Blew it! Still cannot believe I did that!

Rob Archer · May 1, 2007

I used to be in the habit of taking a pint of ale into the darkroom with me. I would put the beer to one side and mix the chemicals and set them out, left - right Dev-stop-fix, so I could work out what I was doing in the dark. One time I got distracted and put the beer on the worktop as well .....! Need I say more except that HP5+ still gives a very faint image in Marston's Pedigree.

At least I didn't drink the Microphen!

Rob

bdial · May 1, 2007

Maybe adding some vitaman C would improve the density?

ricksplace · May 1, 2007

I "fixed" the roll up front of my brumberger paper safe so it would stay up.

Then I left it open when I turned on the room lights.

I "unfixed" it so now it won't stay up (on both my brumbergers).

Imagine that -fixing it so it won't stay up.....

Jim Noel · May 1, 2007

I use strings which are stretched about 2 feet over my head.
All I have to do is wave my arm in the direction of the desired string and the desired light turns on. Never have a problem with accidental light.
The only panel switch is the master switch by the entry door and is shielded so it can not be accidentally turned on or off.

vet173 · May 2, 2007

I went down to the lab and picked up the 6 sheets of 4x5 that were perfectly developed but unexposed.

ChrisC · May 2, 2007

Two nights ago I was developing a couple of rolls of HP5. One roll just trying a few things locally and around the house, the other from an outing to some beautiful rock formations 3 hours away. Both reels loaded beautifully, and developed without a hitch.

I hang them up to dry and see a light haze on the blank part of the film. Upon closer inspection, every single frame had fogging marks. Fogging marks enough to make every shot useless. So not only is every frame not print worthy, but they're all there for me to see just how well they'd look printed!

The only explination I can think of is I didn't put the film tank lid on correctly, although I swear I checked it twice.

Akki14 · May 2, 2007

ChrisC said:
Two nights ago I was developing a couple of rolls of HP5. One roll just trying a few things locally and around the house, the other from an outing to some beautiful rock formations 3 hours away. Both reels loaded beautifully, and developed without a hitch.

I hang them up to dry and see a light haze on the blank part of the film. Upon closer inspection, every single frame had fogging marks. Fogging marks enough to make every shot useless. So not only is every frame not print worthy, but they're all there for me to see just how well they'd look printed!

The only explination I can think of is I didn't put the film tank lid on correctly, although I swear I checked it twice.

I'm still what I'd regard as a beginner but I've seen that sort of thing elsewhere before and it's apparently called bromide drag. It's caused by under agitation. Even when I'm playing around with caffenol and doing development times of 30minutes, I do 1 inversion a minute or every 2 minutes at least.

Woolliscroft · May 2, 2007

I keep the light switch well away from meas a normal wall mounted light switch by the door. How do I find it easily in total darkness? I keep a cigarette lighter in my pocket

David.

Lee L · May 2, 2007

rmolson said:
Once worked in a lab where one of the older guys would zip into the darkroom from outside, absolutely convinced he was faster than the light pouring in wrecking our open paper.

pentaxuser said:
How did he ever get to be older?

pentaxuser

Are you thinking that fast living would have done him in early? If he were faster than light, wouldn't he be getting younger from our perspective?

Lee

Akki14 · May 2, 2007

Lee L said:
Are you thinking that fast living would have done him in early? If he were faster than light, wouldn't he be getting younger from our perspective?

Lee

Silly me, I thought How did he live that long if he was repeatedly doing that to photo techs? I don't think anyone who did that on a repeat basis would still be alive within my hands' reach... (or just possibly they would have gone deaf after my repeated screams)

terri · May 2, 2007

I was thrilled to recently pick up a paper safe - one of those things I'd been meaning to get around to buying, but didn't think of it till I was struggling with the re-opening/closing of the box, again and again, during a print session.

So, woo hoo! Finally got one! The time savings! The ease!

