me.. how convenient, yada yada. He can't believe the amount of time I invest in doing everything by hand. "But you can click click and its done!".. I always respond saying "But I like doing all that." If I didn't have developing and printing, I'd only have half of photography. It's a true craft, and a very personal one for me at least.
 
f/stopblues said:
It's a true craft, and a very personal one for me at least.
Click to expand...


Very well said. I feel a real connection with prints done by hand and lot more feeling and pride. I can't wait to get done with work and get in the dark(bath)room.
 
f/stopblues said:
Ah I love it too! A friend of mine is always trying to rationalize the perks of digital to me.. how convenient, yada yada. He can't believe the amount of time I invest in doing everything by hand. "But you can click click and its done!".. I always respond saying "But I like doing all that." If I didn't have developing and printing, I'd only have half of photography. It's a true craft, and a very personal one for me at least.
Click to expand...


Hear hear!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom