B&W, Away From the Darkroom, Without going broke?

Here's the deal-- I'll be living and working remotely for the summer, and I won't be able to take my darkroom with. It is very doubtful I'll even be able to have processing equipment or chemicals with me. I'll be in a location that will be fantastic for photography, and have the opportunity for a specific project I've had in mind for years. I'd like to be able to keep tabs on what I'm doing throughout the summer and fall, and have been looking at mail-order developing and contact sheets; I can make prints through the winter when I get back. I also don't want to leave film sitting where it will likely be 85-90 degrees, for months before processing.

I just can't stomach the prices these days. I looked at what I think I would be doing in an average month-- 6 rolls of 120, 12 sheets of 4x5.

I've seen anywhere from $6-$10 for processing of 120, but can't find too much info on what kind of chemistry the lower priced places are doing, so likely $8-$10 per roll of 120, with about $10 worth of pull processing charges. Contact sheets seem to be $8-$12 per roll on average. So now I'm looking at about $120, not including shipping, for half a dozen 120 rolls.

I've been seeing prices for 4x5 contact sheets at anywhere from $8 for scanning, then the $2 to print digitally, or $12 to hand print optically. Per sheet of film. Can't seem to find anyone that'll put 4 4x5's on an 8x10 like I do at home. Processing per sheet seems to be about $4-$5, with an additional $3-$5 for any Pushing or Pulling. Now I'm looking at $75-$100 just for processing for 12 sheets, and another $100+ for contacts.

So, monthly expense, not including film or postage, would run me right around $300, for what I wouldn't even consider very high volume. Including film and postage, I'm getting damn near $400 a month.

If I was shooting professionally, I could pass costs on, but I do most of my work for my self. I shoot almost all B&W film, because I love the outcome, but more importantly, because it's cheap to get that outcome. For the load of film above, I would burn through about half a bag of D76, and a couple bucks worth of fixer. For contacts on Kentmere Grade 2 RC, or Multigrade RC, (9 sheets of 8x10) It would cost me about 10 bucks worth of paper and chemistry.

I can afford to make mistakes, try new things, and spend more time with photography when my monthly processing and contact sheet costs are $15 to $20 instead of $300. It quickly turns from a fun hobby into large financial commitment.

Does anyone have any experience for coping with this? Recommendations? I'm seriously considering going d****** and picking up a used 1DS MKII. Would cost 3 months worth of film and processing, and could probably resell it at the end of the season for 80% of what I pay for one...

I've seen people jokingly offer their own services for film processing. I might have to consider that if I want to keep shooting film through the summer if anyone would be serious about it...

If you are confident in your equipment and technique, just mail all your exposed film to someone for refrigerated keeping till your adventure is over.

If you're not confident, send a sample roll to be developed by someone you trust. I'd trust another photographer more than a random lab, but if you use a lab with recommendation that should be OK in moderation. If you have room to take 4x5 equipment, you probably have room for a combiplan developing tank and a couple liters of chemicals too.

jp498 said:

If you are confident in your equipment and technique, just mail all your exposed film to someone for refrigerated keeping till your adventure is over.

If you're not confident, send a sample roll to be developed by someone you trust. I'd trust another photographer more than a random lab, but if you use a lab with recommendation that should be OK in moderation. If you have room to take 4x5 equipment, you probably have room for a combiplan developing tank and a couple liters of chemicals too.

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That's a good tip, too-- I could leave my old film scanner with someone I trust, and have them chill the film, and maybe do a couple sheets of 4x5 or a roll of 120 once a month to keep tabs, and email me small res scans when I can get to a PC.

I probably could get chemistry up there with me, but I won't have consistent running water... I may be able to take a double reel tank and very small amounts of HC-110 and rapid fix concentrate, and process small quantities every now and then to see if things are dialed in, and have a friend keep the rest in a fridge back home.

fretlessdavis said:

Here's the deal-- I'll be living and working remotely for the summer, and I won't be able to take my darkroom with. <---snip...

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So the question begs to be asked...where is this place that will keep you busy shooting? (I understand if you want to keep such a place secret... base on the temps quoted it's not likely the arctic)

Dave Swinnard said:

So the question begs to be asked...where is this place that will keep you busy shooting? (I understand if you want to keep such a place secret... base on the temps quoted it's not likely the arctic)

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It's not 100% official, so I don't want to say anything just yet... But I will say it's in an area where a very famous photographer of the past lived and worked, about 85 years ago...

That, and I love rock climbing...

My 4x5 press camera will be going on some epic adventures, possibly where no press camera has gone before

I was without a darkroom for about 3 years. I just saved the exposed film in the refrigerator until the next darkroom was ready.

If you will be near Calgary, AB contact me and I will either store your film for you and/or process it to your spec. I also have an Epson 750 Pro scanner if you need an update on how you are doing.

Eric

Whew! Looks like the living situation is better than originally anticipated... Probably can't take the whole darkroom, but I should at least have room for the 4x5, with 3 or 4 lenses, as well as a couple developing tanks and contact printing stuff. At the bare minimum I will definitely have a full sized fridge, unlike my original understanding...

I guess everyone stay tuned for sets of LF photos from thousands of feet up rock faces I'll have in the fall!

Eric Rose said:

If you will be near Calgary, AB contact me and I will either store your film for you and/or process it to your spec. I also have an Epson 750 Pro scanner if you need an update on how you are doing.

Eric

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Thanks for the offer! I'll be in California, but we'll be in the PNW or AK next summer, so if housing is difficult to deal with, I may have to take you up on that.

fretlessdavis said:

My 4x5 press camera will be going on some epic adventures, possibly where no press camera has gone before

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In California? I doubt it. Jeez… thought you were going to the ISS. Bringing unexposed film back from the wilds of CA shouldn't be that big a deal. People have been developing trip film in batches when back home since last century.

ROL said:

In California? I doubt it. Jeez… thought you were going to the ISS. Bringing unexposed film back from the wilds of CA shouldn't be that big a deal. People have been developing trip film in batches when back home since last century.

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Well, as far as I can tell, nobody has really taken a 4x5 climbing UP the bigwalls! That's where I'll be doing plenty of stuff. How they originally described living conditions to me was way off... I was having a hard time believing them when they were talking about how remote I would be, haha.

Ilford has a lab in San Clemente, but their site does not reveal prices very readily. Prepaid mailers, a blast from the past.

http://www.ilfordlab-us.com/