And I've only tossed about half a box (so far) of paper that's been exposed from me forgetting to close the lid.

Jadedoto · May 2, 2007

Last year, I was downtown with a few of my friends doing a shoot for a cover shot for the school literary magazine, and when I got home, I put in the fix before I developed the film.

I panicked, then gave up. I learned then not to develop film after a long day and when exhausted.

eric · May 2, 2007

The owner of the lab I worked at had those outdoor light-switch covers. The film room was the only one that had one. I've built a darkroom in a very small room once and I used one of them. You have to physically lift the cover to turn the switch on.
HTH.

ChrisC · May 3, 2007

Akki14 said:
I'm still what I'd regard as a beginner but I've seen that sort of thing elsewhere before and it's apparently called bromide drag. It's caused by under agitation. Even when I'm playing around with caffenol and doing development times of 30minutes, I do 1 inversion a minute or every 2 minutes at least.

I was wondering that. I had a development time of 7 minutes in LC-29, with 4 inversions every minutes. I normally do more inversions, but usually get a little too much contrast so thought I'd try something different.

I'm just as much of a beginner as anyone here, so know I have alot to learn.

middy · Apr 4, 2008

When I first got my Bronica SQ I was demonstrating the removable backs for a friend. Only, instead of pressing the back release button on the camera, I squeezed the back cover release buttons and killed 4 frames of family pictures.

j4425 · Apr 4, 2008

Couple months ago I inadvertently dropped my steel tank loaded with 2 rolls of tri-x while talking on the phone. Both rolls contained images from the birth of my daughter .. I felt miserable for day's. I don't even want to think about it.

railwayman3 · Apr 5, 2008

No "original" mistakes here...
Just opening the camera back before re-winding (more then once!), or to load a new film when one was already in!
Making a print, developing, fixing...switched the white light on to inspect, my delight with the result soon turned to dismay when I realised the the unexposed box of 100 sheets was still open. End of darkroom session for that day!
Lots of nice shots of feet or sky when opening and packing away one particular camera which has a very sensitive shutter button and no lock. :rolleyes:

bessa_L_R3a · Apr 5, 2008

The very first roll of film I ever shot got me so excited that when I reached the end of the roll I just plain and simple opened up the camera without rewinding ... I saw the long grey strip of film and almost jumped a foot in the air and slammed the camera back shut. When I developed it only a few exposures were ruined. Suprisingly, even though the light probably hit the film on the receiving spool, it didn't penetrate all the layers.

photochucker · Apr 14, 2008

Had just purchased my 4 x 5 and was showing my wife how it all worked. I was going to impress her with taking a couple of shots of her and then developing them right then. Had all the chemicals set up and after finishing my little lecture on how good the big negatives would look I took 2 head shots of her using 1 holder. One shot right profile, the other left profile.

When developed I had a blank film - perfectly developed and a 2 headed wife shot!!!! She forced me to cut up that negative!!!! It did look good for a multiple exposure!!!

Photochucker

walter23 · Apr 14, 2008

I shot some 4x5 EFKE IR820c on vacation and after fixing it (in some older fixer solution) I pulled it out of the tube and looked at it. The image was a really nice sketched-looking outline of an old oak tree against an IR-black sky, and I was looking forward to printing it. Ten minutes later, after washing it in the developing tube, I saw with horror a black stain had spread across the center of the film in proportion to the light coming in from the end during my wash. Bad fix - film slowly turning black.

I only use guaranteed fresh chemistry now, it's not a mistake I want to make again.

Paul Verizzo · Apr 15, 2008

Never did any of these things...

....no sirreee. Right.

Willie Jan · Apr 15, 2008

Just drop a 120 roll from which the paper is removed in the dark onto the floor, and you are not able to find it back....

Fintan · Apr 15, 2008

I did the fixer first thing once and learned the hard way that changing bags prefer subdued light. That was a very costly mistake. Very.

Blew it! Still cannot believe I did that!

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