A moment's inattention and...

ntenny · Jul 23, 2017

I suppose this happens to everyone from time to time, but this is the first time it's happened to me: I just turned on the room light to find myself looking at an open box of paper.

Of course it *would* be a nearly *full* box of paper, too. So I said some words unbecoming of a gentleman, then had a diverting time developing blank sheets to find out how far the damage went, instead of the nice constructive printing session I'd been planning.

It turns out I only really lost a handful of sheets; after the first 5 or 6 they just have edge fog and are still usable. But still, what a pain in the neck.

-NT

lantau · Jul 23, 2017

ntenny said:
I suppose this happens to everyone from time to time, but this is the first time it's happened to me: I just turned on the room light to find myself looking at an open box of paper.

Of course it *would* be a nearly *full* box of paper, too. So I said some words unbecoming of a gentleman, then had a diverting time developing blank sheets to find out how far the damage went, instead of the nice constructive printing session I'd been planning.

It turns out I only really lost a handful of sheets; after the first 5 or 6 they just have edge fog and are still usable. But still, what a pain in the neck.

-NT

Last year I left open my paper safe and turned the lights on. Very sobering experience. Same as you, much could be salvaged. It was the first of 5 packs of Fomatone MG 332 (25 sheets, RC paper). Am I glad this wasn't one single pack!

This year I did a similar thing with a bulk roll of HP5+. Again was lucky that Silverhalide products can actually take quite some beating...

MattKing · Jul 23, 2017

My approach has evolved over the years. Currently, I only open the box to put a moderate amount of paper into the paper safe - the amount I expect to use in the next short while..
And I have the paper safe immediately below the light switch, so I can make sure to always check the paper safe before the lights go on.
I haven't fogged any paper through this type of mistake for quite a while.
I do seem to have developed an uncanny knack though of using the last sheet of paper in the paper safe and then discovering that I need to do just one more print.

Sirius Glass · Jul 23, 2017

+1 That is what I do.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 23, 2017

Many years ago I shared a darkroom with a friend and whenever one of us was going to turn on the lights we yelled "Leitz!"

I still do it in my mind to this day, and haven't ever turned on the lights when I shouldn't have.

Of course I probably will tonight now that I jinxed myself......

bvy · Jul 23, 2017

Am I the only one that doesn't use a paper safe? Something about the hassle of pulling the paper from the box and then there bag makes me think multiple times about the lights. Not ideal for other reasons though.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 23, 2017

I had a student with me in my darkroom in Japan. I was going through the steps on how to make a print with her. I had already shown her how to make a strip test, and just exposed the first test print (8x10). Just as the enlarger turned off, I said, "right!" and she turned the room light on! As I stood in the light, holding the exposed piece of photo paper, I learnt first hand the difficulty for Japanese when it comes to L and R.

Arklatexian · Jul 23, 2017

Andrew O'Neill said:
I had a student with me in my darkroom in Japan. I was going through the steps on how to make a print with her. I had already shown her how to make a strip test, and just exposed the first test print (8x10). Just as the enlarger turned off, I said, "right!" and she turned the room light on! As I stood in the light, holding the exposed piece of photo paper, I learnt first hand the difficulty for Japanese when it comes to L and R.

During WW2 in the Pacific, Marines and probably also the Army used a password "lalapalooza" at night for the same reason......Regards!

Sirius Glass · Jul 23, 2017

bvy said:
Am I the only one that doesn't use a paper safe? Something about the hassle of pulling the paper from the box and then there bag makes me think multiple times about the lights. Not ideal for other reasons though.

Before I was given a light safe by an APUGger who was moving across the country, I used empty paper boxes as light boxes for years.

Kevin Caulfield · Jul 23, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
+1 That is what I do.

+2

removed account4 · Jul 23, 2017

hi nathan

sorry to read your sadness.
the last time this happened to me
it was during the great azo draught of the early teens / late naughts -
i turned on the light, and said some of the same words you said.
thankfuly it wasn't the 300R bulb i was using to make prints, cause
none of the paper was affected by my 60watt mistake ...
next time i hope you'll be using azo or one of its silver chloride cousins !
john

Jim Jones · Jul 24, 2017

In my last full working day in the Navy I trimmed down 10x12 edge-fogged paper to make 125 8x10 prints. That was a long-lasting lesson!

jvo · Jul 24, 2017

i now have a "bucket list" of darkroom mistakes - as i check off each one i revel in a new learning experience, beat myself up less, and move on! i've been much nicer to me.

p.s. i already crossed this one off!

bsdunek · Jul 24, 2017

I've make my share over the years. Looking back, most are funny. Some, I lost some good photos. Oh, well ...

A moment's inattention and...

ntenny

lantau

MattKing

Moderator

Sirius Glass

Patrick Robert James

bvy

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Arklatexian

Sirius Glass

Kevin Caulfield

removed account4

Jim Jones

jvo

bsdunek

A moment's inattention and...

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency