A little good news

eclarke · Jul 13, 2006

My office is only about 8 blocks from Regal/Arkay here in Milwaukee so I get to see them a lot. Yesterday, we were talking about film developing tanks and they told me that they receive annual orders from schools for developing tanks which the students buy. The orders have been in decline but this year were up 30% from the previous year.. Maybe the bloom is off the LCD!!!..Evan Clarke

wfe · Jul 13, 2006

This is very good news indeed. If you think about today's generation of High School students, they have grown up on digital everything. Analog is something new to them and offers new creative challenges and opportunities. We should all do our part to encourage and support young students of photography.

Regards,
Bill

Simon R Galley · Jul 13, 2006

Dear Bill,

I second your sentiment....and as for the processing tanks ...I have just run the flag up the flagpole.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Craig · Jul 13, 2006

Simon R Galley...I have just run the flag up the flagpole. [/QUOTE said:
Were you humming Rule Brittania as you did it?

roteague · Jul 13, 2006

Simon R Galley said:
Dear Bill,

I second your sentiment....and as for the processing tanks ...I have just run the flag up the flagpole.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Lets see ..... Could Ilford take over Jobo? Well, I guess I can dream.

I like the sound of what you are saying Simon, but would like to hear more.

roteague · Jul 13, 2006

A couple of days ago, I was at a local camera store, the only one that sell darkroom equipment, and they seem to be doing great business; I've never seen her store so packed with paper, etc.. Ilford paper stacked higher than I have ever seen it ... the owner is now looking for a source of a cheaper grade of paper, but currently sells Ilford and Gecko (Mitsubishi).

Ryuji · Jul 13, 2006

That's amazing. When everyone was worried about the future of film supply, I went to make my own emulsion (though people know my chemicals rather than emulsions). BUT the secret I didn't get to discuss much was that I stocked up a few spare Paterson tanks (I use Paterson for 120/220), Kindermann lids and reels (I use stainless for 35mm), and collected a bunch of spare hangers for 5x7 (I don't do 4x5). I was most conceerned about the supply of film developing tanks and reels because without them films would be difficult to process without damaging.

erikg · Jul 13, 2006

I've been teaching photo to high school kids for the last few years and I have to say I am encouraged by the fact that interest has grown every year, based on increased enrollment, and by what the kids are saying: they like the darkroom thing and see the magic in the whole process. On the other hand as to what computers can do, they know all that and it doesn't seem so interesting to them. A small sample for sure, but a good sign never the less.

eclarke · Jul 13, 2006

Ryuji said:
That's amazing. When everyone was worried about the future of film supply, I went to make my own emulsion (though people know my chemicals rather than emulsions). BUT the secret I didn't get to discuss much was that I stocked up a few spare Paterson tanks (I use Paterson for 120/220), Kindermann lids and reels (I use stainless for 35mm), and collected a bunch of spare hangers for 5x7 (I don't do 4x5). I was most conceerned about the supply of film developing tanks and reels because without them films would be difficult to process without damaging.

HaHa, I have been collecting 5x7 and 4x5 hangers and also film holders. I am getting old so hopefully I have 3 lifetimes of them!!.EC

Ryuji · Jul 13, 2006

No wonder why I hear from Digitaltruth that many of the orders for low toxicity print developers are from schools and the like.

I hope we can keep laughting at my prediction that film shock will come only after film tank shocks. You know, during oil shocks people in Japan stocked up everything down to toilet papers! (And I also know some old people in Massachusetts who never throw away old newspapers and magazines... they claim that they are valuable fuel in the next oil shock.)

roteague · Jul 13, 2006

Ryuji said:
That's amazing. When everyone was worried about the future of film supply, I went to make my own emulsion (though people know my chemicals rather than emulsions).

Somehow, I don't suspect I will be making my own Velvia anytime soon.

Wigwam Jones · Jul 13, 2006

wfe said:
This is very good news indeed. If you think about today's generation of High School students, they have grown up on digital everything. Analog is something new to them and offers new creative challenges and opportunities. We should all do our part to encourage and support young students of photography.

Regards,
Bill

I recently posted a news item about a photography club that was part of a vocational high school that was asking for donations of used cameras and photographic items. I posted it here, on PN, and one other place.

