I had the pleasure to meet a fine young man last night and take him on a tour of my darkroom. I printed an 11x14 from tri-x 35mm of a couple of wrestlers on the mat at a tournament. The kid was excited to say the least when he saw the image come up in the developer.
David has been in foster care for the last couple of years because of a difficult home situation. Life has been tough but is getting better for him.
My cousin is his foster parent and tells me that David has really settled down and become serious about his schooling and sports. David is a really fine half back for his high school football team but his acedemics are so-so. We believe it is because he hasn't found much to interest him in school... until now.
The school he goes to is 1 year old. It was built in rural Washington state, south east of Seattle. The district had good intentions with the building and built a room in the photo department which is plumbed and wired for a darkroom. Unfortunately, that is as far as it got. The photo instructor had to entirely re-work her curriculum for digital as she was told that she wouldn't get any traditional equipment for the darkroom. David has been in her class since September and has taken a real interest in using a camera.
After last night, David really wants to learn photography. He's bored silly by digital and wants nothing to do with it. This is the problem. The only real darkroom he has access to is mine. I'm happy to teach him everything I know and let him use it any time he wants. I live 45 minutes away by car and David does not have a way to get here unless my cousin drives him.
He asked me what it would take ($$) to set up a darkroom at my cousin's house. I told David that used equipment for processing and printing 35mm could be had easily enough. As cheap as things can be had these days, David does not have the money to equip his darkroom. I can help a little but cannot do it all.
Which brings me to you folks. What is the possibility that someone has spare darkroom equipment (pans, tongs, timer, enlarger....) which they might be willing to donate? It does not have to be top notch... functional will due nicely. I can set up a darkroom for David and the other 2 foster children at my cousin's house but need a little help.
David has been in foster care for the last couple of years because of a difficult home situation. Life has been tough but is getting better for him.
My cousin is his foster parent and tells me that David has really settled down and become serious about his schooling and sports. David is a really fine half back for his high school football team but his acedemics are so-so. We believe it is because he hasn't found much to interest him in school... until now.
The school he goes to is 1 year old. It was built in rural Washington state, south east of Seattle. The district had good intentions with the building and built a room in the photo department which is plumbed and wired for a darkroom. Unfortunately, that is as far as it got. The photo instructor had to entirely re-work her curriculum for digital as she was told that she wouldn't get any traditional equipment for the darkroom. David has been in her class since September and has taken a real interest in using a camera.
After last night, David really wants to learn photography. He's bored silly by digital and wants nothing to do with it. This is the problem. The only real darkroom he has access to is mine. I'm happy to teach him everything I know and let him use it any time he wants. I live 45 minutes away by car and David does not have a way to get here unless my cousin drives him.
He asked me what it would take ($$) to set up a darkroom at my cousin's house. I told David that used equipment for processing and printing 35mm could be had easily enough. As cheap as things can be had these days, David does not have the money to equip his darkroom. I can help a little but cannot do it all.
Which brings me to you folks. What is the possibility that someone has spare darkroom equipment (pans, tongs, timer, enlarger....) which they might be willing to donate? It does not have to be top notch... functional will due nicely. I can set up a darkroom for David and the other 2 foster children at my cousin's house but need a little help.