You know what the response was? Zippo. On PN, one fella took the time to state that in his opinion, the kids lived an area that already had too much money. When I suggested he should do as his conscience dictated, he replied that he would not be told what to do. Nice.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

So support, already. I already did, but I suspect without any company.

Want some good news? Make some.

Or not. Whatever.

DBP · Jul 13, 2006

I never saw the post. I have been trying to give away a Speed Graphic to another charity listed here, but without luck so far. Do you know if they are still looking?

Wigwam Jones · Jul 13, 2006

DBP said:
I never saw the post. I have been trying to give away a Speed Graphic to another charity listed here, but without luck so far. Do you know if they are still looking?

No, I never knew them or anything about them other than what I found online. I have a number of RSS feeds that I try to keep up on, and when I saw this news story in a small-town newspaper, I thought I'd try to give it a bit more publicity by putting it out to a photographic audience. You could certainly contact them and ask, if I were them I'd welcome it.

DBP · Jul 13, 2006

I think I'll stick to supporting the local schools then. I have tentative plans with a local photographer to support him in a class he is teaching, and I regularly pick up old SLRs and rangefinders to provide to students I meet.

rst · Jul 14, 2006

Wigwam Jones said:
I recently posted a news item about a photography club that was part of a vocational high school that was asking for donations of used cameras and photographic items. I posted it here, on PN, and one other place.

Sometimes it helps to ask a manufacturer. I gave a workshop on pinhole cameras for children of fourth grade, they are around 10 years old. So we needed paper, developer etc. To keep costs low for the children I asked Ilford in Germany (this is now 3 years ago) to get paper and chemicals for a reduced price - just a try since they gave items for students in photography for reduced prices that time. The guy at Ilford asked me to send an email listing all the paper and chemicals I need and an address to ship to and "I will see what I can do for you." Two days later two packets arrived at my door with everything I needed. When I asked about the costs I was told: "Nothing".

So these children are highly interested in photography now and they all know about ... Ilford. I do not know if Ilford is able to support students now after the company has been rebooted, but that was advertising at its best.

Ups, sorry that had nothing to do with developing tanks but anyway ...

Regards
-- Ruediger

davekarp · Jul 14, 2006

I teach at a community college in CA (not photography). Our photo instructor told me that they have not had any drop in demand for the traditional darkroom classes whatsoever. This is true even as they have added more digital classes to their offerings.

Simon R Galley · Jul 14, 2006

Dear All,

Some interesting notes...it is always worth asking us ( and other manufacturers ) we do have a small budget for 'worthwhile causes' we are especially keen to help promote photography ( of any sort ) in schools as part of any science or project work...pin hole work is perfect, or photo montages ( always fun to do ) see our website we produced a booklet for schools some time ago...so if any of you do get involved in passing on your skills or mentoring or work in the photo community ...pm me, I can't do all but I will do some...

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

eclarke · Jul 14, 2006

There may be a silver lining in the digital cloud. In every group of people, there are always a few adventurers. It seems like more people enjoying making snapshots now than ever before and some of these people should develop an interest in artistic photography (read film photography)...EC

haryanto · Jul 14, 2006

last month I went to Singapore, in one of camera shop at peninsula, I saw that the shelves that last year almost empty now full of film stock, they said that people there start to use film again, silver still cannot replace by ink

and thanks to Simon and Ilford for your support

Uncle Bill · Jul 14, 2006

I had a remarkable afternoon, this does come under the good news for a change file. I was in Burlington Ontario which is between me in Oakville and Hamilton. This is suburbia, I stopped by Burlington Camera to buy some film, yes all the usual big brands were still available, what shocked me was the darkroom section in the basement, it was well stocked and it had rodinal on the shelf. Rodinal in the suburbs where digital is king!
One of the sales clerks commented that they will continue to sell film until is no longer made and that they sell digital because they have to not because they love it. For APUGer's in Niagara/Waterdown/Hamilton/Brantford area they are on Geulph line just north of New St. on the east side.

Bill

PS, its worth the visit to see all the vintage cameras on display (unfortunately not for sale)

A little good news

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency